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  In the final analysis, it had to be Nora's decision. There was nothing Alan could do to stop her if Derek was the one she wanted. And by all indications, she certainly wanted him.

  As Derek withdrew, Nora pressed him for more. His hands kneaded her buttocks so roughly that Alan's fists tightened in response. Nora's face registered sheer lust. Alan found it hard to imagine she could welcome such harsh treatment.

  Her breasts were the next recipients of Derek's coarse attention. He squeezed and molded them between thick fingers until Alan saw pain flash across her face, and she pulled away with a frown.

  Good girl, Alan thought, until Derek took advantage of the brief respite to unzip his jeans. Nora held a hand in protest, then dropped it and stared. Alan couldn't see what she was so intent on until Derek took his dick in his hand and gave Nora a prod with it.

  Derek was uncircumcised. Large, dusky, and uncut. Nora had likely never imagined that variation, and seemed enchanted by it now. Wasn't that just Alan's luck? He wished she hadn't, but Nora reached to touch, and Derek smiled the cool smile of the common predator.

  His hooded lids barely flickered as Nora's hand closed around the fleshy shaft. Gathering the foreskin, she pushed it down until the head of his cock was exposed. Then she pulled it upward and puckered it over the crown. She released it and watched as the collar eased back until only the plum-colored tip poked through. Nora made a comment. Derek laughed. Now, he'd know her to be the true innocent she was. Alan's heart sickened at the thought. That bastard didn't deserve anyone as fine as Nora.

  But apparently, Derek felt he deserved something for his time and trouble. When Nora stepped away, Derek was on her in an instant. His mouth smothered her in rude, wet passion and Alan feared Nora might respond, but she didn't. Her hands sought to restrain his groping, and Alan could see she was protesting Derek's advances. She pulled away and shook her head no.

  That was good enough for Alan.

  Trying the front door, Alan found it locked, and began to pummel. In a matter of seconds, Derek flung it open with a murderous expression. When he saw that it was Alan, his the expression on his face turned quizzical, then beamed with a sudden good humor.

  "Nora, look who's come to visit—your buddy, Alan! That would be a neighborly thing to do ... if it wasn't three in the morning."

  Nora now stood beside Derek and eyed Alan suspiciously. Alan could think of no good reason to be there at that hour, so he expressed concern.

  "I was just making sure you were okay, Nora. I didn't recognize the van."

  "I didn't realize we'd made enough noise to wake you."

  "I was still up. I didn't sleep well tonight,” Alan said. Nora shifted on her feet. Her eyes begged him not to make a scene. After everything Alan had witnessed, she still wanted Derek. So much for Alan being her knight in shining armor.

  Nora's face softened and she touched Alan on the shoulder. “Thanks for looking out for me; I appreciate it."

  "That goes for me, too,” Derek chimed in. “Wouldn't want my girl to fall into the wrong hands while I'm gone."

  Alan was still working on “my girl,” by the time he assimilated the rest of the information. Derek was leaving. How far and for how long? As if he could read minds, Derek filled in the blanks.

  "We're on our way to a gig, but we'll be back for Saturday night. See, Alan, I told you it would all come down to a choice between you and me.” Derek cast a knowing look from Nora to Alan. “Worthy competition just makes winning all the sweeter."

  "I couldn't agree more.” Alan said the words with far less conviction than he might have before he saw the two of them entangled. Even now, Nora emitted a giddy glow in Derek's proximity.

  "As I was telling Nora, winning that contract would chart my life on a different course. Hers, too, if she'd do me the honor of joining up with DDR while we tour."

  "What?” Alan was aghast. “Nora manages my band! She can't just take off and gallivant around the country with you—even if your band could win."

  "Winning is in the bag for us, far as I can tell."

  "Having heard your band, Devlin, I see no reason for that optimism."

  Nora raised her hands in appeasement. “Please. Both of you are very talented and very lucky to have even earned the chance at a deal with Triumph. Bickering will just put more stress on everyone."

  "Nora, you work with us! Traveling with his band would be a ... a ... major conflict of interest!” Alan said.

