Chapter five Daniel

I cannot believe it. After spending long hours visiting properties, having meetings with owners, brokers and investors, and still a business dinner too long for my liking, I finally get to the hotel bedroom to take a bath and rest.

I had to be really focused, as Zach was in and out all the time taking calls or sending text messages. I roll my eyes as I remember the number of times this went on. The guy comes to help me but his mind is elsewhere. I should have brought Rafe along as he is a better planner.

I open into a big yawn, while I stretch, feeling tired. I always worked better at night. That’s why waking up early to travel and go through the day taking care of all those bureaucratic activities knocks me down harder than spending the night at the bar.

I must confess that being far away from After Dark really hurts me. The bar is my life. I don’t have kids and I’m not married (thank God!). My daily focus is my business, which has been growing steadily, and a serious relationship is certainly not in my plans.

Not at all.

Hey, don’t point your finger or roll your eyes to me. My mother’s roasting this morning was sufficient:

“Mother? I’m coming in”, I spoke after knocking on the kitchen door and turning the door knob. As always, it was open.

“Hi, my son! Up so early?” My mother hugged me in the middle of the kitchen and pushed me down a chair, ready to fill me up with morning coffee.

“I only came by to give you a kiss. I’m going on a trip with Zach to see a property. I think we might have found what we were looking for to expand After Dark.

“That’s excellent, love. Drink your coffee and eat that warm sandwich combo.” She pushed the dish with the sandwich and placed the cup full of black coffee right in front of me. “You don’t eat properly and stay awake all night long...My son, you need to look after yourself. To look after yourself, grow up, start a family...”

“Mother...”

“Don’t “mother” me. You’re almost twenty eight years old. Don’t you think you are running late to find a good girl? Marry and give me grandchildren? You’re not getting any younger.”

“Mother, I already told you that I don’t want to get marri...”

“Daniel, it’s time you think your life over.” “Oh, damn it.” “That’s my full name. Sit down and listen. Those girls that hang on to you at the bar will not be around when you turn fifty. Listen carefully to what your mother is telling you. Now, you better eat as I know you are going to spend the day running around and you’re not going to feed yourself.”

Even with all her allegations that I'm getting old —at twenty-seven, for God's sake—I’m still not looking for a serious relationship. After Dark is my life and I'm not willing to share my time with anyone in pursuit of success.

I'd rather leave this grandchildren and wedding chat to my sisters, Jo and Julie.

Yes, I know, Ju's not really my sister, but she grew up with me and was raised by my parents since hers passed away. Ever since, she became as much my responsibility as my own sister. I must confess that when we were younger, I had a special feeling for her, until John, my best friend from high school, caught me looking at her like a dog that looks at a roasted chicken, and told me it was disgusting what I was doing, that I should protect her from guys like me, and stop drooling over her. After all, she was my sister. He was very persuasive. In the end, I felt like a pervert as I was attracted to the girl who lived under the protection of my parents. I had to choke my wish and did what any older brother would do: I protected Julie as much as I could.

So far, it's been working.

I turn on the computer while I take off my shirt and shoe. I really need a good bath. I go through the suitcase looking for underwear when I hear the e-mail sound letting me know I have unread messages. I get a fright when I see the amount of notifications from the bar's Facebook page. Oh, boy! Did some sort of a bomb go off in there?

I open Facebook, already anticipating a headache. I'm rolling the screen as I go into a state of shock. The amount of check-ins made at the bar is infinitely higher than any other night.

I keep scrolling the screen and read the comments:

Lucy Smith: Wonderful night with the gals! After Dark rocked with the handsome Alan.

Michael Lewis: Today's show was excellent! Congratulations, AD gang!

Anne McCarty: Best night ever!

Luc Robs: What's with the voice of this hot chick who's singing in AD?

Hold on. Hot? There's something wrong. Snash and The Band don't have any hot chicks on the front line. Would they have invited anyone to play with them tonight?

I go down the page a little more and find a publication of the vocalist:

Snash: Friends, I’m saying goodbye to AD. On my way to India to find my inner balance and peace.

Oh, fuck! We lost the band’s lead singer and Rafe didn't even call me? And who's the hot chick who was singing instead? I immediately take the phone to call Rafe and see five unread text messages:

Rafe: Dude, call me. Problems.

Rafe : Danny, I'm going to have to take extreme action. Snash pulled out of the show at the last minute. Call me!

Rafe : Call me, DAMN IT!!

Rafe : Fuck it. When you guys come back we level it up. You’re going to lose it but I had no other option. I found a replacement for that SOB, Snash.

Rafe : I’m the man. Full house. What an achievement. You guys should stay there because I manage this place better if you keep away. :D

Now I’m curious. I wonder who he booked.

