We climb the steps to the door, where I see John from my last visit on door duty. He gives me a respectful nod again and a slight smile. "Miss Price, it's good to see you again. Mr. Stone left instructions that he'd be waiting in the VIP section. Is this Hannah?"
Jake must've known I'd bring her. Hannah bites her lip, and I can see she's into John a little bit. I get it. He's handsome and charming in that mysterious kind of way, and anyone who could work security at a place like this has to know how to handle themselves. "Hi."
John chuckles and opens the door. "Hi. Enjoy yourself."
We go inside, and I'm immediately struck by how packed the club seems. There's a trickle of energy threading its way through the crowd, and I feel more beautiful than even the first night I was here. There's joy in the air, joy and excitement, and while I don't know why, I can't help but be infected by it.
"Come on," Hannah says, smiling too as she tugs me toward the stairs to the upper level. "Hey, you know the doorman?"
"His name's John, and that's all I know." I laugh, following her up the stairs. We reach the VIP section, and my heart stops when I see Jake. He's sitting in a huge semicircular couch, Nathan relaxing next to him. The glass table in front of them has wine bottles and glasses and ice. Jake looks like a vision dressed in black pants and a red dress shirt, a hint of his muscular chest visible. Hot desire shoots through my blood as I look at him, barely noticing Nathan, who is grinning deviously.
"Who's that?" Hannah asks, bringing me back to reality. "The other guy."
"That's his friend I told you about. The money man?"
"He's too short for me," she whispers. "Don't care about the money."
"But he has a big personality and maybe . . ." I start.
Hannah rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. Gimme some credit, I'm not that shallow."
"Ladies, ladies," Nathan says in greeting. "Or should I say angels? Wow, I have never been more wrong about my first impression of someone."
I laugh, shaking hands with Nathan while Jake gets up, coming over and shaking hands with Hannah before putting a hand on my lower back. "Nathan's right, you both look stunning," he says before whispering in my ear. "And you truly look amazing," he says, his voice dripping with desire. "My Angel."
Being called Jake's angel makes my knees quiver, and I'm glad when he leads me over to sit down, the boys in the middle while Hannah and I take the outsides. I'm aware more than ever of Jake as his leg presses against my thigh, and I'm glad when Nathan leans forward and pours everyone a glass of champagne. "To a second successful week of Club Jasmine, and to wrong first impressions."
"Not all first impressions are wrong," Hannah says, toasting with us. "The place still looks just as awesome as it did last Saturday."
"Well, of course. I'm still here," Nathan says with a laugh, sipping his champagne. "And with you and Roxy here, it has class, too."
I half choke on my champagne, laughing at the similarity to the joke Hannah and I had earlier, coughing a little before setting my glass down. "Sorry . . . don't mean to make an ass of myself."
Hannah must be remembering the same thing, because she starts laughing, thankfully without a mouthful of champagne to choke back, and she leans against the couch. "So, Nathan, Roxy tells me you're the brains behind the place?"
"Hey!" I protest, but Nathan chuckles.
"No, it's a team effort. He's got the show, and I've got more than enough go."
Jake shakes his head, leaning back. He teases, "Put a pretty lady on his arm in public, and he's Mr. Confidence. Just be careful, Hannah. Get him alone and you might find yourself disappointed."
We talk back and forth, relaxing and having fun, and while I can see Hannah likes Nathan, there's not really sparks there. We finish our glasses of champagne when suddenly, Nathan gets up. "Excuse me guys, I've gotta do my announcement."
Without pausing, Nathan hurries to the stairs, leaving me confused.
"What's that about?" Hannah asks, thinking the same thing I am.
Jake bends over and whispers something in Hannah's ears. She looks at me, lit up like a light bulb, grinning a secret smile.
"Hey what was that all about?" I ask, wondering what the hell Jake and Nathan have cooked up.
Jake's smile is all mystery. "You'll see."
Just as I'm about to open my mouth, I hear Nathan's Bronx accent amplified on a microphone, and I turn, seeing him on stage. "What's up, Club Jasmine?"
