Chapter 9

"Hot Stuff"

Lulu walked into Jakes with Maxie needing a beer to wash away today's events. Dante was seated at the bar with Ronnie. At a nearby table sat Alexis and Mac, holding hands and sitting with Patrick and Robin. Johnny was at the opposite end of the bar in conversation with a heated Diane and Max.

"Wow, word travels fast!" Lulu said, approaching Dante.

"Hey, gorgeous." he said, running his hand from her shoulder to her hip, where it continued to rest.

"Back attcha!" Lulu answered, kissing him on the lips.

"Dante, are you going to sing for Lulu tonight?" Maxie asked, hinting that he should.

"Me, No. I don't sing." he answered.

"Oh come on, Dante. Sister Evangeline spent so many hours with you in choir. Surely you could remember a few bars," Ronnie suggested, winking at Lulu.

"We'll see. I am much more excited about hearing the Maxettes," Dante said.

"Maxinettes? Is that you girls?" Ronnie asked looking at Maxie and Lulu.

"The Maxettes. Me-Maxi,and Lulu and whoever else we drag onto stage is the ette," Maxie informed, looking at Ronnie.

"Well, I am definitely looking forward to this performance." Ronnie said.

"It will be worth it. Trust me." Coleman said, setting a beer down for Lulu.

"Maxie, do you want your usual?" Coleman asked.

"Yes, but make it a double. I need all of the help I can get," Maxie said, looking at Johnny.

Coleman poured the shot of tequila and placed it in front of Maxie.

"Love, can't live with it, and can't live without it. Good thing you got karoake....and me." Coleman said.

Dante saw a table near the karoake machine and steered Lulu toward it. "Hey, why don't you guys join us." he said pulling out a chair for Lulu and sliding it in. Ronnie tried to sit next to Lulu, but Dante was having none of that.

"You sit over there, where I can keep an eye on you," Dante laughed, pointing Ronnie to the opposite side of the table.

Maxie tried to seat herself, but Dante grabbed her chair, insisting that she sit and pushed her stool closer to the table.

"Hey, Coleman, another round." Dante shouted, pointing at their table, "Put it on my tab."

As soon as everyone was seated, Dante pulled out his chair, next to Lulu's, and seated himself. He reached one arm around her, pulling her in closer. He loved the feeling he got deep in his gut everytime he touched her, and held her. He felt complete.

"So, have you girls decided what you are going to sing?" Coleman asked, bringing the next round to the table.

"Coleman, you know we like to surprise you!" Maxi answered, with a sly grin on her face.

"I love surprises," Dante said, winking at Lulu, remembering their first introduction and how he stood behind a huge, brute of a man, popping out to ask if she liked surprises.

"You will definitely be surprised," Lulu replied, kissing him on the lips again, "It will be very hot."

"Hot, I like hot." Dante said returning her kiss.

"Hello, Lulu, can you come up for air? We need to find the rest of our group?" Maxi said, interrupting their kiss. Lulu could kiss Dante all day and all night. She loved the velvet feel of his lips on hers. Reluctantly, she broke away from his kiss, and followed Maxi to the bar.

Dante watched Lulu walk away his smoky eyes lingering on her backside as they approached Diane. Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed a man seated at a table in the far back of the bar. He was alone, a bottle of beer in front of him. He wore a dark, Armani suit and next to him sat an ashtray with a single cigar resting. Dante's cop instincts took over. The man seemed out of place here, like he didn't belong.

"Have you seen that man here before, Coleman" Dante asked, noting how the man kept to himself, and didn't interact with the patrons.

"Can't say that I have," Coleman answered, "Why is there a problem?"

"No, probabaly just over-reacting is all." Dante said, as the man got up from his seat and left the bar.

"Wedding jitters?" Coleman asked, "I got the cure for you," he said walking toward the karoake machine.

"Can I have everyone's attention?" Coleman yelled, putting two fingers to his mouth giving a shrill whistle.

Maxie, Lulu, Diane and Alexis stood on the stage, their backs presented to the crowd.

"Our first number of the night is a hot one. Let's give it up for a smokin' group."

"Here are The Maxettes, and a song that I am sure they are singing for me. Hot Stuff by The Pussycat Dolls," Coleman introduced.

A jammin drum beat started and the girls starting moving their hips left to right in a quick tempo. Maxie, Lulu, Diane and Alexis still had their backs to the crowd when they began the song together.

"Yeah, Yeah,"

they sang, as Lulu spun around abruptly.

"Well I tried, but I won't give in,"

she sang in a sultry voice to the crowd,

"That's alright 'cause I'm going to win."

She slowly moved toward Dante, singing as she directed her gaze at him.

"Now, I know I've got to let you go,"

Lulu sang, pointing at Dante.

"Now, I see you were never meant for me,"

she belted in a soprano voice, turning her back on him.

