Her expression was so pouty that it made Vivian shake her head and smile in spite of herself. “Mags, Danny, you two should know each other better. Danny’s a peach, and Mags is a hell of a doll. You should ask her for a dance when you’re on a break.”
“I might do that,” Danny said. “For now, sadly, I’m on the clock.” He winked as he slid a glass across the counter and into the girl’s carefully manicured hands.
Mags sipped her drink and sighed. “Golly, that’s good.”
“I’ll have one of the same, please.”
Vivian jumped as someone slid into the seat next to her, and she found herself staring at a familiar face.
“Vivian, right?” the other woman asked.
“Sadie,” Vivian said, surprised. “You made it back after all.”
“Do I look that different all dolled up?” Sadie asked, handing over acrumpled bill as Danny slid a drink across the bar to her. “You almost didn’t recognize me.”
“You look pretty,” Vivian said honestly. It was true. Besides being dressed for a night out, Sadie looked more relaxed, some of her brittle grief smoothed away by the heat and noise.
Sadie laughed a little. “Thanks. I decided you were right. Dancing’s good for the soul, so I could probably use more of it.” She smiled over the rim of her glass at Danny. “And a little glass of something doesn’t hurt.”
“Looks like the pickings are slim for dancing tonight,” Mags interjected, sighing. “It’s early yet, though, so maybe there’s still hope?”
Danny laughed. “I’m sure a looker like you will have the gents falling all over themselves.”
“If only they danced as well as I like.” Mags rolled her eyes at Vivian. “Ever since I tossed Roy over, it’s hard to find a fella who can keep up. Oh, but there’s Laurie!” She put her glass down and hopped up, already waving as she scampered off.
Danny shot Vivian a quick glance at the mention of Roy’s name, and her hands tightened on the stem of her glass. Her mind wanted to go back to those moments facing him down, but she turned instead to the best distraction at hand.Dancing’s good for the soul,she had told Sadie. Maybe, if she followed her own advice, she could pretend the world of the Nightingale was nothing more than a fun escape for a little while longer.
She swallowed the last of her drink in one gulp and, as the band launched into a new song, turned to Sadie. “Want to dance?” she asked, holding out her hand.
Sadie’s eyes widened. “Do you lead?”
“Sure do,” Vivian said, her heart pounding recklessly. “What do you say? No reason to waste a perfectly good dance just because all the menfolk have two left feet.”
Sadie hesitated a moment longer, then laughed. “Why not?” she said, taking Vivian’s hand. The warmth of her palm made Vivian realize just how cold her own fingers were. “Show me what you can do.”
Vivian could feel Danny’s eyes on them, but she kept her gaze on Sadie as she smiled. “Let’s find out,” she said, hopping off the bar stool and leading them toward the dance floor.
There was a lot of night still ahead, and she didn’t want to waste it being scared. After that, she could decide which world she wanted to belong to.
TWENTY-SEVEN
After last call, when the patrons had stumbled into the early-morning dark and the staff were sweeping up under the glare of the electric lights, Danny put Vivian and Bea in a cab together.
Vivian had been waiting at a corner table, her dancing shoes kicked off and her feet tucked under her, until Bea was off work. Bea had spent the rest of her shift watching Vivian nervously, looking more concerned every time Vivian said that she was fine. Vivian tried to point out that they could walk home as usual, but Danny was insistent.
“Humor me,” he said, dry but firm, over Vivian’s protests as he handed the driver a folded wad of bills. “It’s safer tonight.”
“He’s right, Viv,” Bea pointed out as she untied the ribbons on her shoes and leaned back with a tired sigh. “And anyway, I bet that’s Honor’s money paying for our ride.”
Vivian scowled. She had planned to tell Bea what had happened herself and was frustrated that either Danny or Honor had beaten her to it. But they were right. And she wasn’t stubborn enough to walk through the dark streets of Manhattan when Roy and his friends might be lurking out there, waiting to have another chat with her.
“There’s a girl,” Danny said when she finally nodded. “See you two later.”
They were quiet for the first half of the drive. Vivian leaned her forehead against the glass of the window, catching glimpses of the tops of the buildings. She thought Bea might have fallen asleep until her friend asked quietly, “Do you want to talk about it?”
Vivian glanced over. Bea’s eyes were still closed, her head tipped back against the seat. There were creases around the corners of her eyes, tight spidery lines of fatigue and concern. Bea had enough to worry about without adding to the list.
“No need,” Vivian said, her voice light as a shrug. “And anyway, I’m off the hook for good now. Things’ll be calmer.”
