It’s 1955, Las Vegas is swinging, and David Lonergan has the chance of a lifetime when he accompanies his cousin to be the headlining act at the Thunderbird Casino. A pianist who cut his teeth in the jazz clubs of Chicago, David is a dazzled by the lights, the music, and the “anything goes” attitude of Las Vegas. But he’s not knocked off his feet until he meets Vincent “Shorty” Accardo.<br><br>Vincent is a full-time bodyguard and sometimes hitman for the mob-controlled casino. He doesn’t indulge his interest in men very often, but there’s something different about David from the moment they meet. He’s attracted to David’s talent, his surprising innocence, and his easy smile.<br><br.There are a million reasons to stay away from the young piano player, but Vincent can’t help himself. Even when there are lives at risk.

The Bad and the Beautiful

Ducking his head, he started the song the way everybody knew it, the quirky melody taking charge. He let it play out through the first verse, made even more crystal clear by the rich tone of the Steinweg, but on the second pass, he began to riff on it, swinging it higher than it normally went, then bringing it back down to slide into the chorus. Times like this, he wished he had a decent enough voice to sing along. Kate would do it justice, but he wanted Shorty to like it for him, not for her voice. His playing would have to suffice.


David had never been interested in being the center of attention. Which was good, because when he was on the stage with Kate, he completely faded into the background. But now he realized how seductive the center stage could be. Shorty watched him with unwavering attention, his eyes half-lidded, his hands steepled in front of him. He didn’t otherwise react until the final notes hung in the air and he clapped.


Chapter 5