Paying Her Dues

If this is trouble, bring it the fuck on.

“It’s no trouble at all, Janet,” I answer, without taking my eyes off of Jess. “I’ll take good care of her. You have my word.”

I turn to head back into the concert hall, and Jess trails after me.

I fight the urge to grab her hand and pull her next to me when she says, “A little birdie tells me you’re now the top donor here.”

I give her a lift of my chin. “Yeah. And?”

She smiles a little, flashing a cute little dimple. “And I guess maybe that means that you can make sure I get first chair.”

You little vixen. “You think you’ve paid your dues enough to make that happen?” I ask before I think, then run my fingers over my forehead on a grunt and re-group. “Have a good rehearsal, Jess,” I say, and book it back up the stairs to my office without another word.