Page 90 of Hale Yes
“Have you seen Stefan?” I whisper. I’d searched the faces of the main acts and the backup dancers, but I hadn’t found my other neighbor yet.
“No, maybe he wasn’t feeling well.” He glances at the Madonna performer on stage, bouncing around with her cone-shaped boobs. “Or he could have had a wardrobe malfunction or something. I’m sure all this takes a lot of… adhesive.”
I sit back and relax as Madonna wraps up her act and shakes her cones at the audience on the way offstage. Then Madame Simone is back on the microphone.
“We’re so glad you joined us for the grand reopening tonight. And now I’d like to introduce you to our final act.” The atmosphere in the place is already electric, but it seems like it amplifies tenfold with the loud cheering and clapping that ensues. Simone cracks her whip. “Settle down, kittens. I know you’re excited, and since you’ve been such good little kitties tonight, I won’t make you wait a second longer.”
She pauses dramatically for at least ten seconds, knowing she has the crowd in the palm of her hand. Finally, in a cooing voice, Simone announces, “The Rainbow Sky Theater is ecstatic to introduce the always fabulous… Dolly Parton.”
Dolly strides onto the stage in a hot-pink rhinestone pantsuit with an acoustic Martin guitar on a strap around her neck. It takes me a second because I’m dazzled by all the bling, but when I realize that’s Stefan up there, I let out a squeak of surprise.
Helix stiffens beside me, and I know he’s come to the same realization. We both cheer loudly right along with the rest of the audience.
“Hey, y’all!” Dolly says, and my jaw almost hits the table. Stefan has nailed the country singer’s voice and demeanor to perfection. “I’m so happy to be with you tonight.”
“I love you, Dolly!” someone yells from the back, and laughter floats up from around the room.
She points and says, “I love you too, honey, but did I say you could remove your ball gag?”
The place erupts, and she grins before breaking into a fantastic rendition of “Jolene,” strumming her guitar with precision, despite her long pink nails. There are no backup dancers or fancy lighting, just a single spotlight on a tall stool in the center of the stage, but it’s the most compelling performance of the night. The applause is deafening when she’s done.
“Thank you. I have one more song for you before I let you all get out of here to get into whatever naughty plans you have for tonight. But first, I’d like to say a special thank you to Hale Cosmetics for sending over swag bags full of fabulous cosmetics for every single performer you’ve seen tonight. We love you and appreciate your support for our community.”
My gaze cuts sharply to Helix, whose cheeks turn slightly pink in the dim light as the crowd claps. He finally gives me his eyes and explains, “I sent over a box earlier this morning. Thought it would be nice.”
Without realizing it, I lean into him and press a soft kiss to his lips. His arm tightens around my shoulder, and he hauls me closer until I’m so close I’m practically in his lap. I lean my cheek on his chest and turn my attention back to the stage. It’s nice being held like this, and I can feel the release and flow of oxytocin into my system. My affection and attraction for this man grows by leaps and bounds, and I realize, there’s nothing sexier to me than kindness.
Dolly’s next song surprises me. It’s slower than the first one but no less spellbinding. The iconic song “I Will Always Love You” floats through the room in her sweet, passionate voice, and I don’t think anyone in the room moves a muscle until the last note is done.
There’s silence for five long beats, as if the lyrics have mesmerized every soul into a stupor, and then the room explodes. Everyone is on their feet, cheering and whooping asDolly drops her head and absorbs the well-deserved love she’s getting from the audience.
Someone tosses a bouquet of pink roses onto the stage, and she stands to pick them up, taking a long sniff before blowing kisses at the crowd on her way offstage.
When we make our way out of the theater, Helix keeps me tucked against his side, his big hand firm on my waist. I’m quietly attempting to rein in my emotions. I know he’s about to take me home, but the problem is…
I don’t want him to leave.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I’m going to have you tested because you can’t be human
Nicolette
We crash into my townhome with my legs wrapped around Helix’s waist and our mouths fused like someone welded us together. Apparently, he didn’t want to leave either.
“Please tell me you have condoms,” he mumbles into my mouth.
My frantic words come out in pants as he strides through my kitchen like he’s not carrying a fully grown human. He’s so fucking powerful, and I’m dripping with need.
“In my nightstand. My room is on the third floor.”
“I remember.”
“Oh god. The sangria incident,” I groan as he jogs up the first flight of stairs. “I’m so sorry about?—”
“Shut up,” he growls, turning to head up the next flight. “The only words I want to hear from your mouth arefuckandme.”
“Fuck. Me,” I say, and desire flares in his blue eyes. His mouth crashes over mine again, and we bump into the wall before he shifts course to get us safely to the third floor.
