Ethan's Song by Jan Carol Read Free Book Online

his dance partner." She put a touch of lipstick on, blotting most the grease off, leaving a hint of color.
    "O-o-o la-la!" Jenni stood, watching as her roommate applied the slightest blue-green eye shadow. "It must be nice to be paid..." The words stopped there, rather than saying what was in her thoughts.
Jenà turned to face her. "I didn’t ask for this. It is a direct order from him."
    "I’m sure it was, but rumor has it that you’re playing up to him." Jenni sat back on her bed.
"Who?" Her volume was turned up some. "Who would say that?"
"Look, don’t take it so personal. You’re young and pretty. Just his type of woman." She lay back, picking up her book again. "Watch yourself, Jenà. He’ll dump you when you no longer fit into his plans."
"And you were the one who said he doesn’t mess with hired help," she accused. "I should have listened to Wes. Only... Oh, never mind." She opened the door, walking through the hall to the stairs in her small white heels, thinking what she was about to say to Jenni. Only no matter what anyone else said to warn her, she was sure things would be the same. Ethan had been watching her from the first day.
It had only been five minutes since she’d left him. Standing near the table, he watched as she walked to him, pulling out her chair when she was beside it. "I knew it would look sensational on you. You’re very beautiful, Jenà."
She seated herself, feeling the chair being pushed in as she moved toward the table. His lips were warm on her bare shoulder before he walked around the table, sitting across from her. "Thank you." She smiled as he took his seat across from her.
To her surprise they ate in silence, his eyes speaking to her. The meal was absolutely wonderful, and there was no one around to refill their drinks, Ethan did that. Her wine glass was never empty, and after the third, she insisted that she’d had enough.
When they had finished, one of the deck waiters cleared the table away. Where he had come from was her guess. Shortly after he was gone, music began filling the air. Ethan, taking her in his arms, moved to the soft melody. She was watching to find the others, who hadn’t come out yet. His chuckle caught her attention.
"What?" She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling in the lights around them.
"You." He smiled down at her. "Are you afraid I might do something to you before company arrives?"
"Maybe." She was able to follow him so easily. "I’ve not had a partner like you in years."
His words were whispered in her ear, sending little shivers through her. "You’re too young to say that. Years... Must put you back in early high school, maybe junior high." Holding her a little tighter, he was enjoying the feel of her in his arms once more.
"M-m-m. But I hear you go for younger women, Ethan." His name slipped from her tongue so naturally. "I hope they don’t change the music."
"They won’t," he promised. To his disappointment, his guests were now coming out to join them. Although it had been planned, he really wanted this night to be just theirs, Jenà’s and his. "I’ve plans to hold you in my arms all night long, and if dancing is the only way, then slow music will be played as long as you can stand."
"That could be all night." She looked up at his smiling face, closing her eyes to the way he made her feel. "I’m used to dancing till early morning hours."
His left eyebrow came up, his smile fading some. "Is that right?" The music stopped for a few seconds between songs. Ethan never missed a step. "Are you a professional dancer?" Strange he didn’t know the first thing about this woman, yet she seemed everything he had ever wanted.
"No. I go dancing most nights after work. I sing for a living."
"Do you?" He sounded interested. "I’d like to hear you."
She danced in his arms until most the others were gone. The night air was a bit chilly, but in his arms, she was warm, maybe a little too warm. Having swayed with him for nearly three hours straight, she