Page 37 of Kneeling for Them

I should be with Kingston and Ella right now.He wanted to take her out for Valentine’s Day.But Trina’s been texting, my songs are shit, and I’m not good enough to hang out with someone as pure as Ella right now.

Through the warped glass of the vodka tonic, I see a pair of long bare legs approaching.

“Bastian?”a feminine voice says.

“Not interested,” I say.

“Aw, you shouldn’t be drinking, sweetheart.”

The voice is familiar.It took me a second to place it, but only one woman would know about the drinking.

I look up, bleary-eyed and tired, and face the last person I wanted to see.

Trina Jack, my agent, is standing right in front of me.

Nine

Ella

When Kingston and I get out of the car, I do a little twirl in my new dress.The light pink is girly yet sexy, and it seems everyone here tonight is wearing some shade of red, pink, white, or black.

Vice has a long line trailing around the block, probably because it’s a Fridayandit’s Valentine’s Day.Kingston doesn’t take us to wait in line, though—holding my hand, he leads me across the street to a restaurant.

“I thought we were going dancing?”I say.

“We will.But I don’t think you’ve eaten dinner, have you?”

“No, I forgot.”I’ve been getting by on pure excitement.

“Then first I’ll feed you, then we’ll dance.”

The meal is delicious, and the conversation even better.Kingston’s flirting is subtle.He seems so much older than me in this respect—there’s nothing overt about what he’s doing until suddenly I’m breathless and turned on because of a turn of phrase.

As soon as we’re finished eating, I’m ready to go.I want to be in a darkened club with his hands all over me.

“Eager to get out of here?”he asks when I look at the door for the fifth time.

“Well,” I say, drawing out the word, “I was promised dancing.”

“Then let’s go.”He quickly takes care of the check, and we’re back outside in under two minutes.

Bypassing the line for Vice, we walk up to the front entrance.Without a word, the bartender unhooks the rope barrier, watching us as we step inside.

“Must be nice being a big fish, huh?”I ask.

“If you were here alone in that dress, the bouncer would’ve waved you through, too,” he grumbles.“Did you see the way that fucker looked at you?Little punk.”

I smooth a hand over his whiskery cheek.“Calm down, old man.”

“Old man?”He raises an eyebrow.

“Yep.We don’t want to worry about your blood pressure, now, do we?”

“Little girl, I ought to take you over my knee,” he says.

Looking around the crowded club, I shrug and say, “I feel pretty safe from that right now.”

A slow smile grows on his face and he points to my feet.“Don’t move.Or you’ll regret it.”