The Secrets of Paradise Bay (18 page)

Clyde walked up to the bar, watching Albert put some clean glasses on a shelf behind it.

“Looks like you haven't lost your touch,” Clyde said.

Albert turned, a crinkling smile appearing on his face. “I can still run rings around the young people in this line of work if I want to.”

“I don't doubt that for a minute.” Clyde had come to the bar with exactly that in mind. He thought briefly about Albert's niece before turning his attention back to the man himself. “How about I buy you a drink?”

Albert's thick brows lifted. “How about I buy you one?”

“You're on.”

Albert filled two glasses with malt liquor and passed one to Clyde. “How are you getting along these days?”

Clyde tasted the suds. “Pretty good.”

“Nice to hear.” Albert gazed at him with narrowed eyes. “You haven't run into Willie Munroe again, have you?”

“No.”

“Knock on wood.” Albert hit the counter twice with his fist. “Maybe the man has finally gotten off the vengeance-is-mine bit and will leave you alone to live your life.”

“I'm counting on it.” But taking nothing for granted, Clyde thought wisely.

“So what's up?”

Clyde smiled. “Well, I've gone into business.”

“Oh, yeah? What kind of business?”

“My brother and I bought a supper club.”

Albert's eyes widened. “That wouldn't be the Violet Supper Club, would it?”

Clyde nodded with surprise. “That's the one.”

“I heard the owner was shutting down. Didn't know he'd put the place on the market.”

“He hadn't planned on it—at least not so soon. But Trey and I convinced him to do so.”

Albert smiled. “I'm happy for you, Clyde. Sounds like a great opportunity. And the club is in a nice location, so you should have no trouble picking right up where Blake Lewis left off.”

“I think you're right.” Clyde paused. “Especially if I had one of the best in the business to oversee the bartending, alcoholic beverages, and whatnot.”

“You offering me a job?” Albert asked.

“I can't think of a better person I'd want to work with—one who understands me, sometimes better than I understand myself.”

“I'm flattered, man, but I've been here a long time. It's not that easy to just uproot from a job that's given me some sense of security.”

“But you'll have more security and more money if you come to work at Clyde's Jazz Club.”

Albert laughed. “Clyde's Jazz Club, huh? It's got a nice ring to it.”

Clyde agreed. “You'll be doing me a favor if you at least seriously consider the offer. I don't have much experience running a club, and my brother will mainly be a silent partner. I could really use your help. Maybe it's time for you to say good-bye to the tavern and hello to the newest, best jazz club in town.”

Albert stared at the notion. “Maybe you're right. I'll definitely give it some strong consideration.”

“I have another situation I could use your help with.” Clyde hoped this could lead to someone more reliable to fill the post than advertising for it.

“What's that?”

“I'm looking for a good jazz singer to work the club full-time. Male or female, doesn't matter, so long as the person has the pipes and experience to satisfy the audience and keep them coming back. Since you've been around, I thought maybe you know some people in the business who could—”

“My niece is a jazz singer,” Albert interrupted. “I think you met her once.”

“Stefani?”

“Yep, that's her. Sings like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald combined, with a little bit of Nancy Wilson thrown in for a little soul. Been at it since she was lead singer in the junior choir.”

Clyde could picture the beautiful woman he'd met briefly as a jazz vocalist. “She's living in Seattle, right?”

Albert nodded. “She's there for now, but I know Stefani is looking for that kind of work at the right place and would almost certainly want to come down and audition for the job.”

“I'd love to hear her sing,” Clyde said. It would be nice to see her again, too.

“Then I'll make it happen.” Albert put the glass to his mouth. “It could make for a perfect union.”

Clyde thought about that. He definitely wouldn't mind hooking up with someone like Stefani. But would she ever want to be with someone like him with the baggage he carried? For now, he'd just settle for seeing if she could really carry a tune and if she was willing to work full-time in Paradise Bay.

