Playing With Fire by Deborah Fletcher Mello

Author:Deborah Fletcher Mello [Fletcher Mello, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

The party was still going on at Amber House. Aleta swayed from table to table making conversation with old friends who were more family than acquaintances. She looked up briefly to see Romeo enter the small room and take a seat at the bar. Making her way to his side, she wrapped her arms about his waist, giving him a swift hug.

“Now, I know you’re lost, baby boy! What in the world has brought you here this time of the morning?”

Romeo smiled. “Couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d come by and hear the old man play.” Romeo looked toward the stage and the empty piano bench. “Where is he? On break?”

Aleta shook her head. “No. He hasn’t looked well lately, so I told him to go straight home tonight. I told him if he showed up here I was going to have him thrown right out. He’s wearing himself out not getting any kind of rest, and the alcohol isn’t helping much.”

“I’m glad you could get him to slow up a bit. He doesn’t listen to me at all.”

“Trust me. James doesn’t listen to anyone. He does exactly what he wants to do. No more, no less. He went home because he was tired and it had finally caught up to him.”

Romeo nodded, his eyes drifting off into the distance.

Aleta watched him for a quick moment, marveling at the reflection of familiar faces painted in his eyes. He was a wonderful blend of both his parents, having claimed the very best of both of them. Romeo caught her staring and raised his eyebrows as if to ask why.

“You okay?” Aleta asked, concern kissing the edge of her words.

Romeo nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Missing Taryn is all.”

Aleta hugged him again, not needing to say anything else. Her attention was diverted to the other side of the room and she politely excused herself to go resolve an arising problem. Romeo sat quietly, waiting for her return. Every so often a familiar face would wave a hand in his direction and he would respond politely but with little enthusiasm. His heart was not in it.

Aleta pulled up a stool and sat down beside him. “So, you and James have been spending quite a bit of time together lately. He’s really enjoyed it.”

Romeo twisted a paper cocktail napkin between his fingers, his head dipped ever so low. “So have I. He’s a nice guy.”

“Well, he thinks you’re something special too.”

Romeo looked up, studying Aleta’s expression. Gulping the shot of alcohol before him, he wiped his lips, then turned about in his seat. “Who is he, Aunt Aleta?”

“Who?” Aleta’s body stiffened slightly.

“Piano Man. Who is he?”

“Just an old man who has no idea how much people care about him. He’s special and he doesn’t even realize it.”

Romeo shrugged. “Do you know anything about his history, his family? Anything?”

“We are his family, Romeo. Everyone who has ever gotten anything out of his music, we are his history. Anything else doesn’t make much difference.” Aleta rose to her feet, her gaze flitting back and forth to avoid Romeo’s.

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