Page 44 of Steal My Breath Away

“I called in a favor,” Ace said. “It’s no big deal.”

“You got an executive from Atlantic Records to come out to Bin 46 with almost zero notice to listen to me sing, and you think it’s no big deal.” My eyes were wet. I had to blink to clear them. “Ace… That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

“You’re an amazing singer, bug. I want everyone to know it.”

I threw my arms around him and gave him a hug. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

“For the love of…” Ryan tapped me on the shoulder. “Vibes. Bad. No one wants to see displays of affection from a girl they fantasize about taking home for the night.”

“My shift is over,” I retorted. “I can hug who I like.”

Ryan nodded toward the door. “What did Stefan Foucault want with you? He’s never been here before, although he’s aSouth Side boy, born and bred. If he’s scouting for talent, I might change up the entertainment.”

I held up Stefan’s card. “He liked my music. He wants to hear more.”

“Hmmm.” Ryan studied the card. “How about we put you on the regular rotation starting next month? Weekdays to start. I’ll play with the schedule and send you some dates.”

My brain almost couldn’t process what was happening. I’d met Stefan Foucault, and he liked my voice. I’d just been offered a regular gig at a high-end Chicago bar. And Ace had made it all happen. “Yes, but only if you’re paying me. I’m not working the floor.”

“Done.” Ryan nodded. “Just you, though. Lose the boyfriend and the suits.”

Puzzled, I frowned. “What suits?”

“The dude in the hall and the one in the bar.” He gestured to a man in a suit standing near the doorway. “My security guards noticed them hanging around, and they said they’d been hired to keep an eye on you. Not sure if that’s because you’re in trouble or you’re playing at being a big star, but they were killing the vibe.”

I glanced over at Ace, and he whispered in my ear, “I had Jordan send them to make sure you were safe.”

A warm, squishy feeling spread across my chest, and I clasped Ace’s hand. “I could give up the suits,” I said to Ryan. “But this one isn’t going anywhere.”

CHAPTER 21Haley

“Don’t go home,” I ordered Ace as we left the underground parking garage. “I’m too wired up. I’ll just bounce off the walls.”

“You’re safest at home,” he pointed out.

“I’m safe with you,” I said. “Let’s drive somewhere.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Lakeshore Drive. I want to see the water.”

“It’s dark,” he turned onto West Jackson Boulevard. “There’s not much to see.”

“You can still see the water at night, and it’s pretty with all the lights on the piers, the moored boats, and the cities on the other side of the lake. I want to roll down the window and feel the breeze.”

“Are you going to hang your head out and stick out your tongue?” he asked, amused.

“Funny.” I gave him my best side-eye. “Paige and I bike along the lake all the time. We’re there for the beaches in summer and hiking in the forests in spring and fall. Sometimes when we’re in the woods, I close my eyes and imagine I’m back in Riverstone.”

Ace’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “How far do you want to go?”

“Montrose Beach. I can direct you. There’s a relatively unknown section over a fence where they’ve made hiking trails through the grass, and there’s a cute little bridge—”

“You want to go into the woods at night?” Ace’s voice rose in pitch. “Are you serious?”

“It’ll be fun.”

“Carnival rides are fun,” Ace said. “Bears games are fun. Naked Haleys in hotel rooms are very fun. If you want fun—”

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