“That union would be even better if I got your niece
and
you as part of the bargain in coming to work for me,” Clyde said, hoping to twist his arm.

Albert chuckled. “Well, let's take one step at a time and see how it works out. I'll get on the phone with Stefani and I'm sure you'll be hearing from her.”

“I'll look forward to it.”

Clyde drank the malt liquor and contemplated the recent events in his life that had practically changed it overnight. He didn't want to screw things up for anyone, least of all himself. The responsibility he'd been given was like a godsend. It was up to him to make this opportunity count as if it was his last, which Clyde believed could very well be the case.

Stefani McNeal stood in front of the class of eighth-graders going through the motions as a substitute teacher. She knew that most children viewed subs like they were invisible, leaving them to do as they pleased. She would have none of that. Even if this was only a part-time gig for her to make use of a degree in elementary education, Stefani took it seriously.

“Okay, settle down,” she said. “Let's go over our assignment for today.”

Two students were goofing off, ignoring her to see how far they could get. When she approached, they stopped and glared up at Stefani like she was interrupting something that was none of her concern.

“Is there a problem?” she asked the bushy-haired male named Adam.

“You tell me,” he muttered.

Stefani eyed him sharply. “Okay, I will. I think you expected another pushover sub. Well, you're dead wrong about that. I'm an army brat, which means my dad made a career fighting wars for this country. He taught me how to fight my own battles, if I need to. Now, do you really want to test me, or can we try and get through today's class without any trouble?”

He sat, mute, lowering his head. Same thing for the boy he was misbehaving with.

“That's better,” Stefani said. She walked back to the front of the room with a faint smile on her face. The truth was, though her father was tough as nails, he was a softie when it came to her, up until the day he died three years ago. Her mother had since remarried, and Stefani considered herself fortunate that she had a stepfather who she actually liked.

Too bad she couldn't say the same for her last boyfriend. She had kicked him to the curb two months ago after learning he was seeing two other women at the same time, and had the audacity to actually want them to live together as one big, happy family.

Thanks, but no thanks, she'd thought, and moved on. There had been no one since, but Stefani remained optimistic there was someone special in her future.

After class, Stefani drove to her apartment. She passed by the Space Needle and marveled at other attractions in Seattle, where she had lived for only two years after relocating from the Midwest. She passed the Green Room, where she had performed a few times as a solo jazz artist.

Stefani's first love had always been music. Her mother had been a jazz musician, performing with some of the greatest classical jazz singers. Stefani had inherited her talent, influenced as well by the likes of Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, and others who had left their mark on the genre.

While her long-term goal was to record music, Stefani was happy just performing when and where she could right now, and teaching to pay the bills.

She pulled into the parking lot, squeezing her Subaru into the thin parking space assigned to her unit. After checking her mail, she waved to some neighbors in the complex of mostly young professionals, before heading up to her third-story unit.

 

 

Stefani had barely tossed her handbag on the leather sectional and kicked off her sandals when her cell phone rang.

It was her Uncle Albert calling. Stefani had become closer to her father's brother since moving to the Pacific Northwest. She had even been to Paradise Bay to visit him a few times, along with friends she had met who were into the jazz scene.

“Hi, Uncle Albert,” she said cheerfully.

“How are thing's going up there, Stefani?” he asked.

“Good. Just trying to keep those kids in line, perform, and enjoy the sunshine.”

“So how would you like to do those same things here in Paradise Bay?”

Stefani smiled. He had been trying to get her to move there since she broke up with her boyfriend, suggesting that the landscape was perfect for a talented twenty-something to find employment opportunities and a love life. She hadn't been convinced on either score, though finding it pleasant enough there.

“Maybe someday,” she told him politely. “Right now, I think I'm better off in Seattle.”

“Well, maybe I can sweeten the pot,” Albert said. “A friend of mine is opening a jazz club here. He's looking for a full-time jazz singer. I told him about you and that you might be interested.”

