The Boxer Guy

Chapter 17

"Harvey!" Mike called into the shower room. "Your phone's ringing."

With water sluicing rivulets down his back and drops dripping from his nose, Harvey painfully stood under the warm water. Every bit of warm water radiated to tired muscles and sore spots which Harvey did not know he had. Mertz's rubdown was wonderful, but it was deep and aggravating rushing Harvey's blood into knotted muscles that Harvey would have preferred left alone.

"If it's not Donna, I don't care! Let it go to voicemail," called Harvey spitting water everywhere as he did. Luckily, he was by himself. Harvey was glad he was by himself. If he had to shoot the shit about what happened in the ring to anybody, Harvey probably would have started a whole other match in the tiled room. Harvey was basically a guarded person; and with the exception of a very few, he rarely opened himself to anyone. He heard no more from Mike, so Harvey figured that the person calling him had not been Donna.

At the thought of her, he suddenly really wanted to be at her show tonight. He hoped Thomas was not there to assess his investments. He hoped the man decided to stay home. These thoughts galvanized Harvey into movement. He washed himself and then slowly removed himself from the warm water and put on his street clothes. Finally leaving the locker room to find Mike.

Am I blue, am I blue

Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you

How can you ask me am I blue

Why, wouldn't you be too

If each plan with your man

Done fell through

Donna's voice, sad and smoky, emoted like some love wronged movie heroine crying out her woes in a dive. In reality she was sitting on a stool with her red hair brushed to one side and billowing full on the other side of her face. She wore a sleeveless high neck dark green velvet gown with dark black pumps. Sitting up straight, holding the microphone as if it would bring magic, Donna took a breath and sang the last of the song with a belt.

There was a time

When I was his only one

But now I'm the sad and lonely one, lonely

Was I gay, until today

Now he's gone, and we're through

Am I blue

As she finished, she spotted Harvey coming down the rows to his customary table on the last row. He was clean and dressed very nicely in a blue knit suit jacket, beige khaki trousers, and a white dress shirt opened at the throat. She answered his wink with one of her own and finished the song with a long quiet note bringing her audience back to where they sat enjoying dinner and drinks from soaring up into the fantasy world where Donna weaved her musical magic.

Donna breezed through a few other songs before she finished with a yearning flourish singing Maybe This Time with all the gusto like Liza Minnelli in Cabaret.

"Thank you so much for that," Donna said as she bowed a few times acknowledging her appreciation to the then turned to her piano player, Daniel.

At the end of the applause and the introductions to Daniel, Donna took a sip of water.

"Wow singing can make one pretty thirsty," Donna remarked as she took a seat on the stool.

"Normally at this time I take a little break and I bring anyone up here at my little Piano Bar where you can make requests or quiet talk while I hit a few random chords. If you haven't been here before, this is my way of getting to know my audience in a more intimate fashion. Before I do that, though, I just wanted to let you know that this will be my last night for a while here at The Bistro."

The audience reacted with murmurs and whisperings. Donna recognized a few of the regulars although she had only been the dinner act for a few months. She also noticed when Harvey shot up out of his seat like his pants were on fire. He mouthed his shock and signaled that he really needed to talk to her.

"I will be back but not on an every weekend basis for about six months. I will be recording my first duet album with my new partner. We are due in the studio in a couple of months because there is a lot of preparation for this album."

"Who's your partner?" One man dressed in a very expensive suit stood and asked.

Donna eyed Harvey who absolutely shook his head that he did not want to be introduced to anyone at this time. She winked at him to let him know she would not divulge him at the moment.

"He's a musician whom I just meant a few months ago. He was here on my first night and we did a duet here at piano bar . Apparently, the right people heard and saw us and...we will be laying down vocal tracks soon. I promise once he gets over his bashfulness we will perform together and you, too, can see how special he is as well."

Donna blew Harvey a kiss as he lowered himself back into his seat. He dipped his head hoping no one had noticed his sudden catapulting to his feet. He wanted to disappear from Donna's view. The spotlight was turned off and the houselights came up. She hopped off her seat to get to her dressing room to change and then return for piano bar.

Just as she was shutting her door, Donna turned to see Harvey standing behind her.

"So was this a stipulation of Kessler's that you give up your job?" Harvey asked.

Donna expected to see Harvey a little worse for wear but in actuality he looked sexy and wonderful other than the blatant hostility burning deep in his big brown eyes.

"No, Harvey, it was not. But I want our album to be something we did together not something dictated to us by a music producer. Thomas has agreed to that," Donna said shaking her head in disbelief that Harvey could be silently seething about what Donna negotiated as advantageous to them both.

