Page 40 of So That Happened
The high ceilings and large windows allowed the summer sun to flood into the room, striking the large pillars that ran through the middle of the space and reflecting light back from the subtle creams and yellows of the decor. Large chandeliers hung majestically above art deco-inspired seating arrangements that were sparsely populated due to the lure of the sunlit terrace outside. The clientele obviously came to the Carlton to be seen rather than to appreciate the beautiful architecture of the building. A large, black-lacquered grand piano in the middle of the room caught Josie’s eye and she became aware of her fingers as they twitched at her sides.
Connor approached carrying two drinks and handed one to her.
‘Champagne cocktail.’
The way he said it sounded almost like a dare.
‘Are you trying to get me drunk?’
Connor smiled. ‘On one glass of champagne? Surely it takes more than that to get the better of you?’
He kept a straight face, but the innuendo hung between them. Josie’s stomach did a double backflip as images from the night before ran through her mind. It had taken precious little persuasion to get the better of her then.
‘It takes alotmore than that,’ she bluffed, taking the drink from him with a slow smile. It was such fun flirting with him. ‘Thanks.’
He watched as she took a tentative sip and a shot of pure pleasure fizzed through her veins.
She didn’t normally drink much, having always been too busy to allow her control to slip and deal with the consequences. She didn’t have time for partying and hangovers, but all those curtailed birthday parties and missed nights out had left her with a dwindling base of friends whom she barely spoke to any more. She felt a twinge of shame at the thought. That definitely wasn’t something she was admitting to Connor.
‘Okay,’ he said, once she’d taken another sip, ‘Go and play.’
‘What?’ Was he crazy?
‘The piano. Go and play. I know you’re desperate to. I saw that look of longing when you first came in.’
‘I can’t just sit down in a hotel lounge and start playing their piano.’ Her heart pounded at the thought of it. She never played for other people; it was something very private to her.
‘Of course you can.’
He took the drink from her quivering hand and gently pushed her towards the piano, his palm in the small of her back. Her skin burned under his touch.
‘No. Connor. Seriously, I can’t. I don’t play in public. I’m not that good.’ Her voice wobbled with nerves.
‘Who’s going to care?’ He gestured towards the one remaining couple in the lounge. They were deep in conversation at the other side of the room.
‘I know the bar staff here. They said it’s fine. Go ahead.’
Josie weighed up her options. If she flat-out refused to play she’d ruin the companionable atmosphere they’d tentatively started to build between them. And if she was really honest with herself, she did want to play; her fingers ached to touch the beautiful ivory keys, to caress their polished surface and make them sing. If only Connor wasn’t there watching her, she’d be able to step out of herself and get lost in the music for a while.
She glanced up at him and he gave her a reassuring smile.
To hell with it. It didn’t matter what he thought. After last night there wasn’t much of herself left to expose to shame anyway.
‘Okay.’ She sat down on the stool and made herself comfortable.
He simply nodded and took a seat at a nearby table, twisting his glass between his fingers as he waited for her to start playing.
She felt his gaze on her as she collected her thoughts and tried to blank his presence out of her consciousness.
Not an easy task, given that her skin seemed to prickle with energy whenever he was nearby. He was not a man you could easily ignore.
The keys were cool and smooth under her fingertips and she revelled in the sensation of them against her skin. She smiled to herself before moving her hands across the ivories.
* * *
Connor sat back in bemusement as the theme tune to The Simpsons flowed from beneath Josie’s fingers. That was the very last thing he’d expected her to play. He’d anticipated a well-executed piece of classical music to fit with the sombre atmosphere of the bar, but she’d gone for a comic, upbeat tune instead, almost in defiance of her surroundings. She was clearly teasing him.
Once again, she’d proved herself to have hidden depths. He was beginning to doubt his judgement. Reading people was usually one of his strengths, but he was having real trouble with Josie. She surprised him at every turn.
