Some Like it Hotter

Tom made a strangled sound and backed away from the counter, stumbled over a stool and barely managed to keep from spilling his coffee.

“Hey, Eva.”

“Hey, Natalie.” Eva winked at Tom. “What’ll you have?”

“A red eye.” She glanced behind her, noticed Tom, who waved lamely, turning bright red. “Hi, Tom.”

“Hey.” He seemed thrilled she remembered him. “How’s it going?”

“Good.” She glanced past him at his laptop. “Working?”

“Yes.”

“On what?”

“A new piece. A concerto.”

“For?”

“Harmonica.”

“For harmonica? Three movements? Full orchestra?” Her eyebrows flew up in surprise when he nodded. “That is seriously weird.”

“Thanks.” He grinned proudly. “I even know a harmonica player who can pull it off.”

“Ha!” Natalie handed Ben her money. “I’ll have to hear that to believe it.”

“Tom will invite you to the world premiere.” Eva pulled Natalie’s espresso, beaming maternally at them both.

Tom rolled his yes. “Yeah, that might be a while.”

“You never know.” Eva poured the shot into a cup of coffee and handed it to her roommate. “Hey, Natalie, you have some time now? I thought we could brainstorm ideas for the shop.”

“Oh.” Natalie twisted her lip, consulting her watch. Eva sneaked a meaningful look at Tom, who stiffened in panic. “I could spare a few minutes.”

“Tom, okay if we join you?” Eva pointed to Tom’s table. This was too perfect. He and Natalie could get to know each other and fall madly in love in Natalie’s few minutes. “You’re here every day. You should be part of this.”

“Sure. Yes. Okay.” He rushed anxiously to clear the space of his books and laptop.

Natalie brought over her red eye and chose a chair. Tom sat next to her, looking as if he were about to have a seizure.

“So.” Eva sat opposite Tom, hoping she could get them talking so she could leave them alone and finish cleaning to get out of here ASAP. “I’m thinking first of all, the place needs more color.”

“You’re sure Chris is okay with you making changes?” Natalie unzipped her jacket and unwound her scarf, somehow making the simple movements look wildly sensual. Tom’s eyes were barely staying in his head.

“Yes, of course. I talked to her last night. I think the place needs to look a little more unexpected, a little more quirky and a little less—”

“Like Chris.” Natalie spoke matter-of-factly. “And a little more like you.”

“Ack.” Eva clutched her chest. “I would not say that.”

“But that’s what you are saying.”

“I think...” Tom looked back and forth between the women. “Right now the place is Schoenberg, and you want it more Mozart.”

Eva blinked at him. “Uh. I do?”

“Ha.” Natalie gave Tom an admiring look. “Clever.”

“What is he talking about?”

Natalie lifted her chin, tipping her head so her auburn hair swung over one shoulder. She looked insanely beautiful. It was a little sickening. “Right now it’s Thelonious Monk. You want Duke Ellington.”

Eva stopped trying to understand.

“Donizetti instead of Strauss.”

“Gershwin instead of Barber.”

“I’ve got tickets to Norah Jones next week.”

“Say what?” Natalie’s head whipped upright so fast Eva was surprised she didn’t injure herself. “You do? How did you score those?”

Tom shrugged. “I have my ways.”

“Oh, my God, I love Norah! I would kill to go. You are so lucky.”

Tom nodded. Cleared his throat. Nodded again.

Eva sat at attention. Was he working up the nerve to ask her?

Come on, Tom.

“So.” He scratched his neck, turning bright red. “You want to go?”

Natalie’s perfect jaw dropped. “You have an extra ticket for Norah Jones?”

“Uh. Yeah.”

Natalie looked at Eva, as if to say, Can you believe this? “Wow.”

“So do you want to go?” A hint of irritation. Poor guy was a nervous wreck.