Stefani switched the phone to her other ear, piqued. Admittedly, she had longed for the opportunity to get a more permanent gig as a performer. But with the stiff competition in Seattle, and fewer spots available for newer artists to perform, this had become more of a dream than reality. Maybe if she were in a smaller, slightly out of the way, yet still exciting city such as Paradise Bay, it could give her a venue to prove herself for future possibilities.

“Tell me more.”

“The place is called Clyde's Jazz Club. It's in a great part of town and figures to attract a lot of attention for an up and coming jazz artist like yourself.”

Flattery just may get you everywhere, Uncle
.

Stefani thought about the club's name. “That wouldn't happen to be the same Clyde I met at the tavern a few weeks ago?”

“That's the one. I'm surprised you remember him.”

How could she forget? The man was superfine, fit, and had a certain amount of coolness about him. But that didn't mean she wanted him as her employer.

“So he's looking for a singer, huh?”

“Yeah, and I'm sure that you're the right person for the job. All you have to do is show up and prove me right.”

Stefani wasn't sure she was truly ready to relocate to Paradise Bay. But it did seem like a golden opportunity, so long as Clyde didn't expect her to come dirt cheap. Not to say that she couldn't find substitute teaching jobs in Paradise Bay to supplement her singing income. Still, to move had to be worth her while.

“When can you set me up for an audition?”

“You can set it up yourself. I have his number right here.”

Stefani punched it into her cell phone.

“I'll give him a ring,” she promised.

“I know you will.” Albert cleared his throat. “By the way, Clyde offered me a job, too. I think I'm gonna take it. So maybe we can both take a step forward and see where it all leads.”

Stefani was surprised someone had been able to coax her uncle into giving up his longtime job at the tavern. Clyde obviously had made him an offer he couldn't refuse. She wondered what other tricks the man had up his sleeve.

 

 

Clyde was still trying to find his way with the club he'd inherited and the responsibilities it entailed. He had kept most of the staff, who wanted to be in on the new club with its exciting possibilities. Trey had stayed mostly in the background as promised, but Clyde had called on his businessman brother for advice and stability in keeping things running smoothly, and Trey had responded with anything Clyde needed to get off to a running start.

With the pieces beginning to fall into place, Clyde got more good news when Albert took the job offer and his niece phoned. Clyde had tried to be all businesslike in talking with her, but found himself enjoying the conversation as if they were setting up a date rather than audition.

“Heard you were looking for a jazz singer?” Stefani said.

“Heard you were a jazz singer,” Clyde countered amusingly.

Stefani chuckled. “Cute. I think I can bring it home.”

“Only one way to find out.”

“I'm up for the challenge. Just tell me when and where.”

“How about this weekend, say Saturday?” Clyde asked. The club was still open for business and it would be a good opportunity to see how she performed before an audience.

She paused. “Sure. I think I can take the train down.”

Clyde grinned. “Didn't know people still took the train these days.”

Stefani laughed. “Where have you been? With the gas prices these days, it's the only way to travel from state to state and enjoy the view at the same time.”

It hit home right then for Clyde that his time behind bars had robbed him of life's simple pleasures, making him want to make up for lost time in every way. He imagined he would enjoy a train ride with someone as attractive and intriguing as Stefani. Maybe someday.

“Guess I'll have to take your word for that,” he said.

“Well, I'm always as good as my word,” she joked. “So I'll see you on Saturday.”

“I look forward to it.”

 

 

Clyde had meant every word of that, and now, three days later, he got to see the lady again in person as he stood toe to toe with Stefani at the club.

“Nice to see you again,” she said, poised and looking great in a striped boat neck top, tight pants, and leather boots.

“You too,” Clyde said, and shook her extended hand, finding it warm and inviting. He introduced her to Raymond and the club's piano man, Winston Everly.

“Hi.” She smiled at them.

Raymond gave her a hug, as though old friends. “Clyde says you're from Seattle.”

