Page 5 of All That Jazz


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That’s good, right?

Some part of me decides that it is, and moreactual wordsstart coming to me. “Well, then I’d say you’re probably a lot happier than the average person.”

“I like to think so.” Lucky flattens his palm against his chest for a second before gesturing at me with the back of his hand. “So this is your first time seeing the show?”

“Itis.” The fact that he knows that makes me grin like an idiot, but it also sets me even more at ease around him. “How’d you guess that?”

He waggles his finger at me again. “I didn’t. You told me so. Last week I think it was.”

“Oh.” I have no idea what to do with my hands and opt for hugging my arms across my chest, then rub my shoulder, and it feels like my total awkwardness is still practically screaming through my body language. “You really do read all those comments? I thought for sure you had someone managing all that for you.”

“Nah, it’s the best way to interact with my fans when I can’t actually see them in person.” He slips his hands in his pockets and does a quick shrug as he takes a step that much closer to me. “Feelin’ a little less nervous now, huh, Ava?”

Actually,nowI’m nervousall over again. An idiotic laugh bursts from my lips. “No, I’m just awkward. I live alone. I’m trapped in a cubicle away from the outside world at work. My friend here is used to my awkwardness, so I never have any motivation to try out not being awkward.”

Oh. My. God.

What possessed me to say something like that?

I need to just leave now.

Lucky gives me another one of those deep, delicious laughs coupled with a panty-melting grin. “I’m honestly not getting awkward from you, but you’re definitely nailing the dry humor.”

Oh,amI?

I wasn’t aware.

On reflex, I flip my ponytail over my shoulder in my best attempt at being coy and confident. “Well, you know, I try.”

“I like it.” He chuckles again, and then he snags my hand so he can smooch the back of it, which causes my stomach to do a back handspring. “Hey, y’know, Ava, I’m about to launch this contest.” He gives my hand a small shake at my own face before letting go. “We’re about to start recording the next album, and we’re gonna pick a couple winners to come stay at my new place in New Orleans.” His brow pulls low. “I’m sure you’ve seen it. The Jazz Manor, I mean.”

Yes, I have seen pictures of his absolutelystunningnew place. Some online newspaper did a write-up on it shortly after he purchased it. It’s a gloriously elegant, vintage townhouse located in the heart of the French Quarter. It’s three stories and has about ten rooms, all of which are saturated with a Gilded Age feel. For anyone with an affinity for all things vintage, it’s basically house porn.

And Lucky is going to invite someluckyfan to come stay there with him.

Dare to dream, Ava. Dare to dream.

“Oh yeah, I have,” I say, unable to hide my excitement in the form of clasping my hands together like I’m praying to win. “It’samazing.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he says. “So the winners’ll get to come stay with us for a couple of days, and they’ll get a front row seat while we record a couple songs and also get a spot as extras in a music video.” He rubs his chin, a half-smile tugging at one corner of his mouth, and then he turns over his hand as he gestures at me again. “I hope you enter.” He slides his hands into his pockets and hitches his shoulders. “Cuz, y’know…it’d be cool to hang out a little more.”

My heart leaps into my throat exactly like it does every time a notification pops up alerting me that he’s replied to one of my comments, and I feel my face melt. “It would?”

A hand settles onto the small of my back, nudging me closer to him, and my face is suddenlyreallyclose to his. I don’t know who’s initiating all this body language, but I’mdrowningin it.

“Yeah. You gotta enter, Ava,” Lucky murmurs, his face still angled over mine. “Don’t disappoint me now.”

My posture sinks like my knees are about to give out, and I utter a breathless, “I’dnever.”

A smile tugs the corner of his mouth. “Atta girl.”

He’s still staring deep into my eyes, and everything starts moving in slow motion. Our faces are getting closer, and I can’t tell if he’s moving toward me or if I’m moving toward him, but movement ishappening,and I don’t know how to throw the brakes. He’s suddenly so close to my face that I’m starting to go cross-eyed trying to hold his gaze, and then I just close my eyes, and the rest seems to follow the natural progression of going in for akiss.

My chin lifts upward, and my lips part, and some absurd part of my brain honestly expects to feel his mouth on mine.

But that never happens, and then I hear the distinctive sound of tipsy tittering nearby.

Peeling my eyes open, I can suddenly see this situation for what it actually is, rather than what my disoriented mind has turned it into. The hand on my back that’s pushing me toward him belongs to Zoey, who’s just holding onto me to keep us from getting separated in the crowd of people. All those peoplehave closed in on Lucky and me, attempting to get his attention. He’s not even looking at me anymore, rather he’s smiling and nodding at others around us. And the tittering I just heard is coming from a saucy woman with glossy, auburn curls and crimson lips.