by Laura DeLuca
Elisa obviously wasn’t convinced. Thankfully, Sharon—bless her sweet, gentle soul—grabbed her by the arm and led her to the door. “Come on Harley queen, we should get in there before someone steals our favorite table.”
Elisa agreed, Drew forgotten at least momentarily. She didn’t even thank him for holding the door open, though Lainey found the gesture completely endearing. There weren’t many gentlemen left in the world, especially not in South Jersey. Once everyone else had walked past, Drew slid his arm around Lainey’s waist. That simple touch sent fire coursing through her whole body, especially the lower region. She suddenly found herself wishing she’d ditched her friends and taken him someplace more private, but it was too late to change their plans now.
As soon as they entered the crowded bar, a few people glanced up and nodded in their general direction. Lainey and her friends knew almost everyone there, at least by sight. The familiar scent of beer and hot wings permeated the air, the latter of which instantly made her nose tingle and her belly growl. She scanned the dining area for their normal spot and was happy to see it was vacant, even though the bar, cut in a large oval, was already packed around its perimeter. Based on the fact that a group of girls were on the stage, prancing around as they sung along with an old nineties tune, Lainey had to assume open mic night had already begun.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my favorite band of misfits.” Elisa flipped him the bird as she strutted past, but both Erin and Lainey stopped to greet the tall bartender. He gave them a playful smirk as he wiped down the bar.
“Hey there, stranger.” Erin leaned over to give him a hug. “How are Alexis and that sweet baby girl of yours?”
“They’re good, they’re good. The baby is finally sleeping through the night so Alexis is happy. What about you two?” He peeked over at Lainey. “I sure hope you have those vocal cords warmed up. You know half the men sitting at this bar are only here because they’re expecting you to perform.”
Beside her, Drew raised an eyebrow. “Is that true, Lainey? You didn’t tell me you were a local celebrity. Though, after hearing you the other day, I can’t say I’m surprised.”
Lainey’s cheeks turned scarlet. “More like the local crackpot. People love to see me make a fool of myself, especially these two.” She gestured to Trevor and Erin.
“Don’t believe a word. Lainey is Woody’s own diva.” The server stuck out the hand that wasn’t clutching a dirty rag. “By the way, I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Trevor Sawyer.”
“Drew DiPalma.” The two men shook across the bar.
“Trevor is the owner of this fine establishment,” Erin volunteered, with a sweep of her hands. “He also had the pleasure of graduating from high school beside Lainey and me.”
“He was the star of the basketball team,” Lainey added, glad to have the attention diverted from her singing abilities. “Took the team all the way to the championships our senior year.”
“Did you play ball?” Trevor asked Drew, squinting to get a better view in the dim light. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before. Maybe we crossed paths on the court.”
“I did play, but that was back in Georgia.” Drew shrugged. “I live in L.A. these days. I’m just passing through the area.”
“Well, I appreciate you stopping in.” Trevor winked. “If you’re here to see Lainey perform, I’m sure she’ll knock your socks off.”
“Tell Alexis we said hello,” Lainey called over her shoulder, dragging Drew with her before Trevor could embarrass her any further.
Elisa and Sharon had commandeered their regular table next to the stage. Somehow, Elisa even managed to score a bottle of Coors light. She chugged it down while Sharon nursed a Guinness, most likely her only drink of the evening since she was driving. Once the rest of them were situated, the waitress came around, and they ordered some finger food. Despite her earlier desire for something stronger, Lainey settled on a Sprite and some fries.
Erin rolled her eyes when the glasses were set on the table a few minutes later. “Did Lainey tell you she’s a lightweight?” she asked Drew. “One beer and she’s all giggles.”
Lainey folded her arms and glared at her co-worker. “It does take more than one. But I prefer wine coolers over beer most of the time.”
Drew didn’t get a chance to weigh in before Elisa changed the subject. Poor guy, he barely got a word in with this gang.
