Free Gateway to Heaven by Beth Kery

herself, but you’re probably too stupid to know it. If this clod treats you badly, you know where to find me, Miss Megan. I know how to treat a lady like she should be treated.” Emilio kissed her once on the hand gallantly before he left.
    Megan was still grinning when she scooted into the booth. “What?” she asked when she took in Christian, who watched her with puzzled fascination, his chin resting in his palm.“He’s a character, isn’t he? Does Emilio pull this stuff with the ladies a lot, or only when the mood strikes him?” she wondered idly as she took a sip of wine.
    Christian also took a lazy drink as well, still studying her. “Never.”
    “ Never, what?”
    “ Emilio’s never acted like that with a woman.”
    “ Maybe he did with his wife, but she died years ago,” Seth mused.
    Christian gave a conciliatory shrug. Megan studied both of their serious expressions and scoffed. “Very funny. And don’t think you’re going to sidetrack me, Christian.” Her level stare was as firm as her words. “What were you two talking about before? You’re a musician?” she asked Seth pointedly. “And what have you got to do with it, Christian?”
    Seth looked amused. “I play the guitar. I told you Christian was jealous. You didn’t tell her a thing about me, did you?” The black-haired man leaned toward his friend. A rare smile begged to escape his mouth.
    Christian rolled his eyes. Before he could get off a cutting remark, Emilio’s voice boomed from the mike.
    “ Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a very special treat for you tonight. Seth Down has agreed to perform with the other members of Harvest Moon. I guess I don’t need to promote Seth too much. His work speaks for itself. Suffice it to say, that I think Seth is one of the most talented guitarists alive on the planet, and he certainly tops a good portion of the great guitarists who have passed, bless their graced souls.”
    Christian and Seth shared a brief glance, and Megan thought she heard Christian mutter under his breath, “The old man is full of surprises tonight.”
    “ Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome Seth Down.” Enthusiastic applause broke out, becoming louder when Seth stood up and unhurriedly removed his jacket.
    “ Alone?” was the only thing Seth muttered tautly to Christian before he loped up onto the stage and shook the hands of the other band members who filed out onto the stage.
    Megan saw the way Christian’s face tensed slightly at Seth’s one-word query.
    “ Christian?”
    He glanced at her, and Megan sensed his conflict. She was reminded of the way he’d looked last Saturday afternoon when he’d talked about betraying someone that he cared about. “What did Seth mean? He seemed like…he needed you…”
    Her voice trailed off uncertainly.
    For a moment, their gazes locked. Almost in the same movement, he took her hand in his, held onto her tight, and faced Emilio. Megan shouldn’t have been surprised when she realized that Emilio seemed to be pausing in his commentary as he expectantly watched Christian. Emilio turned and spoke discreetly to the lead singer of the group, who nodded and saluted Christian before he left the stage.
    “ Well, we’ve got an extra treat for you all tonight. You all are probably familiar with Chris, over there,” Emilio waved over at the booth where Christian and Megan sat. “He’s been coming to my club since before he graduated from high school, but if there’s a Chicago cop out there, I can only say that I busted him as soon as I knew the truth. Damn hellion, he was,” Emilio muttered fondly.
    Laughter and the general excited buzz of conversation enlivened the audience at Emilio’s words. Megan saw that almost every face in the club was turned toward their booth. She glanced over at Christian in dawning amazement. He slumped back into the booth, his face covered in shadow.
    “ Sometimes the lines that separate categories of music get fuzzy, and Chris has always been at