LITMIR.BIZ

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looked at Payton’s outstretched hand. Her heart drummed against her chest wall and her palms became damp. The crowd was still loud with its cheerleading. She hadn’t sung in public since she’d been in the middle-school church choir. This was not the place she wanted to start again, and Payton was certainly not the person she wanted to share the moment with.

      She arched her neck to look at him. His smile was reassuring. “Come on, let’s get this over with.” He closed and opened his hand.

      China placed hers in his and his large, strong fingers curled around hers. He gave a gentle tug. The crowd had died down some, but when she stood the noise level rose again. Payton led her to the stage, not releasing his grip. She gained confidence from the simple gesture. They’d hardly spoken other than about patient care, and now they had to do something as personal as singing together.

      A spotlight circled until it came to rest on them. “I don’t want to do this.” Payton had to bend to hear her. She could only imagine the intimate picture they must be portraying. Panic crept through her.

      “Come on, you look like you’re going to a funeral. It can’t be that bad.” He grinned at her.

      Payton looked comfortable with the situation. He probably frequented nightclubs regularly and did this sort of thing often. She was completely out of her element. She didn’t go to clubs and certainly didn’t make a spectacle of herself, singing karaoke. He acted as if this could be fun. Humiliating yourself wasn’t fun.

      Everyone in town would know about this by morning. Her parents would be horrified she’d even stepped foot in this place. They would be upset when they found out. This had been one of Chad’s hangouts. One of those places she’d been forbidden to go after he’d left.

      Some of her friends had used fake IDs during high school to get in. In college she’d been invited on weekends but she’d always made an excuse about why she couldn’t. The only reason that she’d come tonight had been because she’d let Payton dare her into it. Now the worst was happening. She’d disappoint her parents after working so hard not to add to their pain.

      The first strain of an old love ballad began. Could it be any worse? “My Endless Love.”

      She groaned loudly enough that Payton glanced at her. He no longer had a sappy grin on his face. In fact, he looked a little green. With rising satisfaction, she grinned. This might turn out to be fun after all.

      The words to the song began to scroll on the monitor. Payton’s tenor voice sang smoothly. “‘They tell me …’”

      He’d surprised her again. The man could carry a tune. She picked up the next line and he took the other. Soon China forgot that she was in front of a group, singing with a man she wasn’t sure she even liked. She had became so caught up in the sound of Payton’s beautiful voice. They harmonized together on the chorus.

      On the second stanza, Payton grinned at her when it was her turn to sing. She slipped on the first word but pulled herself together and gave it her best effort. The noise in the room gradually ceased as they finished with a long drawn-out note. The crowd went wild. China glanced at Payton. A smile of pleasure brightened his face. She’d not seen that look in his eyes before.

      Payton wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his hard body. She circled his waist with a hand. Briefly she noted she could feel his ribs.

      “I think they liked us,” he said near her ear. “We should bow.”

      She nodded, overwhelmed by being so close to him and how much she’d enjoyed singing with him. Who would have thought? He led her into a bow.

      “Ladies and gentlemen, I do believe that was the best we have heard tonight,” the emcee announced. “Are you two a couple?”

      China shook her head vigorously and stepped out of Payton’s hold.

      “Well, you could’ve fooled us,” the man said, as China headed off the stage.

      She made her way back to the table, not looking left or right, to pick up her purse. She had every intention of walking straight out the door. China pulled up short when she realized Luke was no longer sitting there. He was her ride home. Where was he?

      China searched the area, horror making her heart beat faster. She needed to get out of here.

      “You were great.” Doris, Jean and Robin spoke in unison.

      “Thanks. Where’s Luke?” She looked from one woman to the other.

      “He was on call. He had to go in,” Robin said. “We’re going over to the Hut and see what’s going on there for a little while—want to come?” Robin asked.

      China had no interest in going to another nightclub. “No. I think I’ve had enough excitement.”

      “I can take you home,” a voice she knew far too well said from behind her.

      Did she have a choice? A taxi would take too long. Walk? Her house was too far and it was too late. “I would appreciate the ride.”

      “Okay, let’s go.”

      Payton seemed as anxious to leave as she was. Picking up her purse and saying goodbye, she made her way to the door. Payton stayed close behind her.

      China took a deep breath as she entered the night air. The wind gusted around her, a sure sign that it would rain before morning.

      “I’m parked over here,” Payton said.

      He strode through the parking lot but not so fast that China couldn’t easily keep up. At the end of the row they walked between two cars and were at his vehicle. With a soft beep the doors unlocked. Payton opened the passenger-side door for her.

      “You know, you really don’t have to hold the door for me.”

      “I’m just being a gentleman.”

      “Thank you, then.” She slipped down into the low seat. “I may need more help getting out than in.”

      He chuckled softly. “I can do that too.”

      Payton closed the door and went around to get in behind the wheel. Starting the car, he pulled out of the parking space and asked, “Which way?”

      “Back toward the clinic. I only live a mile or so away.”

      Payton’s vehicle really was nice. She ran a hand over the smooth leather of the seat. China knew luxury cars. Rob had had one when he’d wheeled into town. He had been a big-time real-estate man from Los Angeles, looking for investment property. He’d come by the clinic and taken a liking to her.

      Always a bit of an outsider, Rob made her feel wanted, had filled her head with promises of being the center of someone’s world. Just as quickly as Rob had arrived, he’d disappeared, leaving China crushed. Lesson learned. She rubbed the seat again. Payton’s car and hers were one more thing they didn’t have in common. The feel of the leather reminded her not to pin her hopes on someone. The small-town life, white sands and blue waters and especially her wouldn’t hold a man. She’d accepted what her life was and would be.

      She and Payton rode in silence as if they were both glad to have a reprieve from the noise inside Ricky’s. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes.

      “Hey, don’t go to sleep on me. I’ll have to take you to my house if you do.”

      Her eyes flipped open and she sat up straighter. “Make a right one block past the clinic.”

      “So I’m guessing you don’t want to go home with me.”

      China wasn’t going to comment on that statement. She wasn’t up to their usual conversation. He made the turn she’d indicated. “Go three blocks and turn left and the house is the second on the right.”

      Payton smoothly maneuvered through the tree-lined streets and pulled into her drive.

      China opened the car door. “Thanks for the ride.”

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