“Alright, come on, Benny,” I say. “I’ll buy you a few drinks to help take your mind off all this.”
He shakes his head, so I press.
“You can’t just sit around. Can’t quit living your life,” I continue. “Life’s short, my friend.”
“Carpe diem?” he asks with a smirk.
“Carpet what now?” I ask.
He rolls his head side to side, cracking the bones. “Carpe diem. It means seize the day in Latin.”
I grin. “How do you say seize the night in Latin, Mr. Fancy Pants?”
“Carpe noctum.”
I wink, nodding toward the door. “I’ll drink to that.”
We make it to the Green Door a little after ten, early for a speakeasy, and the place is mostly empty. Despite the band playing full out, there are only a few couples on the floor. Others are scattered around the tables and booths, drinking from discreet tea cups in case there’s a raid. Benny and I belly up to the bar. I order two Side Cars, tossing down a buck.
“Since when do you have scratch?” Benny asks, leaning his back against the bar as he watches the band.
I snort. “I do work, you know.”
He outright laughs at that. “You work my nerves, but I didn’t know it paid so well.”
He wags his eyebrows, and I slide him his drink. Looking at it for a moment, he finally takes a sip. He’s not much of a drinker since his pa had a problem with the stuff—a few beers and the man went from the nicest fella ever to a cannon loaded with shot. It was quite a thing, and something I’d only witnessed once before he’d gone on the wagon.
Truth be told, I sold off the jewelry Lilly had helped me pinch from that safe. Even after paying off a few outstanding debts with the money from the safe and the sale of the jewelry, I have a pretty chunk left.
“So what’s the plan with this dame?” Benny asks if somehow reading my mind. “You planning to wine and dine her before taking her back to that dump you call an apartment in the hopes of getting in a little petting?”
Draining half my glass, I shake my head. “Nothing like that. You don’t understand. This dame is different.”
“Different than every other spoiled rich deb in the city?”
I nod firmly. I’ve met my share of vamps, wanna-be starlets, and even spoiled debutantes, but none of them could hold a candle to Lilly. There’s a wildness to her, but a sadness too. I’d read every scrap of paper about Judge Duke and his lovely daughter. She’d made a handful of society pages for this or that, mostly scandalous stuff like showing up drunk to her father’s meeting with the Women’s Temperance League or dancing in a fountain in Central Park. But there were other things, too, mentions of grand balls and society events she’d graced with her presence. I’d read every word, staring at each grainy photograph until I could hold it in my mind. Tried to complete the puzzle of Lilly Rose.
Sinner, saint, flapper, or debutante. Maybe all of them, or maybe none.
That’s what I’m here to find out.
Finally, a little after midnight, the crowd starts rolling in. Lilly walks in, head high, accompanied by her father and his very young second wife. I’d read all about his shocking nuptials in the papers while digging for information on Lilly.
I watch as the judge is led into a private back room, leaving the two ladies at a table alone, a bottle of champagne on ice their only companion. Lilly is exactly as I remember. Long legs and auburn hair curled into a short wave at her bare shoulders. She’s striking enough, but add the glow of the candles and the flicker of the electric lights, and she’s stunning. Otherworldly.
She draws a cigarette case from her black beaded purse, removing one and lighting it from the candle in the center of her table. It’s hard not to envy it, laying so carelessly across her lips.
Even as the thought strikes me, I shake it away. I’m no poet—not a fella who is good with words. Maybe that’s what she’s used to, well-spoken college boys. Maybe I can be one, if that’s what she wants. I know I’d try. For those lips, I’d try anything.
Tugging the hem of my vest, I jerk my head in her direction. “That’s her,” I tell Benny.
He glances at her. “She’s easy on the eyes,” he offers with a nod. “Clearly refined. And obviously way out of your league.” He slaps me on the shoulder good-naturedly and hands me the rest of his drink, which I swallow quickly.
“I’m gonna ask her to dance,” I decide. “You stay close, and if the other gal puts up a fuss, you’ll step in for me, right?”
