*
Noah kept to the back of the room, watching the acts perform, not wanting to distract from them by sitting closer. He was surprised at how good they all were. The two guys who ran the hardware store did a perfect Who’s on First? rendition. Lexi said they always did something by Abbot and Costello since their first names were Bud and Lou, though he wasn’t sure how he felt about the local bank president being such an accomplished magician. Then there was the hairdresser in town playing Beethoven with such heartache he wondered what had happened in her life that she was able to tap into that.
Noah felt his stomach flutter as Lexi’s name was called. He knew which songs she’d been contemplating singing but hadn’t actually heard her practice and was particularly curious because she had refused to let him listen.
A single spot light came on and illuminated her. Noah gasped and involuntarily took a step forward. Her hair fell in lush waves, the ends curling around the underside of her breasts. She wore a strapless, blue dress that hugged her curves and flared out below her hips. Jewels sewn into the gown winked at the audience whenever she moved. She walked slowly, sensuously forward towards the front on the stage and he watched in awe as she moved the microphone to her mouth and started singing. He closed his eyes, letting the lyrics flow over him. The song? At Last, most famously performed by Etta James.
Under some kind of control he couldn’t put his finger on, he moved through the crowd to get to the front. He had to be closer to her, felt her sincerity in every word she sang. Stopping at the stage, he looked up at her as she sang the lyrics directly into his soul.
They stood there, staring at each other while the crowd came to their feet, clapping and whistling. He surprised her by jumping up on stage after she had sung the last line, framed her face with his hands, and whispered fiercely, “I love you, Lexi. Now and forever.” The crowd behind them cheered even louder when Noah took her in his arms and kissed her like his life depended on it.
Finally the emcee came out and tapped Noah on the shoulder. “Sorry to interrupt, but the show must go on.”
Lexi tried to back away from Noah but he kept hold of her hand. Grinning to the crowd, he took a bow and gestured towards Lexi, who also bowed. He pulled her off stage and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“Lexi-love, that was so beautiful. Why didn’t you tell me you could sing like that?”
“Gee, I don’t know Mr. Big Rock Star.”
“It was so beautiful, you are so beautiful. God, you made my heart turn over in my chest.”
Lexi and Noah were pushed apart and Leigh walked through them. “Okay, okay, move it. We’re on. You don’t want to miss this.”
They watched as the three ladies moved toward center stage. Lexi turned to Noah with a shocked look on her face. “Do you see what they are wearing? What are they going to do?” They had tight tank tops on, leggings and a shirt tied around their hips. There were three chairs on the stage and the ladies lined up by them with Leigh in the front. When the opening notes of the song started she looked at Noah. “Oh, no, they’re not.”
He was laughing. “Oh, yes they are.”
They watched transfixed as ‘The Dolls’ performed a song and dance routine that matched perfectly with the video from The Pussycat Dolls, Don’t Cha. Lexi stood there, shaking her head as the trio danced around the stage, shaking their asses and rolling their hips to the crowd. Lexi held her breath as all three ladies quickly dropped down to a crouch, wondering if they’d be able to get back up. She let her breath out as they straightened their legs sticking their ass up and out. They arched their backs and stood up straight and slapped their asses, winking at the crowd.
She knew that Leigh had the background for this, but she was surprised at how well the other two did singing and dancing. They were in great shape.
Noah put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. Marie looked over at him and winked. Lexi looked out into the crowd to see how the performance was being received. The younger people thought it was great, she could see them dancing in their seats and clapping, but the older crowd seemed to be split. Most of the women looked like they’d eaten something sour while the men looked like they wanted to see if the moves translated into the bedroom.
When the song was over, the applause was overwhelming. Lexi looked over at the Trio and saw their huge smiles while they took a bow. She knew it couldn’t have been easy doing all that singing and dancing at their age and gave them huge hugs when they got off the stage.
“Now listen to me, young lady,” Evelyne said. “You go out there, have some refreshments, then get your ass home. You’ve done enough here. The rest of us can clean up.”
“But…” Lexi started.
“No buts, you go. Now.” Leigh crossed her arms.