Priceless (23 page)

Charlotte hung her head. “Sorry, Jackson.”

“Fine.”

He picked up his baton and told the band to start at the top. Charlotte got ready, and when her cue came, she belted out the introductory verse to “Summertime.” It sounded great, and from behind her, she heard Chick calling out, “Sing it, baby.” It was a great feeling, to be standing in front of such a wall of music, the bass physically shaking the floor, knowing that you’re doing a good job.

After a couple of hours, Jackson declared himself satisfied, and he took Charlotte’s hand and shook it. “You did great. I’m sorry if I yelled. The music is really important to me, the band is really important to me, and being successful in my own city is really important to me. I think you’re awesome, honestly.”

The other musicians were filing out, and Jackson suddenly had a thought.

“Hey, do you want to learn some more songs? I was thinking we might be able to pick up work as a duet. Not every venue can support a big band, and it might be nice to change it up a bit, you know?”

Charlotte nodded. “Your own music or standards like the other day?”

“My own stuff, if that’s cool. I haven’t heard it in another voice, either, so it might help me refine it.” He pulled a pile of
manuscript paper from his bag.

“Sure.”

They headed for Millie’s house, and as they caught the cable car together, Charlotte was amazed at how beautiful the city looked in the sparkling spring sunshine. Tourists mingled easily with locals, young with old, black with white. It was unique.

Back in Millie’s living room, Jackson sat down at the piano, and after hesitating a moment, Charlotte sat next to him. In order to see the music he’d propped up on the piano, she had to wriggle closer, and she felt the warmth of his thigh pressing against hers. Despite herself, Charlotte felt herself responding to him. He played the first song through once, a gorgeously modulated mid-tempo love song.
“On the outside you’re ice and fire, a live wire that flicks a switch and turns me on, a beautiful fall of gold and green, I’ve seen you in my dreams forever.”

She picked up the melody the second time through and started chiming in on harmonies, adding depth to his voice, which was warm and sexy. It was a great song, and as she listened to the melody, she closed her eyes and swayed against him on the piano bench. Still playing, Jackson turned his head and kissed her, swiftly and as if it was no big thing. But for her, it felt like sun through the clouds, and she turned and caught his face between her hands and kissed him back, deeply and hungrily. He took his hands from the keys and put them on her waist. He pulled her onto his lap, running his hands along her slender thighs and pulling her against him, feeling her move. The keyboard was pressing into her back, hurting her, but she didn’t care. He hadn’t shaved that morning, and his rough stubble was warming her neck as he kissed her, biting her gently, making the breath catch in her throat.

He stood up, her legs wrapped around his waist, and slowly made his way from the living room to his bedroom, the bed still unmade from the night before. Gently, he laid her down and moved quickly himself, pulling off his shirt and reaching to help her with hers. Her shoulders gleamed pale against his smooth brown hands as he stroked her, feeling her shudder in the cool air of the room. He tangled his hands in her hair, pulling it forward to watch it drape across her breasts. She was so lovely, so slender and strong, her eyes cloudy with the same desire he felt. She knelt up, still only reaching his broad shoulders, and bent her head to kiss his chest.

“Do you …” His voice was hoarse, and he paused, swallowing, feeling nervous with a woman for the first time in many years.

She nodded, unwilling to speak herself, worried that she would start to cry. She felt so vulnerable, even though she trusted him. It was if all those times she’d made love before hadn’t actually been her but some other person. This was her, Charlotte, plain and simple, and he wanted her just for who she was, not what she had. Part of her was fearful that she wouldn’t be enough alone, without her money and glamour, but then she looked into his eyes and saw how much he wanted her, how simple it really was. She relaxed and let him take her in his arms, closing her eyes and losing herself in the pleasure that followed.

SOMETIME LATER, SHE
woke and watched him sleeping, a slight smile curving on his lips.
I put that smile there
, she thought, and reached out to trace it with her finger. His mouth twitched, and his eyes opened, finding hers immediately.

“Well, hello there.” He pulled her closer, wrapping his strong arms around her and pulling the full length of her against him.

“Hello.” She felt a little shy, despite the passion she’d just shown him.

“You’re an attractive girl, did you know that? I expect you know that. People tell you all the time.” He was laughing at her, but he meant it.

“It’s been said. I’ve heard it. Although not lately. You can say it again if you like.”

He grinned, punctuating his speech with kisses. “You. Are. Gorgeous. Sexy. Strong. Sexy.”

“You already said sexy.”

“Well, it’s an important feature, and I have to say right now, I’m very aware of it.”

“I can feel that.”

He began kissing her again. “Where was I? Oh, yeah, sexy. Funny. Smart. Talented.”

She started to giggle, not just at his words but also at what his hands were doing under the covers. “Don’t stop, you’re doing so well.”

