Tender Deception: A Novel of Romance by Patti Beckman Page B

meal.
    Lilly’s attention became acute. Her fingers clenched the napkin on her lap.
    “I’ve been impressed by your musical ability, Lilly,” Kirk began. “I’ll admit that at first I was totally negative about keeping you in the band. I didn’t think it would be good for Jimmy’s group. Besides, I didn’t think you were in the same league with them. I changed my mind after hearing the band every night this week. I admit it. I was wrong. You are a remarkably talented young woman.”
    Lilly’s heart leaped. “Then I can stay in the band?”
    “As far as I’m concerned, you certainly may.”
    Her eyes sparkled. Her heart flooded with joy. Suddenly, Jimmy’s older brother ceased being a horned ogre. He was, in fact, a strikingly handsome man, poised, confident, self-assured. Yet, he was quite reserved, too. She did not yet feel she knew him very well. But now that he had praised her musical ability so warmly and agreed she could stay in Jimmy’s band, she felt much more relaxed with him.
    He signed the check with his Diners Club card and then escorted her from the restaurant. “The evening is not over yet,” he said mysteriously. “I have something to show you.”
    They walked together a few blocks to a parking garage where he had left his Mercedes. They drove out of the city’s old quarter onto Canal Street. It was like leaving the nineteenth century for today’s world of bright lights and honking traffic. He sped across town to an elegant apartment tower. An elevator whisked them to the penthouse floor.
    Lilly entered his apartment feeling nervous and on guard.
    His living quarters were lavish. Costly paintings decorated the richly paneled walls. The furnishings were starkly modern, the carpets luxurious.
    He removed his topcoat and helped her take off her trench coat, hanging them both in a closet.
    “You—you live in a beautiful apartment,” Lilly murmured, keeping a safe distance from him.
    “I keep this place for the times I’m in New Orleans. But this is what I wanted to show you.” He led her across the living room. “I just had it installed.”
    Lilly stared at the sound system. Her eyes grew wide as she read the top-of-the-line brand names on the turntable, amplifier, tuner, tape deck. It was obviously worth a fortune.
    “What do you think, Lilly?”
    She glanced at him, suddenly realizing that he was looking at her with a concerned expression as if anxiously hoping for her approval. Her nervousness evaporated in a rush of concealed amusement. The aloof, cold, austere Kirk Remington actually had a human side! He wasn’t a hundred percent sure of himself after all. For some reason he wanted very much to impress her with his new sound system, not unlike a high school boy showing off his hot rod to an important date.
    She decided to take advantage of the situation. “Well,” she said doubtfully, suppressing a wicked grin, “it looks impressive. But I’d have to hear how it sounds.”
    “Of course.”
    He carefully placed a record on the turntable. The rich harmonies of Duke Ellington’s band flooded the room with a river of sound pouring from the stereophonic speakers.
    Lilly sat on a couch, curling her feet under her, letting her senses become drenched with the experience of pure sound. She closed her eyes, and the band was in the room with them.
    When the record ended, she looked up at Kirk, who was waiting expectantly for her reaction. She was tempted to pay him back for the suspense he’d caused her over her job with Jimmy’s band. But she couldn’t restrain her enthusiasm. “It’s fabulous. The best I’ve ever heard!”
    He looked extremely pleased. He mixed drinks at a bar, handed her one of the glasses and sat beside her. “It sounded good to me, but I’m not all that sure of my ear.” He gazed at her for a moment, then added, “I really envy your musical talent and perfect ear, Lilly.”
    “You do?” She glanced around at the richly furnished apartment. “I wouldn’t