Matchmaker by Lorie

Part 13
 
Bruce woke up slightly disoriented at the feeling of the warm 
body lying next to him. When he looked down and saw Lorie sleeping 
with her head resting on his shoulder he realized last night 
wasn't a dream. He smiled and ran his finger gently through her 
tangled hair. After she recovered from her first time, she opened 
up and enjoyed herself. He never had had such a passionate lover.  
 
He carefully slid out from under her and stood up. He put on his 
robe and walked out onto the balcony of his room. The morning air 
was cool on his face and it felt good. He leaned on the railing 
and looked out over the city as it awoke and started its day. He 
took a deep breath and smiled. He wanted to wake up every morning 
feeling this good. He couldn't remember the last time he was this 
happy. He looked down at his left hand and saw the ring. It was a 
symbol of what was holding him captive for so long. He thought he 
loved her but it wasn't love. He knew that now. Last night was 
proof that there was someone else he could want and care for who 
would want him as well. Without a second thought, he pulled the 
ring off and tossed it off the balcony. He watched as it landed in 
the hotel's fountain below. "Good riddance." And turned back into 
the room to order breakfast from room service.  
 
Lorie woke up and stretched. What a wonderful dream! It felt so 
real! Her and Bruce dancing then coming back to the room and ... 
 
"Good morning sleepyhead."  
 
She was startled by the sound of Bruce's voice and sat up. She 
realized she was naked and pulled the covers over her. It wasn't a 
dream! She looked over and saw Bruce set a tray down on the table 
and walk over to the bed. He held out one of his shirts for her, 
"Here, you can wear this while we eat breakfast." She pulled the 
soft cotton button-down on and excused herself to the bathroom. 
After she refreshed herself, she looked into the mirror. She 
couldn't see anything different but she didn't look the same to 
herself. She had lost her virginity last night and acted so 
wantonly she surprised herself. And it was with Bruce. Sweet, 
handsome, sexy Bruce. She should feel guilty but didn't. She 
smiled and sighed. She was finally a woman, a woman in love.  
 
When Bruce looked up and saw Lorie walk out of the bathroom 
wearing the shirt he loaned her, he almost forgot breakfast. He 
walked over, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her. "You look 
so good in the morning. Are you hungry?"  

She smiled up at him, "A little." He reached down and scooped her 
up, "Good because I ordered enough for both of us and there's no 
sense of wasting any." He sat down with her on his lap and 
proceeded feed her the fruit from the tray. She enjoyed the game 
and fed him as well, amidst laughter and kisses.  
 
Downstairs in the lobby, Andre was walking out of the coffee shop 
with a bag of fresh baked chocolate chip muffins and a large decaf 
coffee for Gene. Fortunately, the reformed demon was easy on him 
for losing the bet that Lorie and Bruce would get together, only 
asking for breakfast delivered that morning. Andre smiled and 
shook his head at the thought of the new lovebirds. If ever there 
were two people...
  
His thoughts were halted by the sight of a familiar blond walking 
toward the hotel's front door. He raced to the elevator and 
hurried to Gene's room.  When Gene answered the door, Andre spoke 
first, "We have a problem."  
 
At the front desk, the clerk looked up from his paperwork and saw 
the attractive woman in front of him, "May I help you?" "Yes," she 
said in a haughty tone, "I'm Christina Kulick. My husband Bruce is 
staying here and I want a key his room."  
 



Part 14  
 
"That was close. What the hell is she doing here?" Andre said as 
he hung up the phone in Gene's room. He had just called down to 
the front desk with a stalker alert to keep Christina from getting 
a room key. It was a bit extreme but it was all he could think of 
on a moments notice. 

Gene sipped on his coffee while he thought. "With her, who knows. 
She traveled a bit to get here. Maybe she has papers for him to 
sign." 

Andre shook his head, "No that can't be it. I just Fed Ex'd out 
some stuff to Bob for him two days ago. He said he just wanted it 
over with and agreed to what ever was set up in the pre nup." 

Gene bit into the muffin and chewed in silence for a moment. "If 
she came all this way, I doubt anything will stop her from seeing 
him. We just have to make sure he's not alone when it happens. I 
don't think she's crazy enough to do something stupid but we 
shouldn't take any chances. Let her have access to backstage after 
the show tonight. Make it look like she trespassed so if things 
get ugly we can have her arrested. That should knock her down a 
few notches." They talked a little more and Andre left to make the 
arrangements. 

Shannon called out from the bathroom, "Hey it's lonely in here.  
Aren't you going to help me wash my back?" 

Gene smiled and called out, "Coming!" She laughed, "You ain't even 
breathing heavy." He took off his robe and stepped in the shower 
behind her, "Not yet, anyway."  
 
