by Rachel Torrent

“Hi, Alan, Amy.” Julie greeted them as they came through the front door of the restaurant. Alan kissed her hand when she held it out for him to shake. His lips were warm and soft.

“Hi, Julie. I apologize for Alan’s appearance. He insisted on wearing those jeans even though I begged him to dress up,” Amy said in her whiny voice. Whiny to Julie, anyway. And who had done that to Amy’s hair?

“Now look. Let me tell you something. This isn’t a wedding or a funeral. There was no dress code on the invitation. And as for Alan’s appearance, you’ve got one of the best looking husbands on the planet. If he wants to wear jeans, let him freaking wear jeans.” Julie was talking to whiny Amy, but she smiled at Alan. He smiled back, but he was glancing into the restaurant too. He may run the store that was Earl Ray’s main competition, but he was one handsome man.

“See, honey? I told you she’d let me in.” Alan seemed a little uneasy tonight. Kind of on edge. Maybe he needed a drink.

Amy lightly hit him on the shoulder. “Oh, what do you know? She has to play the gracious hostess.”

“Amy, if you hit him once more, I’ll personally take him away from you. That’s how gracious I am tonight,” Julie told her without smiling at her. “Now go on in and get yourselves a drink. Scottie LaMont’s tending bar on this side, and Art Maskin is pouring them over in the bar. The food is buffet style in the back. Help yourselves.”

Amy wouldn’t look at her now, and she didn’t care. But Alan said, “Who’s here already?”

“Oh, let me see……that detective Tyler Barnes is here. And the new guy Danny Quintz with his wife, Louise. Scottie and his friend Don Johnson are trying to get Roy Dean drunk back there.”

“What about Scottie’s wife?” Alan was still looking around what he could see of the room. Obviously, he was looking for something in particular. And Julie didn’t think it was Scottie’s wife.

“Her name is Sahndra, Alan. God, you’re awful with names.”

Julie ignored her. “She’s right there, in front of that bar. With Earl Ray. She’s half responsible for this brouhaha too, ya know.”

“Okay. C’mon, Amy. Let’s jump in.” Alan didn’t sound like he really wanted to even get his feet wet. But he took his wife’s arm and went in to the festivities.

Julie walked away from the door and past where Tyler Barnes was sitting with some other guys on the police force. Speaking of good-looking men, Tyler was more than handsome. And he always seemed to be without a woman. He waved to her as she went by. If I weren’t married……..she thought.

As she walked up to Sahndra and Earl Ray, Julie’s husband was saying, “He said he’d be here. But it’s probably too early for him yet.”

“Who? Roger?” Julie knew all too well who Sahndra was waiting for. But she asked anyway.

“Hey, baby,” Earl Ray said quietly to her as he came around behind her and slid his arms around her waist.

“Yes. Roger Lococco. Where is his ass?” Sahndra knew Scottie couldn’t hear her. He was busy with his bar duties.

“Well, I’m sure that when his ass does get here, you’ll be the world champion watcher of it,” Julie said to her.

“Oh, shut up.” Sahndra didn’t think she should mention that Julie would most certainly be a close second runner-up. Not in front of Earl Ray.

Julie looked around behind her. She sighed. “Honey, go back there and make Scottie stop forcing Roy Dean to drink. He’ll be too drunk to enjoy his party.”

“Aw, don’t make me leave.” He tightened his grip around her waist and kissed her temple.

“Please, sweetheart. I don’t want Roy Dean puking. And you know Scottie.”

“Yeah. We all know Scottie.” Sahndra turned up her drink. “Earl Ray, would you get me another one while you’re back there?”

“Yeah, okay. If I gotta go,” he said. Before he turned and walked back to the bar, he grabbed Julie’s ass. She jumped and let out a little gasp.

“Why don’t you give that gorgeous man some once in a while?” Sahndra asked her when he was gone.

“So you think I don’t?”

“Well, he was just telling me in some detail exactly what he’d rather be doing right now. At home. With you. Or I should say on you.”