There’s a link in the bar timeline that draws my attention. “Juliette & The Band singing Fever at After Dark.” Excellent, someone recorded the new band’s show.

The video is not that good, it seems to have been done with a smartphone. The person that made the footage was very close to the stage. It zooms on that idiot Alan who’s the first to sing. He is unfortunately an idiot I have to bear with, despite acting like an asshole, constantly throwing charm at the fans and always taking one of them to the dressing room. How can someone believe that an asshole with such hair has fans?

The video carries on until a female, hoarse and sensual voice begins to sing. The camera turns towards her and... Holy shit! A beautiful, hot and sensual blond is (with) her eyes closed, swaying her body to the rhythm of the song as she sings.

I feel a shiver go through my spine and the excitement taking over. I haven't felt this way in a long time. I don't even know if I've ever felt this way. Actually, yes, but I had to smother it. It would never work. Of course I've had many liaisons, I go out with a lot of beautiful women, but this kind of lust, one that leaves a knot in the stomach and seems to have knocked me right in the chest, is rarer. The feeling I have is that she's singing just for me. I'm sure every man at the bar tonight felt the same way. The song carries on and while the blond sings the sensual song in a duet with that jerk Alan, I can't help myself and imagine the things that mouth should be able to do.

I keep staring at the screen and frown. She seems vaguely familiar to me. Would she have been at the bar before? I don't think so. I would never forget seeing a woman like her. The blond continues to sing, with her eyes closed and a little smirk on her face, pouring her sensuality in a subtle way, almost as if unaware of what she can arouse in men.

The music comes to a close and so does the video. Now, besides being tired, I'm excited and bothered. I get up from the chair, take off my pants and go to the bathroom. Now, more than ever, I need a bath. Cold, preferably.

Chapter six

Julie

Sunday arrives and I wake up feeling happy in a way I haven’t been in a long time. There’s a mix of excitement for the epic show and the feeling of a real good night sleep, in spite of missing the naughty boy from the house next door.

I sit on the bed, stretch my body, and hear the message tone on my mobile.

Daniel : Good morning, Ju. Did things go well last night at AD?

Oh, damn it! And now? I’ll have to act silly so that he doesn’t suspect anything.

I: Hi, Danny. All good and you? The venue was pretty full. When are you coming back? Kiss

Daniel: Saturday. Kiss

Men are so thrifty with words... Phew! Fortunately! I got away with this one!

Just in tandem another message comes through. Oh, God!

George: Little girl, I’ll be there in 15 to take you shopping. Be ready. You’re not allowed to wear leggings. XXXX (Kisses) from your personal stylist, best friend and producer.

All men are thrifty with words, not George. I stand up and run to the bathroom as I type the answer.

I: Okay. Can I put on the yoga pants? ;D

George: Nooooooooooooooooooo :@ :@

I: What are those :@?

George: My angry face for your lack of style, sweetheart. MOVE OOOON!

I laugh and get in the shower fast, because I know he's probably knocking on the door in a little while.

***

"At last you dropped those hideous clothes you used to wear, huh?”

George speaks, glancing at me from head to toe with contempt.

He's absolutely right, but I can't help but pick on him.

"Friend, but it's so comfortable...”

George seems to shoot me with his eyes.

"If you went through one of those transformation programs, like a Fashion Squad, you'd be humiliated on national television in all those horrible clothes.

"Julie, how do you want to make out with Hot Alan dressed like that?” Jo asks me, very serious.

I let go of a laugh in the middle of the mall.

"Does he go by a new nickname now? Who says I want to make out with Alan?”

"Little girl, if you don't go for him, I'll slap your face! He's going mad, freaking crazy to play guitar on your seductive body.”

George moves his hands, as if describing a body in the form of a musical instrument. I roll my eyes.

"For God's sake, George! You sometimes vent out such goofy stuff! He doesn't want to touch anything. That was just a stage scene!”

George's mouth opens like I told him there's no Santa Claus.

"What?! You really think that was a stage scene? My dear, I know the look of a male very well when he’s getting ready to take his prey. Hot Alan wants you bad and you should want him too, because he's soooo hot!”

"But, George...”

"If you come up with the story that you love Danny Boy, I won't listen anymore.

Little girl, you know that I love you. I really wish, from the bottom of my heart, that you would come right with that idiot.” He turns to Jo with an expression of sorrow and squeezes her hand lightly. "No offense, dear.” Jo nods, as if she agreed that her brother is really an idiot. Geoge turns to me and proceeds with his enthusiastic speech. "He's hot, I’ll give you that. But, as an idiot, he scores top marks on a scale of one to five. You've been in love with him for yeaaarss and he doesn't give a damn about you. He can't even see how much you've grown. You need to get someone. Hit the road before you get old, crazy and surrounded by cats!”

