Page 39 of Contentious

“I’m going to muzzle you.”

“Haha, I’d like to see you try.”

The bartender’s mouth fell open when he realized who’d strolled up to his bar. “I, um, hey. What can I get you?”

“I’ll have a dirty martini with extra olives, please.”

“Seltzer with lemon for me,” Marlene said.

“Coming right up.”

While he made her drink, he cast not-so-subtle glances in her direction, basically letting her know he was available for anything else she might want or need. He was gorgeous, probably an actor or model, but she felt nothing for him or any of the other beautiful people in the room. She’d lived long enough to know that feeling of connection, the one she’d had with Carson last night, was like locating a needle in the proverbial haystack.

With drinks in hand, they moved closer to the stage.

“You’re Cresley Dane,” a man dressed in black said.

“I am.”

“Come with me.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“VIP area.”

“Woo-hoo,” Marlene said as she held Cresley’s hand while they followed the man up a flight of stairs to a balcony area that looked down on the stage.

“Thank you so much,” Cresley said to the man.

“Your drinks are on us. Have a nice evening.”

He was gone before she could thank him again.

“Superstar,” Marlene said with a giggle.

Cresley elbowed her, which only made her friend laugh harder. Celebrity had its perks, to be certain, but the loss of anonymity and privacy went along with it, things everyone took for granted until they were gone forever.

Julian’s band took the stage, and she couldn’t believe how different he looked in jeans, a T-shirt and a ball cap on backward.

“Hi, Cresley,” a woman said from behind her.

She turned to see Julian’s girlfriend, Isla. “Oh, hey, Isla. How’s it going?”

“I’m good. How’re you?”

“Happy to be out with my friend Marlene. Marlene, this is Isla, Julian’s girlfriend.”

The two women shook hands.

“Your man did one hell of a job getting me through one of the nastiest divorces in recorded history,” Marlene said.

“I’ve heard he’s good at what he does.”

“He’s outstanding at it, and I’ve got the bank account to prove it.”

“Julian is a whole different person with the band,” Cresley said to Isla.

“It’s funny, right?” Isla said. “Mr. Suit and Tie becomes Mr. T-Shirt and Jeans.”