Penny Serenade (2 page)

Audrey strolled behind the counter and opened a drawer, removing a satin satchel and gift box. Carefully she placed the bracelet inside the satchel, pulled the ribbon closed, and laid it inside the gift box. With ease she tied a blue satin ribbon around the package and then punched the product code into the register.

“That will be fifteen dollars,” she announced, chin raised in victory.

He pulled out his brown leather wallet and handed her exact change.

“What on earth are these things?” He asked, turning the circular shelf atop the counter. “They look like giant flattened pennies.”

Audrey closed the register and beamed. “Those are called Thoughtful Pennies. Copper pennies that have been melted together, flattened, and shaped. The artist engraved them with affirmations.”

“Huh,” he said followed by a grunt. “They’ll sell anything these days, won’t they?”

She considered pulling the cash drawer back out and knocking him over the head with it, but restrained herself. Word might get out that she had a temper, though she never considered herself temperamental before. Somehow she had
him
to thank for her inner monster. “I guess,” she responded and slapped his receipt onto the counter.

Mister Cute-but-Clueless looked around the shop, nodding his head like a stuffy appraiser. “You have a nice store here, good location. The design is simple and aesthetic to the eye, but you could do with better lighting, especially in that corner,” he said, directing his gaze to where she had the candles lit. “Natural light would be preferable. Another window would bring more light in. You could also use more color, the paint you have now is too pale.”

She didn’t know if he was being condescending or just failed at small talk in general.

“Thanks, I’ll log that away.” She handed him the box, careful to avoid making physical contact. “I hope the gift goes over well. Be sure to keep the receipt, if she doesn’t like it you can return it for a full refund.”

“I know she’ll like it,” he said and flashed a dreamy smile that sped up her pulse. Damn her hormones.

He looked again at the Thoughtful Pennies display and chuckled. “Do you really sell these?”

“Yes, all the time,” she answered in a slow monotone.

“Crazy,” he replied and spun the shelf.

She swore steam shot out of her ears.

“Okay well, I better get back to work,” he added and headed toward the door. “Have a good day, and thanks for your help.”

“Sure,” she answered in a sweet but oh so fake voice.

Her day
had
been good, until he walked in. Still, she couldn’t help but check out his sexy stride and the way his jeans molded to his butt. In fact, he was ideal eye candy, so long as he remained silent. Nothing a little duct tape couldn’t fix. She smiled at the twisted visual.

Once Handsome had left the building, Audrey clicked her tongue and grabbed a dust cloth. She went around trying to erase all traces of him from the store. To her disappointment, his presence lingered. It didn’t make any sense how the hard-bodied stranger had made such an impact on her. She still felt rattled. And devastated at the way he mocked the Thoughtful Pennies. They meant the world to her and it hurt how brusque he’d been about them. How had her first perception of him been so wrong? Audrey chuckled. She knew why. He’d blinded her with his good looks. It was for the best he revealed his flaws right away.

To think she considered flirting with him. Had he kept his mouth shut, she might’ve found a new inspiration to pleasure herself to in the mornings. She’d stick with the hunks from her Burning Hot Firemen calendar. They smiled back at her and didn’t ruin her mood with words. In a few hours the guy would fade from her thoughts altogether. Staying busy would be the best way to help that along.

The bell above the door jingled, and she spun on her heel, nearly taking down the rack of calendars with her. A blonde lady with her little girl bundled in a pink dress entered and smiled in her direction. Audrey gave a mechanical smile while cursing herself for having hoped the man she was still fuming over, had returned.

*****

Dominic Blume was relieved to be headed home after a brutal day at work where nothing went right. Traffic was the usual slow crawl and any other day he’d scan the radio for tunes to help him unwind, but he had a lot on his mind. He breathed in deep and frowned. His car was unusually stuffy. Thanks to a faulty switch, he couldn’t put his windows down. He thought himself a genius when he’d saved a couple thousand dollars by purchasing the midnight blue Pontiac Grand Am without air conditioning. Never mind it had been cold as hell that day and the last thought he had was cooling the car. Now with summer fast approaching, the heat would only get worse. Regret sucked.

Scanning the long stretch of cars in front of him, he felt like an ant. He was going nowhere in a big fat hurry, and he had somewhere important to be. Dominic tried the radio anyhow but nothing drew his interest. Channel after channel the stations were flooded with news and incessant chatter, both of which got on his nerves. With a grumble he flipped off the switch and tapped the steering wheel. Since his lunch break he’d been distracted, but he wasn’t sure why. He figured he was stressing over the gift, and hoped it wasn’t too lavish. What did he know about jewelry? He didn’t even wear a watch.

Sweat trickled down the sides of his face. He dabbed his forehead with the edge of his shirt and caught an odd scent, though not unpleasant. Where did it come from? Dominic brought his shirt up close to his nose and sniffed. The musky scent came from him. It was somewhat familiar and had to be recent, he’d done laundry the other day.

Ah yes, now he recognized the spicy scent.
Patchouli.

