Strings of the Heart (9 page)

I chuckled at her summation of Saffie’s Tea Room. “Compared to a lot of clubs I’ve been in, this place seems pretty tame.”

“Trust me, it gets crazy on the weekends.”

My gaze flickered over to Allison. “Do you perform during these ‘crazy weekends’?”

A flush entered her cheeks. “We’ve done a set on Friday nights before, but mainly, it’s a DJ.”

Cassie snickered. “I like to keep Allison out of here on the weekends. It never fails that some drunk chick wants to convert her to bat for the other team.”

“So I’ve seen,” I replied, winking at Allison. Once again, Allison sputtered with mortification at mine and Cassie’s comments, and again I found it utterly endearing. She might’ve been twenty now, but in so many ways, she was still the innocent, naïve teenage girl I’d met so many years ago. Most of the girls and women I came in contact with were so worldly and stuck on themselves. Being with Allison was definitely a nice change.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to change the subject away from my alleged allure,” Allison said.

“Go right ahead, Sonny,” Cassie replied.

Allison focused her attention on me. “I have tomorrow night free. Would you like to get together for movie night?”

I grimaced. “I would love to, but I have this stupid bachelor auction thing I’m emceeing.”

With a teasing roll of her eyes, Allison said, “Like I haven’t heard that excuse a million times.”

I laughed. “I swear to you that it is the truth. More than anything in the world, I’d rather be watching
Monty Python
with you than in a monkey suit with a bunch of society assholes.”

“I think I’ve heard about that auction. Isn’t your mother heading it up?” Cassie asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. That’s how I got roped into emceeing. The only time she likes to admit my fame is when it can best be used to suit her purposes. This time it appears having a celebrity emcee will get more people out to empty their pockets. I would have told her no, but it’s for a cause really close to my heart.”

“And which one is that?” Allison questioned softly.

“Autism research.” While I kept my eyes on the table, I could feel Allison’s inquisitive gaze on my cheeks. I’m sure she was trying to decipher the motives behind why someone like me would possibly be interested in the charity.

“That’s so sweet that you’re thinking of Lucy. I’m sure it means a lot to Brayden and Lily that you’re working to raise money for research,” she said.

I jerked my gaze up to meet hers. Although she had missed the mark, I replied, “I suppose they do.”

“Who are Brayden and Lily?” Cassie asked, as she glanced between the two of us.

“My bandmate and his wife. Lucy, their youngest daughter, was just diagnosed as a child on the autism spectrum. Hers is more of a sensory nerve disorder that the doctors think can be helped, if not corrected, with a lot of extensive physical therapy.”

“That’s a rough diagnosis. At least it sounds like there are some positives in it.”

Allison nodded. “There are no two sweeter and more patient parents than Brayden and Lily.”

“That is the truth,” I replied.

With a sweet smile, Allison said, “Well, I’ll miss having movie night with you, but at least I know it’s for a really good cause.”

Leaning forward on the table with my elbows, I cocked my head at her. “Who says we can’t spend the evening together?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why don’t you come to the auction with me? It should only run about two or three hours. We could have dinner afterwards.”

Gnawing her bottom lip between her teeth, Allison said, “Oh, I don’t know.”

Cassie nudged her playfully. “You should totally go. I mean, you’ll only end up sitting at home alone with a pint of ice cream if you don’t.”

Allison scowled at Cassie. “Thank you so much for reminding me what a loser I am with no life,” she replied sarcastically.

I laughed. “Come on. You’ll get to see even more of Savannah’s history and culture. The auction is being held at the Mercer Williams House.”

“Is that the house from
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
?”

Nodding, I replied, “It sure is.”

“I thought that was more of a museum now?”

“While it is open for tours, Jim Williams’s sister still lives there. That’s how Mother was able to book the event. She goes way back with her.”

“It really does sound like fun,” Allison said, with a hesitant smile.