“Hey, Drew.” Elisa took another long pull of her beer before leaning in closer. “Did anyone ever tell you that you look a lot like that actor guy—what’s his name?” She chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. “I can’t remember, but he was in that sappy movie about the boat sinking.”
“Mm hmm!” Erin chewed a French fry she’d stolen from Lainey’s plate and nodded enthusiastically. “I knew he reminded me of someone,” she continued once she swallowed. “His name is ... uh ... Andy. Andy Palmer. I recall reading something the other day about him hooking up with that sexy Canadian actress, Catherine Beaumont, while they were shooting a new movie together.”
Elisa snapped her fingers. “Yep, that’s him. He totally sucked in Sunken Treasures and he’s a complete twerp. Catherine Beaumont is a classy dame. I can’t imagine what she sees in that Tom Cruise wanna-be. You must work out more than he does,” she added, turning back to Drew. “But aside from that, you’re a dead ringer for the guy.”
Lainey put her head in her hands. She began to wonder if Elisa had started drinking before she arrived. Luckily, Drew took it all in stride. He gave them a good-natured chuckle. “Why do I feel like I should be insulted?”
“I’m completely serious and it’s not like he’s that bad looking,” Elisa continued. “And ... ouch!” Lainey heard a thump even over the out-of-tune singer who’d taken the stage, and she was fairly certain Sharon had kicked Elisa under the table. That didn’t stop their friend from charging on as she bent over to rub her shin. “You know, Drew, you should consider being his stunt double. I’m sure his puny butt can’t handle anything too dangerous.” She snickered at her own joke. “Then we could say Lainey was dating a real live celebrity.”
“Oh no,” Lainey interjected, hoping to steer Elisa in another direction. “I’m happy dating the guy who handles the lighting on the movie sets. I’m a behind-the-scenes kind of girl.”
“What about fame and fortune?” Erin teased, sipping her Sea Breeze. “Don’t you want to escape from the insurance industry eventually?”
“Those things are fleeting,” Sharon said quietly as she folded her napkin. She didn’t talk much outside of leading their monthly gatherings, and was often overshadowed by their more boisterous friends, especially Elisa, but when she did speak, it was always worth listening to. “Every one of us is already rich in every way that matters—we only need to stop and acknowledge our blessings.”
“I’ll drink to that!” Elisa tilted her bottle, and soon glasses tinkled in the air. Even Drew raised his St. Paulie Girl.
“I definitely agree with Sharon,” Lainey said, after swallowing a sip of her soda. “I wouldn’t trade my life here for anything—I have the beach, my writing, a great job, and of course, the best sistas’ anyone could ever ask for.”
“Oh darn it, don’t make me smear my makeup,” Elisa grumbled. She grabbed the waitress as she passed. “I think we need another round over here, please. This will be the last one for me or I’ll have to leave my bike here overnight.”
As they waited, another tone-deaf singer took the stage. This one was so bad it actually made Lainey flinch. The way he stumbled along the stage and slurred his words also implied he’d gotten an early start on his Friday evening.
“Yikes.” Erin made a face. “Open mic night really shouldn’t be open to just anyone. Trevor needs to have them audition first or something.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Trevor inched up to their table with a sheepish grin. “Lainey, things are getting pretty ugly in here. If you don’t get up on that stage, people might start walking out. Keep in mi
nd, I have a family to support now.”
Lainey hesitated, and not only because that was a total exaggeration. She was also really nervous about singing in front of Drew. Catching her on the beach had been bad enough. “I don’t know...”
“Come on, Lainey,” Elisa urged. “What’s the big deal? You’ve done this a thousand times before. Besides, I have a special request.”
“You do?” Lainey lifted an eye. This was something new. She wondered what her friend was up to.
“Yeah, girl. You know how much I love Pink,” Elisa insisted, doing a little booty shuffle from her seat before staring directly at Drew. “You need to teach the boys in here the true meaning of respect, pop-star style.”
