Starlight

by Alexandra Richland

  Beth’s hand darted out in front of him.

  “Here you go, sir.” She passed off a five-dollar bill to the maître d’.

  Aidan glared at the man. “Give it back.”

  His eyes widened. “Pardon, sir?”

  “Give back the money.”

  “But, Aidan—”

  “Beth, forget it.” Aidan’s eyes remained trained on the maître d’.

  The man extended the bill to Beth, his face flooding a deep red. She made no effort to take it from him.

  “Beth, please take back the money.” When she didn’t budge, Aidan turned to her, his expression unyielding. “Tonight is your night and I don’t want you to pay for anything.”

  “But I want to contribute,” she protested. “You’ve spent too much on me already.”

  Aidan returned his attention to the maître d’. “Can I have the money?”

  He handed over the bill right away.

  Aidan extended it to Beth. “Here, take it.”

  With her eyes to the floor, she took the bill and returned it to her purse.

  Aidan reached into his wallet and gave the maître d’ his own tip. The man took off, leaving him alone with Beth in their secluded, romantic corner—except Aidan took one look at her and realized their situation was far from romantic.

  He placed his forefinger under her chin and tilted her head up. When her watery eyes met his, he felt like he’d been punched in the gut.

  “Beth, I—” He let go of her chin and shoved his hand through his hair. “I really don’t want you paying for anything tonight.”

  Her lower lip trembled. “I wasn’t trying to cause trouble or embarrass you, Aidan. It’s just that, while I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, you must allow me to contribute my share. It bothered me when you were paying ten cents for the subway or twenty-five cents for the ferry. Now you’re distributing five-dollar tips. I’d feel much better if you would let me help out.”

  “But Beth—”

  “We’re equals, Aidan.” A tear trailed down her cheek.

  Aidan curled his hand and stroked the side of her face. “Beth, I’m sorry. I really thought I was doing the right thing.”

  A Waldorf employee approached them, holding a wicker basket filled with long-stemmed red roses. “Excuse me, sir.”

  Aidan scowled. “Yeah, what is it?”

  “Would you like to buy a flower for your lovely lady?” The man extended the basket toward him. “The proceeds go to tonight’s charity.”

  “Aidan, may I buy a rose for you?” Beth’s teary eyes widened with hope. “That way I’ll have our photograph as a memento of our time together today and you’ll have something, too.”

  There was no way Aidan could say no, even though men usually gave flowers, not the other way around. He took her hand and squeezed. “Sure, I’d love one.”

  Beth smiled at the Waldorf employee. “I’ll take one rose, please.”

  The man removed a flower from the basket. “That will be fifty cents, sir.”

  Aidan flashed a grin Beth’s way, noting the spark he loved so much was back in her eyes. “This one’s on her.”

  After the money exchanged hands and the employee left, Beth extended the rose to Aidan. He took it from her carefully, his hand brushing briefly against hers, but long enough to send sparks up his arm.

  “Thank you, Beth.”

  “Thank you, too, Aidan.”

  His eyebrows knitted together. “For what?”

  A sensational smile crossed her face. “For just being you.”

  At her words, Aidan’s spirits lifted and he recognized if he ever wanted her to agree to be his steady girl one day, then he needed to make some changes. “Beth, it would be my pleasure to pay for your dinner this evening and I’m asking permission to do so.”

  “Thank you for asking, and yes, you may.” With her cheeks tinted pink, she smoothed out her dress, her hips doing a little shimmy-thing, which drove him wild. “I’m just going to freshen up. I’ll be right back.”

  Aidan thought she looked perfect already, but he nodded anyway. With his hand curled around the stem of his rose, he took a seat at the table, using his steady heartbeat as a metronome to count the seconds until she returned.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Beth frowned into the restroom mirror and dabbed a tissue underneath her eyes. Growing up in Clarkson, her father was always in charge of the household bills, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t aware of how much things cost or how hard people worked for their money. Aidan might have been secure financially, but she didn’t want to take advantage of him. Even so, she was embarrassed her behavior had caused such a scene.

