Page 5 of Nick & Nora Martinis

“I'm sorry, I think that it was rather

presumptuous of me, but you also.” He smiles a killer smile with his pearly white teeth. I can just make out the dimples in his cheek as the stubble over his face is trying to hide them. His light brown hair with stripes of blonde is pulled into a tight man bun. It looks like he has a slight curl to it, from what I can make out.

“Me, how do you work that one out?”

“When I said about dating, you thought I meant you and me, when in fact I meant me and her. She seems like good fun to have around.” He gives out a snort. “I'm sorry, I couldn't resist, let's start at the top, I mean beginning.” He starts to laugh again. “I'm a mushroom.”

“A what?”

“A real fun guy.”

Before I can say anything else, he's up out of the chair and running across the room towards the door. I just sit dumbfounded as to what is going on. “Oh okay then, thanks for coming,” I say out loud. But as soon as he's out of the door he is back in. I start to laugh at what he just said about the mushroom and his antics match perfectly. I can tell he's going to be a joker. I sit shaking my head. Before he gets to say anything I'm up out of my seat greeting him.

“Hi, you must be Mr Walker, Owen,” I smile at him.

“Yep, that's me.”

“Come on in, take a seat and we can get started.” We both walk back to the table, this time everything goes as it should. He answers the questions and makes the drinks, naming his 'Anything Goes'. As he eyeballs me I can feel the heat on my cheeks. I've come to realise that he is very flirty. He passes with flying colours, but I'll keep him in suspense for now. After he leaves I make a note at the top of his paper, a maybe. He is very cock sure of himself. A good allrounder, I think he could be an asset, if we aired out what he can and can't do. He is definitely a joker. I’ll wait to see what the others are like.

The next three people that come in are a combination of winning and losing a lottery ticket, all on the same day. They were hard work, when asked a question it would take them forever to answer, and in most cases it was wrong. Then when it came to mixing the drinks, oh my gosh don't get me started. It's a definite no as I don't have the time or inclination to teach them. I place their applications at the bottom of the pile with a big cross at the top. Looking back over the people I've interviewed, I move up, crossing out maybe to a yes.

I have one more for the bar today and one for the piano, fingers are crossed that these two work out. I'm so tired and I've not seen Jayne since she arrived earlier. Well, not to talk to. Looking at my watch I've 15 minutes till my next interviewee so I should just have enough time to get a cuppa tea.

I pick my empty cup up and make my way just inside the double doors that read staff only.

Chapter Three

Just as I'm adding milk to my tea I hear music being played. I stand still for a few moments, listening to the sound. Then it dawns on me that someone is in the bar and whoever it is is playing the piano and it's absolutely beautiful. I put the milk down and stir my tea. “Wow, who's playing that?” I hear from behind me. I turn to see Jayne standing on the bottom stairs. I never even heard her come down.

“I've no idea, I came to make a cuppa and then the music started. I thought it was outside at first. If I stand here for a few minutes and listen I'll be able to see what he's like but from what I hear the job is his. He's flawless, Jay.”

“Well I don't know much about piano players cause it just ain't my jam, but what I will say is that I could listen to this all day.”

“He's playing classical and modern. Going from Chopin to Elton, strangely enough it sounds good. Who'd have thought that that would work. I like it. You want to sit in on the interview with me?” I ask Jayne.

“Sure, so long as you don't think I'll get in the way.”

“You won't, well not now you're dressed in leggings and a t-shirt,” I tell her. “Grab yourself a cuppa and come join me, best behaviour though. No flirting, no questions about him for personal information, no nothing.”

I take a few steps to the door, opening it just ajar so I can peek through it while I stand there listening to the music, it's so therapeutic. I feel myself swaying, closing my eyes and I'm transported off where I'm running barefoot through fields filled with little yellow flowers.

“You ready?” Jayne asks.

I open my eyes, turning my head to look over my shoulder at her. “Yeah, let's go and see who this magical person is.” I smile widely at her. Jayne starts laughing.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she says, half shrugging and smiling at the same time. “You have always been weird with your music.”

“No, I haven't, I just like different things to you, that's all,” I say, all defensive. “Don't you think people will like it? I'll scrap it and just have the easy-listening music from the player behind the bar.”

“No, don't be stupid, as I said, just because it's not my thing doesn’t mean other people won’t love it. I liked what he did, just mixing it up. Now are you ready to get out there and interview this music man?”

I open the door wide and walk out making my way towards the piano, with Jayne one step behind. As I get to the table I place my cup on top of it and point for Jayne to take a seat. I still can't see who's playing. “Wish me luck”, I say as I turn towards her.

“You'll be okay, and you are right, he is a good player.”

I take a deep breath and walk forward. I start to fidget as I near the piano. Anyone would think it was me applying for the job.

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