“Then why haven’t you said yes? I don’t think I’ve had to work this hard for a date in a long, long time.” Allison dark eyes bulged at the mention of the word “date.” Trying to backtrack, I said, “Well, you know what I mean.”

“I just don’t want this to be a pity thing.”

“A pity thing?” I repeated.

“I know that Jake asked you to check in on me because I was homesick. I don’t want you to feel like I have to tag along to everything or else I’ll be at home sitting in a dark room all depressed.”

I laughed. “This has nothing to do with pity or Jake. It’s all about you and I having fun out on the town. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“So does that mean you’ll go?”

“Yes.” But then her brow creased with worry. “It’s black tie, right?”

“Yeah. Is that a problem?”

Her hands fretted anxiously with the umbrella in her drink. “It’s just with me being new in town, all my nice dresses are back home.”

Cassie cleared her throat. “No need to fear. I have the perfect dress you can borrow.”

“You do?” Allison asked.

With a laugh, Cassie replied, “Yes, it’s a little, black couture number with the tags still on it. My dear mother brought it back from Fashion Week in Paris a few years back.” She winked at us. “It was one of her last ditch efforts at trying to feminize me.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind me borrowing it?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Does it look like I’m ever going to wear a dress, least of all some bullshit couture one?”

“Not really,” Allison replied.

“Exactly. So it’s yours as long as you’re not uncomfortable wearing a dress that is a few seasons old.”

Allison furiously shook her head. “No, I’d be happy to.”

Cassie grinned. “Then it’s all settled.” She turned to me. “Now you make sure to show our girl a good time.”

Fuck me that the words, “Allison” and “good time”, sent my perverted mind once again in a direction it shouldn’t have. Of course, it didn’t help I had such a delectable vision in front of me with her fitted dress and high-heeled boots on. Shit, I was so utterly screwed.

After sucking down the rest of my Crown, I met Allison’s gaze and plastered on what I hoped was a brotherly smile. “I’ll try my best.”

A
s soon as I could clock out, I peddled like lightning home. I only had an hour to shower and get ready before I was supposed to meet Rhys at the Mercer Williams House. Considering I reeked of pizza and beer, I needed some time to transform myself so that I would look and smell acceptable for him.

I tore through the front door to find Cassie lounging on the couch. “There you are. I laid the dress out for you on your bed.”

“Thank you,” I panted. Without another word to her, I streaked down the hall to my bedroom. When I threw open the door, I bent over at the waist, bracing my hands on my knees to try and catch my breath. Once I had regulated my breathing, I jerked my head up and eyed the dress draped across my homemade quilt. “What the…?” I murmured, taking a few shaky steps over to the bed. “Cassie!”

“What?” she called.

“Get in here!” I demanded.

Within seconds, I heard her footsteps hurrying along the creaky old floorboards. When she burst through the door, she stared quizzically at me. “What the hell is the matter?”

I couldn’t find the words, so I pointed to the dress. Cassie crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t tell me you don’t like it?”

Reaching my hand out, I lightly touched the silky material. “No, it’s not that. The dress is gorgeous.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

I didn’t know quite how to articulate that the little black dress was in fact an extremely tiny black dress. I took it in my hands and held it up to my body. “Don’t you think it’s a kinda…” I wrinkled my nose. “Slutty?”

Cassie threw her head back and laughed. “Well, duh, of course it is. After all, it came from Paris.”

As I eyed the bottom of the dress, I couldn’t help thinking the slits and tears in the fabric made it look like it had been caught in a paper shredder. I loved fashion, but at the moment, I was not digging the designer’s approach.

“You’re going to be a fucking knock-out in that dress. I predict that several guys will come in their pants at the mere sight of you.”

“Eww,” I muttered with a laugh.

With a knowing look, she said, “Would it be gross if it were
Rhys
blowing his load just looking at you?”

“Must you be so vulgar?” I said, mimicking the haughty tone I’d heard her mother use at Cassie’s antics.

Cassie grinned. “Why yes, darling, I must. And don’t try to change the subject from Rhys.”

