Sing For Me (14 page)

He lay next to her, on top of the covers, and hooked his hands under his head. He grinned, then started laughing.

Chloe pulled down the cover. “What’s so funny?”

“Ninety-eight times.”

“What?”

“I’ve found and sat beside you like this ninety-eight times,” he said and laughed again.

Chloe laughed softly and sat upright, shifting to lean back against the headboard. “So I owe you nine hundred and eighty dollars.”

He nodded.

“I can’t believe you actually counted.”

“You said you didn’t hide under the covers whenever you have a problem.”

“I seriously doubt I’ve only faced ninety-eight problems in my life. And don’t you think this problem is worthy of this reaction?”

“No.” He got onto his feet. “This problem requires another reaction; to go out and have fun.” He stretched his hand toward her. “We still have twenty bucks to spend.”

She grinned and took his hand. “The sky’s the limit, then.”

He laughed and grabbed their jackets. “Let’s go.” He opened the door and pulled his jacket on, then lifted Chloe’s coat for her to slip her arms into.

“As bad as this situation is …” She buttoned her coat and hooked her arm around his. “I’m glad I’m here with you.”

They took a boat to St. Mark’s Square and strolled around in the low yellow light while a musician played in a corner of the square.

He wasn’t sure what they were going to do tomorrow. There wasn’t any way to get the money needed for them to continue staying in the hotel, and Chloe couldn’t leave Italy without a passport.

They couldn’t even go back to Rome, not when they only had twenty euros left.

After pleading with her sob story, Chloe managed to change the tickets that would take them back to Rome for the tickets that took them to Milan. So now they were stuck in Venice with no way out.

He stopped in the middle of the square and took Chloe’s hand, pulling her into his arms before swaying to the music playing in the background.

Chloe chuckled, but didn’t step out of his arms. “Do you remember the first time I heard you sing?”

He leaned his cheek against her hair. “Prom night.”

Moving in closer, she laid her head on his shoulder. “Some bum fooled around with the music equipment and broke the speakers. So the music stopped, and everyone started to leave.”

“But you were sad.”

She looked up at him with the sweetest smile. “And as usual, you tried to make things better.” She pulled in her lower lip. “Do you remember the song you sang?”

He probably did, but he was distracted by the gloss of her lips.

Her brows puckered. “You forgot? You remembered that I hid under the covers ninety-eight times, but you forgot the first song we danced to.”

“I didn’t forget,” he finally said.

Her brows drew closer, and she took a step back. “I think your phone’s ringing.”

He was tempted to ignore it and pull her back into his arms, but he hadn’t been receiving any calls. It could be important.

He looked at the number and frowned. “Is it for you?”

“Maybe it’s FedEx.” She took the phone and answered the call. “Yes, that’ll be me. What? The consulate didn’t tell me I have to pay for the birth certificate.”

She shook her head and took a step away from him. “Okay, can you do that for me and charge it to my account?” She sighed and took another step away.

“Excuse me, I’m so sorry.”

Christopher turned and saw a man in a well-tailored black suit.

He was immediately suspicious of him, but doubted a conman could afford such suits.

“I’m so sorry if I’m interrupting, but I saw you while I was going into the restaurant. I was wondering if you’re Christopher Hunter.”

Christopher frowned and took a small step away from the man. “Yes.”

“Perfect! My girlfriend loves you. She burst her phone bills voting for you when you were in the competition, and she went to all your concerts.” The man paused and cleared his throat. “I’m Eric Staton, by the way.”

Christopher shook his hand. “Staton.” That name sounded familiar.

“Yeah, my father is Ronald Staton, the real estate tycoon.”

“Oh.”

Eric Staton glanced over his shoulder. “Look, I’m going to propose to Jane tonight. She’d be thrilled if you’ll sing for us.”

“I can’t sing … anymore.”

“Seriously? I thought that was nonsense. I don’t want to push, but I want this to be a night for her to remember. I’ll set everything up. I’ll set up a table for you and your girlfriend as well, and I’ll pay.”

Christopher needed money now, and he would be happy to sing for Eric Staton and his girlfriend, but he couldn’t.