  Beth tossed the tissue into the garbage and left the restroom. As she walked across the crowded ballroom, she took her first good look at her surroundings now that Aidan wasn’t around to capture all her attention.

  Large round tables draped in white tablecloths sat throughout the room, each accommodating ten people, while smaller two-seater tables, like hers, were placed on the perimeter between Roman columns. Sparkling chandeliers hung from the high ceiling and a dance floor was situated in front of a stage that was set up with chairs in the rear for an orchestra.

  Smiling attendees dressed in black ties and glamorous gowns and furs participated in animated discussions around her. Unfortunately, she couldn’t share their enthusiasm. She wouldn’t relax until she knew if everything was all right between her and Aidan.

  Beth zeroed in on him across the room. He sat at their table, his solemn expression bathed in flickering candlelight. Upon her approach, he stood and pulled out her chair. His welcoming grin refuted her fear she had ruined their evening.

  Placing her purse beside her cutlery, Beth sat down and thanked him for his assistance. She draped her napkin across her lap and noticed he’d placed his rose on the table next to his plate setting.

  Aidan took his seat across from her, staring at her with fiery intensity. Somewhere in the room, a solo violinist began to play.

  A waiter approached the table. “Excuse me, sir. Would you like me to open your bottle of champagne?”

  Aidan shook out a napkin and placed it in his lap. “Yeah, thanks.”

  The waiter poured them each a glass and ensured they had everything they needed for the moment before bowing and leaving their table. Beth didn’t particularly like alcohol but decided to have a few sips.

  Aidan lifted his flute. “Shall we toast?”

  Beth smiled. “Absolutely. What to?”

  “How about to new beginnings?”

  Their flutes met at the center of the table with a delicate clink.

  “To new beginnings.”

  ***

  “Do you like your drink?” Aidan asked, setting his glass down next to his rose. He’d ordered the champagne just for her, based on the hotel’s recommendation.

  Beth swallowed before answering, her red lips hovering above the rim of her glass. “Yes, it’s lovely, Aidan. Thank you.”

  She took another sip and swayed in her chair to the violinist’s melody.

  When the song ended, the Master of Ceremonies took the stage.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Waldorf Astoria,” he said into the microphone.

  While Beth watched the emcee, Aidan watched her, wishing he could hold her in his arms. Even sitting across from her at a small table was too far away for his liking.

  “Before our first performer takes the stage,” the emcee said, “I would like to thank you all for your contributions tonight.”

  The audience clapped.

  “Now, without further ado, please put your hands together for Mr. Perry Como!”

  The applause grew louder as Mr. Como took the stage with an orchestra.

  Beth’s eyes widened. “Oh, Aidan, I adore Perry Como.”

  Aidan grinned. “Yeah, he’s pretty good.”

  He didn’t know Mr. Como personally, like he did Eddie Fisher and the Dorsey Brothers, but he thought the singer
’s voice smooth and enjoyable, similar to Matthew McKenna’s sound.

  Beth smiled and swayed in her chair as Mr. Como sang his first tune. Aidan was happy she was enjoying herself. The singer performed a few numbers and received a standing ovation when he left the stage with the orchestra.

  The solo violinist played again as people mingled, and then waiters served dinner. Every attendee received Havarti cheese and rolled meat slices to start, then Lemon Pepper Cappellini with Chicken Cutlets Brasciole and green beans for the main course.

  Aidan wasn’t fond of the food and mostly pushed it around on the plate with his fork. Much to his satisfaction, Beth finished everything, aside from her glass of champagne, which was still over half-full.

  Dessert was served with the option of either tiramisu or vanilla ice cream. Aidan didn’t choose anything, but Beth selected the latter. When she was finished, the waiter cleared away her dish and spoon, and the emcee took the stage again, tapping on the microphone to obtain everyone’s attention.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, if you care to dance, we will be opening up the dance floor during Mr. Fisher’s performance.”