  "I didn't say I was going to, Alan. Derek just mentioned it before you began beating my door down. I didn't have a chance to respond."

  Derek grinned. “I don't want your answer yet. You take your time and think about it, Nora. And just so my intentions are perfectly clear, when DDR gets the recording deal, I'd like you to consider managing us. Wanderlust will be through, and I reckon I can surpass anything else Alan might be giving you."

  Alan took that comment exactly the way Derek intended, and stepped forward with clenched fists. Derek took a step back. Alan would have hauled off and slugged him if the horn hadn't started blaring again, signaling Derek's time was up.

  "That's my boys.” Derek laughed. “Always interrupting when things are starting to get interesting."

  "Guess you'd better hurry along, Derek,” Alan said. “Don't you worry; I'll take good care of Nora while you're gone."

  "Alan!"

  "That's alright, Nora,” Derek said. “I'm glad Alan's here for you. I want to know you're having a good time, even though I'll be lonely without you."

  Alan had never heard such bullshit in his life. How could Nora possibly fall for it? She could and she did, because Derek was saying the words she wanted to hear and believe.

  "Well, I got to run,” Derek said. “We have to be in Des Moines by morning.” Nora accepted a light kiss on the lips. Derek reached around and gave her ass a good squeeze. Alan turned away.

  Derek leaned toward Alan so Nora couldn't hear. “Take your fun now, Alan, ‘cause on Saturday night, you're gonna lose it all."

  Before Alan could muster a retort, Derek was gone.

  Nora stared at the door, left open by his hasty departure. “I wish you two would start getting along. I'm serious about Derek, I really am."

  "How—why? What could you possibly see in that jerk?"

  "I don't expect you to understand."

  "Listen, Nora, I'm telling you as your friend, you deserve a man who'll treat you with love and respect, and that's not Derek Devlin."

  Nora looked suspicious, and Alan realized he'd almost said too much. It would be a huge mistake to let Nora know he'd watched her and Derek before he knocked on the door. She'd never forgive that sort of interference, even if it did help her out of a bad spot.

  Alan was as certain as he was standing, that Derek would have forced himself on Nora whether she resisted or not. The whole situation was just wrong for her to be involved in. He opened his arms, and Nora reluctantly came to him. He ran his fingers through her hair; she laid her head on his chest and just shook her head.

  "Let's go to bed, honey,” Alan said.

  "I don't feel like having sex."

  "I was just going to hold you."

  She nodded.

  "Come on, then.” Alan led her to her room and undressed while she slid back under the covers. He'd been in such a hurry he'd only slipped on jeans and a t-shirt. Nora didn't notice; her back was to him when he got into bed.

  She snuggled against him though, and for some reason, that simple act nearly broke Alan's heart. His eyes swelled and burnt before he could prevent it, and he was glad when Nora flipped out the light without looking his way. He wished there were something he could do or say to make Derek disappear. Only one thing came to mind.

  "Nora, I want you to know that I'm not going to hold you to our promise about not sleeping with other people. It's not fair; no agreement should keep you from doing what you want to do."

  "Fine, Alan. If there's someone you want, just go right ahead. I never expected you to
be faithful anyway ... heaven forbid the notion."

  In a universe of women, Nora had to be the most difficult. Alan folded himself around her and breathed the clean scent of her hair as he fell asleep.

  Chapter 10

  "Here's the money.” Nora handed off a roll of bills. “I'll go over the list one more time, and be sure and get everything I've written down."

  Nora watched as the three boys gathered, intent, and possibly terrified of doing something wrong. Tonight's competition was a huge career break for Wanderlust, and the fledglings were feeling the pressure the most. They'd been milling around the hotel suite like nervous cats while she and Rob and Alan had been planning last minute strategies.

  It was Alan's idea to get rid of them for a few hours so some actual work could get done.

  "Get two sets of steel strings, one 010, one 014. Don't get an off-brand, spend the money I've given you—and not on beer.” A guilty grin passed among the boys.

  "Half a dozen finger picks, a bottle of talcum powder ... Rob, do you need anything?"

