Unexpected Rush (Play-By-Play #11)(71)

“We hope you’ll all join us in welcoming the opening of Just the Blues and supporting the artists who play here.”

There was a round of applause from the audience behind the ropes. Easton and Lydia made their way inside. Grant stopped for an interview, as did Tucker. Then Barrett stopped to speak. Harmony brushed past him but someone stuck a microphone in her face.

“Are you Barrett’s date for the evening?”

She smiled. “No. I’m Drake Evans’s sister, Harmony.”

“Oh. And what brings you here tonight, Harmony?”

She played it cool. “I’m a friend of the Cassidy family, and a big supporter of the blues.”

Since she wasn’t famous and didn’t give them any gossip fodder, the media moved on to someone else, allowing her to step inside the cool, dark club.

It was beautiful inside. Dark and moody, like a blues club should be. There was ample seating with tables spread all around, but still plenty of dance floor space and a large stage. There were bars at either corner, and she headed toward one of them.

Aubry was there, taking a glass of champagne the bartender handed her.

“I’ll have what she’s having,” Harmony said.

“Well, that was intense outside,” Aubry said, then took a long swallow of champagne.

“I’ll say. Have you ever had to deal with media?”

Aubry nodded. “My father owns the St. Louis Rivers baseball team, so I’ve been involved in the media spotlight a time or two. Not my favorite thing.”

Harmony’s eyes widened. “I don’t know why I didn’t make that connection, Aubry, since Tucker plays for them.”

Aubry laughed. “No reason that you should.”

Harmony looked around, watching everyone spill in from outside. It was going to be crowded in here tonight. She hoped the club was a rousing success.

“I guess we should find everyone—and our table,” Aubry said. “Lydia told me we have a couple reserved tables up front.”

“Okay.”

The guys had found the bar, and she and Aubry spotted the other women at their tables. Harmony set her clutch down at a chair, then looked around for her mother.

A band had already started playing, something soft and appropriately bluesy.

And her mother was off in a dark corner, cozying up to Elijah, who also looked handsome in his suit, a perfect complement to her mother. Her mother was smiling, leaning against Elijah, and looking extremely happy.

She intended to leave her mother be, since it appeared as if she was in good hands. At least she hoped so. Drake was relaxing at the bar with Barrett, and didn’t seem to be interested in what Mama was doing, and if Drake’s radar wasn’t up about Elijah, then Harmony shouldn’t worry about him, either.

She took her seat and chatted with Mia about college, boys and what it was like growing up with overprotective brothers. That was something they definitely had in common.

“What was it like trying to date?” Harmony asked.

Mia rolled her eyes. “In high school? Impossible. Of course some of my brothers were off to college by then, but it’s like they had radar, or maybe Mom reported to them, because whenever I tried to date a guy, I’d get text messages and phone calls asking probing questions about the boy. And talk about intimidation. Trying to have a relationship was nearly impossible. It was bad enough that Dad was intimidating as hell, but try bringing a boy to a family barbecue in the summer when all four of your brothers are giving him death looks.”

Harmony nodded. “I’m familiar with the death look. I think my brother, Drake, has a patent on it.”

Mia shook her head. “I doubt that, because my brothers had perfected the art of getting a guy to run for the hills before I could even get a first kiss, let alone get laid. I was starting to fear I’d die a virgin.”

Harmony laughed. “But then you escaped to college.”

“Yes. Getting away from my family is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I mean, I love them, but I needed some space to figure out who I was away from the shadow of all those Cassidy males.”

“Honey, I’m still trying to get away from my brother. I haven’t succeeded yet.”

“So he’s still overprotective of you?”

“You have no idea. For some reason he still thinks he can decide what man is best for me. Though for Drake, it’s like I’m forever sixteen and incapable of making rational decisions where men are concerned.”

Mia wrinkled her nose. “Ugh. Brothers.”

Harmony lifted her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

They laughed, then the other women joined them. After a while the guys joined the table. Harmony ended up sitting with Drake on one side of her and Barrett on the other. Talk about frustrating. But she forgot all about that once the music started up, as bands and artists played.

Soon, she was lost in the strains of beautiful blues music, with occasional jazz thrown in. People got up and danced, and even her brother found himself a beautiful woman to dance with. So did Flynn.

Barrett held his hand out to her. “Dance, gorgeous?”

She smiled. “I’d love to.”

They walked out to the dance floor, and Barrett pulled her against him, keeping a respectable distance as they glided around the floor together. Since the club was packed, at least they weren’t dancing next to her brother.