“I’ll pay you five—no—ten thousand if you do it for me. I’ll tell the restaurant that you may be singing. If you can’t, then just say something nice, like ‘say yes.’ I’ll still foot the bill for the dinner no matter what. Come on, help a man out.”

The money would solve all their problems, but he couldn’t sing anymore.

He looked over at Chloe, who had her palm pressed against her forehead.

“If I do sing for you, I need your help as well,” Christopher said. He went on to explain what had happened and their dilemma. “We need a credit card number to pay for the birth certificate from here.”

Eric nodded and looked at Chloe. “That’s why she seems so troubled,” he said and pulled out his wallet. “Here.” He handed him one of his credit cards. “Charge everything you need to this card; the certificate, the hotel, and whatever travel expenses you guys need.”

Christopher couldn’t believe this. “You’re just going to give me the credit card?”

Eric nodded and pushed the card forward.

“I may not be able to sing.”

“I’m just helping a fellow American. Take the card. Even if you can’t sing for me, I want to help you out,” he said. “To tell you the truth, if you were to just show up and take a photograph, Jane will be over the moon.”

“I can definitely … do that.” He took the card, still hesitant.

“Take it. I’m sorry about what happened, and I want to pay for the rest of your trip while you sort out the whole passport issue.” Eric grinned. “Don’t worry, I can afford it.”

Christopher returned his grin.

“Do you want to see the ring?” Eric reached into his pocket and showed it to him. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

A single solitaire was set on a silver band. The diamond seemed thicker than his thumb, and it gleamed even in the low lights.
 

“I’m sure she’ll … love whatever you buy.”

“Well, if you need to find a good diamond, let me know. I’ll hook you up.”

Christopher laughed and nodded.

“All right, I’ll head in first.” Eric pointed to the restaurant behind him. “I’ll set everything up. Just let them know who you are, and I’m sure the manager will handle the rest.”

“All right,” he said. “And Eric, thanks.” He waved the card.

“No problem.”

Christopher turned back to Chloe, who was still on the phone.

“Mom, please, I don’t need this right now.”

He was surprised to hear her talking to her mom. He didn’t think Chloe would ever turn to her mother for help. Since young, whenever she had a problem, she knew her best bet was to solve it herself.

“Yes, I stayed at your house for a night. I’ll pay the rent, pro-rate it, and I’ll send you a check. Fine! I’ll pay for the whole month.” She clenched her jaws and fist.

“Chloe,” he said as he placed his hand on her back.

She rolled her eyes when she turned to him, then she covered the mouthpiece. “I should never have called her.”

“Hang up,” he whispered.

She frowned. “She’s the only one who can order the certificate for me.”

Christopher took the phone from her. “Mrs. Brooks, Chloe has to go.” He hung up the call and waved the credit card he was holding. “You can order your own certificate.”

Her brows drew closer. “Where did you get that?”

“You just need to know that it works.”

She took the card as he handed it to her. “Eric Staton? Who’s he?”

“Son of Ronald Staton.”

“And who’s that?”

He laughed softly. “A multi-billionaire.”

“You know a multi-billionaire and ran into him here?” Her head began swaying. “Am I dreaming?”

“I don’t know him, but he knows me and he offered to help.”

“Wow, really?” Chloe stared at the card and turned it around in her hands as if she couldn’t believe she was holding on to Eric Staton’s credit card. “Are you sure this isn’t another scam?”

Christopher couldn’t say for certain. It did seem too good to be true. “He didn’t take anything from me, and he gave me this. Why don’t you try it?”

She shrugged. “No harm giving it a try.”

Chloe got on her phone, and her lips morphed into a wide grin after a few minutes. “Yes, all right. Thanks.” She hooked her arms around his shoulders and gave him a tight hug. “You saved our lives again.”

“Let’s go have dinner, then. Eric is buying.” He led her forward. “The restaurant is right over there.”

Chloe exhaled heavily as she and Christopher made their way toward the restaurant.

“What’s wrong? Did your … mother say something to upset you?”