  "Naw, I'm ready to roll."

  "That's it. We'll expect you back by three at the latest. This is much bigger than anything we've done production-wise. Setup's between five and six. Any questions? Okay, three o'clock, then."

  Nora handed them her car keys reluctantly. A minute later, she dropped her head in her hands as the spit of gravel kicked out in all directions, signaling their zealous departure.

  "And I liked that car, too,” she groaned.

  "Yeah, but it's worth it to have them gone for a while,” Rob said, as he plopped down on the end of a sofa. Strewn across the table were the foil and wicker remains of a gift basket from Triumph Records, including bright yellow sponsor shirts for the band. And it wouldn't hurt if they wore them tonight; Wanderlust needed this recording contract to survive. They couldn't go on playing small clubs that barely covered expenses.

  The band was near folding, and had been for some time. It was only the constant influx of Alan's money that kept them afloat this long. He believed in his band, and put his cash behind that belief, but that couldn't go on indefinitely. Even Alan was beginning to feel the pinch. He and Rob had decided tonight was the “make or break” for Wanderlust.

  Nora couldn't disagree.

  It pained her to think of all the love and hard work Alan had invested going under, but there really was no other way. Wanderlust was a good band, but there were hundreds of good bands, maybe thousands of them. Being good was not enough. A break like tonight was what every band dreamed of, and Nora was going to do her level best to see that Wanderlust got the contract—in spite of her involvement with Derek.

  Alan hadn't mentioned Derek since he'd barged in on them Tuesday night. Nor had she. And though she couldn't tell Alan, Nora had never been so glad to see anyone in her life. What had started out as agreeable foreplay had taken an unpleasant turn. She wasn't ready to take that step with Derek yet; the one she'd taken so trustingly with Alan.

  But Derek's offer of a management job with DDR was substantial enough to cast a cold shadow. Even though Nora assured Alan she had no intention of leaving Wanderlust, he was still acting strangely aloof. They hadn't made love either, although he'd slept with her for the last four nights. That had to be some sort of abstinence record for a guy like him.

  In her mind, it always came back to that. Nora felt an uncomfortable longing as she gazed at Alan, engrossed in his sheet music, a room away. He'd be the perfect man if it weren't for his sexual proclivity. Alan would never be content with just one woman, no matter how erotically skilled she was.

  He'd said that himself a hundred times in the past, after one or another girl had come and gone. Nora used to ask if any of them stirred anything in him. The answer was just what she'd expect from Alan; what they stirred had nothing to do with love.

  "I think you and Alan should straighten things out before tonight, for everyone's sake.” Those unexpected words came from Rob, who now looked at her with raised eyebrows, waiting for a response.

  "There's nothing to straighten out; we're doing fine.” Nora parceled the words cautiously.

  "But you didn't expect to fall in love with him, did you?"

  Now she turned on Rob with barely contained fury. “Are you insane? Don't you think I have more sense than to fall in love with a guy like Alan Price?"

  "Well, I can see where it might not fit into your plans to be with Derek, but sometimes, you have to face the facts."

  "And just what do you base these so-called facts on, anyway?” Her tone hit strident, and Alan glanced up for a moment, but went back to his music. Nora moved to the couch, slid next to Rob, and tapped her fingers impatiently on her knee.

  "You've always wanted Alan,” he whispered. “You just never had enough nerve to take the chance before now. Derek is an excuse, a trick of your mind. It's Alan you really want."

  "How can you even think that?” she hissed.

  "Come on, Nora—you can't take your eyes off the guy! Even the fledglings know that ... Why do you think none of them has ever asked you out? And why not any of the guys in the clubs we play? Because it's so obvious you're crazy about Alan, that's why.” Rob chuckled. “He's the only one who can't see it."

  Nora was rankled. “Well at least I don't have to worry about Alan being as delusional as you are. The only thing he's got on his mind is how soon he can get back to bedding the band-bangers."

  "Not so.” Rob smiled. “Those days are over for Alan, whether he'll admit it or not. I used to be the same as him, maybe worse. But the day I met Jenny was the last time I ever looked at another woman. I'm not faithful because we're married. I'm faithful because I'll never want anyone as much as I do her."

