Of Love and Deception (11 page)

As usual, the place was packed. Live shows featuring star imposters always generated large crowds. Daniella was prepared for that, but she was uncertain how Cruz might react.

“You want something to drink?” Cruz asked.

“No, no. Not tonight. I need to be sober.” She examined his face, hoping he wouldn’t ask too many questions. His eyes were soft, and his smile warmed her heart.

“Sober. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You’re not getting drunk, are you?” Daniella didn’t want to spend their evening getting inebriated.

“Why? Would that disappoint you? ”

“Sort of. I just want to spend my time with you on a sober note. I’d hate to do anything on account of drunkenness.” Her cheeks burned. What she said could be taken out of context... or maybe it was meant the way it came out.

“Like what?”

Of course he’d have to ask. Like what? Think. Think!

Ron Jovi, one of the imposters, was up next.

Yes!
It was her cue to get going.

“I’ve got to go. That’s my signal. I have to help with the next gig.” She stood and gave Cruz a hopeful smile.

“How long will you be needed?” He reached for her hand and held her back.

“Thirty... maybe forty minutes?” Daniella couldn’t hang around too much longer or she would hold up the show. She withdrew her hand. “I’ve have to go now. Sorry.”

“Hurry back or I’ll come searching for you,” Cruz called after her.

~~~

Daniella watched Cruz on a screen in the studio room. He was getting impatient. She sent him a text.

Daniella:
Hang tight. I won’t be too much longer.

Cruz:
Come on. You left forty minutes ago. Why can’t I at least come watch or sneak in a kiss?

“Your cue, Daniella,” Jasper said.

“Got it.”

She had to reply—Cruz stood and his eyes darted here and there.

Daniella:
Sit. Enjoy the SHOW. You’ll see me in just a bit. Promise.

She quickly glanced at the screen and giggled as Cruz continued to look for her.

“Hey, Jimmy?” Daniella asked.

“Yo.”

“Take this.” She handed him her cell phone. “Send random replies, but give no details. You know the routine.”

“Ha. Got it,” Jimmy said.

Focus. You can do this. It's no different than any other....

The music began—her cue. She focused on what she had to do and continued to keep an eye on Cruz and their friends. The little ear bud she wore, along with the microscopic microphone hidden under their table, made it easy to hear their conversation.

~~~

Daniella tried to focus, but Cruz's voice came loud and clear through the ear bud.

“Where the heck is she? This is pissing me off.” He sounded irritated.

“Not sure, but she’s been gone a long time. You sure she didn’t ditch out on you?” Meg answered with a nasty tone.

“I don’t think so. That would suck balls.” He must have paused. “Ha. What does she mean... her text—look.”

“The next gig, Lady Gaga,” Meg sputtered. “Oh, look, another text. It says, Rah, rah, rah, ha-ha—just watch!”

The music started, and they all went silent.

As the beginning of ‘Bad Romance’ started, the crowd cheered.

“Holy crap! The white monsters... just like the video... crawling on the stage, and Gaga. Sweet.” She heard Cruz say, and then he cheered along with the audience.

She glanced at him and watched as he scanned the bar.

Meg leaned into him. “She is an interior designer by trade, but you did say she mentioned she had to work a short while, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but it’s been what? An hour?” His tone was harsh. “I didn’t see her all damn week—by some odd account.”

“Look! She’s really good! Enjoy the show, Cruz. I’m betting she will be done with whatever as soon as this gig is up. I bet she helped put this one together. Now watch so we, too, can enjoy the
rest
of the show.” Meg pegged him with her elbow.

You tell him, Meg!

She vaguely listened to Cruz read a text Jimmy sent:
Watch S.H.O.W! You’ll see me, but only if you stop looking and start watching! 'Cause you're missing out.
“Huh.”

He glanced at the stage and watched ‘Lady Gaga.’ She kept an eye on him as his gaze traveled from her blond wig with a black wire thingamajig, down to the shirt, and then the matching skirt, mesh hose, and—the dancing. He stirred in his seat and appeared agitated. 

The crowd jeered and clanked their cups. People yelled as she neared his table. It was difficult to perform and not break out in laughter as she watched his unknowing face brighten.

“Clear the table! Clear the table,” the crowd hollered until everyone at Cruz's table removed their beverages.