Christina sat in her rental car, fuming with rage. How dare they 
kick her out. She was with the band. She was the lead guitarist's 
wife. She came all this way to forgive him and forget all this 
divorce business. She couldn't believe it when she was served 
divorce papers yesterday. He wouldn't do something like that, he 
loved her. It must have been a mistake. They were all plotting 
against her, trying to break them up. She was trying to make Bruce 
stand up for what was his and they resented her for that. A plan 
formed in her mind and she drove off.  
 
Later that night, the tension in the dressing room before the show 
was thick.  Everyone was worried what would happen when Christina 
showed up. Everyone except Bruce. Ever since Gene told him what 
had happened that morning, he had been waiting for this. It was 
time to break free. He was going to enjoy himself during the show 
tonight, confront the she-devil as Bob called her, and enjoy a 
romantic evening with his new lady, Lorie. He felt more confident 
than ever. Christina was not going to snowball him ever again.  
 
Gene talked with Andre before they took the stage. "Are we 
prepared? I don't want anything bad to happen." 

Andre nodded, "I hear ya. She won't be able to make it in until 
the encore. One of the entrances will be 'unguarded' so she will 
be able to get in and everyone's on alert. We're ready." 

Gene sighed, "I wish this confrontation was over. We all just want 
her gone." He paused for a moment, "Where's Lorie? And my 
Shannon?" 

Andre hid a laugh with a cough, "There was a discrepancy with 
the…t-shirt counts that Lorie is straightening out and Shannon's 
helping her." Andre was relieved when Gene believed him and walked 
away. Shannon would rip it off if he spoiled her surprise for Gene 
tonight.  
 
"You're really going to do it, aren't you?" Lorie giggled as she 
helped Shannon with her necklace. 

"You better believe I am. He enjoyed last night's private show but 
didn't let me finish. He won't be able to stop me tonight."  
Shannon checked her reflection in the mirror. "I also didn't have 
my costume on last night either." She turned to Lorie, "I could 
let you borrow it and let you give Bruce a show." 

Lorie blushed bright red, "Oh no. I could never be that brave. No 
way!" 

Shannon laughed the became serious, "You're going to have to be 
brave tonight after the show." Both of them knew what was going to 
happen and were nervous. 

"I'll be alright. Bruce wants it over with and this is it. I just 
pray she doesn't do anything stupid." 

Shannon sighed, "Knowing her, she will. Be careful tonight." After 
giving Lorie a quick hug, "Okay, I'll hide here and wait for your 
cue. Get going." With a giggle, Lorie dashed out of the dressing 
room and towards the stage. 



Part 15  
 
Christina stalked around the back entrance of the arena. She was 
refused admittance at the front door even when she told them who 
she was. "Sure you are. You're the third Mrs. Kulick tonight." She 
was told. But if she went to the back, she would find one of the 
roadies who recognized her and would let her in. She was kicking 
herself for leaving her laminate behind when she left after the 
fight. Without it, she was nobody. Well as soon as she settled 
things with Bruce, she'll get it back. She knew the show was 
coming to an end when she heard the song, "Take It Off." He better 
not be touching any of those whores. He was her husband, she owned 
him. She continued to steam in anger as she looked for a way to 
get in.  
 
Lorie was off to the side of the stage, laughing her head off. 
Shannon was on stage with the other three strippers and doing her 
routine. The look on Gene's face was priceless. Paul and Eric were 
surprised too. Bruce was in on it so he laughed right along with 
Lorie. The one stripper named Amber was paying special attention 
to Bruce and he was loving it. Lorie didn't mind because she knew 
it was all tease and had to laugh when she did the splits in front 
of him causing him to mess up. When the song was over and the 
strippers left the stage, Amber stopped by Lorie and said, "If you 
ever get tired of him, toss him my way." 

Lorie giggled, "I doubt that will ever happen." 

Amber smiled and leaned in close, "He's a good catch. Don't let go 
of him without a fight." She looked back appreciatively at Bruce 
on stage, "You are a lucky woman, Lorie. He's luscious." When 
Amber walked away, Lorie watched Bruce and knew she wouldn't let 
go of him anytime soon.  
 
Christina found a side door that looked unattended and quietly 
stepped in. Off to the side she saw a roadie and probably a 
groupie locked in an embrace, their moans announcing what they 
were doing. She smirked, thinking the roadie had just messed up 
big time and quietly slipped past the two. 

Mike opened his eyes and watched Christina walk toward the 
dressing rooms. He pushed Anne away a little and pulled out his 
radio, "Number 1, this is lookout. She's in the building and on 
her way." 

Andre radioed back, "Got it, lookout. Shut the door and follow at 
a distance. Everyone else, heads up. One out." 