  "Yeah, but Alan is not like you—"

  "I hope to hell I'm not like Rob!” Alan strode in, having picked up the last words of their conversation. “The term ‘pussy-whipped’ wasn't even invented until he met his sweet Jennifer."

  "True, so true,” Rob sighed dramatically. “That's why I'm so damned good at recognizing the symptoms when I see them, Alan."

  "Please. I have a little more sense than you think."

  "You and Nora could sing a duet!"

  "Rob!” Nora exploded. Her eyes cut to Alan. He folded his arms across his chest; she did the same. They looked ridiculous, and Rob didn't mind pointing it out.

  "Listen, it's none of my business if you two spend every night together and claim it doesn't mean a thing—Let's just concentrate on the business at hand ... We have a contest to win tonight. Can we focus on that?"

  Nora felt ashamed. Alan nodded miserably.

  "Okay, let's get to work.” Nora cleared her throat and stood to pace. “I've put in a call to Deft Effects, and everything is good on their end. They'll have the additional lights at the auditorium by three o'clock."

  "Nothing gaudy or outrageous, I hope?” Alan grumbled.

  "I ordered exactly what you asked for. They called it a pulsing strobe. It's supposed to be a greenish light that vibrates softly. We'll run a spot check to make sure it doesn't look too jarring."

  "Wonder what kind of special effects old Derek will have on hand?"

  "All I can go by is what DDR usually has, and that's fog and lasers,” Nora said. “I think he'd plan something special for tonight, though."

  "I imagine he will, with all he hopes to gain."

  Nora let the insinuation pass without comment. Alan was growing more agitated by the minute. When she looked at Rob, he held his hands up in mock surrender and shook his head.

  "Let's go over our playlist and we'll be done.” Nora held out her hand for the sheets of music Alan had. He flipped them downward on his lap.

  "I've already arranged the songs in the order I want,” he said.

  "That's fine, but you know I have to review them for instrument placement, sound variables, lighting..."

  "Not this time. I'll handle everything; Rob can help me."

  Rob looked completely flummoxed. “Sure, Alan
, I'll do whatever you want, but why don't you want Nora to see the list?"

  The truth dawned on Nora, cutting her heart like a blade. “Alan doesn't trust me anymore. He thinks I'll tell Derek our playlist."

  "That's not true!” Alan said. “I trust you completely. But the fact is, no matter what happens tonight, you'll come out a winner. Derek offered you a job, didn't he? Along with some attractive fringe benefits?"

  "Fringe benefits? Alan—you bastard! How dare you imply I could be swayed by Derek's offer!"

  "You want to be with him, don't you?"

  "I'd sure the hell prefer Derek to you right now!"

  "Then go to him!” Alan waved the sheet music he was holding. “There's nothing on our playlist that'll make a bit of difference to the outcome, anyway."

  Her hand was trembling as she jammed the key in the ignition, undoubtedly gouging Alan's console in the process. Good. She tore out of the parking lot even faster than the fledglings had, which gave her some satisfaction.

  But by the time she reached the auditorium, Nora was numb with pain. Sometime during the car ride, her raging hurt had settled into a thick, opaque despair. She'd stormed out on Alan, that's for sure. And taken his car. But not before calling him every vile name she could think of, and a few she'd invented for the occasion.

  She told Alan she hated him, and he flinched this time, although the words Nora shouted couldn't have been less true. Losing her best friend would have been bad enough, but losing the man she loved was unbearable. And she felt that love to the depth of her soul right now.

  Funny how she realized love had grown just in time to bury it.

  The glorious St. Louis Arch, which Nora had so admired on their drive in the night before, now appeared as a giant frown, mocking her efforts to find love. As she walked from the parking garage, she flipped it the finger in defiance.

  Nora stomped backstage to find the fledglings already busy untangling yards of colored wiring. She said a few words before going out front to wait for the lighting people. At least she'd make sure Alan had everything set up perfect before she left. She didn't want to face him again. She'd made a big enough fool of herself already.