Page 54 of Romancing the Rumrunner
“Well, I don’t doubt that. You spend all day in this shop, and all night singing at my joint.”
“About that…”
Tony smiled a little and looked down briefly before meeting her eyes again. “You don’t want to sing for me anymore?”
She gave him a sad smile. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I’ve enjoyed it much more than I expected to. It’s just…with the shop and…my other responsibilities… It’s getting to be a bit too much.”
Tony nodded. “That’s understandable. I hate to see you go.” He took one of her hands and brought it to his lips, keeping her close even after he’d kissed it. “I’d still like to see you, even if you no longer work for me.”
Jessie’s heart lurched on a twisted wave of hope and she did her best to stamp it down. Still, if she flat out refused him it might raise more questions. Better to go along with it. For now. “I think I’d like that.”
“Good,” he said with a smile. “It seems like we spend all our time together at my club. Why don’t we mix things up a little?”
“What do you mean?” Jessie asked, wariness winding its icy way through her veins.
“Well, you’ve been to my club. It seems only fair we go to yours.”
“You want to come to The Red Phoenix?” Dread settled in her stomach. It was a good thing she hadn’t eaten dinner that night or it would have revolted for sure.
Tony shrugged. “Unless there’s some reason why I shouldn’t. Is there? The Phoenix, perhaps? Will he be there? Or will word get back to him if you were seen with me?”
“No,” Jessie said, then hesitated, unsure of how to get out of this without completely giving herself away. If she said no, he’d assume she was hiding something. But she couldn’t bring him to the club. Not while his true identity and purpose were up in the air. That was far too dangerous.
Well, maybe there was a way to test him without endangering anyone. They’d already decided to switch the dates the club would open, in case Tony had heard. So, she’d tell him to come on one of those days. If he had heard, then she wouldn’t be passing along any information that he didn’t already know. And if he hadn’t heard…well it didn’t matter because the club wouldn’t be open that night, anyway.
She’d deal with what would happen after he found out she’d lied to him later. After she found out if she could trust him or not, once and for all.
“No, that sounds fun. How about next Friday. You can meet me here.”
Tony went very still, though his face betrayed nothing. “Friday?”
Jessie nodded.
“All right. I’ll see you Friday.”
Tony hesitated, then pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her lips that nearly broke her heart. There was the spark of passion that was always present when he touched her, but this kiss…this kiss was sweet and tender, his lips moving slightly over hers.
It didn’t feel like he was saying goodnight. It felt like he was saying good-bye.
Chapter Seventeen
“You sure this is the right night? She said it would be open on Wednesday?” Jameson asked, eyeing the dark alley.
“No, she didn’t. That’s why I’m certain it will be.” Tony shoved his hands in his pockets, wanting to be anywhere else in the world but there.
Tony had gone over and over everything, trying to decide the best move. Not just for him, but for Jessie too. She probably wouldn’t agree that bringing the Feds in to raid her club was the best course of action, but in the long run, it really was.
If she was in custody, she’d be protected. And shewouldbe in custody. Because Tony had also overheard the street names of both the exits. And had men waiting at both of them. But…at least she’d be safe. Willie couldn’t touch her. Neither could the Phoenix. If the man even existed, which Tony seriously doubted. It had been Jessie who’d made the decision on what days to open the club. Jessie who kept the place going. Jessie who the employees turned to. If a man named the Phoenix showed up, Tony would eat his hat. And then he would beat the guy to a pulp.
“She might have been telling you the truth. We haven’t seen any sign of anyone.”
But she hadn’t been, and Tony knew it. She’d lied to him, just like Lucille had. He’d do what he could to protect her, but she’d proven again and again that he couldn’t trust her. He had proof, which was more than he ever had with Lucille. The realization ran through him like poison, destroying his heart a little piece at a time. But he couldn’t ignore it anymore. Wouldn’t put anyone in jeopardy again. Well, at least this time no innocents would get hurt because of his misplaced affection for some woman. He’d do the right thing, no matter how much it hurt either one of them.
Tony sucked in a long, slow breath of the cool night air. Another good thing that might come out of this raid…he could get away from Jameson, for good.
“I overheard them say the club would be open on Monday, Thursday and Friday. And she’s probably pretty certain I heard them. So it stands to reason that she switched the dates to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. And just to be certain, I followed Maude Fairfax, her singer, last night. A cab dropped her off near this alley last night around eleven. What else would a dame be doing all dolled up at that time of night, in this spot? They’ll be open tonight. She’ll be banking on me going by what I overheard.”
Jameson scowled. “You’d better be right, Solomon.”
