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She had the feeling they switched topics, but she wasn’t totally sure She did know that the electricity was back and it was taking every ounce of her self-control not to stand up and walk into his ar her, have his mouth on hers She wanted him to kiss her as if he couldn’t help himself

Before she could stand and make her fantasy reality, she heard footsteps on the stairs Amy clattered into the studio and crossed to the piano

"Please play for hed and pulled her up onto the bench "How could I refuse? You’re le close to Claire, then close her eyes as she rested one hand on top of the piano

Did she hear anything at all or did she just feel thethrough him Hoas it possible for Claire to create that with only her fingers and her ift? What coenes or DNA or God had picked her?

Did it erous He knew better than to get involved, yet he felt hiet out while the getting was still relatively easy?

Instead of answering that, he turned his attention to Aht of any part of her being destroyed, he knew he couldn’t deny her what she asked for The co the other available for future technology Now she wanted to hear Claire play the piano In tihter A man’s voice A baby’s cry

It wasn’t when or what he would have chosen, but he couldn’t say she rong to want that Like Claire’s hter was a miracle

"YOU’RE RESTLESS," Nicole said after dinner "Do I want to knohat’s wrong?"

"I need to play," Claire told her She’d been feeling the urge since her conversation with WyattNo, that wasn’t true She’d been feeling it for a while now She’d finally admitted it to herself after her talk with Wyatt

Nicole looked confused "I thought you were playing before You had the studio door propped open I heard you"

"I mean in public I have to play for other people" She held up her hand "This isn’t about o I don’t need an audience to feel special about "

"You were scrunchy You had scrunchy face"

"I don’t even want to knohat that is," Nicole gruet it You need to play in public to figure out if you’ve conquered the panic thing If you haven’t, you’re totally screwed" She paused "I don’t hed "You’re right, though I have to fix this stupid panic thing So I need to play in front of strangers A lot of strangers"

"What’s the plan? You could set up shop on a street corner You nored that "I was thinking of a bar It’s contained, anonymous Do you know any around here that have pianos or like a talent show or so?"

Nicole picked up one of her crutches and pointed it at Claire "You are so not going to play in a bar"

"Why not?"

"You’re not the bar type"

"I’ for a second career I just want to practice being in public So are you going to help ood place or do I have to do it by ru by yourself?"

"I’ll be okay I’lass of white wine, ease over to the piano and start playing What’s the worst that will happen?"

"I don’t want to iht now"

NICOLE WAITED until she heard Claire’s car backing out of the driveway, then picked up the phone

"There is a serious problem," she said when Wyatt answered "You won’t believe what Claire’s going to do tonight"She told hi, "I know exactly what you ht here Then you can go and check on Claire Don’t be obvious about it Just hang out in the back and ht I’m sure she’ll be fine--"

"Did she ever tell you about Spike?" he asked, interrupting her

"Spike who?"

"Souy at my construction site Convicted felon, still on parole, tattoos, married He asked her out and she nearly said yes"

Nicole’s vague unease shifted to elephant-size worry "Hurry"

"I’ll be right there"

THE GREENWAY TAVERN was better lit than she’d expected, relatively clean and kind of crowded Claire made her way to the bar, settled on an empty stool and waited for the bartender to make his way to her

She had no idea if the place was typical or not There were a couple of pool tables, several televisions showing a baseball gah speakers in the ceiling A lone piano stood covered in the far corner of the rooroups of guys There weren’t a lot of women on their own In fact, she couldn’t see any except for a table of theet you?" the bartender asked

"Glass of…" She hesitated She had a feeling this wasn’t much of a white wine kind of place "Uuy nodded and walked away Claire had no idea where she’d ever heard about draft beer, but as it had been the right thing to say, she was only grateful

A couple of guys save theet into conversation She was here for the pain and nothing else

When the bartender returned with her beer, he said, "Three bucks"

She passed hiuy hesitated "You any good?"

That made her smile "I’ve taken a few lessons"

"Sure But if people co to have to stop"

Claire was less concerned about anyone’s opinion than having a panic attack of so for a feeeks now, but she also hadn’t tested herself since the school While she’d gotten through that performance, it had been by sheer force of will

She waved for the bartender to keep the change, then picked up her uy grabbed her hand

"Want to joinat hiht There was a coaster on one end and a tip jar on the other