Benny nods, offering a laid-back smile. “Go get her.”
Thirteen steps to her table. I count each like a ticking clock or a pulse of blood, the music loud enough to drown out the sound of my shoes against the tile floor as I approach. The scent of her hits me first, lavender and gin. It’s the scent I’d missed before, I realize. Bitter and sweet at the same time. Leaning back in her chair, she drapes one arm over the back, the thin strap of her dress cutting across the flesh beneath. Before I can take the final step and announce my presence, another fella steps between us, bowing from the waist.
“It’s a shame for such a choice bit of calico to be sitting here all alone,” he says, holding out one hand. “Whatya say we cut a rug?”
I turn to the left, mid-step, and make my way behind her. But not before hearing her put the blowhard in his place.
“Well, I’m not alone. In fact, there are two of us sitting at this table. Perhaps you can’t count that high?”
I can’t help but smirk. Though I can’t see his face, I’m sure its priceless. I’d almost feel bad for the guy—if he hadn’t been making a move on my girl.
Opting for a different approach, I head for the dance floor, joining in a crowd wildly flailing to the thick bass and low saxophone. The melody is intoxicating, a war cry of reckless abandon, and we let it carry us across the floor. I make a point not to look her way until the song is over, while the next wave of music is winding up. Her eyes catch mine, recognition flickering. Stubbing out her cigarette, she draws the bottom of her lip between her teeth in unspoken invitation.
When I make my way toward her again, I hold her emerald eyes the entire distance, not allowing her to glance away. I finally stop at her table, dropping to one knee beside her.
“Miss Lilly Rose, how nice to see you this evening,” I offer before turning my attention to her companion. “And who is your lovely friend?”
She waves a hand. “This is Vera Duke, my stepmother.” Vera, a petite brunette with thin lips and a beauty mark below her right eye, flushes at the introduction. “Vera, this is my friend, Dickey Lewis.”
She holds out her hand, and I rise to graze a chaste kiss across her knuckles. “Lovely to meet you, Vera.”
“So how do you know Lilly?” she asks pointedly as I release her hand and drop back to my knee.
I rock back, as if struggling to remember. “Oh, we met at one of her father’s parties, as I recall.”
“So we did,” Lilly says. “You see, Dickey here is quite a thief. He walked into my party and absolutely stole my heart.”
Just as my anxiety at her confession rises, she both soothes it and makes it worse in the same breath.
“If only that were true,” I offer with a wink, determined to keep my composure. “But alas, I should be on my way. Don’t want to impose on your evening.”
I move to stand, and as I’d hoped she would, Lilly stops me.
“Dickey Lewis, I forbid you to leave this table before you ask me to dance,” she demands, rising to her feet.
I hold out a hand, “I would never.”
As soon as she slips her hand in mine, I’m done for. The rest of the room and everyone in in melt away. Only the soft pulse of the music is left, vibrating through my bones as I lead her to the floor. Pulling her into my arms, I wrap one around her back. We sway, and she leans into me, close enough I can feel her on my skin.
“I wasn’t sure I’d see you again,” she whispers into my ear, making me shudder.
; “What kind of fella do you take me for?” I joke. “Besides, I have a gift for you.”
She laughs, and it’s warm like summer rain. “Is it something you stole from some other girl’s wall safe? Because I must admit, I’m not fond of the idea of you stealing from other girls.”
“Give me some credit, doll,” I say, earning another smile. “I may be a thief, but I’m a stand-up fella. You’re the only gal I wanna steal from.”
I spin her away, then pull her back. “Curious?”
She nods. “Maybe a little.”
“Good. But I can’t give it to you here. Think you can ditch Vera and sneak out for a few minutes?”
She gazes over her shoulder to the table. Her seat has been taken by some dandy striking up a conversation with the young woman. “Oh, I doubt she’ll even miss me.”
“Not bosom friends?”
“You could say that,” she answers, a rebellious twinkle in her eye. “The question is—should I leave the safety of this club and run off into the night with a fella I know is a thief? What would Daddy say?”