Giving Drew an apologetic shrug, Lainey finally surrendered, figuring she might as well get it over with. She knew exactly which song Elisa referred to. In fact, being a pretty big Pink fan herself, she had it memorized, so she wouldn’t even need a digital cheat sheet. It had a good beat that was sure to get people dancing and it was right in her voice range. Now she just needed to get to the stage without tripping over her own feet and she’d be fine.
“I guess I can’t fight all of you,” Lainey said reluctantly.
Her heart pounded, but she caught Sharon’s nod of encouragement and Drew’s thumbs up, and it helped boost her confidence. She gave her selection to the deejay—a guy named Chuck who’d also attended their private school back in the day—stepped onto the stage and let the music take control.
Chapter Six
Drew’s gaze never strayed from Lainey as she crept up onto the stage, her long hair fanning out behind her like a soft blanket. She whispered to the deejay, who bobbed his head and toyed with his computer keyboard, probably searching for her selection. While they waited, he could feel Elisa’s gaze boring into him. He did his best to ignore it, the same way he ignored the vibrating cell that quivered in his pocket every five to ten minutes. He didn’t know if it was Paulie or Catherine, but whoever it was sure was persistent. Yet as much as he’d been trying to deny his alter ego, at the moment, Drew thanked the powers that be for his acting abilities. Regardless of whether Elisa was a fan, his talent was the only thing that saved him when the girls compared him to Andy Palmer. Inside, he was in total panic mode, but outwardly, he’d remained calm and casual. That they could’ve danced so close to the truth and not figured it out was an honest to goodness miracle.
Drew assumed the idea of a movie star traipsing around their little island seemed too ludicrous a possibility. A doppelganger was more feasible. Of course, the truth would come out eventually, but Drew wasn’t prepared to make such a huge reveal in front of an audience. That was a conversation he and Lainey needed to have one on one. Even though she’d claimed she was a behind-the-scenes girl, he was sure anyone who had the spunk to get up on the stage and sing her heart out in a packed bar could grow to enjoy an occasional tramp across the red carpet.
“Hey, all you people out there! Are you ready for some real entertainment?” The announcement was followed by a high-pitched squeal. Bartender Trevor had sequestered the microphone from the deejay, and now the pair of them gestured to Lainey, who gave a nervous wave in Drew’s general direction. “We’re taking pop culture by storm with our own local starlet, Laaaaainey Riccaaaaardo!”
Heavy applause followed as Trevor handed the microphone to Lainey, including a few hoots and whistles, the loudest of which came from Drew’s own table. Both Erin and Elisa were cheering their friend on with boisterous catcalls and shoe stomps. Sharon was more subdued and settled for a hardy clap. Up on the stage, Lainey was uneasy at first. From his front row seat, Drew could see her fingers gripped the microphone handle so tightly her knuckles had turned white. But as soon as the music flared to life, her inner muse took over. The timid, shy girl melted away and someone completely new glided along the stage with her head held high in confidence.
“One, two, three, four.”
The deejay counted before the heavy bass erupted from the speakers, followed by a guitar accompanied by a drum machine. The melody took Drew by surprise at first, because it had some rap qualities to it, which didn’t seem to match Lainey’s style. But he guessed right away why Elisa had selected it. The lyrics were all about women demanding respect from their man, and not the Donna Summer’s variety. Still, it was a catchy tune and Drew found himself tapping his foot to the beat.
With her musical backup, Lainey lifted her voice, but this was nothing like the soulful soprano he’d witnessed on the beach. This was a full-blown pop princess with the moves to match her perfect pitch. Lainey ran her hands along the length of her body, pulling off the sexy dance moves with class and charm. She shimmied up to the deejay and he added a few rap lines to the chorus before swirling Lainey around. Once she bopped back to center stage, he grabbed a cowbell and clanked it in time to the music. The riotous crowd, many of whom got up to dance along the edges of the stage, whooped and hollered even louder. Feet tramped against the hardwood floors, and a disco ball turned circles of light along the faces in the crowd.
“Can you hear me?” Lainey called, putting her hand against her ear for emphasis. “I’m talking to you, sisters!”