  Eddie Fisher appeared on stage and waved to the welcoming crowd. The orchestra came out again, but this time, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey joined them, clarinet and trombone in hand, respectively.

  While the Dorsey Brothers were legendary, Eddie Fisher was more of the new kid on the block. Aidan found it cool they were backing him. Jimmy and Tommy usually played with their own orchestra, without a singer. He’d seen them perform in several joints around town.

  Beth focused on the stage.

  “Good evening, folks. My name is Eddie Fisher,” the singer said into the microphone.

  A group of women in the audience shrieked.

  “Say hello to my backup band.” Eddie gestured to Tommy and Jimmy, earning him a few laughs. “I’m going to start off with an upbeat number, so feel free to come up here and cut a rug.”

  Guests made their way toward the stage as Eddie commenced his first song. Beth studied the dancing couples with wide eyes and a smile on her lips. Midway through the second number, a slower tune, How Do You Speak to an Angel?, she faced Aidan and rested her chin in her palm.

  “Mr. Fisher has such a pleasant voice.”

  As she closed her eyes and mouthed the words to the song, Aidan barred himself from reaching across the table and cradling her face in his hand. She looked stunning and peaceful, and Eddie’s lyrics suddenly took on a personal meaning for him.

  Aidan’s angel sat only a few feet away. Although he wasn’t good at articulating his feelings, he decided he could tell her through his actions. His lack of dancing experience didn’t worry him. All he had to do was follow his heart.

  ***

  “Would you like to dance with me?”

  Beth’s eyes shot open. Aidan stared at her across the table, candlelight accentuating his hopeful expression. She had taken dance lessons at the studio, but the routines were more upbeat and less intimate than what was required tonight. However, the opportunity to return to his arms was too tempting to pass up.

  “Yes, I’d love to.”

  Aidan rose from his chair and led her around the tables toward the front. Guests crowded the dance floor, but Beth didn’t see anyone except him as he brought her to the middle and they came together in proper form.

  Eddie Fisher launched into his latest single, a ballad called The Hand of Fate. Beth rested her head on Aidan’s chest and closed her eyes, allowing him to lead her to the beat and usher her into a moment where tender touches to her back, warm breaths in her hair, and a strong yet gentle embrace were all that mattered.

  When the instrumental part of the song began, Aidan increased the length of his strides and sent them soaring across the dance floor. Beth beamed. Dancing seemed so easy with him. If he was her partner during her Venus Rising rehearsals, she felt certain she would’ve picked up the routines much faster.

  Eddie sang more dramatically, to a slower rhythm, and Aidan adjusted their tempo accordingly. The final words of the song swelled and then faded, the music following soon after.

  Aidan and Beth stood still, their bodies pressed together far more intimately than they’d been previously. Applause erupted throughout the room. Beth jumped away from him, her cheeks reddening when she realized what had caused the commotion. Aidan looked just as sheepish when he came to the same awareness.

  The dance floor was empty except for the two of them. Everyone else stood on the perimeter, clapping and whistling.

  Eddie chuckled into the microphone. “Aidan, I didn’t even know you had those kinds of moves. That was great!”

  The crowd rushed toward them to offer additional praise. Based on how intimate Beth had been with Aidan, she didn’t know whether to thank them or run away and hide. After accepting a slew of compliments, one of the Dorsey brothers joined them.

  Aidan grinned and shook his hand. “Nice to see ya again, Tommy.”

  “How’ve you been, Evans?’ Tommy popped a stick of gum into his mouth. “I saw your film. It’s really good.”

  “I’ve been okay.” Aidan motioned to Beth. “This is Beth, my date.”

  “Ah, Beth, your beautiful dancing partner.” Tommy offered his hand and she shook it.

  Eddie approached the group.

  Aidan acknowledged him with a nod. “Nice singing, Fisher.”

  “Thanks.” Eddie let out a low whistle. “Man, it sure didn’t take long for the floor to clear once you two started dancing.”

  Beth and Aidan exchanged shy smiles.