"Looking for your hot stuff, Baby I need it,"

all of the girls sang together.

"Looking for your hot stuff"

"Baby tonight"

Lulu sang, turning and wagging her finger at Dante.

"I want your hot stuff"

"I got to feel it"

They sang, twisting their bodies to the ground,

and pointing at the guys.

"Got to have your hot stuff"

"Got to have your love tonight"

"Ooh yeah, I want you back,"

"Ooh yeah, I want you back,"

Diane and Alexis sang in the background.

"Ooh yeah, I want you back,"

all of the girls sang together, as Maxie danced toward the bar.

She sang the second verse in a smoky, low-keyed voice.

"I remember the love in your eye, yeah"

she sang to Johnny, her hand stroking the side of his face.

"When you took my hand and said goodbye, goodbye"

Maxie sang pushing him away abruptly.

"I don't know where the river flows"

"Now I'm free, I'm not going to go down again," she sang.

Lulu stood behind Dante, her arms wrapped around him, while Maxie sauntered up to Coleman and started singing the chorus. Diane and Alexis joined in as well, gyrating to the beat in front of their guys.

"Looking for your hot stuff, Baby I need it....Looking for your hot stuff, Baby tonight," they continued, before rounding out the chorus with a hip-rocking crescendo that nearly caused Dante to fall from his chair.

"Hot, Hot, Hot," Lulu sang to Dante, leaning over him and running her fingers through is hair.

"Hot, Hot, Hot," Maxie sang to Johnny, pulling him toward her and moving her hips in tune with the music.

"I want your hot stuff," all four sang ending the song.

"Let's give it up for The Maxettes," Coleman shouted, as everyone cheered and applauded.

"That was freakin hot!" Dante exclaimed, as he pulled Lulu in for an equally hot kiss. "Amazing," he said. He was giving her the sex eyes and Lulu was dishing it right back.

"You're welcome," she said, stealing another kiss.

"I think that it had the effect that Maxie wanted," Lulu said, steering Dante's gaze in Maxie's direction. She was at the end of the bar in a hot liplock with Johnny.

"Look's like they made up," Lulu said, grinning.

"I"ll say," interjected Ronnie.

"You know," Dante whispered into Lulu's ear, "I think that it had an effect on me too," he said, with a wicked gleam in his eye.

"Down, boy," Lulu replied, kissing him slowly this time and brushing her lips against his.

"Who's up next?" Coleman asked, holding the microphone. Alexis grabbed the microphone from Coleman, while Mac took the mike from Diane and joined Alexis. A country sound emitted from the karaoke machine as Mac and Alexis sang Lady Antebellem's "Things People Say," belting out the verses off-key.

Dante was too mesmerized by Lulu to hear Mac and Alexis' version of the song. He studied the way her blonde hair lay upon her shoulders, picking up a few locks and running his fingers through the silky mass. Lulu sat on his lap, fully engrossed in Mac and Alexis' performance. They were no Lady Antebellem she thought, but they were having fun and their crazy, exaggerated dance moves were causing everyone to roll with laughter.

She felt Dante's hand playing with her hair and then move down to rest upon her hip. His hand rested there, tantalizing her with the soft, loving sweep of his hand, back and forth on her skin.

Maxie was right, Lulu thought. She needed this night to recharge after today's events. She felt better. Now, if only this night would never end. Then, she could avoid the inevitable.

"Penny for your thoughts," Dante asked, adoringly.

"Is that the going rate these days?" Lulu laughed, not wanting this moment to end.

"I would pay you any amount, to know what goes on in that mind of yours?" Dante answered, softly kissing her lips.

"And just how would you pay me?" Lulu questioned, loving the way Dante's lips sucked on her bottom lip, causing a warm, arousing feeling in her belly.

"Anyway you want," Dante replied, pulling her into his arms.

"Get a room!" Ronnie shouted, interrupting their moment, as Dante and Lulu broke away from the kiss reluctantly.

Coleman brought another round of drinks, brushing Dante's hands away as he tried to pay the bill.

"Johnny's got this one," Coleman said, directing their eyes to the bar.

Johnny and Maxie lifted their drinks in a toast and everyone at the table picked up their drink in return.

"To the happy couple," Johnny said, "May nothing but joy and laughter fill your life from now on. And may the only ruckus you reep, be the sound of pitter pattering feet," he laughed drunkenly.

"Cheers," everyone said.

"Bottoms up," Coleman said.

"Ok, who's up for a round of shots?" Ronnie asked, looking at Dante.

"It's on the groom-to-be," he shouted, pointing at Dante.

Dante looked at Lulu whose eyes kept darting toward the door. Without saying a word, he nodded in agreement at Lulu and turned to answer Ronnie.

"I think that we are going to call it a night," Dante replied, as Lulu rose from her seat. Dante opened her coat and she slid her arms in the sleeves as he pulled it over her shoulders and reached for her hand.

