She really shouldn’t. Go inside, that is. She’d be late if she did. Starbucks always had a long line. No sense in ruining her always-on-time record just to splurge on a cup of caffeine. Something that wouldn’t mix well with her frayed nerves anyway.
Wiping her clammy hands on her jeans, she smoothed a wisp of hair from her eyes, tucking it behind her ear as best she could. How had she worked herself up into such a tizzy? It was Cassie, for Christ’s sakes. How much could she have changed after Ally left?
Squeaking breaks drew her attention back to the road. Cars slowed down for the yellow glow in the streetlight. She tapped her shoe against the edge of the curb, wishing she could have parked closer. At least the walk made up for skipping her daily walk on the treadmill.
The crossing sign flashed not a moment too soon. Ally wasted no time crossing in front of the waiting cars. As she stepped onto the curb, she noticed a slender figure pacing back and forth in the distance. Her chest tightened. Forcing her legs to take each step a little faster, she hoped this meet-up wouldn’t be as awkward as the one she just left.
She stared at the woman’s back, watching coppery strands dance against bare shoulders. Fingers hooked inside the belt loop of a snug fitting pair of Levi’s. Had Cassie not came to New York last summer, Ally may not have recognized her. But there she stood in all her petite glory.
Ally’s cheeks burned with anticipation. Should she hug her? Maybe she should clear her throat and wait to see Cassie’s response. Another uncomfortable reconnection would be the worst way to end this day. Might as well make her presence known and get the weirdness over with. She held off on the hug and cleared her throat, waiting as Cassie turned to face her.
Rich brown eyes fell on Ally’s face. A twinge of hope filled her as Cassie’s eyes twinkled for a moment. But thin brows folded over them just as quickly, choking Ally’s breath from her lungs.
“What happened to you?”
Ally gazed down at her clothes, half expecting to see part of her dinner on them. There didn’t appear to be any stains on her shirt or jeans, unless she couldn’t see it from her angle.
Meeting Cassie’s eyes once more, she dragged out the word, “Nothing.” The answer didn’t appease her friend. “Why do you ask?”
Cassie fisted her hands on her hips. “You’re half an hour late.”
The hell she was. Bending her wrist, Ally’s eyes fell to the watch. “No I’m not. We have ten more minutes before the show starts.”
“I was worried something had gone wrong at the restaurant, but didn’t want to interrupt in case it was the opposite.” Cassie waved her hand as though dismissing her own thoughts. “Anywho, you better pick up a new battery for that watch.”
Ally shook her head, checking the face of the watch again.
“Really.” Cassie said with a grin. “Check your phone.”
Reaching to her back pocket, Ally pulled out her smartphone. She pressed the center key until the screen lit up. At the top, digitized numbers stared back at her.
8:30.
How was that possible?
“Great,” she huffed, throwing her hand in the air. “The first really nice gift my mom gets me is messed up.” She checked the watch once more before her hand fell to her side. “I am incredibly sorry. Will they still seat us if we’re late?”
“Nah,” Cassie said. With a shrug, she leaned in, pointing to the tickets. “It specifically says so on the bottom, along with a little spill about how it distracts the comedians.”
This evening continued its downward spiral. First she accuses her mother of drinking again, now she wasted the tickets her oldest friend scored from the radio station. Could she manage to disappoint anyone else tonight?
“My first week back and I’m letting people down.”
“Oh please,” Cassie waved Ally’s comment away. “You’ll have to do a lot more than that to let me down. I’m just glad your dinner went good… It did go well, didn’t it?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Ally released a sigh. “That conversation requires a drink.”
“Say no more.” Cassie pulled at the string on Ally’s sleeve. “There’s a nice little blues joint just down the street.” She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. “I had a really crappy day at work. Let’s go blow off some steam. We can stay until midnight and bring in your birthday the right way.”
Ally smiled. Cassie hadn’t changed. Her friend still had a way of helping her forget about the stress of dealing with her mother, just like she did all those years ago. The knot in her stomach dissipated.