Julie sighed heavily and exhaustively and rolled her eyes. “Jesus. How do you think we spent the whole afternoon? He wouldn’t let me out of bed. I think I blacked out once. And God, am I sore now. Don’t let him fool you. He ain’t needing it that damn bad.”

“He loves you. That’s so sweet.”

“Yeah. And he’ll still love me when this party’s over. Now what was that crack before about Scottie? Are you two fighting since he got back?”

“No. Not yet. He won’t let me mingle like I want to. I gotta stay near the bar,” Sahndra said.

“I’ll talk to him. He’s just in rare form tonight. Did you see Alan and Amy come in?”

“No. I was listening to what you’re gonna get later tonight.” Sahndra smiled.

“Very funny. Alan is either doing drugs or something is bugging the shit out of him.”

“Not drugs. Not Alan. Maybe that bitch of a wife he has is holding out on him.” Sahndra glanced behind her where Earl Ray was holding Roy Dean’s arm and leading him away from the bar.

“I don’t think Amy was on his mind at all. I hope Art gives him a really stiff drink to settle those nerves.”

“I’d like to see what else Alan has that might be stiff.” Sahndra snickered.

“You horny bitch. You’re the one who needs to do your husband once in a while.”

“Yeah. I’ll get around to that. Speaking of stiff, did you see Jack French?”

Julie hadn’t met Jack French. But Sahndra had and couldn’t say enough about his looks. “He’s here? Where?” She scanned the half-lit room.

“Over in the bar. This one you gotta check out. He’s hot.”

Hey, Julie! Babe! C’mere! And bring my wife!” Scottie LaMont yelled from behind them. He’d volunteered to make drinks all night, and Julie had told him he could drink whatever he wanted. Sahndra knew already she’d be driving him home.

The ladies walked back to Renaissance’s “other” bar. The “fancy” one, as Scottie called it. Don Johnson was sitting on one of the barstools, looking casual and beautiful. Scottie was behind the bar. He’d taken off his sport coat and had rolled up his sleeves just a little. He had both hands on the bar and was smiling.

“What, Scottie? Let me guess. We’re already running out of whatever you’re drinking,” Julie said while smiling at him.

“Earl Ray was right. You’ve got a very talented mouth. Although I think he was talking about something else.”

“Oh, you shut the hell up, Scottie. He did not say anything like that to you. Do you want me to dismiss you?”

“Just kidding, babe. Here, darling.” He turned to Sahndra. “Here’s that drink you asked Earl Ray to get you.”

“Thanks, honey. Hi, Don.” Sahndra said.

“Nice party, ladies. How’s the food?”

“Ask Julie. That’s her department,” Sahndra said.

“The food’s great. It’s in the back over there,” Julie pointed towards the buffet line and saw Earl Ray talking to Lonnie. Eric was with them. Lonnie had her hand on Earl Ray’s chest.

“Well, that’s what I need. This alcohol is going to my head. Excuse me, ladies,” Don said, getting on his feet.

“What about me?” Scottie chimed in.

“You can kiss my ass, bubba.” And Don was off to stuff his face.

“I might just have to kill him. How’s that drink, sweets?”

Sahndra tasted it again and said, “Fabulous. Nobody does it like you, Scottie.”

“Let me taste.”

Sahndra handed him the drink.

“No. No. No. C’mere,” he said, waving her towards him. She understood then and leaned over to him. They kissed long and wet. Then he said, “Yeah. Fabulous. I think I need to taste more of that.”

“Get a room,” Julie said.

“Bite me, Julie,” Scottie told her.

“Scottie, you keep saying that, and one day I’m gonna call your bluff. And you won’t know what hit you.”

“I’ll be waiting right here.”

“I’m going on a tour around the place and see what’s going on,” Julie said and left them. She was almost to the foyer between the bar and restaurant when her husband came up behind her. She turned around to him, and he backed her up against the rock wall.

“My goodness, Mrs. Michaels. You look really sexy tonight.”

“Honey, you scared me.”

“Really now?” Earl Ray had his hands on her.

“Earl Ray, someone will see you.”

“We’re in the corner, and they don’t care. This is your place anyway.”

“Yeah, but it’s not a motel. Why are you doing this tonight? We made love all afternoon.”

