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comment, I wouldn’t want you to fit in her shoes, you may be a blonde, but you’re unique.”
    The real smile returned, along with the blush. “I thought every man preferred the blonde bombshell.”
    “Blonde bombshell with brains.” He shrugged, not needing to talk anymore about his preferences in women.
    “Shane?” She took his arm.
    “Yes, we can ditch everyone, walk down the street see a play at the Pantages and I’ll still have time to make an honest woman out of you.” He gave her a patented line doing his best impression of John Wayne. Hey, they were at Grauman’s.
    “I just wanted to thank you for doing this.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek.
    He stopped. Her kiss was barely even that, actually he hardly felt it. What he did feel was her hair brushing against his face, her hand using his shoulder for support, and her breath feathering down his neck. When she lowered, a light waft of her lightly floral perfume swirled around him.
    “I owe you one … more than one.” She averted her eyes.
    “I’m having a great time.” He led her away.
     
    *~*~*
     
    By the time they returned to the car to make their rounds, they had strolled the Walk of Fame while Lindsay entertained him with movie star trivia. After a visit with Nick, she also owned a picture of the two of them in a gaudy Hollywood frame made to look like a movie cell. Later he would touch up Nick’s tattoo.
    Shane led her to a table in the small, dark piano bar where Alfred worked his normal job. A warm feeling overtook him when he watched her show the picture to Carson again. His brother flipped his hair out of his face and gave her a thumbs up. Her face glowed, and she kept checking behind her to make sure he was there. Every time she searched for him, he made sure to acknowledge her in some way. He was nothing if not attentive.
    “Sit here.” He pulled a chair out for her and bent down. “Just tell Ivan anything you want. We get comped here so go for it. I’ll be right back.”
    “Why?” She tilted her head back at him.
    “Why what?” His mind wandered to how cute she looked all backwards.
    “Why is everything comped here?”
    Her attitude went from happy to serious in an instant, and he felt like he‘d been caught committing a crime. “Alfred is one of the artists at my shop and it’s part of his shop fee to me.”
    “I see. I’ll look for lobster tails and caviar then.” She righted herself and picked up the menu.
    Somehow he got the distinct feeling she disapproved, but he needed to get these bills paid. “I’ll be right back.”
    He leaned against a wall watching the servers pass until Alfred came by. “Hey.” Even though Alfred knew he would be here, the man still jumped back as if surprised, held up a finger and disappeared to the back.
    Shane pulled the bills out of his pocket and shut his eyes. Time was running out, but until he had another road to travel, this was his only choice. He needed all of his artists or he wouldn’t get his bills paid at all.
    “Okay, let’s play the game.” Alfred pointed at him. “Who’s the chick at your table?”
    He fanned out the envelopes. “No concern of yours.”
    “You guys ordered a lot of food.”
    “You owe me a ton of money.” He shook the documents at his artist.
    “Give me a break, I helped land you that press in the local rag, and I got your sister that makeup gig.”
    “Dude, we have a deal.” Begging for money every month took its toll on him.
    “I bring in so much business.”
    “You take our overflow and flash.”
    “I referred three customers to Ivan this month.” Alfred crossed his arms.
    “Ivan doesn’t own part of the tattoo shop.” A soft but serious female voice intruded.
    Shane spun to find Lindsay. All night her emotions had run the gamut from sad to happy, and now her wide eyes, hands on her hips and foot tapping told him she was most definitely mad or irritated. “Lindsay?”
    She interrupted her glare at Alfred