Penny Serenade by Ann Cory Read Free Book Online Page B

where you go, kissing is free.”
    Audrey snorted. “You’re too cute.”
    “I’ll let you be dear, and will drop by with more lapis bracelets soon.”
    She leaned in and gave Betsy a strong hug. “Sounds good. See you soon.”
    After she left, the shop stayed quiet for awhile. People who had a life were out enjoying the nice balmy weather. It didn’t bother her too much, sometimes quiet was good.
    Audrey glanced at the crescent moon clock on the wall. She had five hours to stay busy and stop thinking about Dominic before she had to see him. The scarves looked like they needed refolding, and would be a good place to start.
    While straightening, she glanced into the oval mirror beside the shelf. Sterling silver butterfly wings extended out from either side. She leaned in close and checked for imperfections. The raven color of her hair truly was a nice choice, much more flattering than the auburn she’d had before. Somehow it had made her hair look frizzy and made her complexion look ruddy. She’d gone light on her makeup this morning with the barest hint of gloss on her lips. She wasn’t a fan of makeup or the way it felt on her face, and lipstick turned her stomach.
    Rotating from one side to the next she decided what she wore looked fine. It had been years since she worried about her clothes and how she looked to someone else. Fashion wasn’t her department. Still the skirt fit her figure nice and the blouse didn’t show too much. She dressed appropriate for her job, so what if it was on the conservative side. Why she cared what Dominic thought was beyond her. They’d spend most of the time in the dark anyway.
    “What are you doing?” She said to her reflection, half expecting it to burst out in a maniacal laugh.
    Audrey threw her hands up in the air, more certain than ever that she’d lost her mind. Her face felt flush and she wondered if she was coming down with something. It did seem warmer in the shop than usual. She put a hand to her forehead to check. Not feverish, but not cool either. This wasn’t a good idea. She should have stood her ground instead of giving in. Where was her fight? Did it only take a sexy smile and good looks to churn her emotions into butter? If she considered other men she’d dated, that analogy didn’t stick. No other guy had made such a profound impression on her, both good and bad, and not at the same time. She’d have to be extra careful with this one, and take full control of the situation.
    With all the drama of the day she’d forgotten to relight the incense and candles in the corner after lunch. She acknowledged the area could use brightening and wondered if she had the budget for lights and a small window. If she did have a new window put in she’d have a good excuse to repaint the walls at the same time.
    Audrey finished folding the scarves and looked around. Restlessness washed over her. She needed to keep her hands busy and moved around the store, straightening the crystal balls and dusting figurines. The infusion of flute and violin music filled the shop and it was then she caught herself humming, just like Betsy did. Yikes. And were those butterflies in her stomach? Double yikes. She was supposed to dread tonight, not look forward to it. A man had come into her life and turned it on its head. So much for thinking that she had her shit together. Chaos had a name and it was Dominic Blume.
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Dominic checked that the shop lights were off and closed up for the day. He’d managed to get more done than usual and equated that to his evening with Audrey. She might not be looking forward to spending time with him, but he looked forward to seeing her.
    On the way to his car, his cell phone vibrated. He pulled it from his back pocket and flipped it open.
    “Hey Chloe, what’s up?” The night kept getting better.
    “I just wanted to thank you again for my gift. I showed off my bracelet to all my friends and they all stared at it in envy. They