Whistling in the Dark (43 page)

Jack let out a breath. He had to say all of it, for better or worse. "Things could go wrong. I could go wrong." He met Sutton's eyes. "I might wreck. You know it. And I can't wreck you, too." He forced the question out from where it had been burning a hole in him. "What if I crack up? Jesus, what if I do? Then what the hell will you do?"

The gray eyes were gentle and embracing, even as Sutton's hand slipped into his and held on tight. It was one hell of an answer. Jack laughed shakily. He was going to lose what good sense he had left--for sure, if Sutton kissed him.

After last night, after everything, Sutton did--and Jack had to think looking at it like a romantic dream might not be the worst thing. "I'm sorry. Sorry about every--you know." Words didn't stand a chance of expressing it, so he grabbed on tight and buried his face in Sutton's neck.

Arms enfolded him. "You'll be all right. I'll keep you all in one piece with radio tubes and blueberry pie and the most unseemly devotion there is."

Jack sniffled. "Pie sounds all right. And the rest of it, too. I've got a couple of pennies in a jar somewhere."

"I may have a nickel or two." Sutton drew back, a wary glint in his eye. "You must vow you'll never again do what's best for me without warning me beforehand."

"I still think it would've been for your best." Jack let out a weary breath and tried on a tentative smile. "It just sure as hell isn't for mine."

"Such a shady character. You would really have come all the way to Topeka?"

He'd overheard. Jack felt a twinge of embarrassment. "Your folks would've had conniptions--"

"No, I think they'll be all right. Anyway, they're on their way home."

"But you--"

Sutton shifted closer. "Remember when you asked if I'd ever been in love?"

Jack nodded. "You said you didn't know." A corner of his mouth lifted, grin wanting back. "Sort it out?"

Sutton laughed. "Sorted, yes," he said, with a lingering kiss by way of illustration.

Despite the gladness warming him through, Jack couldn't shake a lonely feeling. "I don't know how I'll get by when you're away, touring."

Sutton looked surprised. "Did you think I would leave you here? I told them I'd want my manager with me. That I couldn't do without him."

"You're kidding. Me? And they said you could drag me along?"

The excitement Jack had doused the night before shone new in Sutton's face. "You might want to stay home, if you're interested in the other offer we received last night. The fellows who set up the transmitter for the concert want someone to come in on their plans for a daily sort of radio program like we've done and I told them you were just the man for it."

"Really?" Jack couldn't take it in. An honest-to-God radio transmitting station, just like he'd imagined. "But I'd miss working with you. Think you'd play for them, too?"

Sutton's gaze narrowed ever so slightly. "You're going to be awful trouble, believing you've got me wrapped around your finger."

The front bell jangled a warning and Harry appeared. Jack couldn't help a grin then, one that made his face ache. "Harry, guess what?"

"Guess? I've got eyes." Relief watered down Harry's dubious tone. "Glad you're back, kid. It'll put an end to all this moping around."

Sutton looked at Jack. "Moping?"

Jack's grin softened. "You can go ahead and be awful trouble, too, if you want."

"God knows you got the best teacher in the world for it," Harry said. "Let's close, already."

Jack couldn't resist. "Business supper?"

Harry merely snorted at that. "Your manager's over at Ida's, flirting with the waitress, so you'll have to lock up--" He broke off as Sutton sprinkled the air with a playful chorus of
I Love You Truly
. Harry made a face at them both. "Ain't you two got something better to do--" Jack opened his mouth to answer and Harry fixed him with a baleful eye. "I'm going." He tossed the keys to Jack. "You and your piano player can close up."

Harry clapped Sutton on the back as he left. When the door closed, the bell wishing them good-night, Jack settled against Sutton, one arm draped around his shoulders. Still a perfect fit. "So. Pie and coffee?"

"You have the money for it?"

Jack shook his head. "But Ida was going to feed me last night, so I figure the offer still stands."

"And if it doesn't?" Sutton had resumed playing, something new, perhaps of his own creation. Playing softly, for the two of them.

Jack rested his head on Sutton's shoulder. "I could borrow a couple of nickels from Ox, I guess."

"And if Esther and Ox have gone to the picture show?"

"You're not fixed on the happily ever after here, Mabel."

That laugh, warm as cocoa and sweeter still, in his ear. "I thought you only believed in happily for right now."

"Sure. How do you think happily ever afters get started?"

Sutton eased the cover over the piano keys. "So--crackers and oatmeal?"

Jack didn't want to move a muscle, but he was getting the idea that maybe Sutton was focused, after all. Sutton kissed him and confiscated the shop keys. "We'll save the pie and coffee for breakfast. On me."

"It'll take a while to pay you back that ten cents. That all right?"

Sutton smiled. "I'll put it on your tab."

Acknowledgements

About the Author