“Uh-huh,” Brody said. “Dirty won’t take the stage before Summer without a warm-up. Who’ve you got to open? ThePushers?”
“The Penny Pushers aren’t right for this. Pushes the balance too far in the rock direction.” I listened carefully to her answer, and I liked it. If she’d wanted Ash’s band for this, I was gonna go ahead and assume she reallywasfucking him. “I’m thinking more of an electronic/pop rock vibe,” she said. “Someone who vibes with both Dirty andSummer.”
I watched Brody. Closely. I could see that she was starting to win him over.Somewhat.
“And you’ve got someone like that on theline?”
“Not yet, but I’m working on it. I’ll come up with someoneperfect.”
Brody looked skeptical as he pretty much stared her down. He also looked like a new dad; like a dude who hadn’t gotten more than a few hours’ sleep per night the last two weeks and had no time forbullshit.
“I came up with DJ Summer and the best venue in town for this party,” she reminded him, unflinching as she stared him right back down. “With five weeks’ lead time. For New Year’s Eve. I can come up with an openingband.”
Brody took that in. Then he leaned forward on his elbows on the desk, seeming to relent. I knew he’d fucking love to have this event off his plate. But we both knew we couldn’t just hand a Dirty show over to anyone. “What do you need from me?” he askedher.
“I need your agreement that Dirty’s in,” she said. “I need promo images of the band. Any requests you have on behalf of the band. A look at some previous contracts you’ve had with local venues would be nice, if you’ll let me see them. I’ll need to know what you need for sound check and security. And I’ll get a contract drafted, for you toreview.”
Brody’s gaze shifted to me. “That work foryou?”
Roni didn’t even look at me. She looked fucking annoyed as shit, though, that he’d turned this over tome.
“Should be fine,” I said, “but we haven’t played the Pandora in a few years.” I met Roni’s green-eyed gaze as she finally looked over at me. “We’ll need to go over somethings.”
The Pandora was fine by me. Great staff, I knew the owners, and they had huge bands play there all the time. We’d never had a problemthere.
But she didn’t have to know allthat.
“I’ll get to work on the contract.” Roni stood and extended her hand toBrody.
Brody stood and shook her hand, still not looking totally sure aboutthis.
I stood and Roni turned on her heel, sailing straight out the door without another glance in my direction. Just a whiff of her faint sex kitten perfume, thengone.
I looked at Brody. “You think she can handle this?” heasked.
“I’ll make sure shedoes.”
I could literally see his relief. He did not want to babysit Roni or anyone else right now. His hands were more thanfull.
“Let me know what you need,” hesaid.
“Alright,Bro.”
As I left, he added, “Don’t walk into any more doors,yeah?”
When I headed out to the foyer, I found Bishop waiting to drive Roni home. We waited together while Roni said her goodbyes to Jessa and the baby. Then I walked herout.
Bishop got in his car when I waved him on, and I pulled Roni aside,alone.
“We need to discuss security,” I said. “You’ve got a big band going into a small venue. I cover Dirty, you’ll need to bring in an outside security agency to cover crowd control, work with the venue staff. I can give you a fewnames.”
“Fine,” she said. “We can schedule a calltomorrow.”
“A call won’t do. We need to meet.”And fucktomorrow.
“A phone call willdo.”
“A phone call will not do.” Because in a phone call, I couldn’t see her jade-green eyes and her perfect tits. “We’ll dodinner.”
