The Long Wait Read Online Free PDF

Italian dialect from Louie himself and introduced me with a half-hearted wave. I think I said hello. It was hard to talk and watch the blonde wrapped around the microphone at the same time. She was a real bottle-yellow blonde in a green dress that went on like a bathrobe and was held together by only one button in the middle. No matter which way she stepped you’d see almost all the inside of a lovely tanned leg that was a tantalizing flash in the amber spotlight. She started off the song with little steps that got larger and more critical and had everybody forgetting their chow waiting for the inevitable.
    The song was about three bars too short and the inevitable stayed hidden. Instead of giving the patrons a breather she started a new routine with the top of the dress and for a minute I thought she would come out of it altogether. That song ended too fast too. She got one hell of a round of applause and disappeared behind the curtains beside the band.
    Louie said, “You like?”
    I said, “I love.”
    He gave me a big smile and patted his belly contentedly. “Wendy she was good tonight. Very good. Sometimes soon she make the big time.”
    I grunted, “She had it made a long time ago.”
    â€œSo true. But she likes it here and won’t leave. I pay tops. Very nice girl. Now, Nick, you and your young friend like to eat?”
    Pop said, “Sure, I need something. Get us a couple steaks, but bring a drink first. We’ll be over at the corner table.”
    By the corner table he meant the one that was wedged so far in the comer behind a palm and some draperies that it was empty because nobody knew it was there. The drinks reached the table the same time we did and went down in time for the waiter to bring back the empties for a refill.
    â€œThis a regular banquet of yours, Pop?”
    â€œGuy gets tired of boarding-house cooking sometimes.”
    â€œNice job you got. Maybe you own the bus line.”
    â€œHell, Johnny, it ain’t expensive here for me. Friend of mine supplies Louie at a cut rate, so Louie makes up the favor on the bill. The steaks are something special.”
    He wasn’t kidding there. They were very special. I didn’t know how hungry I was until I worked mine over until there was a big shiny T in the middle of the plate. I pulled out a smoke and sat back to enjoy it when the blonde came in around the palm and I sat there with the match burning down to my fingers.
    She didn’t have on the green dress, but the one she wore was just as good. When I studied her a little closer I decided that it wasn’t the dress at all but what was underneath it. She said, “Hello, Nick,” in a rich, husky voice and wrinkled her nose at me.
    â€œHi, Wendy, meet Johnny.”
    I like women who stick out their hand and shake like a man. It gives you a chance to feel what they’re made of. This one was okay. “Hello, Wendy. I liked your number.”
    She laughed deep down in her throat. “Not disappointed?”
    â€œWell, a little bit. I had hopes there for a while. Someday the threads holding on that button will wear out.”
    â€œI’d get awfully cold,” she said.
    I grinned at her. “Uh-uh. I’d keep you warm.”
    â€œYou’d have to beat off the mob with a club,” Pop grunted. “Sit down, Wendy. You through for the night?”
    â€œAll done and ready to go home. You going to drive me back?”
    â€œSure. Take you as far as the station and Johnny can go the rest.”
    That was nice of him.
    Wendy said, “Swell. Or will I have to fight you off?”
    â€œDon’t be so damn anxious,” I told her. “When I have to fight a dame for what I want I’ll hang up.”
    She propped her chin in her hand and smiled all over her face. It was a beautiful face with eyes that were all sex and a mouth to match. She even looked good with the bleach job and that’s not easy. “I