Read Online Born Into Trouble (Occupy Yourself Book 1) by MariaLisa deMora - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: MariaLisa deMora
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time OY hit the venue.
Ben muttered as he counted, “She was a fan, had a shirt on and everything.” The first time they ordered cheap CDs from an online store, paying almost as much for the packaging as the CD itself, they’d also printed celebratory shirts which cost more to make than they could sell them for. It had turned into a victory every time someone bought one. “She told me if we’d post our schedule on the website,”—he stared pointedly at Benita as updating the website was part of her job—“it’d make it easier for our fans to find us.” Stacking the bills neatly, he ordered them by denomination, then quickly counted again, verifying the pleasant surprise.
Looking up with a grin, he caught Danny’s eyes, watching them widen as he laughed and said, “Three sixty-three. She put in three Benjamins.” With a laugh, Benny twisted to face the windshield, relaxing into the gear cases. “What can I say?” Laughter in the van broke the tension from before, as well as the knowledge they had more than enough money to tide them until their next gig Tuesday night. “She’s a fan of the Benny.”
***
Tuesday saw them with a light load-in since the venue lent itself to acoustic. Benny and Danny would both play guitars while Blake sat on a box drum. Benita would work the limited merchandise table, a repurposed four-top from the diner side of the bar. Benny was leaning against the bar, waiting for the bottles of water he’d requested when an elbow hit the edge of the counter next to him. Twisting his neck, Benny turned to see the woman from the previous show standing there. “Hey,” he said with surprise. “You came.”
She nodded, saying with a smile, “You updated the website. How could I stay away when you took my advice?”
He shifted and stuck out his hand, giving her a wide grin. “I’m Ben Jones.”
“I know,” she laughed as she responded. “I’m Katherine.” She looked over his shoulder, telling the bartender, “I’m opening a tab. Put whatever the band wants on it for me, please.” Reaching into her purse, she extracted a credit card from her wallet. “Thank you.” The bartender took the card as he placed the six bottles of water on the counter. “May I have a menu, please?”
Benny was mesmerized. Older, but still attractive, Katherine had an innate air of command which might make it difficult to tell her no. He shook himself mentally, breaking free from his contemplation of what it took to develop that kind of manner. Gesturing to her chest, he said, “You wore your shirt.” Yeah, I officially sound stupid. “I mean, shit. Sorry. You wore the band’s shirt. Again.” Jesus, stutter much? He took a breath, telling her the truth. “Means more than you know, Katherine. Thank you.” He reached and picked up the water bottles. “And, thanks for this too.” Hefting them in two hands, he gestured first towards the clock behind the bar, then the stage. “It’s time for us to start, so I have to get up there, but we’ll take a break in about an hour. I’d love to chat with you then if you can stick around that long.”
“I look forward to it,” she said, hiking her shapely ass up onto a stool. He stood watching her for a moment longer, seeing her ready smile at the bartender, her casual glance around the bar. Confident and assured, she was there to watch them play. Listen to him sing. Mind blown .
***
Shirt soaked through, he shivered as he settled into the booth opposite Katherine. Wordlessly, she used a fingertip to slide an expensive bottle of sparkling water towards him, and he grinned his thanks. Making quick work of opening it, he drank and lowered the bottle to find her staring at him with a considering expression. Lifting the water again, he held the bottle against his lips as he asked, “What’d you think?” Turning the container up, he kept his eyes on her as he drained it dry.
“I think you’re far too talented to be playing in bars like this, or
Ben muttered as he counted, “She was a fan, had a shirt on and everything.” The first time they ordered cheap CDs from an online store, paying almost as much for the packaging as the CD itself, they’d also printed celebratory shirts which cost more to make than they could sell them for. It had turned into a victory every time someone bought one. “She told me if we’d post our schedule on the website,”—he stared pointedly at Benita as updating the website was part of her job—“it’d make it easier for our fans to find us.” Stacking the bills neatly, he ordered them by denomination, then quickly counted again, verifying the pleasant surprise.
Looking up with a grin, he caught Danny’s eyes, watching them widen as he laughed and said, “Three sixty-three. She put in three Benjamins.” With a laugh, Benny twisted to face the windshield, relaxing into the gear cases. “What can I say?” Laughter in the van broke the tension from before, as well as the knowledge they had more than enough money to tide them until their next gig Tuesday night. “She’s a fan of the Benny.”
***
Tuesday saw them with a light load-in since the venue lent itself to acoustic. Benny and Danny would both play guitars while Blake sat on a box drum. Benita would work the limited merchandise table, a repurposed four-top from the diner side of the bar. Benny was leaning against the bar, waiting for the bottles of water he’d requested when an elbow hit the edge of the counter next to him. Twisting his neck, Benny turned to see the woman from the previous show standing there. “Hey,” he said with surprise. “You came.”
She nodded, saying with a smile, “You updated the website. How could I stay away when you took my advice?”
He shifted and stuck out his hand, giving her a wide grin. “I’m Ben Jones.”
“I know,” she laughed as she responded. “I’m Katherine.” She looked over his shoulder, telling the bartender, “I’m opening a tab. Put whatever the band wants on it for me, please.” Reaching into her purse, she extracted a credit card from her wallet. “Thank you.” The bartender took the card as he placed the six bottles of water on the counter. “May I have a menu, please?”
Benny was mesmerized. Older, but still attractive, Katherine had an innate air of command which might make it difficult to tell her no. He shook himself mentally, breaking free from his contemplation of what it took to develop that kind of manner. Gesturing to her chest, he said, “You wore your shirt.” Yeah, I officially sound stupid. “I mean, shit. Sorry. You wore the band’s shirt. Again.” Jesus, stutter much? He took a breath, telling her the truth. “Means more than you know, Katherine. Thank you.” He reached and picked up the water bottles. “And, thanks for this too.” Hefting them in two hands, he gestured first towards the clock behind the bar, then the stage. “It’s time for us to start, so I have to get up there, but we’ll take a break in about an hour. I’d love to chat with you then if you can stick around that long.”
“I look forward to it,” she said, hiking her shapely ass up onto a stool. He stood watching her for a moment longer, seeing her ready smile at the bartender, her casual glance around the bar. Confident and assured, she was there to watch them play. Listen to him sing. Mind blown .
***
Shirt soaked through, he shivered as he settled into the booth opposite Katherine. Wordlessly, she used a fingertip to slide an expensive bottle of sparkling water towards him, and he grinned his thanks. Making quick work of opening it, he drank and lowered the bottle to find her staring at him with a considering expression. Lifting the water again, he held the bottle against his lips as he asked, “What’d you think?” Turning the container up, he kept his eyes on her as he drained it dry.
“I think you’re far too talented to be playing in bars like this, or
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