I take a deep breath, lowering my chin to hold her eye when I answer. “You don’t strike me as a gal who cares what Daddy or anyone else thinks. If I’m right, then take a chance on me. If I’m wrong, I’ll happily return you to your table and your dreadfully boring evening.”
With a flourish, I twirl her once more, then lead her through the crowd toward the bar where Benny waits.
“Benny, this is the lovely Lilly Rose Duke,” I say.
He nods. “Nice to finally meet you.”
“Benny has been my friend my whole life. No one knows me better,” I explain. “Benny is the most trustworthy fella I know. He’d never let you outta his sight with me if he thought I’d be anything but a gentleman. Isn’t that so, Benny?”
He nods once, and I turn back to Lilly, who seems heartily amused by the concept. “So, sweet Lilly, believe me when I tell you that I swear to bring you back, safe and sound, to this very spot before dawn.”
She parts her lips with her tongue. “If you’re trying to convince me to go, you’re wasting your breath. I decided to walk out this door with you the moment I saw you.”
My chest swells with pride. Lilly is either the bravest dame I’ve ever met, or she has absolutely no sense of self-preservation. I’m betting on the former.
“Then, let’s ankle. The night’s a-wastin’.” I turn back to Benny. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Will you be alright till then?”
He smirks. “I can take care of myself. You just watch your back. And hers.”
With that, the two of us burst out the door and onto the sidewalk. Taking her hand in mine, I lead her toward the park and the spot I’ve prepared just for us.
Central Park is nearly empty, the full glow of the moon streaming through the branches of the trees. It creates pockets of light on the dark grass below our feet. Lilly kicks off her shoes and hands them to me as she leaps gracefully from spot to spot as I follow. It’s not long before the sounds of the bustling street and the thumping clubs are long gone, the soft hum of crickets the only sound. She sees the surprise I have for her before we even reach the massive oak. I’d crawled up in it just today and tied the ropes to its strong branch, creating a swing. I’d also tucked a basket into the canopy of leaves, far from prying eyes. Grabbing the trunk and the lowest branch, I climb up to retrieve it while she takes a seat on the wooden plank of the swing, pushing off gently.
“I take it you knew I’d be there tonight?” She tilts her head back, watching as I descend. “Or do you keep this here for whatever girl you happen to pick up?”
Landing with a soft thud, I put a hand over my chest. “I heard you’d be there tonight. I’ll admit I wanted to see you again.”
When she smiles, it leeches the air from my lungs. “I’m glad. I wanted to see you again as well.”
Setting the basket in the grass, I open it to retrieve a small white blanket, which I spread out beside the swing before moving behind her and pushing her back gently to get her moving.
“Was your father terribly angry about the safe?” I ask, trying to think how to make small talk that doesn’t begin with you smell nice.
“You could say that,” she answers with a sour laugh. “He was more upset about the ledger than the money. Serves him right, if you ask me. If you’re going to play in the mud, you shouldn’t get too upset when people find out you’re dirty.”
Now it’s my turn to chuckle. “I didn’t know there were any clean people left in this city, at least until I met you.”
Putting her toes down, she stops the swing, spinning around to look at me. “Oh, sweetie, I’m far from pristine. Truthfully, if you hadn’t robbed that safe, I was about to. That’s why I was there.”
Rocking back on my heels, I stare at her, blinking back my disbelief. “Why would you need to steal from your own father?”
Leaning her face against one rope, she looks down, the corners of her mouth falling as she speaks. “The money and the jewelry… it wasn’t there just to be kept safe. It was meant to be my dowry.”
I whistle, taken aback by her revelation. “You’re engaged?”
She shrugs, finally looking back up at me. “Engaged to be engaged, I suppose. Not that any of it was up to me, of course. Daddy’s been in Dutch Schultz’s pocket for a few years now, and I suppose Dutch figured what better way to keep him loyal than to make him family. He has a son my age, you see.”
“And you don’t want to marry him?”
