Page 17 of Romancing the Rumrunner
She tugged on her hand a little. “Where are we going?”
“Back to my office. We’ve got some business to discuss.”
“So, I’m hired?”
“You are indeed, as long as we can come to an agreement on wages and hours.”
She didn’t need to know that he’d gladly pay her anything she wanted if it kept her on his stage. Tony led her into his office and pulled out a chair for her in front of his desk. Instead of seating himself behind his desk, he perched on the end, not wanting the huge piece of furniture between them.
Jessie watched him, her eyes wary but curious as she took in her surroundings. Tony waited until her attention was back on him before he spoke.
“You’ve got quite a set of pipes on you.” He let his gaze roam over her figure, not hiding the fact that he liked what he saw. “I had no idea you were hiding all that under your butcher’s apron.”
Jessie’s eyebrow rose. “Thanks,” she said. Her sardonic tone drew a laugh out of him.
“Sorry. I just mean that I think my patrons will enjoy watching you sing.”
“Yeah, I got that.”
She looked down, smoothing her hands down her dress. Tony’s eyes followed the path her hands took, suddenly wishing her hemline, though already knee length, fell a bit shorter.
“Your song choice was…” Tony trailed off, not sure how to phrase what he wanted to say without making it obvious he’d enjoyed her performance very, very much. Too much.
“I’m sorry. Are you unhappy with my performance?”
Tony looked up, startled. “No. Not unhappy. But…”
Jessie cocked an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain why he was so agitated.
He blew out a breath. “Cripes’ sake, woman, were you trying to cause a riot?”
“Excuse me?”
“That song you sang. I’m not sure that was the best choice of opening numbers.”
“Why not? It’s one of the most popular songs right now. I thought it would be good to start with a bang.”
“Yes, but the way you sang it. I’ve never heard it like that before. Usually the tempo is much more upbeat, fun. But slowing it down like that, singing it like that…”
Jessie’s lips pulled into an amused smile. “I didn’t realize you were a prude, Mr. Solomon. I’m sorry if I offended your sensibilities.”
Tony’s mouth dropped open, not sure if he was more amused or offended by the suggestion. “I am not aprude, Miss Harlan, but you nearly had every man in there on his knees drooling at your feet.”
She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “I thought that was the point,” she said, standing and moving away from him.
She was right. Itwasthe point. But Tony didn’t want any man but himself on his knees before her. And thoughts like that would get him in a lot of trouble he didn’t need. He took a breath, carefully weighing his words. Jessie watched him, her blue eyes twinkling. All right. If she wanted to play like that, he could play along. She could act innocent all she liked. No one could put on a show like that and not mean it, at least to some degree. He had no problem with her playing the sex kitten on stage, but if she was going to be coy about it, he’d call her bluff and show her exactly how that song had affected him.
He let his breath out slowly and stood, moving toward her. Jessie stepped back but she was up against the wall. Tony didn’t stop until he was nearly pressed against her. His eyes roved over her, lingering on the swell of her hips, the way the dress clung to her breasts.
“When you sang that song, you were looking directly at me.”
Now Jessie’s mouth dropped open. If she’d been hoping he hadn’t noticed, she was foolish. Kind of hard to miss when their eyes had been locked together through the whole song.
“You were in the audience.” A weak excuse and he knew she knew it.
“Were you singing that song to me, Jessie? Trying to tell me something, perhaps?”
Jessiehumphedand tried to sidestep him but he moved with her. “Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Solomon. I was just singing. You happened to be in my line of sight. Yours was the only face I knew in the audience and I was a little nervous. It was only natural for me to look at you. If you’d prefer that I only sing songs the way they were written, I can do that. And I’ll give you my set list to approve if you are concerned about my song choices.”
