All or Nothing (12 page)

Murray peered at the console. “See? Motown. Elvis Presley. The Beatles. All the good stuff.” He buffed the plastic with pride, removing Lucy's fingerprints from the dark Plexiglas cover.

Jen was intrigued despite herself. “Wait a minute. You've got Motown on there? Like what songs?”

“You don't know that stuff,” Lucy said. “You're too young.”

“I love that stuff. My mom plays it all the time.”

Murray grinned with triumph, glad to show off his baby's charms. “See, it works like this.” He handed Lucy the microphone—which was still wired into the console—then turned the beast on.

The words of the first verse came up on the television screen as the background music began. A little red bouncing ball bounced on the left, apparently awaiting its cue to skip over the words to be sung.

“You be Diana Ross,” Lucy said and handed Jen the microphone. “I don't sing outside of the shower: it's a public health hazard.”

Jen didn't need much encouragement. “You're on.” Murray had chosen
Stop! In the Name of Love
, one of Jen's favorites. She told herself that this was the only reason she was even contemplating doing this, but knew it wasn't true.

Besides, there were no witnesses. Her co-workers didn't count.

That wasn't the reason either.

She just loved to sing, even though she hadn't for a long time.

“Do it, Murray,” Jen said. “Let's try this baby out.”

“If it's going to choke, it might as well do it now,” Lucy agreed.

“Still time to take down the sign,” Kathy agreed.

“Skeptics, every one of you,” Murray retorted and punched the button.

Jen took to the stage, clutching the mike. The cord was barely long enough. “So, do I get backup here, or what?” she asked, feigning indignation when Lucy and Kathy didn't follow her.

“Excuse me,” Lucy straightened her apron. “The diva has spoken. I've heard about these singing babes and how much trouble they are.”

“I want a sequined miniskirt,” Kathy complained.

“A beehive hairdo,” Lucy agreed.

The two stepped behind Jen as she sang the first verse. She didn't even have to watch the bouncing ball: she knew all of the words. After a wobble or two, all three found their pitch and their rhythm. Jen started a bossanova step, and Lucy and Kathy followed her lead. Murray tapped his fingertips on the bar and nodded approval. When they sang the word “stop” in the next chorus, all three of them held up a hand in unison.

“Hey, this is good,” Murray said.

“It'll cost you big,” Lucy warned, before returning to her back-up warbles. Jen closed her eyes and let her voice go for the solo. This was the music she'd been raised on, the music that made her joyous no matter what was going on in her life. How had she lost track of it the last two years, just when—ironically—she'd needed it the most?

There hadn't been much to sing about, that was for sure. But her mom was right—she was alive.

And maybe, just maybe, she was ready to sing again.

The last chorus was triumphant, their three voices finding a good fit together. None of them heard the door open and close. Jen had her eyes shut. Their voices came together for the last chorus, held the note, then let it fade to nothing along with the music. Jen even took a bow to the applause of her co-workers.

“Good job,” Murray said, clapping. They were all laughing and proud of themselves, and Jen flushed a little at the enthusiasm of the others.

“I didn't know you could sing,” Zach said and the bottom fell out of Jen's universe.

Jen pivoted to discover that Murray, Kathy and Lucy weren't the only ones clapping. Her heart did an awkward bossanova step that took it all around her chest and she had a hard time catching her breath.

Zach had snow in his hair and a sparkle in his eye. He looked even better than she remembered, and this despite the battered leather jacket that showed his wanton disregard for our fellow creatures on the planet. Jen's fingertips brushed the telephone number stuffed into her pocket and she was glad that she wouldn't have to use it.

Unless, of course, he'd stopped by to cancel.

Z
ach grinned. It was one sure fire sign that a woman was interested when she blushed as red as a beet and Jen was redder than red. She also couldn't look straight at him, which was a shame because he wasn't sure whether her eyes were hazel or brown. He wanted to know.

Especially since he hadn't lost his touch, after all.

“There are lots of things you don't know about me,” she said.

“I can think of lots of ways to fix that.” Zach settled into a seat at the bar with satisfaction.

