Tiny Dancer(Divine Creek Ranch 13)(119)
“I can’t imagine.”
“I can. You’re an heiress, in case you forgot,” Ethan said with a grin.
She tried to glower but wound up chuckling. “All this mess started before that little development. You’d wrap me in cotton and stick me in your pocket if you could, wouldn’t you?” Both men nodded, and Hank held open the pocket on the front of his shirt for her, as if she’d just toe the line and jump in.
A twinkle came into Ethan’s eyes a second before she felt warm hands wrap around her waist and warm lips brushed her ear. “It’s that time, isn’t it, sugar?” Ben. A light shiver rippled up her spine as his body heat pressed against her backside.
“I guess so,” she replied nervously. “Funny, I could strip and pole dance with confidence, but put a microphone in my hand and I’m nervous as can be.”
Quinten stroked her arm as he joined them. “You’ll do great.”
Up on the stage, her DJ, Matthew, handed her a microphone. She looked out over the crowd, smiling at the culmination of all her efforts and her dreams. The only face missing in the crowd was Tom’s, who had helped her dream along with his generosity and his belief in her. Emotion seized her vocal cords, and she nearly panicked. The sound of Tom’s voice echoed in her memory, and she knew what he’d say. “Just tell us what you want us to know, shortcake.”
To herself, she whispered, “That I can do. Thanks, Tom. For everything.” Holding the microphone up, she spoke loud and clear. “May I have your attention, please.”
The words she needed came to her as she welcomed them all to The Twisted Bull. When she was done, she handed the microphone back to Matthew as he gave her a thumbs-up and started the next song.
An hour later, Camilla giggled when she heard the opening chords of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” and Quinten jumped up from the booth seat and turned to her. He started gyrating, and she had no choice but to allow herself to be led on the dance floor.
“You’re all mine, baby!”
“Only because Ben’s body has no clue how to move to this song. You’re so funny!”
Quinten kept her giggling as he threw down his best moves, so she did the same thing, distracting him with her own way of dancing to that particular song. After a minute, they both realized that the patrons on the dance floor had cleared space for them and were cheering and clapping to the beat. She was breathless as the song finally ended and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” began to play.
“Thirsty?” he asked. She panted and giggled as he wrapped her in his arms and waved to the cheering crowd.
“Seriously parched,” she said, leaving the dance floor with him.
His demeanor immediately changed, and he peered more closely at her. “Was that too much for you—out on the dance floor?” Morning sickness still bothered her, and she counted the days until it would finally pass.
She shook her head. “Not so far but I am thirsty. I’ll grab a cracker too, just in case.”
She carried her crackers with her everywhere she went.
“I’ll get you a club soda. Be right back.” Quinten left her at their table and skirted the bar to get it for her himself. She noticed Hank behind the bar, studying the security monitors.
As if on cue, the nausea stirred, and she reached for a cracker. She was munching on it quickly when she saw Sylvan wave at her from the rear entry into the club. She needed to use the restroom anyway, so she slipped from the seat and went to see what Sylvan wanted.
Sylvan spoke into her two-way radio and then turned to Camilla. “They need me up at the front, but there is a delivery truck at the receiving doors. It must be that last shipment from San Antonio for us. Cody said he’d check it out but they’ll need you to sign for it.”
“Did the driver not see the sign that says we don’t take deliveries after six?”
“I guess not.” The two-way radio squawked, and Sylvan said, “Can you take care of the delivery man, and I’ll see about the local television station news crew waiting out front?”
That settled it. She’d done her duty talking in front of an audience and said, “Let Ben and Quinten know. I’m sure they can help, too. I’ll handle the driver. I’ve gotta use the ladies’ room anyway.”
Sylvan nodded and walked toward the front doors, speaking into her two-way radio. “I’m on my way. Find Ben and Quinten.”
She went out into the back hallway, where Cody was stationed for the night, and wondered if he was helping with the delivery because he wasn’t at his station by the back door. Thinking that must be the case, she hurried to the ladies’ room to handle the most pressing matter first. If the delivery man could pull her away from her grand opening, then he could wait while she peed.