by ML Hamilton
Elena and Kate glanced at each other frowning. Kate lifted a finger, starting to say something, then stopped and put her hand down. Elena glared at him, but she was trying hard not to laugh. He was clever, she’d give him that much.
Rage took the stage. The band had only four members, a singer, bassist, guitarist, and drummer. The singer also played harmonica and when he played, the notes drifted over the audience with a haunting, lilting wail. Elena was entranced. They were every bit as good live as they had been on the MP3.
The singer was a tall, exceedingly thin man with a long face and black hair that was swept up in a pompadour. His clothing and look harkened back to a time of the smoky, secretive speak-easys of the twenties.
Elena leaned forward, her elbows on the table. She wasn’t aware that Joshua was close enough to touch until his velvet voice spoke in her ear. “They’re good, aren’t they?”
“Yes, I think we’ve found our opening band.”
He didn’t answer, but leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and swaying to the music. Other patrons left their seats and moved into the center of the dance floor, rocking to the seductive sounds, pressing their bodies close together.
Elena’s eyes lowered to them and she swallowed hard. She longed to join them, encircled in the arms of the man beside her, swaying in rhythm and feeling the motion of him against her.
As if he read her mind, he opened his eyes and met her gaze. His look was shuttered and seductive. Elena’s mouth went dry.
“Want to dance?”
Elena could only shake her head no. To dance with him would be to erode the last of her resolve.
He seemed momentarily surprised, then a mischievous look entered his eyes and he pushed himself to his feet. “Let’s dance,” he ordered, holding his hand out to Kate.
She blinked stupidly at him, shifting her gaze from his face to his hand and back again. Then she gave Elena a crafty grin and grabbed his fingers, bounding from her seat before Elena could do more than gape at them.
Joshua could dance.
Elena knew this. She had seen him perform on DVD many times; however, this wasn’t the uninhibited dancing that made teenage girls go wild. This was swing dancing - precise steps of complete control. He whirled Kate around the floor, spinning her in and out of the swaying couples and sending her into delighted peels of laughter.
Elena smiled, despite herself. There was nothing provocative about this dance, but the fun they seemed to be having was infectious. She longed to be as free and easy-going with him as her friend was. Sure, Kate thought he was gorgeous, but she didn’t have any other expectations. Elena knew she would never feel that easy with him again. Too much had happened between them, and there were too many feelings, as conflicted as they might be.
When the song ended, they came back to the table, breathless and laughing. Elena smiled at Kate as she plopped into her seat again, grabbing her pink drink and downing the remaining amount.
“I need another,” she said with a giggle. “Can I get you both anything?”
“A beer, please,” said Joshua.
Elena shook her head.
Kate grabbed her purse and headed to the bar, weaving through the growing crowds of people. When she was out of sight, Elena met Joshua’s eyes.
“That looked like fun,” she said conversationally.
Joshua’s gaze never wavered. “I wanted to dance with you.”
“I know.”
“Why does it have to be like this, Elena?” he asked with a frown.
Elena shook her head. “I wish I knew. It just isn’t the right time, Joshua. Everything between us is too complicated.”
Joshua looked out at the band, offering Elena a view of his profile. “That seems like a convenient excuse.”
“How do you figure?”
“Why shouldn’t two people who want each other the way we do just be together until it no longer works? Why does it have to be any more complicated than that?”
“Because other people are involved.”
He looked back at her and started to say something, but he caught himself and simply stared at her.
Elena met his look as long as she could, then she shifted, forcing her eyes to the band.
“You’re not wearing his ring any longer,” he said.
“No, it seemed wrong and adulterous.”
“You aren’t married to him yet.”
“But I was committed. We violated that.”
Joshua made a noise of disgust and slumped back in his chair.
Elena glanced over her shoulder at him. “That’s another reason why it wouldn’t work.”
“Care to explain?”
“It doesn’t bother you that I cheated on my fiancé.”
“You never loved him.”
“But I told him I would marry him.”
“Out of confusion and fear.”
“That doesn’t change the commitment, Joshua.”
He moved so suddenly, she didn’t have time to stop him. He rose to his feet and grabbed her hand, hauling her up with him, then he pulled her onto the dance floor. Elena didn’t try very hard to stop him, but when he swept her into his arms, she braced herself against his chest.
“This isn’t right.”
“Shut up,” he snarled, then drew her closer. Despite her resolve, Elena found her hands easing against him until she had them pressed to his back. The music seeped into her, pulsing up from the rhythm in the floor, through her feet and muscles, until she was pressed the length of Joshua, her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed, swaying with him, their bodies flowing into one.
She forgot where she was. Joshua’s arms around her, the scent of him, the pounding of his heart beneath her ear felt so right. He wrapped himself around her, his hands against her lower back, his face pressed into the fall of her hair. He enveloped her and she swayed with him, letting the music wash away their differences for the moment.
Then it ended and Elena came back to herself. People were brushing past them, leaving the dance floor. Joshua’s hold eased and she moved away from him, looking up into his dark eyes. He didn’t say anything, just let her go, and they turned together, heading back toward the table as if the previous moment had never occurred.