She marched, swiveled, and swayed her hips as she worked her way to the far end of tables connecting to the one Cruz, Meg, and Falcon sat at. She sang and leapt onto the tabletop. Thank god, her voice was incredibly smooth tonight. One might actually believe she were the ‘Lady’ herself if they didn’t know any better.

A big grin spread across Cruz's face.

“Walk, walk,” she sang the lyrics as she strutted in fashion toward his end of the table, and then took a deep squat, went to her knees and crawled in a provocative way as she neared him.

She got closer, and closer, and Cruz continued to stare. She aimed at him—her head lifted and she drew her body back up into a squat, right in front of him. Both of her hands raised; she placed one on either side of his face. He gasped, eyes wide and frozen, jaw dropped, as she sang to him.

She sang about wanting his love and not wanting to be friends, and then she stroked his cheeks and batted her lashes.

 Cruz whispered, “Daniella?”

He showed a mouth full of perfect teeth and shook his head in obvious disbelief as she continued to sing about not wanting to be friends.

She jumped off the table, singing and emphasized the word
friends
before she drew her hand away from his face, and then marched back toward the stage followed by little white monsters.

Roars of applause soared until the live music ended and the stage emptied. From the back room, Daniella watched Cruz's table and listened in on their conversation.

Cruz shook his head and guffawed, alarm still evident on his handsome face.

“Oh, my gosh! That was so cool,” Meg said.

A compliment from Meg. Well if that isn’t a shocker.

“Who would have guessed?” Falcon smacked Cruz on the back.

“Yeah, who would have ever... damn! And I missed most of it.” Cruz sighed.

Yes!
She fist pumped the air and pulled the mini ear bud out.

~~~

Daniella whipped off the wig and shed her clothing. She did a quick wash and rinse in the small shower provided for entertainers. After putting on her own attire, she touched up her make-up and hair, which was in disarray from the wig.

“Hey, buddy, you can give me my phone back now.”

“Ha-ha! Come and get it.” Jimmy held her phone above his head and ran in circles on his tiptoes. 

“Jimmy! Give me my phone back, please.”

“Walla!” He twirled like a girl.

She snatched her phone from his raised hands and stepped out of the dressing room. She took in a sharp breath and exhaled as she went forward.

There were whistles and jeers the second she stepped out of the backroom.

Attention wasn’t what she wanted at the moment. She was already nervous as she approached Cruz. When he smiled, her tension dissolved.

He greeted her in the middle of the floor. “You. You didn’t tell me. What a surprise.”

“What was I supposed to say? Guess what? Sometimes I do a Lady Gaga impersonation?”

“Nah. I like the way you told me on the table.” His eyes narrowed. “You can tell me again, later.”

His look—sexy. Serious. Hotter than hades.

A shiver of desire coursed through her and she trembled.

‘
The Beautiful One’ by Prince happened to be the first song to play after her gig, and it brought a crowd of couples to the dance floor. 

  Cruz held Daniella at the waist. His grip was different, more dominating and she liked it, but she was afraid to look up, afraid he could take control of her. 

 
Cruz whispered the lyrics about wanting him, in a seductive tone, drawing her ever closer.

Hell yes, I want you. You're so friggin' hot!

His scent, the outline of his body, the way he ran his hands along her back, the warmth of his breath against her neck…

 She wanted him… in the worst kind of way, or maybe not.

As the song ended, Daniella stood on the tip of her toes, and pulled Cruz’s head down. Against his ear, she whispered, “Let’s get out of here. I want to go.”

Cruz leaned back, the crease in his forehead deepened as he stared into her eyes. “Where? Home?”

“No. To your place.” Daniella’s cheeks warmed. Unable to look at Cruz, for fear he’d see her secret desires, she glanced toward Meg and Falcon.

“Why do you do that? Look away? As if you’ve just asked… like you want—never mind my wishful thinking. Let’s go.” He dropped his hands from her hips and settled for her hand.

“Hey you two, Daniella and I are ready to go. You coming or staying?”

Meg grumbled inaudible words as Falcon shook his head. 

The crisp, cool air chilled Daniella’s heated cheeks as they headed toward Cruz’s red BMW.

He fiddled with the music player connected to the stereo. Grinning, he sped out of the parking lot and headed down the highway.

‘Bad Romance’ blared through the speakers. Cruz’s grin widened.

“Great!” Daniella sank into her seat, regretting she’d let him see her perform.

“What? It’s my new favorite song! Unless you can do this one.” She watched him flip through the songs.

‘Teeth,’ another Lady Gaga song, filtered through the speakers.

“Um. I could do that one, but I don’t think you’d like the way I dance to it,” Daniella said, no longer embarrassed.

“Mm. You can show me in the privacy of my home, and I’ll let you know how I feel about it.” Cruz reached for her hand, entwining their fingers.

