Tonight You Belong to Me (4 page)

Her smile was worth the pounding he took.

Chapter Four

Jilly squeezed Danny’s hand as they neared the manager’s office. “I’m so nervous.”

“Don’t be.” He swung his arm around her. “We’re in this together. Remember?”

A grin quirked her lips. “Yeah.” His tenderness through the night had touched her. His promises thrilled her. Yet part of her still held back, unsure. “I’ll be glad when this is over.” One way or the other.

He paused outside the door marked
Nate Hale, Manager
. He pecked her lips. “For luck.”

“We don’t need it. We have talent.” If she only believed it.

When he threw open the door, she stepped through it with the aplomb of a star. The receptionist looked up and cocked a tweezed brow. “Yes?”

He jingled the change in his pocket. A sure sign of his worked-up nerves. “We’re here to see Mr. Hale.”

The woman’s head bobbed. “And you are?”

“Jilly Jones and Danny O’Malley.” He winked at Jilly.

So gallant, putting her ahead of him. Mr. Hale would never remember her.

The receptionist waved them away. “Take a seat please.”

“Isn’t he here?” Jilly asked.

“Yes,” the woman said, bordering on a sneer. “But he’s already with someone. You’ll have to wait your turn.”

Jilly stole a peek at the opaque glass insert in Mr. Hale’s office door. A silhouette moved, blurred but distinct enough to see a woman. An unhappy woman, judging by her gestures. Their voices rose and fell, subdued anger evident.

Great. Put Mr. Hale in a wonderful mood
. She sighed as she perched on the edge of a chair.

Waiting. The worst torture in the world. She wished she hadn’t worn a short skirt. Danny insisted it would help convince Mr. Hale. Not the kind of fame she sought, but she went along. Momma always said to pick and choose which battles she most wanted to win. This didn’t rank high enough. And she wanted to please her honey.

Poor thing. His left eye still swollen like his bottom lip, he showed real determination. Mr. Hale might take one look at him and laugh them both out of his office.

The door swung open. “You can go fuck yourself! You’ll never fuck me again.” Lace turned, halted at seeing them together, then seethed, “Assholes. You deserve each other.” Looking like she’d just swallowed a glass of bad moonshine, Lace stomped out.

The secretary rose. “I’ll let Mr. Hale know you’re here.” It took about three seconds for her to return. “He’ll see you now.”

Behind his desk, Mr. Hale rubbed his forehead. “Come in. I was about to call you.” He gestured toward the two chairs facing his desk, then caught sight of Danny’s face. “What the hell happened to you?”

“A disagreement with a door.” He waited for Jilly to sit. “Why were you going to call?”

With a heavy breath, Mr. Hale leaned his elbows on his desk. “I just fired Lace.”

“Great,” he said, cheerfully.

Mr. Hale’s laugh sounded soulless. “You think so?”

“Yes. Because I have a partner. Jilly.”

At Mr. Hale’s glance, Jilly straightened, an attempt to appear perky. The man didn’t seem impressed.

“The show starts in five hours,” Hale said.

“Right. Our set’s only twenty minutes. Jilly and I have sung together for years, so all we need’s a quick run-through.”

Hale rocked his chair back. “With all due respect, Jilly, I’ve heard you speak.”

She waited for him to explain further. When he didn’t, she prompted, “Yes?”

He shrugged. “I don’t remember your singing voice as any better.”

Danny leaned toward him. “She’s amazing. And we’re great together.”

“I’m sure you are.” Mr. Hale’s bitter chuckle left no doubt as to what he referred.

“Just listen.” He turned to Jilly. “Our song?”

Her breath caught in her throat. She nodded. Not the first time they’d sung a capella, but she preferred his piano accompaniment.

“On three.” He tapped on the desk then tapped again.

Jilly concentrated on his long finger, and when it hit the third time, she joined him in singing
Tonight You Belong to Me
. She let the tune carry her, focusing on his sweet face, distorted though it was. Whatever came of this, she’d stick to him come Hell or high water.

At the song’s end, she nearly forgot Mr. Hale. Silence filled the room.

He hated it
. She’d hit all the notes, but sounded girlish. She stared at her lap.

Danny broke the void. “I told you we’re great together.”

“Yeah, but I still don’t know.” Mr. Hale turned ashen as he looked past them to the doorway.

Billy Benoit stepped inside. “You two are great together. Will you do me the honor of singing with me during my set?”

Dumbstruck, Jilly gaped in delight.

“Mr. Benoit.” Danny shot from his chair, hand extended.

Shaking hands, Billy asked, “My my, what happened to you?”

“Long story. Will you still have us?”

“So long as it doesn’t affect your singing voice,” Billy said, “it doesn’t affect my decision.” He said to Jilly, “Of course, if you’d rather sing that song with me tonight, I’d be honored.”

Although caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, Jilly needed no time to think about it. “I’m sorry, Mr. Benoit. I only sing that song with Danny.”

He stepped up. “What she means is, we always sing it together.”