"Not full of cats, full of books," I answer, sulking.

"Girlfriend, George is right. You deserve to find someone to love you. I really wanted it to be my brother, but after all this time...”

I hear the words of my two best friends and my eyes fill up with tears.

I know they're right. I just think it's so unfair. My life was anything but easy... As much as the Stewarts may have given me all the love in the world, losing both parents at the same time is a pain that will never heal in my heart. Though I never complained, moaned or played a victim. I accepted my fate and tried to do everything I could to be happy. The only thing I wanted was the opportunity to show Danny how much I love him.

I keep thinking about last night. I fulfilled my dream of singing. I felt great on stage. I felt alive. Beautiful. Wanted. I remember the rules I set for myself. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and make a decision.

"George? Jo?”

"Yes, little girl.”

"Let's go shopping. It’s time I become a new woman. If, with my new look, I can't get Danny to wake up, at least I’ll get a boyfriend. I don't want to become a crazy old woman, alone and full of cats.”

“Now you’re talking!” George claps while he speaks. "Are you going to play with Alan's guitar?”

Jo and I burst into laughter. George knows how to cheer us up.

***

The day goes by and George takes us to several different stores. I can't take it anymore. We've bought shorts, blouses and dresses —lots of dresses. He decided that my show look will consist exclusively of items that leave my legs out. Now I have an astonishing amount of ballad dresses, glittering skirts and low-cut blouses. They match shoes so high that if I lose balance and fall, I run the risk of breaking my neck.

"Come on, pussycats. Let's go into this one”, he says, pulling me toward a store. I look up and get stunned to see the sign of a famous lingerie store.

"Friend, what are we going to buy here?”

"Definitely not bread! You need a lingerie that will pick you up.”

Jo looks scared. She's been acting weird. She’s always distracted, and spends all the time exchanging text I just don't know who with.

“Guys, I'm going to pop in quickly to the leather bag store on the second floor. I need to buy a new briefcase.”

"Go, my darling. Anything, just call.”

"But, George...” I am interrupted by the saleswoman who comes close and offers help.

Obviously, George takes over and parts the sexiest pieces from the store. I frown on every item he picks up. I'm not used to so much lace.

An attendant serves us candy and prosecco. We make our toast, and I take my mind off and eat while George seems to be on a war mission.

Forty minutes and a few glasses later, I'm pushed into a fitting room with a pile of panties, bras, corsets and other pieces I don't even know what they're for.

I start trying them out, and the prosecco gets to me, leading me to do a parade in the fitting room. George goes on indicating to the saleswoman the pieces he approves so she can separate them. If we were at Victoria's Secret, I'd say I felt like an Angel so much that I shook my butt back and forth.

While I take a look at a corset, George mutters something to the saleswoman, who returns a few minutes later with a pile of sweaters and babydolls.

“I don’t need pajamas, George!”

“Of course not.” That’s not pajamas. You're going to throw away those garbage you sleep with and start sleeping like a diva.

Immediately, I remember the countless times Daniel showed up at the house first thing in the morning for coffee and I was wearing one of my cartoon T-shirts.

I break into a smile as I picture his face when he sees me in a black sweater like that.

I tried all the pieces and bought things that, if it wasn't for prosecco, I would never have agreed to try. I'm not much of a drinker because, with my size, anything knocks me down. However, the drink makes my head lighter and, apparently, my hand much more open as my credit card can tell!

"George?”

"What is it, little girl?”

“I'm drunk. I need to eat something.”

George laughs and takes me to a restaurant in the food court. As we sit down, he calls Jo.

“Where did this girl end up? We spent two hours buying lingerie, long enough for you to get drunk, and she's still picking out a briefcase?”

"She's been weird...”, I say it with a little smile on my face.

"She’s not picking up. I'm going to text her.”

I stretch my neck to see George type:

George: Beloved, where are you? We're at that restaurant you love. Julie's drunk on prosecco and needs to eat something before she devours the hot waiter attending us. <3 ;)

Damn it! Did he notice I'm drooling over the waiter who came to serve us water? I look again at the cellphone screen and smile at the many happy faces in the message. I love getting messages from George. They're always full of fun stickers and emojis.

A shadow draws close to me. I look up and I see the hot waiter. Yummy yummy.

We're almost halfway through lunch - and I'm already much less affected by the drink - when Jo arrives with a guilty face.

"Friend, where were you? You missed all the fun!”

"I went to the bank," she looks away as she speaks, as if she were... embarrassed. George doesn't let go.

"Jo, my angel, three and a half hours to go to the bank? You walked out the door of the lingerie store saying you were going to buy a briefcase and you come back saying you were at the bank. You went to dance the Macarena on the manager's desk?”

