Playing With Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

watched Piano Man as he took a quick drag from a cigarette he had palmed off Odetta and followed it with two shots of Black Label. Gliding over to the stage, Romeo tapped the old man lightly on the shoulder.
    â€œDon’t start,” Piano Man said emphatically. “I ain’t in no mood to hear it.”
    â€œTough,” Romeo responded, taking the nonfiltered tobacco stick from the man’s hand and crushing it out in the ashtray Piano Man had laid on top of the piano.
    Piano Man cussed. “Boy, you a pain in my ass. Man can’t do a damn thing with you around.”
    â€œThat’s right. Do what you want as long as you don’t do it around me. Now you know if you work for me you don’t drink on the job. Drink on your time, not mine. You losing your mind?”
    â€œI don’t need no caretaker, boy,” Piano Man grunted, rising from his seat. “I’m a free agent.”
    â€œYou don’t have a caretaker. I’m only protecting my investment. I paid in advance, remember?”
    Piano Man grunted again as he lifted his body from the bench and stepped down off the stage.
    â€œWhere are you going, now?” Romeo asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
    â€œGoing to kiss them pretty girls over there. That one in the red sweater came up to pinch my cheek before and I promised her I’d let her buy me a drink. Is that okay with you ?” he asked sarcastically.
    â€œNo, it’s not okay, but I don’t have the time to sit here and mother you right now. You just keep yourself out of trouble and make sure there’s nothing in that drink stronger than ginger ale.”
    Piano Man muttered under his breath. “You need to go kiss that girl you been staring at all night and not be minding my business.”
    Romeo bristled. “What girl? What are you talking about?”
    Piano man laughed. He shifted his gaze toward a side table and the woman who sat alone, her eyes dancing around the space. “You know what woman,” he said as he gave him a half salute, then turned on his heels.
    Romeo blew a soft sigh as he watched him ease his way over to sit with three overdressed senior citizens who sat blowing kisses in the old man’s direction. The three women immediately made a space for him, each clamoring for his attention. Romeo laughed, shaking his head from side to side, then turned his attention back to his duties.
    â€œHe’s right, you know,” Malcolm said, moving to his side.
    â€œAbout what?” Romeo asked, eyeing his friend curiously.
    â€œThat girl.”
    Romeo laughed. “Did I miss something?”
    His friend laughed with him. “You might have, but we didn’t,” Malcolm said. “And you know nothing gets past Odetta’s eagle eyes!”
    â€œThat’s right!” the woman exclaimed as she suddenly joined them. “I saw how you were staring at that woman.”
    Romeo shook his head. “I don’t know what y’all are talking about. I stare at all the women!”
    Odetta chuckled, her head waving from side to side. “Well, her name’s Taryn. Taryn Williams. She and your girl Roberta work at the same company.”
    Romeo tossed a quick look toward the table. A man had joined the beautiful woman and she was laughing warmly. The tall stranger was built like an NFL linebacker, wearing a wool suit made for a steeplechase jockey. Tight and small, it was busting at the seams. Romeo watched as she politely refused the man’s advances, sending him on his way. Romeo knew it wouldn’t be long before another single male took his place, eager for her attention. She was a woman alone, and the raging testosterone in the room considered her desperate or easy. But they were quickly discovering she was anything but as she’d had them dropping like flies since she arrived.
    His friends were right. He had been staring for most of the evening, the intensity of his attraction catching him off