Read Online Beale Street Blues by Angela Kay Austin - Free Book Online Page A

chose a completely empty row, right in the middle of the small theatre and popped open her container of fruit.
    "Hi."
    His voice rolled over her as he sat in the seat beside her.
    Darling patted her hand at her throat and coughed. After a quick sip of wine, she responded, "Hi." What was he doing here?
    "No, I'm not following you," Jaxon said as if reading her mind. He tore off a piece of pretzel which smelled of cinnamon and sugar and popped it into his mouth. "You didn't see me when you walked in, but I thought I'd join you."
    "Oh."
    He stopped chewing. Not even the dim light of the theatre could hide the beauty or warmth of his eyes. "Is that okay? I can move if it's a problem."
    The only thing Darling could do was watch his mouth as he spoke. She wondered how he would taste with a little cinnamon and sugar. "That's not necessary. We're adults."
    He smiled and kept chewing as the lights dimmed.
    The actor in the love scene on the screen lifted the actress' leg into the air and kissed her knee. The actor ran his mouth down the woman's leg followed by his fingers. The only thing Darling could think of was when did knees become sexy? God, she needed some air. "Excuse me for a minute." She ran to the bathroom like a teenager.
    What's with me? Just because an attractive man sat beside her, smelling like—like a sexy male, didn't mean she had to immediately begin thinking of him with his clothes off. Honestly, she should just duck out of the theatre.
    She reached for her keys.
    Crap! She left her purse in her seat, reluctantly, she returned to the theatre. It would be childish to duck out now, but she wanted to run away from here. Away from Jaxon.
    "Are you okay?" he asked, concern in his voice.
    "Yeah." Did his voice always sound like that? Gravelly and…concerned?
    "You sure?" He stared through the darkness right at her.
    The flicker of the movie screen highlighted those beautiful green eyes and the worry behind them.
    He handed her the fruit and wine she'd practically thrown at him when she ran away. A flush of embarrassment flowed through her. There was more wine than she remembered and she was grateful. She took a long sip and sat back in her chair. She accepted that for the next hour or so, she was stuck in a chair beside a man whose attraction was slowly becoming more difficult for her to deny.
     
     
    Before Darling ran from the theatre, Jaxon was about to do it himself. Sitting near her watching the actor on screen pretend to make love only brought back memories of his one night with her. It made him want to take her where she sat. His need to touch her, to hold her and kiss her grew with each pretend caress on the screen. The only thing that would help him was a cold shower or at least splashing some water on his face.
    He walked out of the movie moments after she did to do just that. Even though he took the time to replace the wine and fruit she'd thrown at him, he still returned to their seats before she did. Maybe she was really sick, and didn't want to tell him.
    No matter how much he tried to pay attention to the movie, he couldn't stop watching her. The more she laughed at the actors' antics, the more relaxed she became. When she laughed loudly, she muffled it with her hand.
    His favorite moments were when something surprised her. She'd jump and lean into him just a little before pulling away. Each time, leaving the scent of fresh baked cake behind. Each time he wanted to grab her and stop her from moving away, but he didn't.
    They sat until the credits were over, and the house lights came up.
    "Did you like it?" he asked.
    "You couldn't tell?" She grinned. "I laughed so hard, I cried."
    "I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it was good." The theatre had been practically empty before they entered and now, those few movie watchers had left. The cleaning staff had begun to sweep and prep for the next showing. "I guess we should leave and allow them to do their jobs."
    "I guess so." Her tone didn't match her