There's a cheer from the crowd, and Nathan grins. He's got enough personality to look seven feet tall on stage. "It's been a hell of a week, guys. And today, my partner and I were trying to think of what we could do to say ‘Thank you' to everyone who's been coming to Club Jasmine. And we came up with an idea we think you'll like. A way to give a little back to you."
I sit forward, intrigued. Nathan continues. "So tonight, we're holding an impromptu karaoke contest. For the next half hour, you can sign up at the bar. And while this is supposed to just be fun, the winner tonight gets a thousand dollars."
The buzz is huge, and less than a minute later, some guy's up on stage, belting out Bon Jovi. While he's got energy and is having the time of his life, I think, he can't sing for shit. "Jesus, my ears are bleeding!" Hannah yells, covering her ears. "Make it stop!"
Jake laughs. "I've heard worse. You should hear Nathan!"
The first guy finishes, and next up on stage is a girl. She's just as terrible, although she can shake her ass like it's nobody's business, so she gets plenty of applause as she caterwauls her way through Break Free.
Still, even though almost nobody can really sing, they're having a great time. I'm feeling it, the itch in my toes and the thrum in my chest as each tone deaf contestant gets up there. Yeah, none of them are singers and they know it. But they're up there, they're performing and having a ball . . .
Nathan gets back on stage. "Jasmine, thank you. You guys are bringing it! Now, I have somethin' special. She hasn't signed up, but I think up next is my new friend over here."
Suddenly, the spotlight shines up on us, and I'm blinded. It still hadn't clicked until that moment, and I turn to stare at Jake in horror. "You did this!"
Jake shrugs. "Worked, didn't it?"
I cross my arms over my chest. "No way, I'm not going!"
"Get your ass up there," Hannah says. "You know you want to!"
Hannah's right, the stage is calling to me. I can feel it pulling me. But I don't move, setting my face. Hannah gets up and runs down to the stage. I don't think she's been in on this, but you could've fooled me. It damn sure seems it. The crowd roars as she snatches the mic from Nathan and starts shoving him off stage. "Go on, they've seen enough of your ass!"
The crowd laughs, and Hannah holds up a hand. "Guys, I wish I were the singer Nathan here was talking about, but I'm just the eye candy."
There's a few whistles about that, and Hannah grins. "Yeah, thought so. Listen, the person who is supposed to be down here is my best friend and roommate. She used to be a professional, so I think it'd be unfair to let her win the money. This is just for the love of singing. Now, I never actually saw her perform, but I've heard her sing around the apartment, and this bitch can sing!"
I blush, and Jake leans over. "Just one song. For me, Angel?"
I turn to him as Hannah continues. "So what I need from you guys, we need to give her some motivation. Roxy . . . Roxy . . . Roxy . . ."
The crowd picks up the chant, and Jake leans in again. "Okay, not for me. Do it for yourself."
Jake's closeness and the crowd's chants leave me tingling, and finally, blushing furiously, I nod. "Fine!"
I get up, and I feel Jake behind me, escorting me down the stairs, his hand light on my lower back again. In my heels and outfit, I feel sexy. But most importantly, I feel special. The crowd goes nuts as I reach the steps, and Jake leans in again. "You can do this. Go knock ‘em dead."
He gives me a kiss on the cheek, and I get on stage, waving. "What's up, Club Jasmine?"
I see the teleprompter, and I start thinking of some of the songs I know by heart, when suddenly, Hannah goes over to the DJ, whispering in his ear. Oh, shit. What the hell is she going to put on?
The music starts, and I panic, recognizing the raunchy classic Milkshake almost immediately. She would do that. One fucking time singing it half drunk for Mr. Felix, and this is what I get? Oh, my God, Hannah. I'm gonna kill you.
The crowd's into it, though, and I feel forced to perform, moving my body to the sexy high-energy beat.
I move on stage, singing my ass off, and I feel it. The buzz inside me grows into a fire as I see the crowd's reaction. At first, the audience sits there, surprised. People start looking at each other as if shocked I can actually perform, then they start getting into it, singing with me.