Come Dancing by Leslie Wells Read Free Book Online Page B

time to use the bathroom at the far end of the loft. Peering into the spacious shower as I zipped my pants, I pictured Jack in there, water streaming down his face, plastering his hair to his bare shoulders … Shaking the image, I went out and tried not to look at his big, messy bed beyond an open door. There was another sitting area with what appeared to be a working fireplace. Guitar stands, a keyboard, drum kit, and amps were grouped around it; I wondered if the downstairs neighbors ever complained.
    “Anyone up for going out for a drink?” Sammy asked after conferring with Vicky.
    Jack looked at me. “Why don’t we stay here and listen to some more records,” he said softly. I felt a funny flutter in my stomach. I didn’t want to leave yet, and I knew from the mob at Fanelli’s that it might be difficult for him to go to a bar. But I was almost afraid to say yes.
    I took a breath. “I can stay to hear the Leadbelly.”
    Jack smiled, creating those sexy creases on either side of his face. “I picked out some things today. I’d forgotten half the stuff I had on my shelves.”
    “Copacetic. We’ll see you all later,” Sammy said. They exited in a rush just as the album ended, and the apartment rang with the sudden silence.
    “What’s in that backpack you’re always carrying around?” Jack asked.
    “Just a book and my keys.”
    “You planned on doing some reading over here?” He looked at me quizzically.
    “In case I got bored … Just kidding. I always bring one along for when I get stuck on the subway, or in line at the drugstore. It’s Flannery O’Connor; Wise Blood . She writes about these really dark, twisted characters.”
    “Dark and twisted, sounds good. Want to read some of it to me?”
    I was taken aback. “Sure … I mean, or you could borrow it. I’ve read it so many times, I almost have it memorized.”
    “I’d rather hear you read it, if you don’t mind.” He kicked off his boots and stretched out lengthwise on the couch. God, he looks enticing in that position .
    I got the book and perched on the edge of my chair. “Guess I’ll start at the beginning.” I finished a page and glanced at Jack, who was lying there watching me. He made a “keep it rolling” gesture, so I continued to the end of the chapter.
    Jack sat up, crossing his bare feet at the ankles. “That’s powerful stuff. You have a good voice but I can’t place your accent. Where’d you grow up?”
    “A small town in western Pennsylvania. It has a couple factories, some scenic farmland. You’re from London, right?” I was pretty sure I’d read that about him.
    “Forty minutes away in Hounslow, a dirty industrial burg. The sky always had this greenish cast like it was about to puke. Everyone worked in the factories there too, after they finished whatever schooling they’d suffered through. Most of the kids talked about going to London eventually, but hardly anyone ever did. I was lucky to get away.”
    “And your first group was with one of your roommates?”
    “Yeah, after the bands I had in school. I was in a group with a flatmate of mine who was a drummer. We got a few gigs, and one night Patrick saw us play in this little fifteen-seat hole. He asked me to come see his band, and the next day we decided to get together and ditch the others. And that,” he said, making a strumming motion, “was all she wrote. What about you, how’d you get out of western Pennsylvania?”
    “I couldn’t wait to get out. I scraped my summer job money together and got a scholarship to a small state college.”
    “Your parents couldn’t help you?”
    “They broke up when I was fourteen, and I haven’t seen my dad since,” I said, feeling a familiar ache. “My mother tended to bounce around from job to job.”
    “Mine split when I was nine. I had no idea what was going on; one day I came home from school and he’d moved out. I thought it was my fault because I’d done something bad the day before, tracked in a lot