“But I didn’t know you’d be wearing this tonight. And it’s making me hurt.” He whispered to her now while sliding his hands over her body. She was wearing a new short, tight-fitting black dress made of lace with a silk lining. Apparently, he loved it. If tons of people hadn’t been around, she would have laid down on the hard floor right then and let him have her.

“Honey, please. I invited these people here. I can’t just disappear on them,” she said.

“Aw, all right. I guess I’ll just go back to Lonnie. I’m sure I could talk her into it.” He smiled wickedly at her.

“Well, if you do, then you’d better be talking her into doing all the other stuff I do too. ‘Cause I’ll be long gone.”

“Now you know better than that. I’m kidding.” He ran his hand down the back of her thigh. “Ill be waiting for you and nobody else. See ya.” He kissed her on the mouth and then went back over to Scottie’s bar. She tasted the alcohol on his mouth. He tasted good. She thought about the afternoon.

Then, not quite as composed as before, Julie started through the foyer to the bar area again.

At Scottie’s bar, Earl Ray got another shot of whiskey and left for Rob Sweeney’s table. Rob was talking to that Carli girl who had just arrived. She was attractive, but didn’t look very happy tonight. Rob’s wife was laughing at something Earl Ray had said.

Sahndra stood up and kept her back to the bar. She watched the rest of the festivities going on in front of her and sipped her drink. Renaissance was a beautiful place. Especially when it was closed for a private party.

“Whatcha looking at, darling? Your boyfriend hasn’t shown his face yet. And the best thing here is in your rear view mirror.”

Scottie was still behind the bar, behind her. Sahndra knew she’d be driving him home. But at least she’d know where he was all night.

“Mind your own business, Scottie. I’m just watching the party,” Sahndra told him without turning around.

He leaned over the bar and touched the back of her neck with his fingertip. “Soft and beautiful,” he said quietly.

Sahndra glanced over her shoulder at him. “Can I get some peanuts, please?”

“Oh, sweetheart, I’ve got something better than that to give you,” he said softly, still running his fingertips along her neck and shoulders.

“And what would that be, most charming husband of mine?” Sahndra had turned back to the party.

“Hmmm. You don’t have a necklace of pearls, now do you?”

“Pearls? No. Just that pearl ring you gave me a couple of years ago.” Sahndra was only halfway paying attention to him.

“Ah, baby, I”ve got a whole strand of them waiting for you. And they’ll look gorgeous around that soft, beautiful neck of yours.”

She turned around. “What in the hell are you talking about?”

He straightened up and smiled his evil, seductive smile at her. “Come around here, my love, and get down on your knees. I’ll give you a little taste before we get home.”

“Maybe I should call your bluff.”

“Call me whatever you want. Everyone else does. But I’d sure like to feel those lips of yours right now,” Scottie said softly to her, leaning over the bar.

She turned to look at him and licked her lips slowly, over and over. “Yeah. I can almost taste you.”

Several people came up to the bar at that moment, so their conversation had to be put on hold. But Sahndra felt the tingling anticipation in her body. Scottie had been away on one of his trips for a couple of days. She needed to feel his body on hers. But maybe she’d make him wait a little longer.

Meanwhile, Julie had started back through the foyer, still flustered from her husband’s hands on her. As she rounded the corner in the little hallway, she bumped right into someone she didn’t know. This stranger grabbed both her shoulders to balance himself.

“Whoa! I’m so sorry!” As he apologized, Julie noticed two things about him. First, he looked her over from top to bottom, shamelessly. And second, he was absolutely gorgeous.

“Allow me to introduce my rude self. I’m Jack French.” He held out his hand.

“Hi. I’m Julie Michaels.” She shook his hand.

“What an adorable name! And you are quite adorable yourself! Aren’t you the owner of this fine establishment and the giver of this lovely soiree?” Oh, this one was smooth. Sahndra was right.

“Well, thank you, and yes, I am. Sahndra is helping me host the party, though. I believe you know her.”