“Liquor and music. What a great way to end this, how did you say it, crappy day?”
Cassie did her version of a happy dance before locking arms with Ally. “You’re gonna love this place. It’s laid back, the cocktails are perfect, and the men are good looking. You are still single, right?”
Single…definitely. Looking…no way in hell. Her life was complicated enough without adding a relationship to it. Nope. She had no time to think about a relationship. And no time to think about ones that never got off the ground.
Damn her mother. Why did she have to mention Jonah? Hadn’t the t-shirt her roommate sent been punishment enough?
* * *
The gritty sound of a guitar captured Ally’s attention the moment she stepped inside Midnight Blues nightclub. Hues of green, red, and blue lit up the right side of the bar. Trailing her eyes over the stage, she didn’t recognize the band playing. But the sultry riffs coming from the electric guitar made her want to join the crowd already dancing.
Instead, she followed Cassie to the bar, pulling out a stool as she slid across the plush cushion. Cassie waved at the bartender, a stocky man with tribal tattoos encircling well-defined biceps. He gave her a crooked smile, nodding his head in their direction.
Ally noticed the smile creeping across Cassie’s lips. “You friends with the bartender?”
Cassie’s eyes widened a little. “Let’s just say, I come here often. And not just for the music. Or the liquor.” Her eyes flitted back to the bartender, who was now heading in their direction.
“My evening just got better,” he smiled, letting his eyes roam from Cassie’s face, down toward her breasts. They lingered a moment as he grabbed a glass from the rack above. “The usual, darlin’?”
“You know it, Mike,” she cooed.
Mike’s eyes landed on Ally. “And what are you drinking, sugar?”
Sugar? Darlin’? Yes, she was definitely back in the South. Ally fought back a smile and met Cassie’s gaze. “I’ll have the same thing she’s drinking.”
“Manhattans it is.” He gave Cassie a wink before walking toward the three-tier shelf of assorted liquor bottles.
Ally eyed Cassie, waiting for her friend to look at her again, but Cassie’s attention remained on Mike. She had that glazed over look that most people got after staring at something for way too long.
Shaking her head, Ally focused on the stage. The dance floor, still packed with people, blocked most of her view of the band. But she couldn’t escape the music nor could her body refuse the way the guitar called to her. Rocking her shoulders side to side, she didn’t give Mike a second glance when he set her drink on the bar.
She grabbed the martini glass, placing it to her lips as the cool liquid spilled into her mouth. Warmth caressed her tongue and throat. The sweet vermouth was a change from the noir she normally drank, but she welcomed the change.
Cassie and Mike continued flirting as Ally slid off the barstool. She didn’t step away but the music continued calling to her soul. The urge to dance grew stronger. She took another sip of the cocktail, swaying her hips to the beat of the drums. While she didn’t recognize the song, or the band for that matter, the music grabbed a hold of her, refusing to let go until her body played along.
“Want to go dance?” Cassie’s voice sounded so muffled, Ally wasn’t sure if she’d asked her the question until she peered around to meet Ally’s eyes. “Well?”
“Sorry,??
? Ally laughed. “I thought you were talking to Mike.”
Cassie tapped Ally’s shoulder as she rolled her eyes. “Mike won’t show off his moves on the dance floor.”
“Really? Then where?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Cassie giggled into her glass as she took a drink. Ally mimicked her movements, taking a bigger gulp of the cocktail. The warmth of the earlier sip turned to a burn. It didn’t just affect her mouth this time. Her entire body radiated with heat. The tension once pinching the muscles in her neck faded.
When the band switched songs, Cassie stepped in front of her, pulling on her arm. “Come on. Let’s move this party to the dance floor. I love this song.”
Ally didn’t recognize the song either, but the beat was good. That’s all she needed. A good beat, guitar riffs, and the buzz of alcohol.