Stefani nodded. “Have you been there?”

“Yeah, a time or two. Great city.”

“I'd say you're just what this places needs,” Winston said, touching his glasses.

Stefani grinned at the forty-something, thin pianist. “Maybe you'd better wait 'til you hear me.”

“So why wait?” Clyde drew her attention back to him, feeling a little left out, while admittedly eager to hear her sing. “Let's see what you can do.”

“I'm ready,” Stefani boldly declared.

“You pick the number and I can play it,” Winston said confidently.

Within moments, Stefani was standing on a small platform beside him, and began singing the Gershwin tune “They Can't Take That Away From Me.”

Clyde and Raymond took a seat up front and listened as Stefani began to belt out the song as though written specifically for her.

“Man, she's got it going on,” Raymond stated admiringly.

“Yeah, she does.” Clyde felt a chill listening to her voice. More importantly, he could see that all eyes in the club were glued on her, equally riveted by Stefani the lady. She was definitely the real deal, and he had better not let her get away. He didn't intend to.

 

 

“You're hired.”

“Just like that?” Stefani gazed across the table at Clyde. He had invited her to dinner at the club to discuss her employment future.

Clyde grinned. “Yeah, I can't think of any better way to say it.”

She flashed pearly white teeth. “Neither can I.” Before she got too carried away at the notion of being the featured singer at a jazz club, Stefani came back down to earth for a few practical matters. “What type of pay are we talking about?”

Clyde stared at the question. “Honestly, I don't have any experience in this type of thing. Why don't you tell me what sounds fair to you and we'll go from there?”

She laughed. “Okay, let me think about it.” Stefani threw a number at him, believing it probably wouldn't fly. But since she would be giving up her teaching gig and singing in Seattle to relocate, it didn't sound unreasonable to her.

“Sounds fine to me,” Clyde said without prelude.

“Really?”

“Yes. If it's not enough?”

“It is,” Stefani said. She didn't want to get greedy.

“Then are we in business?” he asked in a serious tone.

Stefani beamed. “Yes, I'd say you have yourself a singer.”

“Great! So when can you start?”

Stefani considered the question. “Well, I'll need time to get things together since this is something I obviously hadn't planned on.”

Clyde gave an understanding nod. “If you need any help with moving or anything, let me know.”

She lifted a brow whimsically. “Are you always this generous and accommodating?”

“Not always. Guess I'm just eager to get my new jazz singer set up in town so she can woo my customers with some great tunes the way she wooed me.”

Stefani blushed. She found herself looking forward to it as well, viewing this as a great opportunity. Being employed by such a handsome, sweet man didn't hurt things either. But what made him tick beyond the very likable facade? Maybe she'd find out sometime.

“So how long have you known my uncle?”

Clyde sliced into a honey-glazed pork chop. “We go back a few years.”

“I see.” She scooped up some diced carrots. “He thinks highly of you.”

“Works both ways,” Clyde stated. “Albert's a good man.”

“I agree, though I've only really gotten to spend time with my uncle recently.” Stefani noticed there was no ring on Clyde's finger. Not married. Good to know. But did he have a girlfriend?

Am I really ready to jump back into a relationship with the first good-looking man to intrigue me since breaking up with my boyfriend
? Was Clyde even boyfriend material?

Clyde thought back to the first time he saw Stefani. She was even more gorgeous now, if that was possible. Did one of those friends she had in town include a boyfriend? Or was he waiting for her in Seattle? Any man in his right man would never let her get away, even as a career move.
I know I wouldn't if she were my girlfriend.

He looked across the table at her, finding himself intrigued beyond her gifted voice. “Tell me a little something about yourself, Stefani, other than singing.”

“Well, I'm twenty-five, a substitute teacher, love to jog, and read women's fiction.”

Sounds like the perfect combination. “Single?”
Hope the question doesn't make her uncomfortable
.