Page 14 of Now and Forever
"But I could do it secretly," she muttered to herself as she walked. "Anything to help me get over this old, very one-sided crush."
Walking into the hotel, Golden sighed at the cool rush of air. It was a welcome relief from the Texas heat.
"Hey, Golden!" A girl from the front desk greeted her. "You on shift tonight?"
Golden nodded. "Yep, you know I can't stay away."
Breezing past the lobby, she entered the lounge and stopped. All the chairs and tables were stacked on the bar and the stage while two men were polishing the floor.
"Go through the bar," Lenny waved and shouted from the other side of the stage, desperately pointing to behind the bar.
Nodding, she took the route and exited behind the stage curtain where he stood.
"Sorry about that, Goldie darling, the hotel manager decided now of all times we had to get the floors polished," he grumbled, staring off at the floor as if he was picturing his meticulous schedule disintegrating into a ball of ashes. "But oh hey, I nearly forgot," Lenny said with a sudden grin. "The manager wheeled into my office this morning a huge rack of new designer dresses for you girls to wear during your performances. He said it was a gift from Mr. Rosebank himself. Go take a look, I put them in the ladies' dressing room."
Golden just stood there stunned by his words before she quickly hurried to the dressing room and stopped at the sight of the clothing rack. As if stuffed with jewels, there were fabrics of all colors shimmering in the light, each one more captivating than the last. Carefully, almost afraid to touch the fine material, she picked through each one, admiring its beauty.
There was more than one Rosebank, she thought. Maybe it wasn't her Rosebank who sent it over. Even as the thought formed in her mind, she knew it rang false. Grayson had sent these over. Golden smiled. Although they were a gift to the lounge, a part of her felt as if they were just for her.
She was doing it again. Shaking her head, she dropped off her stuff and headed back to the front to find the band and discuss tonight's music.
A few hours later, Golden was smiling at the audience and waving goodbye as she stepped off stage. Beyond thirsty, she went to the bar and signaled for a bottle of water. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Deep in the folds of the sapphire blue dress covered in dark almost black beading, she reached into thesecret pocket. The dress had to be designed by a woman for such a glorious detail.
Looking at her phone, Golden smiled in confusion at the message.
Grayson: Working two jobs like this is not going to work.
Me: How so? This is on the weekends only. And how do you know I'm working right now?
His reply was immediate.
Grayson: Because I'm looking at you.
Without hesitation, Golden looked up, squinting into the shadows at the restaurant balcony high above the open lounge. A man sat in the shadows, just as he did every time she performed. Golden's heart swelled at the implication of that. How could she not know it was him? From the flowers, to his and Gaige's collusion to get her to work for him, and not to mention the influence to have the best seat in the restaurant booked out each and every weekend, it was obvious.
Looking back down at her screen, Golden ran a self-conscious hand over her short curls and typed a message back.
Me: I'm not quitting just because you tell me to. You're only my boss at work, need I remind you.
Grayson: If I was telling you to quit you would know it. I am merely advising you.
Me: No advice needed, thank you. See you on Monday.
Putting her phone away with a satisfied smile, Golden resisted looking back up at the balcony with a smug look. No, not looking at him would make her point even more clear even if she had to endure the hair-raising glare she could practically feel on the side of her head.
The crowd clapped as the band finished their song. People from the dance floor began to flood the bar while some went back to their tables. Golden stayed nestled at the corner of the bar near the velvet curtains that led to the backstage area.
"Gooooldyyyy," a man coming down from the stage sang her name.
Golden smiled, already knowing who it was, and braced herself as two big arms wrapped themselves around her bringing her in for a colossal hug.
"Bryson," she groaned as he pressed her into his chest. The smell of Old Spice assaulted her senses for a moment before he held her out by the shoulders.
"You were amazing earlier," Bryson grinned, his white teeth shining brilliantly against his dark beard.
Golden didn't even put up a fight against the bass player. From the moment she met the overly gregarious man, she liked him.He was the type of guy to slap men on the back as he laughed. His warm, talkative personality was a nice balance compared with the rest of the moody band members.
Bryson had his arm slung over her shoulders, keeping her close as he leaned against the bar and ordered his drink. He was half telling her about his daughter's upcoming recital while somehow juggling a conversation with Henry the piano player who stood next to him. Golden was nodding along to the story when she felt the air around her suddenly change. Everyone seemed to tense and a hush settled over their end of the bar as all eyes fixed on something behind her.
