The Carol Wyatt Collection

by Carol Wyatt

  Chapter Seven

  “What about her?” Matt asked, glancing over at the bar.

  “Not this again. We almost went a whole hour without you trying to set me up.”

  “What? She's pretty, talented.”

  “At what?”

  Elle loved Matt. They'd been best friends for years, but this was starting to get ridiculous. He needed to leave her love life alone.

  “That's who's been playing the piano all night,” Matt said as he finished his drink.

  “Really?” Elle asked, turning to take a look. Her eyes fell on the blond who had her back to them, leaning against the bar, wearing all black.

  “Go up and get us another round.”

  “I'm not going to talk to a complete stranger and she's probably not even gay.”

  “You really have no gaydar, do you?”

  “What makes you think she'd be interested in me?”

  “She has an equals sign tattooed on the back of her arm,” Matt said, leaning back in his chair.

  “Ah... For equality?”

  “Yes. Now, go on.”

  “I'm not-”

  “Fine,” Matt said, pushing his chair back. “I'll do it.”

  Elle jaw dropped as he stood up, but he was already on his way to the bar before she could stop him. She took a sip of her drink and as tempted as she was, she didn't look over her shoulder to see what Matt was up to.

  Chapter Eight

  “Thanks, Mike,” Hailey said as she picked up her drink and turned to get back to the piano.

  “Hey,” a dark-haired man said, walking towards the bar. “You're really talented.”

  “Thanks.... I take requests if you have any,” Hailey said with a smile.

  “I'll think about it... But I have a different sort of request. I was wondering if you give lessons.”

  “Uhh...”

  “It's not for me,” he added. “It's for Elle,” he said, glancing at the table behind them. “Will you join us? Just for a minute.”

  “Sure.”

  “I'm Matt, by the way,” he said as they crossed the wooden floor boards to get to his table.

  “Hailey.”

  She thought she saw Matt make some kind of a face at Elle, but she didn't know what it meant.

  “Elle, this is Hailey. Hailey, I'd like you to meet Elle.”

  “Hi,” Hailey said, following Matt's lead and pulling out a chair.

  “The thing is,” Matt started, giving his attention to Hailey. “Elle has this gorgeous piano collecting dust in her living room.”

  Hailey's eyes watched Elle, trying to figure out what was going on here. She could almost feel her anger radiating across the table. The brunette's jaw was clenched, her wavy hair flowing over her shoulders, her eyes narrowed slightly.

  “I think you should get lessons,” Matt said, flashing his white teeth.

  “I don't know,” Elle said, turning her attention to Hailey for the first time. “I don't want to bother you.”

  “No,” Hailey said quickly. “It's not a problem. Where do you live?”

  “Brooklyn Heights.”

  “I can come to you. Once a week?”

  Hailey wasn't sure what she was getting herself in to. She hadn't given lessons in years, but she wasn't going to turn down some extra money. And... If she was honest with herself, she was intrigued by Elle.

  Yes, she was gorgeous, and Hailey found it difficult to form words as she gazed into her mossy green eyes, but she could use a change. Her schedule had been the same for almost a year. Bus tours and playing the piano in this bar once a week. She needed to widen her social circle. It might even inspire a song or two. It was a win, win situation really, and Hailey found herself agreeing to whatever Elle suggested.

  “Sure,” Elle said, tucking a lock of her shiny dark hair behind her ear, revealing expensive looking earrings that sparkled as she gave Matt another heated stare. “Would Fridays suit you?”

  “Yes. Around seven?”

  “Perfect... Here's my card,” Elle said, reaching for her bag that was on the empty chair beside her and fishing out her purse. She slid out a glossy black business card and handed it to her. “My phone number and address are on there.”

  “Thanks. I'll see you Friday then,” Hailey said as she pushed back her chair. “I should get back to playing.” Hailey stood up and gave them both a warm smile. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”

  “You too,” Matt called after her.

  Hailey took one last look at Elle, meeting her eyes, before she turned and made her way over to the piano.

  That was strange...

  Hailey shook it off and took a sip of her drink before she started playing again, closing her eyes as her fingers slid across the keys.

  Chapter Nine

  Elle double checked her reflection in the mirror in the foyer, wondering if she should go back upstairs and change. She didn't know what to wear. She had on what she'd worn into the office today, charcoal slacks and a black button-down blouse with the top two buttons opened, revealing a hint of cleavage.

  She couldn't remember the last time she'd cared this much about what someone else thought of her, and she had to keep reminding herself that this wasn't a date. The butterflies in her stomach awoke again, taking flight as her doorbell rang at 7:01pm.