His thoughts drifted to the gift shop, or more precisely, to the woman in the gift shop. Talk about a stunner. He’d much rather get lost in the inky dark strands of her hair than be stuck in this oven for a car. She had the kind of curves that he enjoyed on a woman, soft and touchable. The kind he wanted to explore with his hands, mouth, and tongue. His job placed him in the company of women all the time, but it had been years since one had been even the slightest bit memorable. Dominic shifted in the seat and wiped his brow with the border of his shirt sleeve. Again he inhaled the patchouli. His car may be a damn sauna but it didn’t compare to the heat that engulfed him when he’d entered the new age shop. A single glance at the heart-shaped bow of the dark-haired siren’s ruby red lips, even pinched in a frown, had his mind and body in a clutch hold. He couldn’t think straight around her, let alone speak. He’d said things that clearly upset her, but once the words were out he didn’t know how to correct them.

Dominic chuckled aloud. She hadn’t caught on that he’d passed on her suggestions for a gift just to stretch his time with her. And when he’d made a comment about going elsewhere, beautiful determination streaked her porcelain features.
 

Much as he wanted to see her again, he didn’t have a good reason to go back to the shop, and he didn’t think she’d appreciate his company. If only he knew what he’d said that made her attitude toward him turn icy.

A car honked behind him and he accelerated. He eyed the gift box on the passenger seat and smiled. At least
one
person looked forward to his company, and he couldn’t wait to see her.

Dominic pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex and raced inside. After a quick shower he dressed in a clean pair of jeans, one of the few without paint stains, and a button-down denim shirt. He ran a brush through his still damp hair and hurried back to his car. If he missed his niece’s birthday party, she’d give him a yearlong guilt trip. And she was a pro at them, or so he heard. So far he’d managed to stay on her good side and he wanted to keep it that way. A glance at the time had him cursing under his breath. He’d make it if he drove five over the speed limit.

His sister, Julie, opened the door as he pulled up to her house. He grabbed the gift and hustled out of the car.

“I see you remembered the house after all,” she joked as he moved swift along the walkway.

“I’m not late,” he said and followed her inside. The mouthwatering aromas of garlic, basil, and her famous homemade spaghetti sauce reminded him that he’d skipped lunch and was now ravenous.

“Ten seconds longer and you would’ve been toast tonight,” she teased.

He grinned. “I wouldn’t let down my favorite niece.”

“Right.”
His sister folded her arms. “Especially when she’s the only one you have.”

Dominic winked.
“Exactly.”

He shut the door and kicked his shoes off. The air conditioning helped revive him after being in his car. He’d look into a small fan on the weekend, maybe something that attached to his dashboard.

“Uncle Dominic.”

He’d know that sweet voice anywhere. Dominic looked up to see his niece coming down the stairs and it dawned on him that today she looked sixteen. A young lady had emerged from the spunky tomboy who once charged down the steps and barreled into his arms like a cannon. At least her eyes still sparkled when she saw him.

She cleared the last step and threw her arms around him.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Happy birthday, Chloe,” he said through a mouthful of hair.

“It wouldn’t be one without you.”

Her words turned him into a big teddy bear. He took a step back and ignored the pang in his chest. The years had flown by. “You look extra pretty tonight.”

She twirled in her skirt, her blonde hair fanning behind her. “Thanks. Mom bought the outfit for me. What do you think of my shoes?” She showed off the matching low heels at all angles.

Like jewelry, he didn’t know anything about shoes, but he knew how to say what she wanted to hear. “Yes I do.
Very much.”

Her smile turned coy as she lowered her eyes to the box in his hands. “Is that for me?”

“What, this silly little box?” He teased. “You don’t want this.”

She laughed and held out her hands. “Please.”

“You probably won’t even like it,” he joked and handed it to her.

“Oh come on, your gifts are always the best,” she rebuked.

Dominic held his breath while he watched her untie the bow and open the box. She removed the satchel and tucked the box under her arm. With the pace of a snail his niece loosened the satchel ribbon and with dainty fingers took out the bracelet. The seconds ticked by on the wall clock. Did she like it? Had he misjudged her taste in jewelry? Was blue still her favorite color? His gut knotted. Another minute and he’d be on the floor.

Her hand moved to her mouth and then she stared straight at him. “Oh
my gosh
. I can’t believe you bought me this.”

“Do you like it?” Her words left him uncertain.

“Are you kidding me? It’s the most gorgeous bracelet I’ve ever seen!”

Air whooshed into his lungs as he resumed breathing. “You sure you like it? You’re not just saying that?”

Her head turned side to side. “Nothing else compares to this. It’s the most amazing present ever.”

Dominic shrugged, but inside he felt like a star. He might not be the best painter or builder, hell there was little that he did right, but he had the uncle thing down.

Chloe thrust her arms around him and squeezed tight. “I’m going to put it on right now. Will you help me with it?”

“You bet.”

She released him and placed the bracelet in his hand. It took him a few tries to hook the latch, but he managed. “There.”

She
shimmied
her wrist and held out her arm.

“What do you think?” Her eyes were wide and twinkling.

“I’d say it was meant for you.”

The answer seemed to be the right one because she smiled so big her cheeks bunched up.

“My friends at school are going to be jealous,” she crooned. “I can’t wait to show them.”

“Dinner,” his sister called out from the other room.

His niece turned the gift box over and let out an ear-piercing shriek. He’d never gotten used to that. When she was a little thing moving around like a jack rabbit with chubby legs, she loved to point at things, shriek, and clap her hands. His ears had never recovered.

“Oh
my gosh
, you bought it from my favorite store,” she gushed.