"By the way when were you going to tell me about this arrangement between us and Kessler?"

"I thought tonight. After the show we could go back to your place and-"

"My place? What's wrong with yours?"

"Louis and Sheila are there tonight. It is Louis' apartment after all," Donna reasoned. "Marcus said he can make himself scarce if we really have some musical items to work out."

Harvey still stood there and then turned his back as Donna gestured that she needed to change into her second act gown.

She took two steps over to him in the small closet space and turned around tapping him on the forearm before she did.

"Harvey, can you help me with this zipper?"

"Oh," he said quietly and turned around. All at once the attraction for her almost overwhelmed him. He had to slow his breathing because he did not want her to hear how much he was gasping for air at the sight of her bare back. He was even more preoccupied with light sprinkling of freckles on the tops of her shoulders and partially at her back. The need in him pulled him forward. His hands shook as they advanced to the zipper at her back side and the smaller hooks at the top of her high neck. The gown was a high neck sleeveless halter. Before she turned her back to him the dim light in the broom closet dressing room, he could see deep green reflections of the gown in the green pricks in Donna's eyes. Harvey swallowed hard as his groin became uncomfortable with his love and want of her.

Donna waited with anticipation to feel his hands on her working the zippers. She really had no hidden insidious purpose to her request, but her sudden need to feel his hands on her body overtook her mind. Her nipples grew hard in anticipation of his hands on them.

There! Finally! His hands manipulated the zipper at her backside. She could feel his hot breath on her shoulder as he worked the zipper at her throat.

Harvey suddenly turned her around and smilingly brought his lips to hers holding her precious beautiful face in his hands. He kissed her with slow passionate kisses letting his lips linger on hers.

Donna gave into his warm kisses. She slid her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss clinging to the thrill rushing through her body as he held her close in his arms.

Abandoning their reservations for doing exactly this to each other, Donna's dress spilled to the floor leaving her in her lacy bra and panties. She wore no stockings, so her thong could be removed with one finger. She still wore her heels. She could feel his arms around her and his hot breath on her neck as he kissed her. Her heart pounded as he lifted her on top of her small dressing table. As she continually heard the pounding of his heart and felt his thunderous vibrations under her hand on his chest, she continually kissed him. The sudden rush of feeling urged her on. She smoothed off his jacket and then quickly undoing his shirt she could feel his sweat on her body as his body melted into her. Busying blindly at the belt buckle of his jeans, Donna tried hard to ignore Pierre's voice calling to her.

"You're on, Donna! The natives are getting restless!"

"Harvey...please..." Donna begged still not resisting his kisses but stopping her work on his belt.

"I'm...coming!" She strangled back at Pierre's phantom voice.

Something in Pierre's last call brought coerced Harvey to stop his affections abruptly.

"What am I doing?" Harvey yelled at himself taking quick assessment of his attire and straightening his hair, finding his shirt and jacket. He stepped back with her arms still around him and said with exasperation.

"I'm so sorry, Donna," was all he could say. Followed softly almost inaudibly, "You don't want me like that."

"Harvey, stop! Let me do the deciding what Donna wants," She whispered deeply smiling at him. The sorrowful look in his big brown eyes coerced Donna's change of heart. She would have thrown everything away just to be with him right now, right here. However, she realized that he had lost himself in the moment. She could feel how much he felt for her not only from this moment but by his demanding to know why she was quitting her job temporarily.

"But we can't right now. I do have to get back to the audience. I'm still being paid here." She smirked at him.

He could see her lipstick had been smeared and her hair which was coiffed so beautifully to one side was now straggled out of placed.

"I'm so sorry," he murmured and left.

"Harvey!" She ran after him and watched as he swiftly escaped. Pierre, of course, was standing there in all his demanding nature. Harvey had left the room so quickly that all Donna could muster was her Chinese print silk dressing robe, He looked once at Harvey's departing back and then back at Donna's disheveled appearance as she held her robe closed around her body.

"Just let me freshen up, Pierre. I'll be out in a minute," Donna said trembling from the anticipation of having the man that she now realized she loved. She hoped and prayed that Harvey had not abandoned them altogether. She knew, though, instinctively she would not find that Harvey had resumed his seat in the audience.

They really needed to talk after this performance about all she had negotiated with Thomas concerning she and Harvey's future career. Also they needed to either continue or clarify just what happened between them in her little dressing room.

