Scottie’s entire song and dance. They really believed this was a man pouring his heart out to a woman he loved.
“Take a bow, Daphne,” he said.
I did a quick bow. This was kind of fun, but now I was ready to go back to my little table in the corner and hide.
Scottie winked at me and started to lead me off the stage. But I pulled up short. Ben was standing at the back of the room. Scottie followed my gaze. Then, instead of continuing to lead me off the stage, he swept me up into his arms and carried me backstage. Once again, the audience went crazy.
“Get ’er done, Elvis!” one male audience member yelled. I was 99 percent sure that male audience member was not Ben.
Scottie sat me down backstage. “That was pretty awesome, huh?”
“I need to go explain this to Ben,” I said.
“Why?” Scottie asked. “You don’t think he loves you enough to come and get you?”
“I’m not sure he loves me at all . . . especially after this,” I said.
He grinned. “Well, then, lucky me.”
“I have to get out there,” I said.
“I’ll send a note to your table to let your friends know where you are. Go out back and meet them at the car,” Scottie said.
“But—”
“If you don’t, those women will mob you when you go back out there. They’ll want to know how we met, how long we’ve been seeing each other, when the wedding will be. . . .”
“I’m not the first woman you’ve ‘loved tender,’ am I?” I asked.
He chuckled. “No, but you’re my favorite . . . and you could be the last if you play your cards right.”
“Right. I haven’t even been dealt a hand in this game. Which way do I go to get out of here?” I asked.
He led me to the backstage door. “Thanks, Daph.”
“You owe me,” I said.
“After that kiss? Don’t I know it,” he said with a grin. “Good night.”
I hurried over to Myra’s car. She, China, and Juanita hadn’t come out yet. I walked around the parking lot hoping to spot Ben. I needed to tell him that things weren’t what they’d looked like.
I didn’t get a chance, though. I saw his Jeep speeding away.
CHAPTER
Five
WHEN MYRA, China, and Juanita finally came out, I explained to them what had happened.
“I need to call Ben,” I said. “I’ve never seen him that angry. At least, not at me. Not even when we were kids.”
Ben and I grew up in the same neighborhood. He, Joe Fenally, Violet, and I played together nearly every day. Then Ben and I dated all through high school.
“Are you sure Ben is the one you want?” Myra asked. “That Elvis just poured his heart out to you.”
“Myra, it was a joke,” I said.
She shook her head. “Didn’t look like a joke to me.”
“Not to me, either,” China said. “Although I do believe Ben is the one who holds your heart.”
“Me too,” Juanita said. “Don’t let this Elvis come between you and Ben.”
“Guys,” I said, “Elvis—Scottie—isn’t interested in me. His so-called declaration of love was simply part of the performance. If I hadn’t been there, he’d have chosen someone else.”
“I wish it had been me,” Myra said.
“So do I,” I replied.
As we piled into the car, I said, “I’ve got to call Ben as soon as I get home.”
“Let me just drop you off at his place,” Myra said. “You need to do this kind of making up in person instead of over the phone.”
“She’s right,” Juanita said. “He needs to see the sincerity in your eyes.”
“But what if he didn’t go home? What if he went back to the office or somewhere else?” I asked.
“Well, I won’t leave you at his house if there’s no one home,” Myra said. “Gee whiz, it’s January. Do you think I’d leave you stranded?”
“No,” I said. “I’m just nervous. That’s all.”
“You should be nervous,” China said.
“Thanks,” I said. “That helped.”
She laughed softly. “Sorry. I’m only thinking I’d be nervous too if I had to explain to one man why another was kissing me in front of a room full of people as if he were shipping off to war tomorrow. And that declaration of love might have been a joke, but the kiss wasn’t.”
“Amen,” Myra said with a sigh. “That was a great concert, don’t y’all think? That Elvis I danced with—his real name is Cecil—he asked for my phone number. I think we might be going to lunch tomorrow.”
“Be careful,” said Juanita. “These men