Tiger Lily: Part Three (25 page)

Dee went on to make up my face, adding the smoked colors he liked around my large silver eyes and a couple of layers of mascara on my thick lashes. My cheekbones got a light skim of pale blush. They stood out prominently on my heart-shaped face, more so since my weight loss. He added a pale gloss to my full, lush mouth, and beamed, pleased with his work. So was I, though I always wished I could make it look exactly like he did at home.

I texted David to let him know we were ready to go.

“God, you both look good. Mary, get over to Bloomingdale’s and get some clothes,” Dee said as he walked us to the door. “Keep it up, beautiful girl. Whatever it is you’re doing, keep doing it. He makes you happy, the rest will work out.”

My eyes watered and he tutted. “You’re ruining your makeup.” We hugged each other. “Oh well, put it back on later,” Dee said.

“Thank you, Dee. See you soon.”

“Take care of your friend, gorgeous,” Dee said to Mary.

“Always. I love my look. Thank you again, Dee,” Mary said. He unlocked the door and with a wave, we left the salon.

David pulled up and I quickly climbed in. Mary followed, closing the door. I reached inside my purse and started to send a text to Jonas, but stopped myself. I put the phone away and smiled, joining in with Mary on praising the salon and spa treatments. After a brief stop at Bloomingdale’s, we went back to the loft.

We walked inside the loft to the sound of the piano and I recognized this time that it was Paul playing the music he had shared last week. Mary and I quietly removed our shoes and padded over to the living room, where we found Jonas standing with Dani next to the piano. Their arms were resting casually around each other as they watched Paul so absorbed in his performance. Jonas saw us first and, as our eyes connected, the air charged between us. He broke away from Dani and came up and brushed my lips. The music stopped and I looked over at Dani, whose face lit up. She walked over to join us.

“Lily,” Dani said and gave me a hug. The fabric of her blue cashmere turtleneck was soft against my cheek. “You look beautiful.” She turned her head and looked at Mary and smiled. “The both of you.”

“This is my best friend, Mary,” I said in introduction. “This is Dani.” She let go of me and surprised Mary by giving her a hug too. “Nice to meet you, Mary. I’m Jonas’s best friend,” she said, borrowing my words.

“Yes, she is.” Jonas confirmed. “And my ex-wife,” he added without animosity or wistfulness in his tone. “We were just enjoying Paul’s piece he will be performing at a recital soon.”

Paul strolled up, his hands in his pockets. “Hey,” he said in greeting.

“Hello Paul. You play beautifully,” Mary said enthusiastically. He raised his shoulders and glanced back at the piano. “Thank you,” he said softly. His eyes flicked over her then down to the floor, where they stayed.

Jonas, Dani, and I looked at Paul and back at Mary.

“I’ll just go put my things away and get ready for tonight. Nice meeting you both,” Mary said and walked off to the stairs. Paul’s eyes followed her before he walked back to the piano.

“Did something else happen?” I asked.

Dani and Jonas smiled. “No. Nothing since our press statements,” Jonas said and walked over to Paul.

Dani motioned for me to take a seat with her. “How are you doing?”

“I’m alright…” I said.

“Considering all that is going on,” Dani finished for me. “Well, if the press moves forward, things will change for all of us. I’ve made my peace with the past,” she said and took a deep breath. “Anyway. I wanted to tell you how much I admire you and your strength.”

I looked at my hands. “Strength? I’m still afraid of my ex and what could happen with Melissa and the photos.”

“Admitting you are afraid takes strength. Going forward with your charges takes strength. Going out with your friend today takes strength. I admire your strength,” Dani said.

I looked up into her face and found nothing in her expression but seriousness. Her words and admiration touched the pain and negativity I had about myself. “Thank you, Dani,” I said, my voice thick.

“I agree,” Jonas said, walking up with Paul. Dani rose. “We are on our way to an evening meditation.”

“You alright, Paul?” I asked, bringing his attention back to us as he stared off.