Mike walked over and secured the door and turned toward Anne, 
"Good acting,honey. If this weren't a sting, I would have enjoyed 
that." 

Anne laughed, "All part of the job. Let's go." And they hurried 
down the hall after Christina.  
 
Christina ducked behind a large case and watched as the band came 
off stage.  When she saw Bruce, she almost stepped out and 
confronted him. She decided to wait until they were in the 
dressing room. No sense making a scene in front of the roadies. 
She recognized Gene's girlfriend but who was that hussy standing 
next to her Bruce? And why did he have his arm around her?  
 
Shannon looked up and saw Christina. She whispered to Gene, "The 
bitch is over there at 2:00." Gene looked over and back at Andre. 
Andre nodded, indicating that he saw her. Gene muttered under his 
breath, "Let the fireworks begin." And walked with the rest of the 
group toward the dressing room.  
 
Everyone acted in good spirits, talking about the great show and 
Shannon's surprise for Gene. "You weren't expecting that were 
you?" Shannon laughed.  

"No I wasn't. What possessed you to do it?" Gene asked as he 
grabbed a cold Fresca from the large ice tub in the room. Shannon 
grabbed a Dr. Pepper for herself, "Because you didn't let me 
finish last night." 

Paul laughed, "See what happens when you rush things, Gene." The 
whole room erupted in laughter.  

Christina walked into the room, "Bruce I want to talk to you now."  
 
Everyone in the room went silent. Bruce turned around and looked 
at her, "I have nothing to say to you and from what you said last 
time you have nothing to say to me anymore." 

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. He never talked back to her 
before. "I've come to forgive you. Now let's forget this divorce 
nonsense and come here." She smiled a sickly sweet smile and held 
out her arms a little. 

Bruce stood his ground and calmly said, "No. You hit me, remember. 
I've had enough of your nagging, your bullying, your threats. You 
wanted a divorce, you got it. Now, please leave. My lawyers will 
be in touch." Everyone in the room watched Christina, wondering 
what her next move would be.  
 
Suddenly, she erupted in laughter and walked over to Bruce, "Oh 
you silly jerk. You really think I'm going to believe you don't 
want me? Now give me a kiss and let's go someplace private were we 
can talk." She started to put her arms around Bruce's neck when he 
reached up and caught her wrists. 

"No," he said calmly as he lowered her arms to her sides, "no more 
forgive and forgets. I want you to leave now. As I said my lawyers 
will be in touch." 

She stared at him as the reality of what he said sunk in. "YOU 
FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!" she screamed as she drew back her hand to 
hit him.  
 
The next few minutes were a blur. When Gene saw what she was about 
to do, he vaulted over the couch and knocked her hand out of the 
way.  Lorie dove and pushed Bruce out of the way and Shannon 
lunged for Christina. The two women struggled briefly until 
Shannon pushed Christina into the ice tub, butt first. "You need 
to cool off, chic." Shannon said as she walked away in a flourish. 

Christina was furious! "You fat whore. I'll make you pay for 
that."  She screamed as she pulled herself out of the tub. 

Shannon slowly turned around, "Fat? Did you just call me fat?" She 
grabbed Christina by the hair and twisted her arm around her back. 
"Excuse me while I take out the trash."  And dragged her out the 
door.  
 
Lorie let out a long breath and looked at Bruce, "Are you okay?" 

He looked down at her and smiled, "Come with me." And pulled her 
into the bathroom and locked the door. Gene, Paul and Eric looked 
at each other unable to say anything about what they had just 
witnessed. 

Shannon casually walked in the room and picked up her drink, "That 
was fun. I needed that." 

Gene walked over to her, "Where is she?" 

"Probably in the back of a squad car by now, arrested for 
trespassing. Too bad she fell down the stairs though." 

Gene sighed, "With your help, no doubt." 

Shannon looked up at him with big innocent eyes, "Who? Me?" 

Paul laughed, "Gene you've got a live one there." 

Gene smiled a wicked grin at him, "And she's all mine."  
 
In the tiny bathroom off the dressing room, Bruce pulled Lorie 
into a passionate kiss that left her breathless. "I need you. 
Now." He whispered as he pulled her shirt out of her waist band. 

"Now? In here?" Lorie couldn't believe what she was hearing. "They 
can hear us." She whispered. 

"I don't care. I want you now." He gently demanded as he continued 
to pull her clothes off. She lost herself to the moment. 

After they dressed, they just held each other close, enjoying the feel of 
each other's body. 

"We're going to have to go out there sometime." She reminded him. 

He laughed, "I know but not yet. I kinda like it right here." 

She looked up at him confused, "In this tiny bathroom?" 

He kissed her on the forehead, "No. I meant in your arms."