She stands, casting off the swing and pacing toward the blanket. “Why should I? I don’t even know the fella, much less love him. And besides, I should get a say, don’t you think? It’s not the dark ages anymore. Women have rights now. We can even vote. So why don’t I get a say in this?”
Her voice is high, her tone sour. I don’t blame her for the rage. I can feel a similar fire growing inside me. “You should be with whoever you want,” I say quickly, as if I could defend her with my words. “Did it work? The robbery? Is your engagement off? It was a smart move, by the way. I’m glad I could help.”
She drops to her knees on the blanket. “I doubt it’s over. Just… postponed until Daddy can gather more cash. Which might take a while since, thanks to you turning that ledger over to whomever, he’s paying a fortune in blackmail money now. I’m sure it won’t last long. Dutch will figure out who has the ledger and get it back soon enough, then things will go back to the way they’ve always been.”
“Well, what if there were another option?” I ask boldly. Maybe I’m about to regret my words, but every inch of my being is demanding I protect this woman.
That I claim her for my own.
“What on earth do you have in mind?” she asks, leaning forward as I take a seat across from her.
“What if you ran away with me? I’d marry you tonight,” I admit in a rush, only to realize what I’ve just said as the flush hits my face. “I mean, if you wanted to. I know I’m no prize catch, but at least you wouldn’t be marrying a stranger.”
She looks away again, her long lashes brushing her cheek before her gaze swings back to mine. “That’s a sweet offer, but Daddy would never allow it. The only reason he even permitted the deal with Dutch was because of the family money. They may be gangsters, but they are very profitable ones, and he wants to keep that cash cow milking. Not to mention that Dutch Schultz himself might hunt you down dead. He’s not a man who takes kindly to being told he can’t have something he wants. Besides…” She hesitates. “I don’t really know you either, do I? You could be a crazy person.”
“Yet, you came out here with me,” I point out, rolling her words around in my head. “I think deep down, some part of you feels the same as me.”
She sticks her chin up, defying me. “Oh? And how do you imagine I feel?”
I lean in close to her, close enough to reach out and cup her cheek in the palm of my hand. “I think you feel like we’re the same, that somehow, we were meant to meet each other.
That maybe, just maybe, there’s something bigger than coincidence happening between us.”
“You assume a lot,” she whispers, leaning forward until our lips are nearly touching. “I’m not saying you’re wrong—”
She doesn’t get the chance to say anything else. In that moment, I claim her mouth. My free hand slithers around her waist and draws her onto my lap. Heart racing at the taste of her, I relish the warmth of her pressed against me. My entire body tightens, muscles contracting as I hold her firmly, but as gently as if she were made of glass rather than flesh and bone.
This girl, this mysterious, bold, clever girl, is literally taking my breath away. It’s something I’ve never felt before, this rush of ferocity. I’ve never wanted anything more, never even knew a body could want someone this badly. When she finally pulls away, her lips are swollen and pink from my kiss. A victorious beast roars in my chest at the sight.
“Let me see you again,” I beg. “I’ll come to your house. I’ll crawl through the bushes and wait outside your window. Just don’t go until you promise I can hold you like this again.”
She kisses me, and I feel myself melting beneath her fingers as if she’s the flame and I’m made of wax. “Of course,” she mutters against my lips. “Come to my house tomorrow. I’m the third window on the south side, second floor.”
Even as we continue to kiss, part of my mind is already planning beyond our next meeting—our next hundred meetings. There’s only one way I can keep her… one way I can save her.
I’ll never be the kind of fella her father will allow her to marry, so I’ll have to be a fella who can run away with her. We can start over someplace where no one will ever find us.
And for that, I’m gonna need cash.
After returning Lilly—as promised—to the club and retrieving Benny, I walk with him to his house. The night air is cool. By the time we arrive, the first glints of morning are shooting tendrils of gold through the sky.
“I think it’s a bad plan,” Benny repeats for probably the hundredth time. “These aren’t the sorta people you mess with.”
Glitter and Gold (The Canary Club Novels Book 1) Page 12