  At least she's punctual...

  Elle took a deep breath and opened her front door. “Hi,” she said as her eyes met Hailey's, the cool spring breeze caressing her blond hair as she stood on her doorstep and it took Elle a second to remember that she needed to ask her to come inside.

  “Hey,” Hailey said with a smile. “Are we still okay for that lesson? Because we can reschedule if-”

  “No. I mean yes... We're still okay. Come in.”

  Elle stood back, silently cursing herself for stumbling over her words. “The piano's in the living room, the first door on the right. Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Uh...”

  “Wine? Whiskey? Water?”

  “Wine... If that's okay,” Hailey said as she paused in the doorway that led into the living room.

  “Sure. Red or white?”

  “White. Anything is fine, really...”

  “Okay,” Elle said with a smile. “Make yourself at home.”

  “Thanks.”

  Elle's heels clicked against the wooden planks as she made her way into the kitchen and poured two glasses of wine. She was tempted to have something stronger, but she stuck to the bottle of Chardonnay that she'd opened for Hailey.

  The sound of jazz music drifted down the hallway, and Elle paused in the doorway, watching Hailey play, her back to Elle, her head tilted slightly as her hands glided across the white keys.

  Elle leaned against the door frame, almost transfixed by the confidence that Hailey played with. She'd taken off her jacket while Elle was in the kitchen, her blond hair now swept over one shoulder. The tank top she wore revealed toned arms and the equals sign tattoo that Matt had noticed the other night.

  Elle wished she had that ability to tell whether someone was gay or not. For someone who was so confident in a business setting, she struggled to find the courage to put herself out there. She'd been burned before, falling for more than one straight woman, and maybe Matt was right. Maybe she needed to be more proactive.

  Online dating was probably the safest move. She wouldn't have to worry about her lack of gaydar. Anyone on the website that met her criteria would pop up and she could jump straight into that awkward 'getting to know you' stage.

  Right now, though, Elle couldn't take her eyes off of this talented young woman sitting in front of her piano. She'd thought about how old Hailey might be since they'd met at the bar. Elle had been thinking early thirties, but seeing her today, she was leaning towards late twenties. Without the blazer, she was dressed more casually, her blond hair straight.

  Too young, either way.

  “Wow,” Elle said as Hailey finished playing. She brought over their wine glasses and too
k a seat on the bench beside her. “That was beautiful.”

  “Thanks,” Hailey said as she turned to face her, their fingers brushing as she took her glass. “And thanks for the wine.”

  “No problem.”

  “So... Why don't you play me something? I need to get a feel for what level you're at.”

  “Okay,” Elle said, taking a drink and leaving her glass on top of the piano.

  Elle rubbed her sweaty palms down the front of her gray pants. She'd played for almost an hour yesterday, trying to shake away the cobwebs so she didn't make a fool of herself today. She straightened her back as she placed her fingers on the smooth keys and started playing one of the last classical pieces she'd learned when she was a teenager.

  Elle was afraid her nerves might get the better of her but after a few seconds, she eased into that zone that she could always find, where she was feeling the notes she was playing, blocking out everything else around her, almost forgetting that Hailey was sitting beside her until she spoke.

  “I don't think you need any lessons,” Hailey said as Elle reached for her drink, relieved to have gotten through that without screwing up. “Not from me anyway... Matt made it sound like you don't play anymore.”

  “I don't. I haven't... Not since I was a junior in high school and that was more than twenty years ago,” Elle said as she took another drink.

  Why did I feel the need to say anything about my age? She could probably care less.

  “Well, you could've fooled me,” Hailey said. “You're extremely talented, and to be honest, I don't think I could teach you anything.”

  Elle felt her lips moving into a smile. She knew the only reason she agreed to this crazy plan of Matt's was to see Hailey again. She wasn't interested in lessons, but now that Hailey was here, and she remembered what it felt like to play, Elle had to admit that she was enjoying herself.

  “I grew up playing classical music,” Elle said, turning slightly to face her. “I want to learn how to play what you play. I loved everything that you came out with at the bar whether it was jazz, something from a musical, or a modern song. There was one or two I didn't recognize, but I still enjoyed them.”

  “They were originals.”

  “Really?”

  Hailey nodded. “Song writing and creating music comes first, playing second.”

  “Wow... I had no idea.”

  Hailey took a sip of her wine. “Why don't we start with something modern? I played this one Wednesday night,” Hailey said as she returned her glass to the coaster on top of the piano and started playing while Elle was still processing what she'd just said.