~~~

The instant they stepped into his living room, Daniella feared she’d no longer have control. She watched Cruz as he flipped through the digital media. An impish grin formed along his lips while he turned the sound up.

“Teeth.” Daniella grinned, dropping her head and shaking it.

Insert foot into mouth… kick teeth out, and never put thy self into such situations again! Arg!

“Show me,” Cruz insisted.

Daniella glanced up and smiled, showing a mouth full of teeth. Just what he asked for.

“Ha. Funny girl. Now show me the dance. Don’t be shy. You did just perform in front of a large audience, so this should be easy. Come on, please?” Cruz pleaded, begged even.

“Great! Fine, but don’t laugh or I’ll leave.” Daniella frowned and wiggled a finger at him. She knew she was at his mercy. She didn’t have her car so she would have to walk, if she really wanted to go.

“Ready, set, go.” Cruz hit ‘play’.

Daniella shook her shoulders, swung her hips and marched to the beat of the song. Cruz observed. A dirty little grin spread across his lips when she grabbed her crotch, went down on all fours, and popped back up, marching away from him.

He grasped her hips from behind, blew a breath against her ear, and slowly, his hips tipped forward. She rolled with him, pushing back against him.

“That’s sexy as hell,” he whispered, and nipped her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine.

He splayed his hands along her stomach, traced the lining of her skirt, and pulled her into him at the same time he rotated his hips.

His tone rugged, he said, “Mm. Bad romance, huh?”

She was speechless… and breathless, and her temperature rose in the already heated room. The music thrummed, and he continued to roll his hips in a mixture of soft and hard, depending on the beat of the music. Wanting more, she reached up and tangled her fingers into his hair. He moaned his approval, dragged his hands slowly up her abdomen, over her breasts, and then trailed them along her arms.

Flipping her around, cupping her behind, he picked her up and she had to wrap her legs around his waist for security. Placing a hand on each side of her face, he pressed her head against the wall. His kiss, ever so deep, tender and rough, hypnotic and seductive, made her dizzy. Certain he couldn’t get any deeper, he proved her wrong and she was sure he could taste her own desire. He touched fervently, and she trembled. She imagined him inside of her—the thought alone, inebriating. 

She squeezed her legs tighter, not wanting to let go, and held his head tightly.

Loosening his grip, and his tongue, Cruz leaned back. “I’m crazy for you and I need to let go before I can’t stop myself.”

Clenching her legs tighter, back against the wall, Daniella said nothing, but smiled as she caressed his cheeks. She blinked a few times, never breaking eye contact. She wasn’t ready to part from him.

Holding her with his body still hot-pressed into hers, he held her gaze with a deep penetrating stare. “You don’t want to be friends?” he asked, not once faltering eye contact.

Words would not move, but froze in the center of her chest. Daniella answered by shaking her head.

“No?” He continued, his lips grazing her cheek, and then her ear. He whispered, “Tell me then, what do you want?”

How could she possibly speak when he seduced her with his fingers inching up her skirt, hands gripping her thighs, chest against hers, rising and falling in lustful breaths?

Cruz stopped and released his grip. Daniella’s legs dropped, and she stood before him. He didn’t say anything, only took her hand and led her to the couch and sat. Pulling her down on his lap, he pressed her back to his chest, straddled her legs over his, and swept the length of her hair over her right shoulder.

He dragged his lips along the exposed flesh between her shoulders, worked the hidden zipper down the front of her shirt, and removed it. Placing firm hands against the center of her back, he drove them up roughly and unfastened her bra. Holding each breast in his hands, he bowed her back against him and nibbled her neck, causing her to shiver with desire.