Page 152 of Wife After Wife

The gossip started immediately. On the first episode, Tommy openly flirted with Caitlyn. She’d done nothing to encourage him, but that didn’t stop the press talking about the “unmistakable chemistry” between them.

Simeon was delighted. Good relationships between the judges were key, he said. It was more about the judges than the bands.

It was a good job Harry was well acquainted with the ways of the British press, thought Caitlyn as she took her seat next to Tommy on the plane. They were heading to Edinburgh for the Scottish leg of the auditions.

She heard the click of a phone camera behind her and glared at the woman who’d just snapped her smiling at Tommy.

“It’s just for me,” said the woman.

“Can you delete it, please?” said Caitlyn. “I can do a selfie with you instead?”

“A what?”

“Here, give me your phone.” Caitlyn took the picture, then deleted the earlier photo.

“Thanks, Caitlyn! I really love you!” said the woman.

People were weird.

She said as much to Tommy as she sat down.

“Yeah, too right,” he said.

As his gray-green eyes met hers, something lurched inside her. He was too close. But not close enough.

“They think they know you but they don’t,” he said, smiling, and more bits of her lurched. “You’re so tiny.” The famous voice was deep and husky. “Funny how TV always makes people look taller.”

“Yes. My husband’s six two. I look a bit ridiculous next to him.”

“He’s a lucky man. Right, I think I’ll catch some zeds. God, I hate flying.”

“Yeah, it’s quite scary, especially when it’s bumpy.”

“Scary? No, I meant it’s boring. You’re not scared, are you?”

“Not really, it’s just... I haven’t flown enough to get bored with it. I still get a buzz. I’m that person who looks out of the window.”

“You want to swap places? I’m only going to be asleep, you should have the window seat.” Tommy stood up and turned around, leaning back against the seat in front of him.

Caitlyn half stood and tried to slide past him, but it was a tight squeeze. She giggled as her nose bumped against his chest, then she moved her hips forward to clear the armrest, and they made contact with his jeans, and then... oh.

Seconds passed.

“You all right there?” he said, moving toward the middle.

She felt the friction of his hips against hers.

He looked down at her, his gaze suddenly intense.

She collapsed into the window seat, focusing on doing up her seat belt as her mind raced.

Tommy’s leg was pressed against hers. “See you in Edinburgh,” he said in a low voice.

•••

She knocked him back twice, in Edinburgh and Newcastle, before succumbing in Birmingham. It wouldn’t matter, would it? Just a bit of fun? It was all part of the not-real-life vibe of being away with this crew.

Confirming her opinion, Tommy breathed, “DCOL—doesn’t count on location,” into her ear as he nuzzled her neck in her hotel room.