  So, Hailey was a song-writer... If Elle had come across someone's profile online and they had 'song-writer' as their profession, she knew she'd be intrigued. Matt had tried to get her to think about the type of woman she wanted to date, their hobbies, their work-life balance. Elle obviously worked hard so did that mean she needed to be with someone who worked equally long hours, or ideally, would she be dating someone who didn't, so they balanced each other out?

  Elle didn't know. She didn't think it was that easy and she knew Matt was just trying to help her out. What she did know, was that she was incredibly drawn to Hailey, her smile, the way she made Elle relax, and the beautiful music she created.

  Chapter Ten

  Hailey slid her arms into her jacket as she descended the steps outside Elle's and started the short walk home. She zipped up her black jacket as she strode back to her apartment, mentally counting down the days until the evenings were longer and summer would finally arrive. They'd had such a miserable winter this year, she couldn't wait to get her shorts and tank tops out.

  Hailey shook her head as she crossed the street. Elle only lived a few streets over from her, but her life appeared to be completely different. Hailey's building was a lot life Elle's but hers was divided into apartments and Elle seemed to have all four floors to herself.

  Whatever Elle did, she'd clearly made it. Her house was like something out of a magazine spread and Hailey couldn't even begin to imagine how much the piano they'd been playing cost. They were from different worlds.

  She had to be honest with Elle. There really was nothing that she could teach her. Elle had blown her away with her talent and it was such a shame that she'd stopped playing more than twenty years ago.

  Wait, so how old is she? She gave it up when she was a junior... and that was more than twenty years ago. So, Elle's at least thirty-eight. Maybe forty?

  Hailey smiled to herself. It didn't matter how old she was. Elle would never be interested in someone like Hailey. Elle was successful, incredibly talented, and sophisticated, all qualities that Hailey was striving for. Hailey, on the other hand, was one pay check away from being homeless. She didn't have a career, just a job. She was nowhere near as accomplished as Elle.

  And beautiful... How could she forget that one?

  Hailey remembered the way she'd felt when she sat down beside Elle on Wednesday, but she was sure that the initial attraction would've faded now that she was giving Elle lessons. The exact opposite had happened. She'd had trouble concentrating and that wasn't like her, especially when she was sitting in front of a piano. Hailey could normally block anything out, whether it was a noisy bar or a silent audience staring at her. She was glad that she'd had a glass of wine to help calm her nerves.

  And even though she was being honest with Elle by telling her that she couldn't really help her out, Hailey knew she was trying to gracefully bail. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so drawn to someone. Hailey stopped walking for a second as she realized it had never happened before, not like that. There was something almost magnetic between them and Hailey didn't know how she was going to get through these lessons. She had no idea how many weeks they would meet for, but Hailey was already daydreaming about what it would be like to stay a little longer, to have another drink and maybe...

  “Hailey? You okay?” Lauren asked as she walked towards her.

  They were outside their building. Hailey didn't know how long she'd been standing there, lost in her own imagination.

  “Yeah. Just thinking.”

  “Song idea?”

  “Yeah,” Hailey said softly as they went inside.

  “I have a melody for you, but of course, I need you to help me put some words to it.”

  “We make a good team.”

  “We definitely do,” Hailey agreed.

  She didn't have an idea for a song yet, but it wouldn't surprise her if this infatuation led to one.

  That's exactly what it was: infatuation. She knew not to get her hopes up. This wasn't like her though. She'd met her exes through friends or at a gay bar, and they'd gone on several dates like normally people did. This was completely different. The attraction had been almost instant, before she'd heard Elle say anything, before they'd been introduced.

  The scent of Elle's expensive perfume lingered, taunting her. Maybe it was on her top. They'd been sitting so close together...

  I have to forget about this and just be glad to have another stream of income.

  Chapter Eleven

  Elle topped up Matt's wine glass, finishing the bottle, and sat down beside him on the couch. They usually had dinner at either of their house's once a week, to catch up and spend some time together. They both had such busy schedules.

  “So how are your lessons going?” Matt asked, gently swirling his wine before taking a sip.

  “Good... I'm a little rusty but it's going well.”

  “Are you any good?”

  “I guess I am,” Elle said after thinking about it for a second. “I never really thought I was, but I hated playing when I was a kid. Hailey didn't know if there was any point in getting lessons from her. She said that she didn't have anything to teach me... So, I guess I'm not that bad.”

  “She said that? Jesus... Elle, I didn't know you were that good because she's...”

  “Amazing... And that's not even her thing. She loves song writi
ng. Playing at the bar is just a bit of fun.”

  “Is that so?”

  Elle nodded. “She's talented.”