Her mother never failed to do so, but she smiled and shook her head. “Who cares. Thanks to you, my birth certificate is on the way, and I’ll be able to get my passport expedited. All is well again.”

He grinned.

Standing outside the long glass doors with wooden frames, Chloe looked into the restaurant, then down at her own clothes. “Maybe we should just have dinner elsewhere. I don’t think we’re dressed right. They’re all wearing suits and dresses.”

“I promised to have dinner with him.” He smiled at the waiter, who opened the door. “I’m Christopher Hunter, Mr.—”

“Ah! Yes, my manager has informed us.” The waiter signaled to another person, who was wearing a black suit instead of a uniform. “I’ll take your girlfriend to the table, and my manager will be with you in a second.”

Chloe looked over at Christopher. “Where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back,” Christopher said.

Chloe frowned and looked between the manager and Christopher.

“Don’t worry.”

She nodded and followed the waiter to a table in the corner of the restaurant. She glanced over her shoulders, trying to see where Christopher was going.

“Mr. Staton said to order anything you like.” The waiter handed her a menu with a smile, then turned and left.

She placed the menu down and twisted to the side, scanning the restaurant. She found Christopher at the other end of the restaurant, pacing behind the piano placed right next to an ensemble of musicians. As he walked up and down the side of the piano, his hand moved up and down in front of his chest.

He always did that whenever he was running through a tune in his head.

For a moment, it felt as if she were watching him audition for the singing competition.

Her lips curled as she recalled how she held her breath while she waited for the judges’ reactions. She knew, from the very moment he opened his mouth, that he would win the competition.

But why was he doing that now?

She turned back to the table. The table was only set for two, so they weren’t joining Eric Staton for dinner.

Pursing her lips, she looked at Christopher again. He was still drawing circles in the air.

He’s definitely running a tune in his head.

She continued watching him as he stopped pacing and entered a discussion with the pianist.

After a couple of minutes, he smiled politely at the pianist, shook his hand, and made his way toward her.

The restaurant manager intercepted halfway through and mumbled something to Christopher before handing him a microphone.

Is he going to sing?
“Chris,” she said when he pulled out his chair, all the while staring at the microphone he was holding. “Did you promise you’ll sing for Mr. Staton? Was that why he gave you the card?”

As much as she believed he would sing again, she wasn’t sure if he could sing right now—under pressure.

“I don’t have to sing … if I can’t.”

She frowned. “Then what’s the microphone for?”

“To say some … thing nice,” he said. “If I can sing, then … I’ll sing. If not, then show … up and take a photo.”

She sighed softly. “I should’ve been more careful with my bag. I’m so sorry. It’s because of me that you’re in this position.”

“Hey.” He reached over and took her hand. “What happened wasn’t … your fault.”

She turned her hand over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “You know I believe with all my heart that you’ll sing again.”

He gave her a small smile.

“Regardless if you actually sing tonight, I know you’ll be able to sing again.” She leaned in closer. “My heart melts each time I hear you sing. Each time you sing, it just …” She closed her eyes and imagined him singing. “The words, whatever they are, always go right to my heart.”

She laughed softly. “I’m sorry I can’t describe it better. It’s just this …” She looked away, trying to come up with a word to complete her thought, but she got distracted by the soft tug of her chin.

She turned back to him as he leaned over and kissed her.

Her lips parted and she returned his kiss.

The first kiss had been exhilarating; that was before the guilt set in.

She had nothing to be guilty about this time; and this time, she was sure. It wasn’t just his voice that melted her heart; it was him.

Christopher almost groaned when he heard the soft clearing of throat. He broke from the kiss and took a quick moment to observe Chloe’s reaction.

There wasn’t an ounce of shock, fear, or guilt.

She broke into a smile as she sat back against her chair, and he took a moment to run his thumb under the edge of her lower lip before dropping his hand.

The restaurant manager smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hunter; I thought you’d want to know that Miss Clarke is here.”

Christopher looked over at Eric Staton’s table, which was quite a few tables away, and nodded. “Okay,” he said to the restaurant manager, then turned back to her with a grin he couldn’t get rid of. “I shouldn’t say this, but I’m glad Jason cheated.”