Riding in a cab back home to the apartment she shared with Louis, Donna mindlessly looked out the window at dark streets. Although she knew she would be not find Harvey in his seat at Piano Bar time, the disappointment was no less hurtful. After arriving home in the cab and taking the elevator to the second floor, she slid her key in the door lost in thought only to have Louis accost her with the biggest bear hug practically squeezing her to death.

"You are not going to believe this!" Louis exclaimed in all his excitement. "This is so grand!"

"Louis, Louis," Donna could barely squeezed out of her throat having the life choking out of her with Louis' desperate hug.

When he pulled way, she noticed his wide toothy grin which, at times, could be very disconcerting. He looked wild, but he also looked extremely happy. Donna was happy for him, but it took her a couple of minutes to settle herself so they could carry on a lucid conversation.

"Louis! Calm down!" Donna said as she came into the living room. Luckily, she had not dropped her food that Marcus had kept especially for her with Louis' overzealous affection. She knew Louis was bursting with his news and it would be impossible for him to let her eat and go to sleep until he imparted it.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Donna. I know you're tired, but this can't wait. Here let me warm up your food and you sit and relax," Louis offered.

This gesture warmed Donna's innards. She kissed him on the cheek and took a place in the living room while Louis went to the kitchen to warm her dinner while she waited.

All too soon, Louis held a plate of her warmed entree (generously portioned) and nodded toward the dining area. Louis was very particular on where people should eat in his house. No one munched while watching TV all wrapped up in a blanket. Maybe during a dinner party people would partake hors d'oeuvres while circulating the room but eating while watching TV or having a conversation was out of the question in Louis' apartment.

Donna rose and took her customary seat across from Louis who just looked at her anticipating when he should break his great news to her. After shoveling a few grateful morsels into her mouth and thoroughly enjoying it, she said, "Ok, Louis, Sheila and you finally set a date."

Louis screwed up his face and said, "How'd you know that?"

Donna could not elaborate so she smiled and made a dismissive movement with her head. She then took Louis' hand from across the table and said, "Yes, I would love to."

Louis looked at her and grasped Donna's hand a little more tightly in his and said, "Of course, I want you to sing and so does Sheila. Thank you so much, Donna. I know that you have finally got some great stuff happening in your life with your career. I couldn't be more happier for you. You wouldn't mind doing a Yiddish hymn, would you? It's for my parents."

She leaned her head a little to speak a tad more conspiratorily as if there were others in the room who could hear. It amazed her sometimes how quickly Louis' mind worked. One minute wrapped in his own news then taking the time to acknowledge her new career path and then back to his own happiness and need for a favor.

Donna smiled wearily at him.

"No matter how successful or not successful my career might be now or in the future, wild horses couldn't stop me from singing at your wedding."

"Ok. So hurry up and let's discuss the music."

Donna smiled and then rolled her eyes impatiently.

Needless to say, she did not get to bed until almost six that morning to which she was grateful as she fell asleep immediately without continuous stressful wondering if she would ever see Harvey-the boxer guy-her 'partner', again.

Harvey was emotionally drained. Earlier in the day suffering from the draw with Travis, the sudden introduction to Thomas Kessler and culminating in his emotionally charged sexual encounter with Donna, Harvey felt was at once confused, annoyed, and needful all at once. All this day meant to him was that he had to protect Donna at all costs. He knew Donna was not naive but that Thomas would allow her anything until he slept with her, or she tried to defy him. Harvey had encountered men like Kessler before. They wanted nothing but ultimate control.

Harvey took a ragged breath as his mind returned to the few desperate moments in Donna's dressing room. He could still feel her touch as she stripped him of his jacket and shirt. He could still smell her scent on his skin. All he knew was that he wanted her. Needed her. Loved her. However, he also knew that she may only have wanted him for that moment. She had sworn that she was finished with loving musicians. There was no future in it. Harvey had felt the same way, but he was willing to work with her because musically they fit. They could each draw from the different skills and talents to make a great duo.

As for what had happened it could go no farther if they were to remain focused on their career. Kessler could go hang with his threat to himself. However, Donna was the one who needed the protection only Harvey knew it had to be subtle. Any type of overt protection would cause a rift and tear them apart. The intensity of his feelings scared him. If they had had a quickie it would have been the worst thing for them especially if she still wanted to pursue a musical career with him. If they became involved as a couple, a whole other emotion would take over and, perhaps, probably derail their whole career.

I know I need to apologize to her. I just can't face her right now. What to say? How to say it?

The thoughts continually reverberated in his brain. He helped himself to a glass of scotch and then another and another until his thoughts blurred him into a dreamless slumber.