Cassie led them to the edge of the dance floor. She slipped between the bodies, then back out, shaking to the music. Turning to gaze at Ally, her lips curled upward. A laugh ripped from Ally’s chest as Cassie’s brows wiggled in sync with her hips.
Bouncing her body to the beat, Cassie dipped into some hip shakes. She grabbed Ally’s hands, pulling her closer until both were moving to the music. Swaying her hips from side to side, Ally noticed several pairs of eyes glued to them. Mostly men, but a few women, too.
She cocked a brow at Cassie, but her friend shook her head. “Expect to get some attention while we’re here. Especially when we get out there.” Cassie’s finger pointed toward the bodies packing the dance floor. “Guys love seeing two sexy chicks shaking their ass on the dance floor. And this song is hot…almost as hot as us.”
Fighting back a snort, Ally rolled her eyes. Sexy? Hot? Her? Those words didn’t belong in the same sentence, but whatever. She liked dancing.
Closing her eyes, she allowed the music to block out the thought of strange men staring at her. No man would keep her from having fun and she was definitely having fun. Finally.
The guitar worked its magic, drawing out a few extra hip shakes from her. She opened her eyes again, flashing Cassie a smile.
“Remember how we did it in high school?” Cassie asked.
The memory had Ally’s body slowing until she finally stopped. How could she forget about their high school dances? They had every guy at their school drooling. Even a few of the younger male teachers had a hard time averting their eyes.
Giving Cassie a shrug, Ally took another gulp of her drink, waiting until the burn coursed through her body. Cassie took her elbow, tugging gently. “It’ll be over soon and then you’ll be sorry.”
Ally hesitated. It had been a long time since she’d been this reckless. She took a step back toward the bar, but Cassie came off the dance floor. One tug, then another, though and she had them at the edge, again.
“Bring your drink and come on,” her friend insisted.
“But…”
It was useless to argue. Cassie wasn’t having any of it. Ally gave up. She followed her friend into the throng of bodies, letting her own find the rhythm until both were back-to-back, dipping their hips to the beat. They swayed and shimmied until they reached the center of the dance floor.
Cassie was right about one thing. Men loved to watch two women dancing together. The few stares they received a minute ago multiplied. Between the alcohol and the lustful gazes, Ally’s cheeks burned hotter than the track lights above them. The more men stopped to stare, the bigger her smile spread across her lips.
Lord, what had her friend talked her into?
Flirting and teasing came naturally to Cassie. Ally though…she’d almost forgot how to do it. A look here, a tip of the head there, and it started coming back to her. Along with how much she enjoyed it. So long as none of the onlookers got bold enough to approach, or worse, try to bump and grind with them.
One guy, just a few feet away, looked as though he had the intention of joining in. While his own body slowed on movements, his eyes danced up and down Ally’s body, making her feel naked. At least he was easy on the eyes, and that made his gawking a little easier to tolerate.
He gave Ally a wink, taking a few steps toward her.
Not wanting to give him the wrong impression, Ally turned her eyes toward the stage. The singer was in the zone, belting out the lyrics, eyes shut, head and body swaying in front of the microphone. Something about him struck a familiar chord in her memory. Maybe she had heard of this band before.
Her eyes moved to the bassist beside him. Though he faced the crowd, his eyes remained on his guitar, making it hard to see how familiar he looked. Upon a pedestal, the drummer beat his drums, shutting out the people grooving on the dance floor. Ally couldn’t see him either. Mostly due to the weird light shining down on his face.
But the man on lead guitar, the one who was playing the riffs that called to her soul, his eyes were glued on her.
Bright eyes sparkled under the lighting. She held his gaze for a heartbeat then forced herself to look away. But she couldn’t shake the effect it had on her. The way it made her belly feel like a million bubbles floated inside.
Taking another sip from her drink, she hoped to distract herself from the need to look at him again. The stronger the urge grew, the quicker she drank. The need outlasted the cocktail as the last sip of liquor burned down her throat. Tiny beads of sweat formed at the nape of her neck. She brushed her hair away, hoping to cool herself.