What got into him? “Yes. It’s our song.” If he expected her to sing it with anyone else, he could forget it.

Billy held up his hands. “I understand. I still look forward to tonight.”

“Ain’t that the berries!” Thrilled, she squealed and hugged him. “You’re a scholar and a gentleman and an honor to your father and your forefathers before you.”

Billy laughed. “I haven’t heard that in too long.”

Danny moved closer. “Jilly has a Southernism for every occasion.”

“Pay attention to every single one.” Billy winked at her and headed for the door. “See you tonight.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Jilly beamed at Danny. The world was her oyster now, and she intended to pluck its pearl.

***

Candlelight reflected in the mirrored tile beside the Jacuzzi tub. Danny poured champagne into two flutes and handed one up to Jilly, who rested against him, wet and delicious. “How’s this for champagne taste? No more beer pocketbook for us.”

Jilly reached up to clink her glass against his. “Cheers to that.” After a sip, she tilted her head against his shoulder to smile at him.

His lips met hers, so warm and soft he pressed deeper. Her tongue gently probed his, and his cock responded. She giggled and grasped it, her strokes making him catch his breath.

“I say we still need to make up for lost time.”

“I agree.” He’d agree to about anything right now.

She twisted to face him, kneeling so that his erection stood at attention along her belly. The tub left little room to maneuver. Maybe not a bad thing. Her breasts glistened with a thin film of soapy water. He massaged them, tweaking her nipples until they grew hard and plump.

She raised her hips long enough to capture his cock inside her. Water sloshed as she rocked her hips. He pressed his thumb to her clit, and heat sparked in her eyes. She ground against it, eyes half-closed, lips parted. So fucking hot. He needed to see her come. Taking hold of her hips, he urged her faster.

Head thrown back, her breasts bounced in time with her short bursts of breath. His cock aflame with her heat, he restrained his climax so he could come at the same time. Brows arched in pleading, she cried, “Danny!” As trembling overtook her, he shuddered in blissful release. She collapsed atop him, and he stroked her wet back until their breathing evened out.

Lifting up, her lazy smile filled him with warmth. “Wow.”

“Yeah.” Better than before. He’d never have believed it possible.

Her smile faded. “Are you sure you’re squared away with that loan shark?”

“I am.” The thugs waited for him after the show. He’d asked Mr. Hale for an advance, in cash, and thankfully, Hale had lent it, no questions asked. Probably not the first time he’d had to bail out an employee.

She poked a finger at his chest. “And you promise never ever to do such a thing again? Ever?”

He had to laugh at her scolding tone. “Believe me, I won’t.”

“Good.” She cupped her palm to his cheek and leaned in for a kiss. “Because I don’t want to have to threaten to kick any more asses.”

“It’s good to know I can rely on you if I need some asses kicked.”

Turning, she slid her back to rest against his chest. “I’m particularly vicious when left hanging in coital relations.”

“I noticed what a tigress you became.”
And a little frightening
. But he’d keep that to himself.

“I’ve always been a tigress with you.”

“No argument there.” He kissed her cheek. “Do you still want to leave Las Vegas?”

She ran her hands along his leg. “So long as I’m with you, I’m happy.”

Sometimes her vague answers had a way of backfiring. To be clear, he asked, “Guess that means we can sign the contract?”

Tilting her head up, she pressed her lips together. “How will we bill the act?”

“What do you mean?”

“Danny and Jilly?” she sing-songed. “Jilly and Danny?”

Might as well spring it on her now. “How about Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley?”

Water sloshed over the sides as she scrambled in the tub to gape in delight. “Oh baby, you make me as high as a Georgia pine.”

“Does that mean yes?”

She walked her hands up alongside him until her lips touched his. “Yes.”

“Should we find a new song?”

“Why? Every night is tonight. And every night, you belong to me.”

He ditched his champagne glass when she shifted herself to settle atop him. She made him high, too.

She raised her glass again. “Oh, another toast.”

“To?”
Please not Billy Benoit
. The way the crooner shone his spotlight smile on her made him want to sock his neon white teeth.

“To Madame Eve. Without her 1Night Stand service, I’d probably be in Los Angeles, and you’d be here, crying in your beer.”

“No doubt. To Madame Eve.” He touched glasses with her and drank, grateful to her, but also thankful he’d never need to use her service again.

“Maybe we should send her complimentary tickets.”

He doubted the mysterious madame would show. “How about if we dedicate the song to her next time we sing
Tonight You Belong to Me
?”

She looped an arm behind his neck, her sultry Southern accent close to his ear, “How about if we start harmonizing right now?”

Cupping her breast, his heart already sang. “My kind of duet.”

~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
~

Multipublished, award-winning author Cate Masters loves stories with a dash of magic, mayhem and romance! Reviewers have described her stories as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” and “such romantic tales that really touch your soul.”

When not spending time with her family, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company.

Look for her at
http://catemasters.blogspot.com
, Facebook, Goodreads and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.

Cate loves to hear from readers. Email her at: [email protected]

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