She pointed to their table, working a little improv magic during the instrumental break. Beside him, Elisa used her hands as an amplifier by circling them around her lips. The resulting whooooo was so loud it made Drew’s ears ring and almost drowned out the music. The other girls danced in their seats while up on the stage, Lainey wiggled her booty with rhythm and grace, as though she’d never been nervous at all. With her body hugged snugly in her sexy, tan dress, all of her assets were on full display. A strand of dark brown beads rose from the center of her amble bosom, setting off the color of her hair and making her deep brown eyes stand out, even at a distance. She was gorgeous, and every man and woman in the room acknowledged it. In her own way, Lainey was just as much of a star as he was, even if she didn’t realize it.
“Hot, isn’t she?” Elisa whispered close to his ear. “Our Lainey can definitely rock the stage.”
Lainey’s friend leaned back and sipped her cola, studying him. She’d stopped drinking beer after the second bottle so she’d be sober for the ride home, but Drew doubted more alcohol would’ve made Elisa any less intimidating. Even though she was a size zero, the girl had a presence about her that screamed Lorena Bobbitt. Though she waited patiently for his reply, with her big brown eyes wide with innocence, Drew had the feeling she was laying a tactical trap. He decided he had to choose his next words carefully.
“Lainey is...” Drew’s forehead creased in contemplation. “Magical. I can’t think of any other way to describe it. I’ve never met anyone quite like her.”
Elisa nodded, satisfied with that answer, but not enough to avoid a not-so-veiled threat. “You better treat her right.” Her lips turned up in what could only be described as an evil grin. “We can get a little wicked if someone messes with one of our own. Isn’t that right, ladies?”
It may have been his imagination, but Drew swore a conspirative look passed between the women. He wondered what sort of plot the three of them had planned in case he fell out of line. He hadn’t missed the fact that all three of them wore a silver star pendant identical to Lainey’s. He understood they had a bond that went beyond simple friendship. Even though Drew loved seeing Lainey perform, he was relieved when the song finally came to a boisterous close and he didn’t have to be left alone with them any longer. Amidst thunderous applause, Lainey bounced off the stage, flushed, excited, and completely ignorant to the fact that her friends were debating whether or not to vote him off the island ... quite literally.
“Wow! That was more fun than I expected!” Lainey panted, out of breath. She grabbed the sprite from the table and guzzled half of it in a few long sips. “Elisa, I should have you pick out the songs more often.”
“It’s definitely better than some sappy love song or a ditty from Grease like you normally pick,” Elisa agreed, running a hand thr
ough her raven black hair. “And you totally rocked it.”
Erin nodded in agreement. “I’m sure Pink herself would approve.”
“You were stunning.” Drew lifted her hand to kiss her fingers as he spoke. The soft touch of her skin against his lips was enough to cause an embarrassing rise which, thankfully, the table hid from view. “I’m glad you invited me tonight so I could see it.”
A deeper blush highlighted her already pink cheeks. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I’m glad you could come.”
Elisa rolled her eyes and Erin giggled, but no one teased them for the affectionate moment. The rest of the evening passed in a flurry of activity. There were no more takers for the open mic night, so the deejay switched to mixing tunes. In between chatting and eating, the girls got up to dance. Lainey was impressed when Drew not only joined them, but was able to match her moves with an agility few men on the dance floor possessed. Of course, any actor worth his salt had taken at least a few basic dance classes. After so many historical films, Drew could even waltz like a pro.
To his relief, there was no more talk of him being Andy Palmer’s clone. In fact, Drew was pretty sure the whole conversation had already been dismissed. Despite a rocky start, the evening went remarkably well. Drew knew that in the female world, it was a huge step to gain approval from their clique and this one seemed especially close knit. By the end of the night, even Elisa had partially accepted his presence. At the very least, she’d stopped giving him dirty looks every few seconds. Hoping to keep it that way, Drew made sure to pick up the check for the table on a bathroom break, and gave Trevor his credit card to run a tab for the rest of the night. Before long, the hour inched closer to one a.m., and the working girls began to get droopy eyed.