Kate watched Elena carefully. Elena could see that her friend knew more than she wanted her to know. She sank into the seat beside her and Kate pushed her own pink cocktail toward Elena. Elena took it without speaking, drinking deeply and closing her eyes.
The rest of the set passed in a haze for Elena. Mostly she was aware of the man beside her, the heat of him, the pressure of his thigh against her own. She wanted him to touch her, but beyond that incidental contact he made no further moves. By the time the band took its first break, Elena’s head was buzzing with drink and her body felt strung tight.
The crowd on the dance floor disbursed as the band left the stage. A few moments later, the singer with the long face and slicked-back pompadour appeared before them. He held out his hand for Joshua, who rose to his feet and accepted it, allowing himself to be pulled forward in a rough, male embrace, then they released each other. The singer folded his long frame into the chair Joshua pushed out for him and offered his hand to Elena.
“This is Evan Brown,” said Joshua as Elena shook hands with him. “Elena Harris, our assistant manager, and her friend, Kate Murphy, the photographer who shot our last album cover.”
“Nice to meet you,” Evan said, grasping Kate’s fingers. He leaned back in his chair and gave Joshua an appraising look. “How the hell are you?”
“Good,” answered Joshua. A waitress offered Evan an open beer and he lifted it for Joshua to clink his own against. “To old friends.”
“To old friends,” Joshua said before they both drank.
Elena watched them. It was beginning to make sense. “How do you know each other?”
Evan glanced at her. “We were in the same band together back in high school. Actually, Joshy’s brother James was the front man. Ho
w is James?”
“Good, married. His wife’s gonna have a baby in about two months.”
“Holy shit.”
“I hear ya.”
“He still a cop?”
“Gun and everything.”
“Never would have guessed it.”
“Neither would I.”
“When you left Blazes to go do the Hollywood thing, James said he would never sell out B music was his life.”
“Yeah, well, Margaret’s his life now.”
Evan laughed. “Poor bastard.”
Joshua shrugged, twirling his beer bottle in his fingers. “He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him.”
Evan shook his head with a smile. “I can’t get the road out of my blood. Don’t think I ever will.”
“Speaking of that,” said Elena, taking the opportunity to break into the conversation. “I have a proposition for you.”
Evan gave her a startled look, then he waggled his brows. “I’m open for propositions.”
Kate giggled and Elena blushed. “Not that kind,” she said, but she couldn’t stop an embarrassed smile. “Actually, I’m looking for an opening band for the Avalanche tour. Joshua recommended you and after hearing you play, I think you’d be perfect.”
Evan’s eyes shot to Joshua’s face. “You don’t have to do this,” he said, sliding forward in his seat.
“She’s right. You’re the best band for the job.”
“Joshy...”
“That’s all it is, Evan,” Joshua said sternly, giving the singer a narrow-eyed look. “I’m serious. Nothing more.”
Evan started to protest, then shook his head. His eyes drifted back to Elena. She glanced at the two of them in surprise. She wasn’t sure what just happened, but there was obviously more to the discussion than she or Kate understood.
“I can’t speak for the whole band, but this is an opportunity that we can’t pass up.” He cast a sideways glance at Joshua, but his attention was focused on Elena. “If they’re in agreement, what do we do?”
“Come to my office on Friday and we’ll work up a contract. You’ll have to meet with the manager and his assistant, but I don’t think there’ll be a problem once they know Joshua and I both back you.”
He held out his hand again. “You’ve got yourself a deal,” he said, then rose to his feet. Joshua rose with him and Evan grabbed him in a tight embrace. He said something into Joshua’s ear that Elena couldn’t capture, then held him at arm’s length, patted his shoulders, and walked away.
Elena wanted to ask Joshua what it was all about as he took his seat again, but the expression on his face told her he wouldn’t answer.
* * *
“Spill it.”
Elena frowned at Kate, then returned her attention to the road. “Spill it?”
Kate kicked her shoes off and extended her legs under the dash board. “I saw the way the two of you danced. Don’t try to tell me nothing’s happened between you?”
Elena sighed, easing the car into the late night traffic. “It was a mistake.”
“Really?”
Elena brought the car to a stop at the light and shifted in the seat to stare into her friend’s eyes. “I cheated on John and I feel sick about it.”
Kate looked shocked.
Elena gave a bitter laugh. “You told me to spill it,” she said, applying the accelerator. “There it is.”
“You and Ravensong...”
“Yes,” Elena preempted her. “We did.”
“Did you break it off with John?”
Elena braced her forehead with one hand. “Not yet.” Thinking of John made her insides roil. “I don’t know what to tell him and it seems downright cowardly to tell him over the phone.”
Kate didn’t answer.
Elena shot a look at her. “You think I’m a horrible person, don’t you?”
Kate was silent so long, Elena thought she was going to be sick. “It’s not that,” she said with hesitation. She shifted on the seat, bringing her leg up beside her. “Look, Ellie, I told you I thought a fling with him would be good for you and I still do, but I meant maybe a one time thing, one night, nothing more. Just sex.”
“That’s what we had, nothing more,” said Elena, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice.
