Fall From Grace(61)

“Maybe he thought your playing stinks,” he said taking my empty plate.

“Probably.  I mean, I am almost as horrible as you!”

My statement was punctuated by the sound of the dryer’s buzzer.  Cracking up, I walked over to pull out and fold my last load of laundry.

When I lifted the last handful of clothes onto the small wooden table, I blanched, noticing Shane was holding up my bra and panties.  I lunged for them, trying to snatch them out of his hands.  He just held them up higher, making me stand on my tiptoes, jumping for them.

“Hey, Grace.  Maybe getting an eyeful of your lingerie woke up our friend Carl from his coma.  These are pretty intense undergarments, I know I’ll be thinking about them later tonight!” he teased.

I shoved him in the gut, not hard, but hard enough to make him bend over and hand back my belongings.

“You are a jerk, Shane Maxton.”

“Thanks, that’s like the nicest thing you’ve called me so far.”

After I was finished, Shane helped me carry my clothes upstairs.  We both passed the front window and peeked out to see if a police car was parked anywhere on the street.  It was.  Smack dab in front of my door step.  Yeah, that’s not going to scare the neighbors.

Stretching himself across my bed, he watched me put my clothes away.  Legs crossed at the ankles and hands under his head.  I crossed my arms laughing at him.

He tilted his head toward my guitar, “Will you play something for me?”

I paused in thought, looking at him.  I didn’t want him to look at me with those intense eyes again.  I ended the thought as soon as I had it.  I would have to play in front of him later, next to him on stage, so I should get used to it now.

I unbuckled my case, pulled out my guitar and nudged him to move over on my bed.  Well, it was my bed.  He rolled over on his side and propped his head up with his hand to listen to me.  I twisted my body around to face him, fingering some strings.

“What are you in the mood for?”

“Surprise me.”

I didn’t close my eyes this time, just watched as the fingers I’d come to know as my own, played.  I started with the theme song to Sesame Street, which landed me a pillow to the side of the head.  Giggling, I drifted into a rendition of You’re so Vain by Carly Simon to Lost Cause from Beck, stopping after (I Hate) Everything About You by Ugly Kid Joe.

“Nice, Grace.  What was that a montage of how I feel about Shane songs?”

I smiled wide.  “Gee, am I that easy to read?”  I teased.

“Play something that means something to you,” he whispered.

So I did.  I let my fingers go. I let my voice soar; rough and edgy.  Piece of my Heart by Janis Joplin.  Wouldn’t Shane get a blast out of knowing I used to practice with her before she became big?

I matched her voice, her tone, her essence and through the whole song, I never looked away from his eyes.  It was intense and electrifying. I felt more sensual and erotic than I had ever felt in this skin.

“You are simply the most amazingly talented person I’ve ever met,” he whispered.

“Eh.  I bet you haven’t met too many people then.”

*   *   *   *   *

Lea and Conner arrived back at the apartment within five minutes of each other.  Both of them came barreling into the apartment, demanding to know why there was a police car parked in front of it.

After Shane told them about our visit with the detectives, Lea became very upset, crying and hugging me.  Then she spent a good twenty minutes locking all the windows, pulling up the ladders to the fire escapes and looking under all the furniture.