Jen propped a hand on her hip and he couldn't read her expression. “So, let me guess. You're here because my sister phoned you, wanting to have your love child, and you dropped by to find out whether insanity runs in my family or not.”

The other waitresses laughed. Zach blinked, feeling again that Jen had shifted the field of play on him. Didn't she understand that he was supposed to be the one who made people laugh? “No. I came to have some dinner and get directions.”

That sounded boring, even to him, and Zach Coxwell wasn't used to sounding boring. He frowned. “How are you doing?” he said to Murray, his mood having changed from triumphant to something more disgruntled in two bats of a pretty waitress's eye.

“Hey,” Murray said, his reply concise. “You want a pint? Same as last time?”

Zach nodded. He didn't really want the beer, but he supposed he should order something. He put his fave camera down on the bar with care. At least it didn't steal his punch lines. He felt Jen move away and was a bit surprised that he was as aware of her presence as that.

It must just be the challenge she presented.

“So, now he's a regular,” Lucy said with a roll of her eyes. “You're getting desperate for business when coming here once makes someone a regular.”

“So, how's the other guy look?” Murray said, ignoring Lucy.

“It was a pity shot,” Zach confided. “I let him take it.”

“Uh huh.” Murray glanced toward the waitresses. “So, now I'm paying you to stand around.”

“You started it,” Lucy retorted. “You turned on the machine.”

“And you can really sing, girl!” The third waitress patted Jen on the back.

“Thanks.” Jen seemed embarrassed. Zach took the opportunity to look. She was every bit as attractive as he remembered. Not flashy, but he didn't like women who showed their assets to everyone in the neighborhood, as the other unfamiliar waitress was doing. It looked as if Jen was wearing a man's white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. This and the fact that she wore no makeup or jewelry, ironically, made her look more feminine. Zach couldn't figure it out, so he looked more carefully.

She flicked him a glance, catching him in the act. Zach smiled, but Jen turned away.

With pink cheeks.

Ha.

“So, I've got an idea,” Murray said and the three waitresses groaned as one. “You three can start off the karaoke tonight, get things going.”

“As if I'd do this in public,” Lucy retorted. “You won't find me scaring small children.”

“There won't be any kids in here tonight,” Murray said. “And besides, I'm making it part of your job.”

“Then you can pay me more.” Lucy propped her hands on her hips, which made her look formidable. Zach thought this was a more effective way of scaring small children, but he wasn't foolish enough say so. “Add to the job description and you can add to the check. It's that simple, Murray.”

“We need sequined miniskirts,” the blonde waitress insisted. “In coordinated colors.”

“Maybe not the beehive hair,” Jen said dryly and the blonde laughed. Zach noticed again that Jen didn't crack a smile.

“The shoes though,” the other waitress insisted. “We need the shoes, dyed to match the miniskirts. Sweet little pointed toes, sling backs with kitten heels.”

“Vintage,” Jen said with surprising resolve. “One pair lime, one pair pale yellow and one pair shell pink.”

Interesting that she was so definite about color. Zach felt a definite kinship with her. “You'll all look like you're the reincarnations of Jackie O,” he said.

The blonde propped her hands on her hips, then looked him up and down. Her smile turned appreciative. “And what's not to love about that?”

Zach turned back to his beer, uncertain whether she meant the look or him, well aware of Jen's watchful eye.

There was another clue that he wasn't spitting into the wind here—if Jen wasn't interested, she wouldn't be worried about him going for the other waitress. Zach decided to take encouragement where he found it.

“One song,” Murray said. “One song, that's all, just to get things started. Jen can pick which one.”

“Now, come on,” Lucy began to complain. “As if a busy section isn't enough, now I've got to embarrass myself...”

“I think it might be fun.” Jen straightened when Zach looked her way and avoided his gaze.

“You'll knock 'em dead. You're really good,” Zach said and she glanced his way. “Maybe we should call Berry Gordy and see how his talent line-up is looking these days.”

Her eyes twinkled a bit, as if she was glad to have his support.