Kate didn’t answer immediately. Elena glanced at her again.
“What?”
“What I saw tonight wasn’t a one time thing. I saw two people who have strong feelings for each other.”
Elena’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, but she kept her voice even. “Well, you’re wrong. We just had a dance, that’s all.”
“Ellie, don’t lie to me. I’m your best friend. I know you as well as you know yourself.”
Elena felt the wall inside of her crumble. “Oh God, Katie, what am I going to do? I can’t stop thinking about him.”
Kate touched her arm. “I don’t know. He’s trouble, Ellie. He’s got a drug addiction, a crazy career, and a child by another woman. Not to mention his suicide attempt. You don’t need any of that, Ellie.”
“I know, but...”
“But?”
Elena shook her head miserably. “But nothing. You’re right.” She forced a smile for her friend’s benefit. “Look, don’t worry. He leaves for tour in a few weeks. They’ll be gone at least six months. I’m staying here. This attraction should have run it’s course by then and maybe...maybe by then I’ll have met someone new.”
CHAPTER 8
Elena dropped the last bag beside the plastic chairs and surveyed the large crowd who had gathered to see Avalanche on its way. The band members were scattered around the small waiting area, saying goodbye to family members and friends. Elena’s eyes involuntarily drifted to Ravensong. He was hugging a dark-haired little girl and she was clinging to him as if she feared she’d never see him again. An older woman waited patiently behind them.
David blocked her field of vision and she blinked up at the manager with a smile. “Do you have everything you need?”
David nodded. “Don’t know why we couldn’t book a charter. Why are we flying commercial again?”
Elena smiled. They’d had this discussion many times already. “Julian says it promotes the band and is good...”
“P.R.,” finished David.
“Precisely.”
“We’ll call when we land in Philly. You’ll hold down the fort back here?”
“I’ve got it covered. We have three shows to equip by this weekend, one in Concord, one in Oakland, and one in SF. Next week we have five.” She lifted her electronic planner. “It’s all in here.”
“Call me by cell if you need anything.”
“I won’t, but I also have that in here.”
He smiled at her. “Enjoy the quiet.”
“I will.”
Elliot approached them. “I’ll miss you,” he said.
Elena started to make a witty come-back, but something in his expression held her off. He seemed too serious. “Take care of yourself, Elliot,” she said, moving forward and giving him a brief hug.
He didn’t release her as quickly as she expected and she frowned as she looked into his eyes. “Send me an email or two, will ya?”
“Sure,” she answered, somewhat baffled by his demeanor.
She was distracted a moment later by Julian. “Don’t forget to fax the itinerary each day. We also need maps of the stadiums, and all of the various routes to get there. Make sure you contact the limo company each morning and confirm our reservation and the hotels each afternoon. If we...”
“I’ve got it, Julian,” she said. “It’ll all run as smoothly as possible.”
The boarding call echoed over the intercom and the band members began to disentangle themselves from their families. Joshua’s eye caught Elena’s over his daughter’s shoulder. He gave the little girl a final kiss, then the older woman drew her away, moving into line with the rest of the family members who were vacating the waiting room.
Elena
held back, hoping for a word from him, a parting signal, anything. He held her stare as he bent and slung his carry-on bag over his shoulder, but he made no effort to approach her.
She gave him a smile and shrugged.
He smiled in return, then lifted his hand just enough for her to catch the motion. Elliot moved up beside him, slinging an arm around his shoulder and directing him toward the boarding ramp. A moment later he disappeared from view.
“My band could have opened for you,” said a voice.
Elena jumped and glanced over her shoulder to see the roadie, Alec, waiting for his turn to board the plane. She placed a hand over her heart. “You startled me again, Alec.”
He handed her a CD. The name, Roaring Bobcats, was written in permanent marker across the cover.
She turned it over in her hand and gave him a quizzical look. “What’s this?” she asked.
“My band? We could have opened for you. We’re better than Ravensong’s friend.”
She nodded slowly. “I see. I didn’t know you had a band.”
“I told you I played piano, remember? That night? I play as good as Ravensong.”
“Right,” she said with a quick nod. “I remember now.” She glanced at the CD again. “I’m sorry, Alec. I didn’t know about your band.”
He gave her a tight smile. “It’s okay.” He shrugged. “People just think us roadies are only good for moving things.”
She motioned to the boarding ramp. “They’re almost loaded. You’d better hurry.”
He gave an uncomfortable laugh and hitched his bag on his shoulder. “Yeah, who knows? Ravensong might want a water or something, huh?”
She didn’t answer, just forced a smile. “Have a good trip, Alec, okay?”
“Yeah, I will. See ya later.”
Elena kept the smile fixed on her face until he disappeared into the boarding ramp. Crazy nutter, she thought, then dismissed him from her mind. She waited until the last passenger moved into the boarding tunnel and the doors closed, then she went to the windows and stood, staring out at the huge plane waiting to take to the run-way.
She couldn’t see anyone on board, but that didn’t stop her from watching until it left the hanger and taxied into position. Her heart pounded as it accelerated, then lifted off, angling back over the terminal and disappearing from view.