Love Me Or Leave Me

            His sweetest songbird was on stage performing a rendition of “Love Me or Leave Me” when she walked into his club that night. Shedding a thin wrap from her shoulders, she showed off a sexy but elegant shimmering white number that just barely touched the floor. Her light auburn hair was in full, voluminous curls that tumbled and bounced against her shoulders however she moved. Had he ever seen such a beauty?

The suspense is killin’ me

I can’t stand uncertainty

            “Scotch on the rocks,” she told the bartender, lightly tapping two fingers to the bar. A dame that drank.

            Turning to lean her back against the wood, she scanned the room of the dim nightclub as if in search for someone. Of course a doll like that was already taken. But that didn’t deter him. He put out his cig on the waxed wood of the bar—it was his club anyway—and took the four steps necessary to meet her at an amiable distance.

            “Lookin’ for someone?” he asked. She didn’t even grace him with a look.

            “Keep walkin’, stud. ‘M not interested, but thanks for the compliment of coming over.” Snarky.

            The classy, reserved-looking beauty turned to the drink that just arrived for her and slammed it back with ease.

            “Hey, doll. I was only try’na be nice. I didn’t think my presence was so unpleasant that you’d need to go and down all that booze.”

            With her back still against the bar and her blue eyes riveted to Rosie and her song, the dame seemed to pay him no further attention. But it was the small hint of a smile on her lips painted red that betrayed her icy façade.

            Ah, so maybe the woman could be wooed.

            “The name’s Ricky,” he said, extending his hand in bold confidence.

            She turned her head to him, her steely eyes softening to serene pools of blue as she watched him skeptically. Her gaze flicked from his eyes to his hand and back.

            “Alice,” she answered, taking his proffered greeting.

            “So I take it you’re here with someone?”

            Alice turned back toward Rosie on stage, and held a finger of silence up to her new acquaintance.

            “This is my favorite part.” She closed her eyes and accompanied Rosie’s voice with her own. “But nighttime is my time for just reminiscin’…” She only hummed for another line before giving him an answer. “I haven’t seen my father in a while, and he told me he’d be here tonight.” Alice turned to him with an evidently feigned smile on her lips. “Guess not.”

…there’s no love for nobody else

            The short saxophone solo started up—Ricky’s favorite part of the song—and all he could think in that moment was: this dame is too damn gorgeous to have such sad, blue eyes.

            “Come and dance with me, Alice.”

            “How’s that?” She raised an eyebrow of suspicion.

            Ricky took her hand, a bold move indeed, but he held it loosely enough for her to take it away if she cared to. He likened himself to a true gentlemen, the kind his dad and granddad were—always confident in expressing what he wanted, but never impertinent.

            “Such a beauty shouldn’t look so blue, doll. A dance. That’s all.”

            “I don’t even know you.”

            “And yet you haven’t taken your hand back.” Ricky smirked, his brown eyes shining unashamedly with arrogance.

            Alice set an ice-cold glare on him. She was a tough kinda gal, and he could tell she didn’t trust him. Which was why her quip surprised even him.

            “Hmm… I dunno, Ricky.” She arched an eyebrow. “You sure you can handle me?”

            A slow, smug smirk curled at her lips, and its effects burned through him like wildfire. Damn, she was good. He wanted this dame and he was going to have her.

            Clearing his throat, Ricky decided to change his tactic. He released her hand and pushed off of the bar, standing straight. A brief shadow of surprise shifted quickly across her face, but she hid it well. He smiled.

            “No worries, doll. I can handle anything you got for me,” Ricky retorted. Just to make her shiver, he slide his gaze away from her eyes, roamed down her hourglass frame and back up to the blue orbs that stared daggers at him. A heavy frown was set to her face, like she might very well punch him, and he realized that his teasing ogle might not have been a move in his favor.

            “Ah, come on, sweetie. Just a dance. Promise.”

            He flashed her his trademark grin filled with sincerity, hoping it’d be enough. After a moment’s hesitation, he watched her peel away the rigid suit of armor.

            Under a coy guise, she asked, “Who’s to say I won’t regret it?”

            The smirk was back and effective as ever.

He had to have her, and he thought he already might. But he paused, considering. Her question seemed heavier than it let on.  Regret a dance? Alright, so he was a wiz at breaking toes on the dance floor, and she might have good reason not to join him, but…

Ricky smiled at her, hoping that his sincerity showed.

“How ‘bout I promise?”

“Promise?”

“Yep. Promise you won’t regret it.”

Alice regarded him for a moment, thrumming her fingers against the wood of the bar. She could really have any number of sorry saps wrapped around her finger if she wanted. He had no idea what she’d say to him.

Then, her red painted lips curved into an easy smile.

“Take me dancin’, then, Ricky.”

Fin.

AN: The inspiration for this piece came from a song of the same title by Billie Holiday. I love vintage things, especially American media/pop culture of the 1920s - 1950s and 60s. So. This spawned from an especially "vintage" night in my head. It was written months ago, but I could never get the ending right, and I'm still not nearly happy with the way it's turned out. But I'm done with this now; I have to be. Regrettably, my energy for this short piece isn't the same and it doesn't deserve "filler". So this is all there is.

Also, I admit that this wasn't edited at full capacity, so I'd completely understand if someone tore it to shreds.

I hope you enjoyed. Feedback of any kind is more than welcome! Please!(:

xo gummies.