Page 16 of All The Wrong Notes
He gave a slow blink. “Yes, of course. I’m happy to keep you company, if you don’t mind me not being very interesting. Tell me about this place. I’ve heard of it, but know nothing about it.” He leaned back in his chair and watched her through half-closed eyes.
“It’s my pride and joy, everything I’ve always wanted to do,” she began.
Elise told him about her idea, the kernel that had started even before she’d finished high school, and how she’d worked through her degrees with the idea of establishing just this sort of community arts space. She told him about the summer camps and the after-school programs for underprivileged kids, and about the fundraiser that she was planning for the spring.
Now he knew about it. If he offered a donation, she would accept it, but she wouldn’t ask.
“We get a lot of grants as well,” she concluded, “but the fundraiser is our big appeal. The better we do there, the more likely the big funding organisations are to consider us.”
The businessman in him woke up at this, and he began asking questions about overheads and bottom lines and expenditures, and made some non-committal comments about contributing to the effort. She smiled gratefully, but stuck to her decision not to press for anything. He was more than deep pockets, and she wanted him to know that.
“My sister might be interested in volunteering, too,” he added between more yawns. “She didn’t get the business gene, but she loves the arts. She’s a painter. I’ll talk to her.” He glanced at his watch, a large gold thing lurking just beneath his crisp white cuffs.
How could he eat Thai food and not get a speck on his clothing? If she was wearing white, she’d be covered in soy sauce and turmeric.
Within a few minutes, the band had finished their practice, and Elise watched them all leave before locking the doors behind them. Will hovered nearby, tapping at his phone.
“Are you not too tired to drive?” Elise peered at him in concern as they ambled towards the parking lot. “Can I call you a taxi? Or I can make up the couch at my place. It’s not luxurious, but it’s not uncomfortable. You need sleep.”
“You’re right, on both counts. I am too tired to drive, and I do need sleep. But I’ve got a secret weapon.”
They rounded the corner of the building to see, silhouetted against the glow from a streetlight, a man leaning against the body of a sleek-looking vehicle.
“Will.” The man straightened up and nodded his head.
“This is Rey, my assistant and, when needed, my driver.” Will shook the man’s hand and introduced Elise. “I just let him know we were finished. He’s been waiting.”
“Waiting out here? You poor man. If I’d known, I’d have invited you into the centre with us.”
Rey gave a chuckle. “No worries, ma’am. I’ve been waiting in the rather nice coffee shop on the main street, enjoying lattes on Will’s dime.”
“I wanted to be alone with you,” Will whispered in her ear, sending shivers through her.
She gave Rey her address and slid into the back seat. Will sat beside her. It was not a long drive, and Will said little, but she was aware of his warmth, the proximity of his body, every second of the way.
“I promise to be better company next time,” he sighed when the car pulled to a stop in front of Elise’s building. “Dinner, a proper one, on Friday night? I know you have choir on Thursday. And then we can discuss the music.”
“Thank you. I’d like that.”
He got out of the car with her and walked her to the door to her building. These were old-fashioned manners, but it was rather lovely to be on the receiving end of them.
“Good night, Elise.”
Will held out a hand to shake, and she accepted the gesture. The contact of his hand on hers sent ripples of fairy dust through her nerves, not the electric zing she had read about in novels, but something quieter and somehow, more intense. His eyes widened for a moment. Had he felt it, too? And then, instead of releasing her hand from the business-like shake he had given it, he raised it to his lips and pressed a quick kiss on the back of it.
“Good night, Will.” She must have been grinning like an idiot. It certainly felt like her smile reached beyond her ears.
Oh heavens. This man was starting to grow on her a lot.
CHAPTER 7
REHEARSALS
As promised, Will picked Elise up from work on Friday to take her to dinner. She recalled their first dreadful meeting at the speed-dating event and his later comments about her attire, and even though he seemed to be a different man now, she took great care with her clothing, nonetheless. Taking advantage of the privacy of her office, Elise traded her casual pants for a flowy, ankle-length skirt in a rich green, which she paired with an ivory silk shirt. Over this, she wrapped a patterned pashmina shawl, all shades of peach and deeper rose, which offered a delicate contrast to the skirt. She didn’t know where Will had in mind for dinner, and the shawl would both keep her warm, if needed, and provide camouflage in case she spilled her meal on her clothing.
Will had also come directly from work, so he explained. But his dark blue suit and yellow tie would have been appropriate almost anywhere. He certainly knew how to dress. Part of the package when one heads a multinational corporation, Elise presumed.
From the shimmer in his eyes when he stepped into her small office, he approved of her outfit. His lips curled into an appreciative grin, and he stepped forward to give her a not-entirely-brotherly kiss on the cheek, before stepping back again.