“Yes, yes. She invited me. And I was hoping to get to meet you. The most excellent chef! Did you really cook all that food? It’s delicious!” He could have been a professional charmer. Very slick. But she found herself being drawn to him, not repelled by him. He wore a very expensive-looking dress shirt and pleated, cuffed pants with suspenders and a loose tie. Amy Matthews would have been proud to be seen with him. Lots of women here would, Julie thought.

“Uh….yes. All last night. With lots of help from my great kitchen staff, of course. Are you enjoying yourself, Mr. French?”

“Yes, tremendously. Would you care to dance?”

This threw Julie off guard. “What?”

“Dance! The jukebox is playing that slow Bush song that I love. C’mon! It’s the least I can do after almost knocking you down.”

“Well……..all right.” He took her hand and led her over to the dance floor. It was a slow dance, and Sahndra could’ve have probably told her that Jack wouldn’t have it any other way.

He put his hand on her back and held her closer to him than an almost-stranger would normally do. She breathed against his chest and wondered if she should be doing this. He smelled like Grey Flannel or Paco Rabon. Jack could be described as “suave.”

“Thanks, Jack. It’s been a pleasure meeting you,” she told him as they left the dance floor.

“The pleasure has been all mine. Let’s do it again. Soon.” He winked at her. And she liked it. She liked him. He was most assuredly an asshole jerk, but she liked him.

Then she saw Roger come in the front door. Wearing all black. Or shades of black. And she lost all train of thought. Jack disappeared. She walked quickly towards the door.

“Hey! Mr. Lococco!” She had to keep him from the restaurant side for a few minutes. With the hyper, brash mood Scottie was in tonight, she didn’t need Roger in his face if it could be prevented. Scottie was certainly not fond of him.

He turned to look at her and smiled. “Ah, the lovely hostess.” He kissed her on the cheek. They’d spent a lot of time together in the past two weeks getting the new security system in place.

“I’m so damn glad you made it. Sahndra was worried.”

“Well, I’m here now. Where’s Earl Ray? He owes me money tonight.”

“He’s around somewhere. Come on over here. Let’s get you a drink” She wanted to get him occupied and then let Sahndra know he was here. Sometimes Scottie didn’t give a damn about Roger. But other times he was easily angered by the mention of him. One just never knew about Scottie.

While Julie and Roger chatted at the bar, Earl Ray came in the room and over to them.

“Sorry, Roger, man. This one’s mine.” He ran his hand down her back and then kissed her again. She smelled the whiskey stronger. She was glad he was there. He laughed.

“Honey, I gotta go to the ladies’ room. Keep Roger company.” And she left them.

As she came back around the corner in to the restaurant area, Scottie called out to her again. “Hey! Queen Bee! I need you for a second!”

“Hold on just a minute, Scottie. I gotta talk women talk with your wife first.”

Julie took Sahndra aside from the bar. “Roger’s here. Whadaya think Scottie will do if he comes over here?”

Sahndra had excitement in her eyes. From Scottie or from Roger? Julie wasn’t sure.

“I dunno know. Where is he?”

“Over there. What are you gonna do? Sneak a peak.? And by the way, that Jack French guy is definitely edible.”

“You ain’t kidding. Yeah. I gotta have a peak. Cover for me.” Sahndra went to look into the bar area.

Julie turned around to Scottie. “What, dearest Scottie?”

“You got any private rooms in the back of this place?” He poured a drink for someone.

“Well……why?”

“What do you mean ‘why?’ You know why.” He smiled that devilish smile. “Matrimonial things.”

“There’s a little room off the kitchen with two rollaway beds in it. Just in case someone gets sick.”

“Oh, Julie. That speaks volumes for the food you serve here.” He smiled again.

“So I guess you’d rather go behind the dumpster in the back and get yourself off then.”

“Just kidding, babe. Chill out. Can I have the key?”

“It’s unlocked. And hey. Do me a favor. Don’t get shit all over the place back there. Okay?”

“Whatever you say. You’re the princess. Bubba’s gonna make drinks while I’m gone.”

“Have a nice time, Scottie.”

“Come on, Sahndra, darling. I gotta show you something back in the kitchen,” Scottie said as he came from around the bar. He didn’t see that she was oogling Lococco.

TO BE CONTINUED……

On to Part II