"And that's when I told the Injun he was no red man." Marvin told a story between bites of food. Mrs Hornbeck sat listening.

"You really went out west?" she liked his tall tales but gave him the benefit of the doubt that they could be all true.

"Out west? I've never been there."

"But you just told me about the Indian."

"No, that was in Cleveland. They had a baseball game going on that day."

"Dorothy, what in the world is this?"

Her face changed from a smile to shock seeing Gerald standing there. Wink, however, just looked down at his eaten food and back at the man. "I believe it was a twelve ounce steak." he patted his lips with the napkin and stood. "and who do you think you are?!" he was dwarfed by the taller man but he stood his ground.

"I am Gerald Bard, her beloved. And you sir, are stepping into my relationship with Mrs. Hornbeck!"

"Please not so loud, we are in public." Wink spoke and sat back down with Dorothy. She sat frozen in her seat, she knew she shouldn't have let this man sit with her. "Waiter! Waiter!"

A small man came up to the table looking like every other waiter there. "sir?"

"There seems to be a problem here." Wink answered. "this man here is ruining my appetite." he pointed his cigar at Mr. Bard. "would you be as it so kind to kick him out of this establishment." he sat back down in his seat.

The small waiter gave a worried look at the taller man, "I'm sorry Mr. Bard, but I have to remove you from the restaurant..."

"Why I never!" Bard shouted and turned to leave. Wink gave a snort as he looked at Mrs. Hornbeck, who's face was now white from the event.

"I wouldn't worry about that guy anymore, babe." he patted her hand on the table.

"He's my Beau, Mr. Wink."

"Oh so that's the crumb you're dating?" Wink looked at the waiter, who came to stand by him again. "yes?"

"A small tip is a suggestion for my services."

"that's a nice suggestion." He turned away to face his date across the table. "Well, I must be going."

"Oh but Mr. Wink, do you have to?" she didn't mean to grab at his sleeve, she let go and let him sit back down.

"I must, but do not worry my dear, I'll see you again I'm sure. When a Wink loves, he'll never leave you alone." He finally stood and gave a small kiss to her hand and left.

XxXxXxXx

"Can you believe the nerve?!" Bard stormed around in a dressing room, the room had shimmering dresses with brightly-coloured flowers.

"Don't worry, sugar, I'm sure I can help you out." a woman's voice came from the other small room, she stepped out. She was tall, almost the same height as Bard. She had red hair, and striking lipstick that matched. She was young and she knew she had the right stuff to make men stare. She gave a kiss to Bard.

"You will help, my sweet?" He asked her as she put her earrings in.

"As long as I'm still getting half of the money?" she turned fast and he smiled.

"You are, Vivian. So you will help me get rid of this little man?"

"I will, but after my show. Those people out there didn't come all the way to this two bit bar for the looks of it. They came for me, sugar. And I'll give them a show." she looked herself over in the long mirror. "Go on and get going, I'll bring that Wink with me and I'll eliminate him."

"You can't miss him, big eyebrows, huge mustache and a loud mouth." Mr. Bard said as she left the room.

XxXxXxXx

"Oh, Mr. Wink, you're back so soon." Dennis said as he saw him coming through the doors of the Little Tropicana. Wink didn't pay him much attention, he got stuck looking at the stage. "Miss Vivian? I knew I did well booking her for my first night open. Did you want me to get you a seat?"

Wink just nodded and puffed on his cigar as Dennis lead him to an area at the bar. Wink had just came in when she was ending her song, but she eyed him from the crowd and gave him a smile and winked at him. He sat straight up in his chair, she gave a small come hither look as the brick red curtain fell. He ordered a small drink but before he could enjoy it Dennis came back to him.

"Mr. Wink, it seems Miss Vivian want to see you." Dennis was confused by this, even Marvin was too. But he gave his drink a quick down and stood.

"Lead me to her." He said as Dennis took him behind stage as the band played. Dennis lead him to the door and left. His heart was beating fast, he didn't know what to expect being here but he'd play it cool.

He gave a knock. "Just a minute." a female's voice spoke from behind it. She clicked the lock and opened it, he was struck by her. She fluttered her eyelashes and pulled him in, locking the door behind him.

"I, um, don't believe we've met." He said and came to sit on her small couch in the room.

"That's why I wanted to meet you now. I heard so much about you from Dennis and I knew I had to meet you."

"You remind me of someone, but I can't put my finger on it..." Wink spoke and re-lit his cigar and blew smoke into her face. She coughed at the smoke cloud.

"Oh could you be a dear and get rid of that for me?" she pointed at the cigar, "It's bad for my singing voice." she tried to sound nice but she hated this man already.

"That's who you remind me of. My mother." He continued to smoke his cigar. He didn't care what she told him. She just laughed at his comment as he continued to puff out a white cloud. She got up to get a drink for him, she'd figure she could get him drunk and drop him off somewhere. She handed him a glass and sat in his lap. He shot her a look, he didn't want to be here but he had to pretend.

She took a chance and kissed him on the lips when he took the cigar out of his mouth.

"Your mustache is tickling me, sir." she giggled trying to act cute.

"Yours too."

"What!?" she got his lap quickly.

"Now that we got that formality out of the way-" He gave her bouncy eyebrows as she backed away.

"I will not be insulted, you must go now." she put a hand on the lock and slammed them open.

"What did you expect for making me coming over here?" He asked as she came back to him and put her hands on her hips.

"Beat it, mister!" she shouted.

"Oh so that's your game? Invite me over here, make advances and one comment on your mustache you can't handle it?" Wink stood up from the couch and walked to the door, "you should think before you act, Missy." She slammed the door in his face. He smiled to himself because he didn't want anyone to come between him and Dorothy.