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okay? Think you can remember that, Jack?”
    Jack nodded and shuffled off into the crowd.
    “Don’t worry. H e’ll forget as soo n as he’s ten feet away.”
    Jessie was sick inside. What could she do? How could she face that man now, or worse, the crowded thong and all the cameras?  “This is crazy. W hy would he do this?”
    “Attention. Media hype. People in this town do it all the time.”
    “He could have asked me first, or told me after it was all a big me dia joke. Instead, he kissed me-- really kissed me, Steve, like he meant it . ”
    “Want me to talk to him?”
    “No . . . I don’t know . . .” Jessie buried her face in his tuxedo.
    “Maybe the guy’s fallen for you. I knew I would, if . . .” His sienna gaze was tinged with sadness . “This is a party, Jess, a celebration not a funeral. So let’s celebrate.”  Steve pulled her out onto the dance floor.
    As they stepped together, parted and came to gether again to the techno beat, Jessie looked up into Steve’s handsome, narrow face, framed by a stylish mustache and goatee that made it seem even more attractive. They’d been best friends since 7th grade, soul mates, sharing every secret, their deepest loves and their deepest hurts. At times, she felt like Steve was her true twin, not Jack. 
    Steve offered her a smile. She relaxed, letting him guide her about the dance floor as the mu sicians played a swing song. As he moved them about the dance floor in practiced moves he knew by heart, Jessie worked through the confusion Lex’s peculiar behav ior wrought in her .
    “What should I do?” She said when Steve pulled her close.
    “Act like it never happened. Or better yet, laugh at it, as if it were the most ridiculous thing in the world, turn it on him.” Steve replied and shoved her away. 
    Jessie gazed across their extended arms at her partner with awe. That was a good idea. A very good idea.
    When Steve pulled her back into his arms, she said, “You’re probably right. He’s been out of cir culation for a long time. Maybe he’s just playing Ruby Star, trying to get exposure, weird, huh? ”
    Steve’s brows rose with surprise. “This is L.A., Jess. ”
    When the dance ended, applause rose about them as all admired Steve’s secret passion of dancing . Patrick Swayze was his idol. He knew every line from Dirty Dancing and every song and dance move from the movie by heart.
    Jessie stayed with Steve for the rest of the evening, hoping Lex wouldn’t find her and drag her away, hoping the vultures wouldn’t descend to interrogate her regarding their supposed be trothal. Relief came when the media were shuffle d out of the party a short time later , prohibited from watching the stars priva te revels after being given a short time to mingle and interview the famous guests .
    “May I?” 
    Jessie turned to find an elite member of the rock world, none other than Big Boss, the rap singer, asking her for a dance. He was six feet seven, thin as a rail, and wore dark shades even in the dimly lit room.  She smiled at him, relieved that it wasn’t the man she was trying to avoid . As they danced, he talked to her about her latest tour. Jessie felt herself relax with the handsome black singer. After the dance, he led her to a table. They sat together, discussing the merits of touring by bus over using the airways, a friendly exchange. Out of the corner of her eye, Jessie rea lized that Lex was watching her from across the room. And, worse, he was talking to Jack; a very inebriated Jack.
    Against all logic, her stomach did a flip-flop. A warm feeling enveloped her at the mere glance Lex gave her, a dangerous, compelling, enchanted look.
    “-- Detroit , man, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve played in Motown.” her companion was saying, but Lex’s smoldering gaze captured her attention. Jessie nodded politely, offered the expected utterances at the a ppropriate times, all the while wondering what her brother was discussing so