“I'm not singing. Forget it,” Lucy said.

The fair waitress nodded agreement and made to turn away. Jen's disappointment was visible, which was a big clue as to how badly she wanted to do this.

Her next words were an even bigger one.

“If you two don't want to, I'll do it alone,” Jen said, her tone defensive as she addressed the other waitresses.

“Go ahead,” Lucy said. The blonde shook her head and kept walking.

Jen wilted.

Zach had a rare heroic impulse. He wanted Jen to have what she wanted, if only to see her smile, and so he leapt in where angels might have feared to tread. “It might be good for tips,” he said and the other two waitresses stopped cold.

“Ah,” Lucy said as she paused to glance back.

“Cash is good,” the blonde noted, then nibbled on her bottom lip.

Jen's eyes were bright with her excitement, which was all the reward Zach needed.

Strangely enough.

Murray grinned. “Found the nerve, kid. Okay, no pooling tips tonight unless you all sing. It wouldn't be fair to Jen.”

“There's a guilt trip,” Lucy said. “We can stand aside and let her face the lions alone.”

“Not a chance,” the blonde said. “I'm in. Bring on the cash.”

“Okay, me, too,” Lucy agreed and the pair high-fived it with Jen, who looked a lot happier than the other two women. Zach saluted her with his beer. He was hoping she'd say something to him, but Murray punched him lightly in the shoulder.

“Good job, kid. That beer's on the house.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

By the time Zach acknowledged Murray's comment, Jen had already turned away to wipe down the tables in her section. Maybe she'd sing a song just for Zach.

Maybe he had nowhere to go for the moment.

“So, here's the play list, Jen.” Murray poked at the machine so that the list came up on the display. “Pick a song.”

Jen didn't come any closer to Zach, to his disappointment, and he was right beside the machine. “Does it have
You Can't Hurry Love
?” she called.

“Um, yeah, it does.”

“Then that's it. That's the one we'll start with.” She spoke with such resolve and with such a quick glance at Zach that he knew the choice was deliberate.

You can't hurry love? Well, who was trying to? Love was not an agenda item for Zach. He liked his relationships uncomplicated. He shrugged when Jen glanced his way, signaling his agreement with the concept. Jen studied him for a long moment.

“But...” Murray protested.

“I've got to set my tables,” Jen said quickly. “Look, first dinner patron through the door.” She gestured to the door and sure enough, a trio of women stood there, shaking snow out of their coats.

“
You Can't Hurry Love
is a good choice: I even know our words,” the blonde said, giving Lucy a nudge. “I think they're
Doo Wop
.”

“Don't be silly,” Lucy said. “They're
Mmm Mmm Mmm
.”

“Wrong, wrong,” Jen called from across the restaurant. She wasn't laughing but her voice was lighter. It was a good start, in Zach's opinion. “It's
bop bop
and then
oooo oooo
.”

Zach smiled as the two waitresses grinned. “We can do that,” Lucy said. She marched past Zach to tend to the new arrivals, muttering at him in passing. “You would have to bring up the better tips question. Kathy is always hot for more cash.”

“Not you?”

“If it doesn't work out, sport, I'm going to hunt you down and hurt you.”

“Fair enough. But I've got some good hiding spots.”

“I should hope you both know the words.” Murray spoke gruffly, even though he was obviously pleased. “Just don't spill any drinks while you sing. Patrons get cranky about that.”

“Picky, picky, picky,” Lucy said.

“It's always something,” Kathy agreed, but she winked at Zach. “You're right; this might be fun. You gonna stay to watch?”

“Probably,” he conceded. “I deserve fair warning if Lucy is coming after me.”

Murray snorted and Kathy laughed, but Jen didn't seem to have heard anything Zach had said. The woman's smile was going to be elusive, that was for sure.

Zach settled in to strategize.

* * *

“So, you gonna duck him all night?” Lucy prodded Jen with her elbow, which was surprisingly sharp given that every other bit of Lucy was well-insulated. “You hiding from the stud or what? I think he likes you.”