“Don’t stop talking, or don’t stop doing this?”

She gasped, her face flushing suddenly. “Just … don’t … stop, OK?”

He didn’t.

When they walked into Kat’s store together, she raised her eyebrows.

“Well, hello, young lovers.” Kat was wearing a 1950s summer dress with a full skirt and wedge-heeled espadrilles. Very
Roman Holiday
. She listened indulgently as Charlotte told her about the rehearsal, and decided to wait until later to get the details of what had clearly happened afterward.

“I need an evening dress to wear for the orchestra gig tomorrow night. Something sexy in the extreme.”

Jackson grinned. “Not so sexy that no one looks at the other musicians but something that the singer fronting the band deserves. Classy. Think of it as her grand introduction to New Orleans society.”

“Except in a scandalous, nightclubby, jazz-band kind of way.” Charlotte was giggling; both of them were still giddy.

Kat tipped her head to one side. “So, sexy but not too sexy, classy, society-appropriate but a little scandalous, and jazzy.” She held up a finger. “I have just the thing.”

And she did.

When Charlotte stepped out of the dressing room, both Kat and Jackson caught their breath, for slightly different reasons.

The dress was simple in line, suspended by two shoulder
straps and hanging straight to the floor. Heavily beaded and folded, it looked like gold leaf, and the heaviness of it made it cling to Charlotte’s curves as if it had been painted on. The metallic color made her skin glow and played off the tawny streaks in her hair. When she turned around, she revealed that the dress was almost totally backless, dipping down to the small of her back.

Charlotte was beside herself. “It’s awesome. I have never felt so glamorous and gorgeous in my life.”

Kat was smiling like the cat who got the canary. “Vintage Worth couture, 1950s. I’ve been saving it. Apparently for you, as it looks as if it was fitted on.” She turned to Jackson. “What do you think, Mr. Bandleader? Good enough for jazz?”

He just nodded, his eyes gleaming. It was going to be one hell of a gig.

ONCE THE DRESS
was off again and carefully wrapped in tissue, Charlotte glanced at her watch.

“Shit, I’m going to be late for work.” She hugged Kat. “You are so amazing.”

“I know,” Kat said, airily. “I’m even going to walk you to work. I want to see my dad.”

They were half a block away when Charlotte heard her name.

“Ms. Williams?” An attractive young woman was coming toward her, a microphone in her hand. Charlotte frowned and stepped back, and the woman held up her hand. “Don’t worry, it’s not on.” The three friends stopped, wary. “I’m Selena Messier, from Channel Nine …” There was a question implicit in her tone, and she waited before continuing. “We have a show you
might have seen called
Crescent City Connection
?”

Charlotte took pity on her. “I just got here, Miss Messier, as you doubtless know, and I haven’t had time to catch up on local TV. I’m not interested in doing any interviews, and I have nothing to say.”

“I just have a few questions. It won’t take a moment.”

Charlotte sighed. “What kind of questions?”

Selena smiled. “You know, general questions about how you’re finding life here in New Orleans, how you’re settling in, how your job is going, that kind of thing.”

“How do you know I have a job?”

There was a slight pause. “I read it online.”

“On the Charlotte Williams Sucks Web site? That’s the only site that’s mentioned it that I know of.”

Selena’s smile didn’t waver. “I’m a reporter. Your father might have disappeared into the legal system, but it’s still a big story, and you moved into my neighborhood. Of course, I’m going to follow up. I’m surprised I’m the only one.”

“You’re not. Dan Robinson from the
New York Sentinel
is here, too.”

That made her smile slip a little. “Really? Have you given him an interview?”

Charlotte shook her head.

“Well, will you at least think about it?” She handed Charlotte a business card. “You can call me anytime at all, OK?”

Charlotte nodded. “I’ll think about it. The press haven’t been my friends lately.”

Selena turned up her smile another one hundred watts. Suddenly, Charlotte was reminded of a baby alligator.

“Well, maybe we can change that.”

Everybody smiled politely, and then Charlotte and her friends headed into the restaurant.

DAVID KARRABY WAS
glowing with good humor, as usual.

“Kat Karraby, fashion icon, what brings you here to the old family biz?”

She hugged him. “I just wanted to see you, Daddy. How’s it going?”

He lifted her off her feet, much to the amusement of Charlotte and Jackson.

“It’s going well, darlin’, except your momma is getting anxious to see you.” He looked at Charlotte. “And she wants to meet your new friend, baby.”

“Well, maybe this weekend.”

David Karraby looked over her shoulder. “OK, sweetness, I have guests to welcome. I’ll see you later, OK?”

Kat laughed as he pushed past her. “Well, ’bye, then.” She turned to Charlotte. “Let’s get you back to work. And then an early night—that dress is heavy; you’ll need to rest up.”