“Yeah. Everything’s good. Your friend staying for a few days?” he asked.

“Through tomorrow, but she’s looking at coming up for the summer. We’re looking into a place together,” I said and chewed my lip.

“Oh. I thought…” Dani looked at Jonas and me, then took Paul’s arm. “I’m sure you will see Mary again.” We all walked over to the elevator and said goodbye and they left.

“Paul alright?” I asked. “He seemed unusually shy.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, hormones. I think he might have been a little smitten with Mary.”

I giggled. “Sweet.” I turned and started walking toward the stairs.

“Speaking of Mary.” Jonas added. “I’d have liked to have known your plans to move in together.” His voice was light as he followed me.

I stopped walking and averted my eyes. “She made the offer yesterday. I’m sure you’ll want to get something permanent.”

“Yes. Dani gave me a few places to view,” Jonas said, his hands pushing through his hair.

I nodded, unable to speak.

“You okay?” Jonas said, placing his hands on my hips. I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him.

“Yes. I’ll go check on Mary and take a power nap before getting ready.”

“Alright. Ian will be picking us up in a couple of hours. I have a few things to do too. Maybe I’ll crawl into bed with you after I’m done,” he said.

I didn’t answer, but took his kiss before heading up the stairs.

WE WALKED INTO
the small bar in East Village. A woman that looked the spitting image of Bettie Page took our cover charge as we listened to a Janis Joplin wannabe do a gritty version of “Me and Bobby McGee.” Ian was staring at Mary. In fact, other heads turned her way when we walked into the main room as well.

There was a small stage along the center with dark velvet curtains and small circle tables for seating. I talked Mary into wearing a pair of my stilettos with dark denims that hugged her curves and a v-neck silk shirt in light green she bought from Bloomingdale’s. Her red curls swept in waves just past her shoulder, and though she had on her glasses, she kept Dee’s makeup style he showed her. She was looking hot.

I beamed at her as Ian managed to get to her seat before she sat down and held it out for her. I wore a black fitted silk dress with flared skirt and stilettos. My hair was down in the loose curls Dee had put them in. My eyes settled on Jonas in one of his dark designer suits, no tie. Reminiscent of the way he dressed at Sir Harry’s bar. Was it the same suit? I wasn’t sure, but I found myself staring at him and getting many winning smiles back from him. The man had me.

“Would you like something to drink? Cosmopolitans?” Ian asked, standing up. He was wearing a blazer shirt and jeans, and I noticed Mary giving a few lingering looks his way.

“Yes,” Mary said, pulling out her purse. Ian walked away before she could give him the money in her hand and headed to the bar. She got up and followed him.

After a few a few minutes, Ian and Mary came back with drinks. Cosmopolitans for us and Scotches for them.

“I put our names in for songs you all told me to request.” She winked at Jonas.

I looked at him and he gave me a blank face. “What?” I teased.

He shrugged and sipped his drink. I listened to a male’s risqué performance of “Ride My Pony
.
” Mary and Ian knew all the lyrics and decided to sing along at the table. I giggled as I sipped my cosmopolitan, but I was getting nervous about singing. I hadn’t sung since before my parents died. I didn’t know if I could do it in front of the audience, but then I looked around at the tables and saw multiple drinks on them. No one would remember anyway. I gulped down the rest of my drink.

“Pace yourself. I don’t want you slurring through your performance,” Jonas said.

“I’m nervous,” I said.

Jonas took my hand in his. “You’ll be fine.”

Mary’s name was called and she strolled up to the stage. The guitar chords of Elvis’s “Suspicious Minds” started and Mary, who had memorized his Las Vegas performance, started with a thrust of her hips. Ian looked like he wanted to crawl under the table, though his eyes didn’t move off of her during the performance. Mary’s enthusiasm won the crowd over and they cheered her on with me.

Jonas laughed hard. I clapped along and called out when she finished. “Yeah Mary!”

She strutted back to her seat. “Top that, Unger,” she purred.

