Felicity blinked. “Yes, which is why I thought you’d be excited that I got—”
“No, I really like his music. And him. I dream about him.”
“What?” Felicity’s eyebrows rose straight to her hairline. “Like a sexy fantasy thing? I mean he is freakishly hot. The goatee thing, I can dig it.”
“No.” She jerked her head hard. “Almost every night. We’re together. Sometimes it’s sex, sometimes it’s more. But we’re always together.”
“Oh, well I’m sure it’ll go away.” She tried for encouragement because this was a little strange.
Beth laughed, the sound hollow with something close to pain. “I’ve been having these dreams for two years.”
Felicity jerked. “Two years you’ve dreamed of him? Every night?”
Beth nodded slowly, almost painfully as if this was the most embarrassing secret to reveal ever. Felicity could see why now.
“Well that’s...pretty intense.”
Beth continued to nod, her eyes wide. “I go to all of his shows. It kills my budget but even if it means I have to work overtime, I make every concert. Any of his local shows I can get into I do. I always sit in the back.” Her hands squeezed the chair so hard it was a wonder it didn’t snap. “I swear it’s shameful how much I like it. I sit in the back by myself losing myself in his words...his voice.” Beth’s voice took a hypnotic quality as she spoke about him.
Unease filled Felicity but she lifted the envelope the messenger brought her with the two tickets in it. “Well, he gave me two tickets to see his band play tonight at the Coyote Theater. I don’t suppose you wanna go?”
Beth blinked slowly. “I couldn’t get tickets to that show. Sold out within the first day and the tickets were fifty dollars more than usual and that was for back row seats. You have tickets to see Lucas Blackmoore tonight?” She repeated it slower as if trying to comprehend them.
“Yes.”
Suddenly the tickets were snatched from her hands.
Beth squealed—actually squealed like a sixteen-year-old girl whose parents just bought her a car.
“Row one seats ‘g’ and ‘h’.”
“Yeah,” Felicity said not sure why that sounded so important to Beth. Seats were seats.
Beth let go of the chair to squeeze Felicity’s shoulders in an iron grip. “That’s the first row in the theater and seats ‘g’ and ‘h’ are in the middle. As in he’ll be right in front of us!”
Felicity grinned. “Then it looks like we need to get ready.”
Beth’s eyes turned frantic as she looked down at herself. Of course she looked hot as always in her designer skinny jeans that showed off her powerful thighs and ass to perfection and her sexy tan leather boots that went up to her calf. She had a white blouse with a tan leather jacket on over that and gold hoop earring dangling from her ears. She looked gorgeous as always.
“I have to go home and get dressed!”
“Honey, you look pretty bangable from where I’m standing.”
Beth shook her head fiercely. “Get dressed fast. We’re heading to my place. I will not be late.” Her voice turned into military commands, delivering rapid fast commands.
Felicity checked the time. “We have plenty of time.”
Beth’s wild eyes met hers. “I always get there early.”
“O-kay.”
Felicity dressed in a pair of rugged looking jeans. They were her favorite pair because they fit like a sexy glove. She blow-dried her hair so the curls spiraled some more and then she powered on some mascara, eyeliners, and blush—her typical routine. By the time she pulled on a short-sleeved black t-shirt and grabbed her jacket, Beth was waiting at the front door tapping her foot.
“Honey, I don’t see why we have to go to your place. You still look better than I do and I just got ready.”
“I always dress my best for LBB and tonight will not be any different. Not when I’ll be in the front row.”
Felicity sighed and then piled into Beth’s much nicer car.
Beth rented a condo on the outskirts of downtown where newer developments were being built over the broken down, boarded up buildings. It cost a pretty penny but came fully furnished which was something Beth had desperately wanted after leaving the military. After she’d come home, her previous boyfriend had taken all of their furniture so it was either buy all new or buy fully-furnished. She chose the latter.
As Felicity took a seat on her friend’s brown suede sofa, she heard a familiar ring.
Beth headed towards the bedroom already kicking off her boots and flinging her leather jacket to the ground. “I’ll be quick.”
Felicity checked the time then shouted, “You better, we only have an hour and a half.”
Beth gave a panicked squeal, and then turned on a radio. The sound of Lucas Blackmoore’s voice came loud and clear through the condo. The man had a seriously sexy voice. He had the versatility of Jim Morrison and the seductiveness of Chris Isaak.
Again that high-pitch ring sounded.
Then it hit her. Her cell phone.
Felicity dug in her purse and pulled out the old thing. Her eyes widened as she saw indeed someone was calling her. Funny thing though, she might have been paid yesterday but she hadn’t paid the bill to get her phone turned back on yet. The only reason she kept it on her was so to check the time. Felicity wasn’t much of a watch wearing kind of girl. She didn’t like things slinking around on her wrists.
The number on the screen didn’t look familiar but she pressed the button to take the call and answered.
“Hello?”
A moment passed, then, “Felicity.”
Goose bumps beaded over her skin. A fluttery breath escaped her as her body responded to that voice. Her eyes closed and a vision of Dominic Blackmoore sitting down with his jacket spread open, eyes blazing with anger and something hot staring straight into her, came to mind.
“How…” she coughed to clear her dry throat, “How did you get this number?”
“I had your service turned back on. Getting your number was easy. My brother works in protective services. Getting a phone number is hardly challenging for him.”
Felicity straightened. “How can you just pay my bill and why?” God that made her feel low. For him to know she was more than two months behind on her phone bill. Shame burned her cheeks red.
His voice turned brusque. “You work for me now. I need to be able to get into contact with you anytime I need to. So I had your phone turned back on.” He paused, then cursed. “Is that my brother singing in the background?”
Felicity peered into Beth’s bedroom but Beth was oblivious to the strange phone calling happening right now.
“Yes it is.”
A hard pause. She could feel the tension in him growing. “I expect to see you at my office tonight at midnight.”
She sputtered even as her heart raced at the thought of seeing him again...in his office. Why did that sound sexy? “What for?”
“To begin work,” he said. “You did get paid did you not?”
“You know I did.”
“Then it’s time to start working. I’m sure you know there is much to go over. The avenue where we will hold the ceremony, your account for purchases, designs, and so on. I expect to start tonight.”
God, she just knew working with him, possibly alone, would be a very bad thing.
“I’m sorry I can’t do it tonight. I’m going to a concert.”
She heard him shift. “Luc,” was all he said.
Felicity’s breath caught at that one word. He expressed so much in that one word. Jealousy, anger, frustration. All in a word, and it made her feel good. He thought she was into his brother and that made him mad. What was her reaction to that news—a big smile.