Sleeping With the Boss(40)

He cupped her face in his hands. Their time was coming to a close. Until Monday he intended to enjoy everything of her. He kissed her deeply pulling at her robe as well. Tomorrow he’d meet her friends, and then on Monday at lunch he’d end things with her.





Chapter Fourteen





“So, you’re the son of a bitch who has been keeping Heather to yourself?” Ashley asked.

“That’s me.”

“And you’ve got the sexy voice that creams every woman’s panties. Typical. You’re a lucky bitch.” Ashley cuddled her as the introductions were made. Connie smiled at Julian, but her gaze kept going to the stage.

“Are you nervous?” Heather asked.

“A little. I didn’t think Wade would do it. Christmas came and went with no signs of the karaoke coming. Now, I’ve been booked a spot, and I can’t back out of it. I’m nervous, excited, and downright scared.” Connie reached across the table to hold her friend’s hand.

“It’ll be great. You’ll see.”

Connie nodded. “I better go and get ready.”

Julian remained seated at her side as her friends talked over him. At times it was like he wasn’t there. Everything was going well. Her friends seemed to like Julian, even if they were blanking him. They weren’t as charmed by him as she was, but then she loved him. The club was full to bursting. Julian spent a great deal of time stroking her thigh. Connie was near the bar getting ready to do her number on stage. Wade kept talking to her.

“She’s nervous,” Amber said.

“I’m not surprised. She’s never sung in public before,” Heather said.

“Wait, she’s never sung in public, but you guys think she’s amazing,” said Julian.

All three women glared at him.

“She has sung in front of us. We’re her friends, and we take care of our friends,” Ashley said.

Heather glanced at him. He’d been different with her the night before. She knew he must have heard her phone conversation. He kept glancing down at his phone.

“Are you expecting a call?” she asked.

“Business stuff. I need an answer by Monday.” He smiled at her. There was a distance to him even as he touched her body.

She felt when he touched her that he was getting ready to say goodbye. The audience grew silent. Heather looked at the stage.

Connie walked up to the stage. Heather saw her hands were shaking. The fear on Connie’s face was more than Heather could bear to see.

“We’ve got to help her,” Heather said to the girls.

“How can we help her? I can’t sing,” Amber said.

“And that is a bad thing? This is for Connie. Come on.” Heather kissed Julian and grabbed the other two. Wade stood at the bar looking towards the stage. Connie was too shy to get up on that stage on her own. They stopped at the DJ to change the song. The music began to fill the club. Heather followed the other two up the stage. They hugged Connie, ad then took their positions on either side with a mike in their hands.

She gave a wave to Julian, who waved back. He was distant tonight, and she didn’t like it. Pushing her doubts to the back of her mind she allowed the music to consume her.

Her voice was crap. Ashley and Amber weren’t much better, but Connie always covered them. Her voice stood on its own.

The first chords began, and Heather sang along. In no time at all, Connie was in full swing without her friends’ help. Amber, Ashley, and Heather stayed back dancing in the background as their friend took to the main stage, her voice perfectly in tune with the song. When they were reaching the climax, Heather encouraged the people on the dance floor to clap their hands for her friend. Connie blossomed under the audience’s attention. She swayed her hips and pulsed to the beat. It was like she was a different person on stage. Heather glanced towards Julian. He was on the phone, his attention on work.

“What’s wrong?” Ashley asked.

“Nothing.” Heather smiled at her friend.

Heather linked her arms with the other two as her friend went for a high note. Her arms erupted in goose bumps. Connie had tried to break into the music industry, but there was no room for her or her shape. Heather knew they’d made a mistake, but at least her friend didn’t seem sad by it.

The crowd erupted into applause as the music died down.

“Thank you,” Connie said.

Heather saw Wade whistling. She hoped he had the courage to tell Connie how he felt. They left Connie to her audience as they walked off the stage. This was her time. No one else’s. Ashley caught her arm as Amber went to the bar.

“You’ve gone all quiet and sad. What’s the matter?”