“Oh, I wish I had gotten that on tape,” Ian said. He took a sip of his Scotch.

“How about a round of shots?” Mary asked, ignoring Ian’s slight.

Jonas shook his head and placed his hand on my knee. “After the song.”

“Gotcha,” she sat down and we listened to a woman with a good voice sing “Killing Me Softly.” Mary and I swayed. Mary finally turned to Ian, whose gaze was fixed on her. He leaned close to her ear, and I was sure I saw his lips brush her neck.

I turned my head to Jonas and he leaned over and kissed my lips. Ian’s name was called and he got a few catcalls on his way up the aisle.

Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body” started and Ian began singing and dancing so intensely you would have thought he was the man himself. The crowd was certainly convinced, the way they carried on. Ian could dance, and his singing was good too.

Mary was like a cat watching a fish. Maybe it was the poured-on jeans he worked with rolling his hips. The moves were hardly subtle, and she practically leered, leaving little doubt he could have had her naked by the end of his cover.

When Ian finished, he left to a few pretend faints and loud applause. He sat down with a well-deserved smugness and Jonas and I clapped for him. Mary did as well, though she was quiet for the first time since she arrived.

The good singing ended with an ear-splitting version of Rhianna’s “Only Girl” by a young female who had clearly consumed one too many.

“Our turn is next,” Jonas whispered at the end.

Mary, finally awake again, turned to us and clasped her hands together. “I can’t wait.”

“Our?” I asked.

“A duet,” Jonas told me as they announced our names. My heartbeat increased as we walked up to the stage. The notes of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” started playing and my heart leapt. Jonas gazed in my eyes and started singing. “Unforgettable, that’s what you are. Unforgettable tho’ near or far,”
Jonas serenaded me. “Like a song of love that clings to me, how the thought of you does things to me.” 

I was supposed to sing too? I was sure my heart was too big for my chest, so overwhelmed I was by the sound of his rich voice and the look in his eyes. I felt tears in mine.

I started singing and Jonas went quiet, watching me as I put my whole heart and emotions into the song. “Never before has someone been more…Unforgettable in every way, and forever more,” Jonas sang the last notes.

Then I sang to him, “That’s how you’ll stay.” 

We sang to each other. “That’s why, darling. It’s incredible that someone so unforgettable could think I’m unforgettable too.”

His eyes teared up and he grabbed me around the waist and kissed me passionately. We were in our own bubble of happiness. We turned and there were people cheering in the audience. Jonas took my hand and we walked back to our seats.

Mary’s cheeks were wet. “That was so beautiful, Lily and Jonas.”

Ian clamped his hand on Jonas’ shoulder. “You sing lovely, Lily.”

I dipped my head and said, “Thank you.”

Jonas had me in his arms and wasn’t letting go. So I moved to straddle his lap and he held me. I was madly in love with him. The brief thought of moving out and being away from him crushed my heart and I teared up as I rested my head on his shoulder.

Just then, his phone rang. He sighed long and reached inside his jacket and turned it off, then wrapped his arms back around me. “I’m here with you.”

His choosing me and our night out with our friends over whatever business was beckoning him had me abandoning all social decorum. I clung to him, and he let me, silently holding me as we listened to more singers. Meanwhile, Mary and Ian chatted away and sang along with the performers on stage, offering occasional shots in their amusement.

Eventually, Mary turned to me and said, “I told him that would make you cry.” She winked.

Jonas kissed my lips. “It was the only song that came close to how I feel about you.”

“Oh stop it, Crane. You’re going to make her cry all over again,” Mary said, half-joking.

“I’ll take my Tiger Lily whatever way she comes,” Jonas said and wiped my eyes with his handkerchief.

Mary and Ian groaned together and laughed. But we didn’t care. Jonas was not holding back.

“I love you so much, Jonas,” I said.

He rubbed my back. “I know. I love you too.”

Mary bounced on her seat and clasped her hands together excitedly. You could almost see the light bulb go on above her head.

Ian chuckled. “Oh, this should be good.”