Jezebel Koko Brown (best books to read non fiction txt) 📖

the place was one of the largest and mostlucrative on their tour. If they performed well, piquing demand, theycould add additional nights.

“No, we can take itfrom the top.” Celeste took center stage.

“You okay?”

“Jim-dandy,”Celeste murmured. She hated the fact she was allowing Shane to getto her.

“You noticed it too?”

Celeste felt her pulsequicken. Had he seen something she hadn’t? Did utter denialkeep her from seeing more than what was there? Celeste walked overto Bigelow and rested an arm on the piano. “What are yougetting at, Big?”

“You didn’tnotice the way Maybelline latched onto Mr. McAllister.” Bigelowchuckled. “Poor guy doesn’t stand a chance. That woman’sa barracuda.”

“More like a shark.”Celeste fisted her hands so tightly, her nails cut into her palms.

“If she keeps it up,we won’t have to look for a replacement vehicle. Heck, hemight take us all the way to Atlantic City.” Bigelow played alittle ditty. “Maybe you should talk to her, Celeste. Encourage her a little. It would allow us to walk home with morepocket change.”

They had more than enoughpocket change. Half way through the tour they’d already foundthemselves in the black. Plus, there was no way she was going topimp that heifer Maybelline to her own husband. She’d eat crowfirst.

Suddenlylightheaded, Celeste walked toward stage left. “C-can we taketen, Big. I’m not feeling well.”

“Sure, honey. Go onback to the hotel and rest up for tonight’s show.”

For the second time thatday, Celeste refused to heed Bigelow’s advice. Instead ofresting, she went back to the Street Hotel and used the time toscheme and plot.

Before they left KansasCity, she would get rid of her husband once and for all.

Celestechoreographed exactly four numbers for the tour. Each night she’dinterchanged them so audiences would feel as if they’dexperienced something new. For their last night in Kansas City,she’d opted to perform a special number that consisted of aduel of sorts between her and Bigelow with both of them trying to outdo the other.

Completely improvised, thenumber was the hardest of her repertoire because it centered ontechnique, subtle accenting and varying degrees in volume and pitch.

Back and forth, she andBigelow traded complimentary rhythms. His fingers flew up and downthe musical scales, while her feet shaded every note. As expected,the audience went wild, stomping, whistling and a few even coming totheir feet.

Celeste couldn’t waitfor it to end. Of late she wasn’t finding the same pleasurebeing on stage had afforded her in the past. Her body went throughthe motions, executing each step perfectly and yet she didn’texperience that natural high which always came with performing beforean audience. In all honesty her heart and soul weren’t in itand hadn’t been for some time.

Celeste blinked back tears.

If she didn’t have thestage, what did she have?

Shane allowed himself to becarried along by a pocket of performers from the troupe. After theshow, they’d invited him to accompany them to the heart ofKansas City’s jazz district.

Underother circumstances, Shane would’ve begged off, preferringquieter pursuits. He tagged along only because he’d hopedCeleste would join the group, which seemed to blossom with moremembers of the troupe as the night wore on.

“Well look what thecat dragged in.” Buck Rhynes, half of Parker & Rhynescomedy act and unofficial leader of their group smacked his partneron the shoulder. “Boss Lady’s never painted the town withus before.”

Like everyone else posted atthe bar, Shane swiveled around.

Dipped in a gold dress thatbared half of her back, Celeste looked like an exotic, hot houseflower. The sight of her brought him up short, holding himspellbound.

“I wonder what’sup,” Parker took a swill of his bourbon. “She’sdressed to kill.”

Shane wondered as well asshe sauntered between tables. With each step, her ample hips swungfrom side to side and her pert breasts quivered beneath the thinmaterial of her dress. Shane wiped the drool from his mouth. Herbody was a wonderland of infinite erotic delights. He ought to knowhe’d lost whole days trying to map every single inch of her.

Even though he had everyright to walk over and stake his claim, Shane remained at the bar.He’d put his neck out there before and had it chopped off. Shewould need to make the first move, come to him of her own volition.

A noble thought and onealmost tossed to the wind when her gaze wandered over to the bar.Their eyes met. She showed no surprise, not even anger. Had shefinally forgiven him?

Shane’sheart soared as his cock pressed against his trouser buttons.Unfortunately, her next move knocked the wind out of his sails andsent him plunging back to reality.

“Want some company?”

Celeste pasted on hersweetest, doe-eyed expression when the young man looked up. Hersmile widened when his jaw went slack and his mouth dropped open.

“S–s–sure,”he gushed.

Likeriding a bike, Celeste mused. She hadn’t played the part ofthe seductress for some time, but it wasn’t so hard fallingback into her old ways. Instead of taking the chair next to him, sheparked her behind on his lap.

“What are you doing?”Celeste bit her lip to keep from cracking up. He looked as if he wasabout to have a seizure.

“I’m sharing mycompany.”

“I d–don’tthink sitting on my lap is a good idea.”

Celeste looped her armsaround his shoulders. She leaned into him and whispered, “Whynot.”

“If my girl, Sadie,sees you on my lap, she’s going to raise a ruckus.”

“Then let her.”Celeste wasn’t giving up her post, not when she had acaptivated audience. Ever since she’d walked into Sadie’sSupper Club, Shane had tracked her movements like a bloodhound. “Nowthat’s settled, how about you order me a drink.”

Somewhat hesitant, he raisedhis arm. A passing waitress, a teenage girl wearing an apron andcarrying a tray, circled back around.

“Whatdo you want, Dean.”

“Go ahead an orderwhatever you want.”

Celestesmiled. Her pawn might have been clueless to what she was doing, atleast he was polite. “I’ll have a soda water, please.”

The girl looked her up anddown. Celeste returned the favor. She’d weathered worse.

“That all?” thegirl drawled.

Celeste nodded. She wouldn’tdare order anything else. She didn’t like spit in her food.

“I’ll