Courting the Clown by Cathy Quinn Page B

initiative.”
    “Dress in polka dots, and that might change,” Sylvie quipped. She picked up her bags and held out a hand. “Goodbye. It’s been... interesting.”
    His hand was warm. And he held it far too long for her peace of mind, his gaze penetrating through all the clown layers and making the woman inside tremble. “Bye for now, Sylvie. See you soon.”
     

Chapter 7
     
    A couple of days later, Nick was again standing in the ladder, making her hit the wrong chord. She nodded at him, and forced herself to finish the song, before closing the piano and walking to the edge of the platform. “Hi, there,” she said cheerfully, embarrassed at the way she was reacting to him and very grateful homo sapiens hadn’t evolved telepathy yet. She did not want him to read her mind right now.
    “Hey. You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?”
    Sylvie glanced around the store. Barbara and Ann were trying to be inconspicuous, half-hidden behind the doll pram display, but they were staring and whispering. No doubt what they’d spend their lunch hour gossiping about. “No,” she replied.
    “Great. Join me? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
    “Uh oh. It doesn’t involve polka dots, does it?”
    He smiled. Oh, Lord. It really had been too long – she’d forgotten the effect that smile had on her, and she sucked in a breath and clenched her muscles.
    “No polka dots,” he confirmed, and jumped down from the ladder. “Come one.”
    She climbed down hurriedly, all too aware of him following her progress. “I’ll get my coat,” she said, hurrying to the staff room. He ambled after her, but got side-tracked by Mary, and was still there, discussing something, when Sylvie returned.
    “I’ll steal your pianist for an hour, okay?” he said to Mary, who nodded with a smile, and gave Sylvie a look that had her blush deepen. She just hated that, but she couldn’t control it. Even though she had absolutely nothing to blush about.
    Unfortunately they went straight across the street to the usual place, and as they sat down, Sylvie saw Barbara and Ann hurry out of the doors of R&R, heading straight towards them. Typical. She almost groaned aloud, but caught it just in time. Nick probably wouldn’t appreciate hearing about his staff’s speculations about the two of them.
    Fortunately they were seated out of earshot, although they had a good view of them.
    “How do you like the job?” Nick asked. “Any problems?”
    “No, it’s fine. Going great.”
    “Good.”
    “How are the girls?”
    “Good. Looking forward to Christmas. Talking about you a lot.”
    “Really? I thought they’d forget about me in days.”
    “Nope. None of us is having much luck forgetting about you.”
    Oh boy. Was she stupid to read something into the way he said that? She looked down and tried to collect her thoughts. She also needed to remember that her every move, her every facial expression was being avidly recorded by the two gossipers across the room.
    They chatted lazily about nothing at all for a few moments, then Nick got that determined look on his face and lowered his voice. “What I wanted to discuss with you...”
    “Yes?”
    “You see... there’s this Christmas party I need to go to. Friday. At the office. I was wondering if I could persuade you to join us.”
    “Oh. Of course. You mean, to play the piano?”
    Nick looked surprised. Then chagrined. “No.”
    “A waitress, then?”
    Nick shook his head. “No. Nothing like that. I just need company, and I thought of you.”
    Sylvie stirred her coffee and tried to think. She had to be careful not to read the wrong thing into this. She might instantly think he was asking her on an actual date, and that was just because she seemed to have developed a crush on him. He was, however, her boss. If he was making an appointment for them together, it would most likely be work-related. “I see. Is this something that would regularly be a part of my job while I’m