“I’d like a little time. You don’t expect me to…”
“You have until you leave the club, baby. No longer. It’s up to you.”
She suddenly shrugged.
“All right. It can’t kill me, can it? It’s a deal.”
Louie beamed. Any other man would have been instantly suspicious, but Louie had an enormous opinion of his charms. He believed all women found him irresistible, and he accepted Gilda’s apparent surrender as his due.
“You’re being smart, baby,” he said, got up and went over to her. “This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship.” He caught hold of her, pulled her upright and made an attempt to kiss her.
Gilda shoved him off with strength that startled him.
“You’ll spoil my make-up!” she said sharply. “Keep away from me!”
“Take it easy, baby,” he said, grinning at her. “None of those tricks tonight.”
She gave him a long, steady stare.