I spit some of the soda on George. It's really funny to imagine Jo, a very serious lawyer, dancing like Psy on a table.

"Argh, Julie. Not again!

"I'm sorry," I say, wiping it with the napkin. "But it's your fault, you say these things while I'm drinking.

Jo's still quiet, looking at the menu. George and I exchange glances.

"Aren't you going to tell us what's going on, Jo?” George sniffs. "I thought we were best friends. I really feel so devastated by your attitude. Julie and I tell you everything, and what do you give back in return?” He looks at me and takes his hand to his chest before looking back at her. "You ignore us and push us away from your life. It's too much for a poor heart, you know?”

I support his words, holding George's hand and patting it lightly. Jo looks at us, raises an eyebrow holding a look on her face like she can’t believe what she’s seeing, and becomes the lawyer in the courtroom.

"You're taking it way over the top, George. I went to three stores to look for a new briefcase because mine looks terrible, but I didn't like any. Then I went to the bank to make some payments. I ran into a lawyer on the way and we chatted for half an hour. If you still want to measure my time, I stopped about ten minutes to pee and came to meet you.”

"I don't know why, but you didn't convince me," George says, looking at me. "But it's okay, I'm going to let it go. I'm going to respect your moment.”

***

We left the restaurant and made a stop at Starbucks. A cup of coffee is gonna go down really well to remove the rest of my hangover. Reminder: never drink more than two glasses! While we wait for the barista to call our names, Jo takes her Kindle out of the bag and starts reading.

"Which one are you reading now?”, I ask, stretching to see.

“A reason to dream, from Jennifer Van Wyk”, she smiles at me.

"Ohhh... Captain James...” George and I sighed at the same time.

"Have you read? It can’t be! You didn't even wait for me”, she looks at both of us, pouting.

"Jo, my dear, I'm sorry, but I could never leave Captain James waiting for me," George replies, and we both laughed.

The three of us love reading, and we're always exchanging reading tips.

At this time, our names are called.

We stand up to get our cappuccinos when I hear behind me:

"Well, well. What a delicious surprise. Juliette, the hottest singer of the moment.”

I turn around and meet Alan.

"Alan! Hey, what a surprise.” I approach to kiss him on the face. Wow, how nice he smells and... Ops! How cheeky! He turned his face and almost kissed my mouth! I push away a little, but he pulls me hard and whispers in my ear.

"Babe, this time was on the edge of the mouth, but next time, you won't escape me.”

Oh my God! I'm sure I'm red as a chili.

"Did you know that our duet has become a hit on YouTube? There’s already been a staggering number of views. I talked to Rafe today, and he told me that a critic is going to After Dark on Friday to meet us. Cool, huh?”

"Wow, Alan! That's great news!” I answer as he passes his arm by my waist and pulls me against him. He squeezes me hard and I feel protected in his arms. All right, he's not as strong as Danny. He has a thin structure, yet he’s still muscular. I try to get away, but he squeezes me a little more.

"I love your spontaneity. And perfume”, he says and licks my neck. I hop off him stepping away slightly.

"Well, Alan... It's really great news. We need to go, don't we, George?” I look at George, who is standing still with our cappuccinos in hand and open-mouthed. I look at Alan again. “It was good to see you. E-mail me the songs you guys want to play on Friday!”

He looks at me with a mischievous smile and nods.

"Sure, pretty girl. I'll send it over. And Friday, you're going to be mine.”

I grab my glass from George's hand, give a wry smile and go out dragging my two friends behind me. After climbing the escalators to the fourth floor of the parking lot as if being chased by the ten plagues of Egypt, George stop me, laughing in my face.

"Well, well, well. What was that?”

"What?” I ask, trying to talk my way out of it, but my tone comes out a little louder than I intended.

"He licked you! Jo, did you see that? A lick on the neck!”

“Of course I did.”

"Me, if I were her, I would have licked him in full, every inch. And I'm sure that in some places, he has several centimeters!”

“George!”

"Whoa, I'm just telling you the truth. You're red.”

"What? No, I'm not!”

"Yes, you are. Jo, how does she look?”

"On fire!” my friend replies, looking at me. They burst out laughing.

I turn around and go to the parking lot, with the two of them laughing their heads off behind me. I have to go home. Now. Take a shower.

A very cold one.

Получить полную версию книги можно по ссылке - Здесь

Разделы библиотеки

Любовные романы Любовные романы по темам Любовные романы по автору Современные любовные романы Исторические любовные романы Женские фильмы КулинарияСекреты красотыСонник

Страницы романа:Стр:3

1 2 3 4 5

0

/ 0 Гол.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10