Goodnight, guys!" Dante said, walking with Lulu toward the door.

"See you tomorrow, Lulu," Maxie said, as Lulu looked back at her. Maxie gave her a reassuring smile that said everything would work out. Lulu smiling looked up at Dante and hoped that was true.

"See you, Maxie. Don't wait up!" she said as she walked out the door. Dante was humming a Sinatra tune that was playing on the jukebox. "In other words, baby, I love you," he sang as he followed her out of Jake's.

"Do you need to pick anything up at your place?" Dante asked when they were outside.

"No," she said the jovial feeling of the night wearing off.

"Can we just go to your place, please?" Lulu asked, nervously.

"Of course. Is everything ok?" Dante questioned, as he saw the sadness from earlier today reflected from her eyes.

"It will be." Lulu said, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

Chapter 10

"Would You Still Love Me"

Dante and Lulu rode the elevator to his loft apartment in silence. Lulu's head rested near his shoulder, her troubles weighing on Dante. Whatever it was, she was scared. No, terrified. He just didn't know of what, or of whom. He felt helpless. He wanted to fix it, but if she didn't share what was bothering her, he couldn't do anything about it. As the elevator came to a stop, Dante pulled the iron gate open, and placing his hand behind Lulu's back, he followed her into his loft.

"Do you want some coffee?" Dante asked entering his kitchen. He proceeded to pull a canister from the bottom shelf alongwith a single filter and poured several scoops into the coffee machine.

"No, thanks. I'd like a water, please." answered Lulu, seating herself on his couch. Normally, she kicked her shoes off and made herself comfortable, curling her feet underneath her. Tonight, she sat rigid, her body ready to bolt at any second. Something was definitely wrong.

"One water coming up," Dante replied, grabbing a bottle from the refrigerator. He poured water into the coffee machine and pushed the brew button.

When he first moved in, it took him weeks to find everything. Most of his boxes were not even unpacked until several months after he signed his lease. Now, he was able to move about the apartment with relative ease and for the first time in years an apartment actually felt like home. Dante believed that Lulu had a lot to do with that. It amazed him, how much she truly knew him. What his likes and dislikes were. She was able to find this place and know that it would remind him of Brooklyn, of his childhood neighborhood. She stayed over many nights, and even, though she would never admit that they lived together, she was rarely at Maxies's apartment anymore.

Then, Spinelli had moved out when Maxie broke up with him and for a brief period of time it looked as if Johnny would move in. Secretly, Dante thought that Maxie liked living alone and hoped that Lulu would move out completely. Dante was leaning toward the very same idea. His apartment had a cozy feel to it now and had lost that bachelor pad look. He liked that she was waiting for him when he arrived home from work. They cuddled watching television together and awoke in the morning snuggled in each other's arms.

Dante picked up the water bottle and walked toward Lulu on the couch. She slid over, and Dante pulled her closer, handing her the Fiji water. The room was completely silent.

"Did you have fun tonight?" Dante asked, trying to break the tension in the room, "I could tell that you had a rough day? Was it work?" he said, attempting to unleash whatever was troubling her.

"You saw that?" Lulu replied, amazed that he could read her thoughts and behaviour so easily. She looked away, finding a focal point on the far right wall. Her eyes were welling with emotion and she was trying really hard not to cry. She was starting to shake from her fear, letting her desperation get the better of her.

Dante reached for her hand, clasping it with his, stroking her skin with his reassuring touch. With his other hand, he turned her face toward him, noting the tears that were slowly spilling from the side of her eyes.

"You can tell me anything, Lulu," he said concerned, his heart pumping faster."

"Anything at all. You know that don't you, baby. Just talk to me."

"Did someone hurt you, say something to you? Did I do something to cause you pain?"

"If this is about you having second thoughts? I mean, I am not lying, if you changed your mind it would break my heart, but....I could get past it, if I knew that you were ok," Dante told her, pulling her closer.

"No, Dante I do want to marry you. I love you, it's just that after I share this with you, I don't know if you will want to be with me. I am scared that you won't be able to forgive me," she said, the tears falling faster.

"Hey, baby there isn't anything that you could say to me that would change how I feel about you. Don't you know how much I love you? How much I need you?" Dante said, baring his soul.

"You say that now, Dante. But, still I don't............" Lulu replied, as Dante interjected.

"Just tell me. I can't help if you don't let me," he said.

"Dante, you have to promise me that you will just hear me out. No interruptions, no input until I am finished. Do you promise?" Lulu asked, in a serious tone."

"My lips are zippered tight," Dante replied, trying to add humor to the situation.

"I am serious Dante, I need you to just need you to listen."

"Ok, I promise," Dante answered, in a somber tone.

Lulu took a deep breath and with a heavy heart proceeded to reveal what the secrets that had been plaguing her for so long.