Feeling warmth flooding my cheeks, I laid the dress back down on the bed. “I need to hop in the shower.”

“There you go avoiding it again. I know how you feel about him, Allison.”

“But
he
doesn’t know.”

“
But
he should. You need to tell him. Hell, if you can’t say the words, then you should show him with your actions.” When I opened my mouth to protest, Cassie shook her head. “I know what I saw the other night. The man may be in denial, but he is totally and completely into you.”

More than anything in the world, I wanted to believe what Cassie was saying was the truth. While I’d never had the chance to be alone much with Rhys, I couldn’t help but see how differently he had treated me yesterday, not to mention that he called me sexy and beautiful. Surely someone who just considered you their little sister wouldn’t say that. But at the same time, there was still far too much unsaid between us to believe that we had really turned a corner.

I shook my head at Cassie. “You don’t understand. What happens between us…it has to be all or nothing. If things were to go wrong, it would affect so many others besides us.”

“But you won’t ever know if it’s going to work or not if you don’t try.”

“Look, I know you’re right, but I just have to take things slow, okay?”

Cassie scowled. “Just how much slower do you plan on going? You’re already moving at glacial speed now.”

With a sigh, I held up my hand. “Can we finish this discussion later when I’m not running horribly late?”

“Fine, fine. Go shower the tomato and beer smell off you.”

I threw my arms around Cassie and squeezed tight. “Thanks for the dress, but most of all, thanks for caring about what happens between me and Rhys.”

She squeezed me back. “I just want you to be happy, Sonny.”

“I know.”

After I pulled away, she smiled. “Now hurry up. You don’t want to make Prince Charming wait too long.”

“Exactly,” I replied, before hustling into the bathroom.

Once I was undressed, I hopped into the steamy shower. I managed to wash my hair, shave my legs, and bathe all in record time. After I dried my hair, I wrapped a towel around me to run out to get my dress off the bed. As I came out of the bathroom, I skidded to a stop. Cassie was no longer alone on the bed with my dress. Instead, she was making out with some woman I’d never seen before. “What the hell?” I couldn’t help saying.

Cassie pulled away and shot me a sheepish grin. “Sorry, Sonny. We got a little bored waiting on you to get out of the shower.”

Tightening my towel around me, I mumbled, “Please don’t let me interrupt you,” before starting to back up into the bathroom.

“Whoa, whoa, don’t go anywhere.” She motioned to the blonde waifish girl next to her. “This is Shelly. She’s going to do your hair and makeup.”

I glanced between Cassie and Shelley. “She is?”

Shelly smiled. “I own a salon just up the street.”

Cassie nodded. “She was coming over tonight anyway, so I thought she could help you out. You know, make you absolutely drop-dead gorgeous for Rhys.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I asked Shelly.

“Of course not.” With a wink, she added, “I’m happy to do anything in the name of love.”

I laughed. “Okay, if you insist, I would love for you to make me beautiful.”

“You’ve already got that in spades, love. I’m just going to enhance what you have.”

Glancing down at my lacking cleavage, I asked, “Can you enhance this, too?”

Shelly grinned. “I’m not a miracle worker. I’m pretty sure that dress is going to help cinch you up and push you out. Go on and put it on, and then I’ll do your hair and makeup.”

I nodded. After taking the dress and the underwear I would need back into the bathroom, I slid them on. Since there was no way I could zip the dress by myself, I came back out to get Cassie to help. After I was zipped up, I was pushed down into a chair, and Shelly started working on me. Minutes ticked by as my hair was dried, curled, and teased, and then my makeup was done. “There. All done,” she finally said.

Whirling out of the chair, I hurried to get a glimpse of myself. As I stood back from the tall, oval mirror that I’d brought from home, I couldn’t help shaking my head in disbelief. Part of me fought the urge to reach forward and tap the glass to make sure it was really me. “Oh my God, Shelly, you’re really a miracle worker.”