It didn’t help.
She sensed eyes weighing on her. Slowly turning toward the stage, she gazed back at the guitarist, not the least bit surprised that he hadn’t looked away. Dark brows knitted as his fingers slid across the fretboard. If Ally didn’t know better, she’d think he was offering her some type of challenge.
Pressing her back against Cassie’s she dipped a little lower, shaking her hips with more force. Guitar guy moved his fingers faster.
So this was a challenge. Fine. Handsome didn’t know about her competitive streak. She’d win this game of seduction.
Rolling her shoulders, Ally tilted her head down until her eyes peered through her lashes. She moved her hips in sync with his chords. He relaxed one brow, jabbing the other upward. Was he taunting her?
Ally kept up with his increasing rhythm until her entire body shimmied. Guitar guy’s mouth gaped a little. His eyes raked over her body, lingering at her hips a moment before slowly working their way up. Ally knew she had him when she noticed his jaw clenching.
Not backing down from the challenge, his fingers danced across the strings. He turned his broad shoulders until he completely faced her. Ally did the same. She barely caught glimpse of the frown on Cassie’s face.
Running her hands down her sides, she pressed her palms against her hips, giving them a few extra shakes for his benefit. His eyes fell back down to where her hands now rested, making Ally’s heart kick up a notch.
Turning to face Cassie, she tore her eyes away from him, casting them on her friend. Cassie was too busy looking over toward the bar, at Mike, who’d walked to the edge of the dance floor to watch them. With arms folded across his chest, Ally knew the smile teasing his lips was for Cassie. Mike’s eyes never turned to Ally. Not that she wanted them on her anyway.
She gave Cassie one last glance before gazing back to the stage. Tall, dark, and handsome had moved from his position near the amp. Standing just at the edge of the stage, he looked as though he could leap from it and land just a few feet from her.
The longer he stared at her, the harder it became to look at anything but him. She loved the way his dark curls brushed against his temples as he bobbed his head with the music. And the way his shoulders curled in when he changed chords on his guitar. Even the way he squinted his eyes when hitting the harder notes. But his smile…it intoxicated her more than anything she’d tasted inside the martini glass. The same smile that showed off a cute little dimple in his right cheek.
When Ally met his eyes again, something inside them shifted. He looked older, wiser, more…familiar.
; What was it about that dimple that jarred something in the back of her mind?
She slowed her movements, taking her hips from a full-blown shake to a gentle sway. The thump of her heart competed with the drums until the beats faded and all that remained was the twang of the guitar chords.
Dark brows pinched until his piercing eyes disappeared behind closed lids. The heat building in Ally’s body waned. She wasn’t sure when his attention had become her sole desire, but she felt like she would explode if he didn’t open his eyes and meet hers again.
Her stomach tightened in a perfect little knot just above her navel. Need pulsed inside her veins, the need to run up to the stage and demand him to look her in the eye, to tell her his name, to explain why she felt empty when she wasn’t the center of his attention.
No man had ever caused such a reaction in her heart, but a boy had. Once. Years ago. Six years to be exact. In this very town. The last place she’d saw him. The last time she’d been able to be herself around any man. And that boy…he’d been more than just some guy. He’d been her confidant. Her shoulder to cry on. Her best friend. Even more so than Cassie.
God, she missed him. She missed Jonah with every beat of her heart.
Jonah, with hair as black as tea leaves.
Jonah, with eyes as green as a granny smith apple.
Jonah, with a smile sweeter than strawberry shortcake. A dimpled strawberry shortcake.
Sweet Jesus…Could he be her Jonah?
No! He couldn’t be. Her mother’s mention of him earlier. That was all this was. Her mind putting two things together because she didn’t want to think about him. About how he made her heart thump like a base drum—just as loud, just as deep. How a brush of his hand made her skin erect with gooseflesh.
There was no way possible this man and her Jonah were one and the same. Ally refused to believe it. Refused to get her hopes up.
Until he smiled again.