  “Are you two gonna stick around for my performance with Jimmy?” Tommy asked. “We’ve already helped Eddie as much as we can tonight. I mean, we aren’t miracle workers.”

  Eddie laughed.

  Aidan looked to Beth. “It’s up to her.”

  Beth nodded. “That would be great.”

  Aidan took her hand and her body responded with a warm tingle. They spent the next several hours mingling with other guests, enjoying the live music, and sharing the occasional dance. Upon their return to their table, a gold-colored envelope was delivered along with a thank-you card.

  Aidan reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. This time, Beth kept her mouth shut. As she’d promised, he could pay for their meal, although she had assumed that because this was a charity event, the cost of their tickets already covered everything.

  Even with her sworn cooperation, Beth was not prepared when Aidan removed a fifty-dollar bill from his wallet and tucked it into the envelope. It was actually a relief that he’d offered to pay for her dinner. The money she brought with her tonight wasn’t enough to cover her share and she would’ve embarrassed herself by coming up short.

  Aidan placed the envelope back onto the table and reached over the candles to pick up his rose. “Now that the tip’s settled, we can go if you’re ready.”

  Beth picked up her purse from the table. “That’s the tip?”

  Aidan winced. “Well, yeah.”

  Beth couldn’t even fathom how much the tickets cost to cover their dinner, entertainment, and drinks. “Well, in that case, please let me contribute. It’s the least I can do.”

  Aidan shook his head. “We had a deal.”

  “Yes, we did. We had a deal you would pay for my dinner. Not the tip.”

  Aidan took her hand and flashed a grin so charming she knew arguing with him was futile. Without further discussion on the matter, she allowed him to escort her out of the Grand Ballroom.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  As Aidan slipped Beth’s coat over her shoulders, he stole one last look at her slender figure, recalling how wonderful she felt against him on the dance floor. Beth roused a part of him he never realized existed and dancing with her felt like the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t even care who watched them. When he was with her, nothing else was of consequence except catering to her every need and ensuring her happiness.

  Aidan had been intimate with women b
efore, but those experiences were merely his selfish attempts to stay awake during his lonely nights in New York. None of those broads meant anything to him, and emotionally, he’d never felt a connection with any of them. He’d never lured them in to his bed with false promises, though. They were well aware it was a one-time deal, which seemed to suit them just fine.

  Usually they were just two lost souls coming together and searching for solace from whatever haunted them, only to discover that just because someone shared your bed, didn’t mean you were any less lonely. Beth had taught him what true intimacy was and they’d only shared the most innocent of embraces so far.

  As fame intruded upon Aidan’s life and his world spun out of control, Beth was his only constant. All he could hope was that things wouldn’t change for the worst when they returned to L.A.

  Beth’s life would change drastically once her film premiered and she would be a new person after her press tour. Maybe not in her eyes, but the way people looked at her and treated her would be different, which had to affect her somehow. It scared him to think she would move on to bigger and better things and leave him behind.

  With his hand against her back, Aidan walked Beth out of the hotel to the valet stand, where he gave his name to the man standing at the podium. As he looked at Beth, bundled up in her coat and smiling, he couldn’t have felt happier. His mood shifted, however, when the sound of screeching tires filled the late evening air.

  The valet careened around the corner, bringing Aidan’s Porsche to a jerking halt alongside the curb. He leapt out of the car and rushed to the sidewalk.

  “Wow, what a great ride!”

  Aidan glared at him and took a walk around the car, studying it with help from the bright streetlights above. After he didn’t find any damage, he handed over a tip and opened the passenger side door.

  Beth stared out the window during the ride back to her hotel, his rose resting on her lap along with her photograph. The moonlight danced across her pensive expression, making it hard for Aidan to concentrate on the road ahead. He kept one hand on the stick shift and one on the wheel, trying not to give in to the temptation to hold her hand and ignore changing gears, which would ultimately lead to his Porsche stalling in the street. It was quiet moments like these, when they were alone, that he cherished above all others.