Page 16 of The Sound of Harmony

“Nope.” They shared a smile.

“Don’t tell him you know,” Kendrick said. “It would bruise his delicate little ego.”

“I won’t say a word,” Emma said. “Now, about your piano.”

“The one I have is currently sitting in a climate-controlled storage unit. The one I want needs to fit through that door.”

Emma made a note. She seemed as organized with information as she was with physical space. “I can look into trade-ins, maybe.”

“I’d like that.”

Ben returned, a sheepish look on his face and his accent a bit thicker. “I am so sorry, mademoiselle. There are no sticky squares.”

“I must have left them at home,” Emma said in a breezy tone. “Thank you for trying.”

“My pleasure.”

Emma turned back to Kendrick, her attention so focused it was as if Ben had ceased to exist. “Your cousin said he’d arranged for all the utilities?”

“He did,” Kendrick said. “Have you met Mitch?”

Emma shook her head. “Only email.”

“Mitch is a realtor here in town,” Kendrick said. “He’d be a useful contact.”

Ben shot him a warning glare but there was no time to backtrack, because Emma had produced a contract for him to sign.

All that was left was handing over the keys and goodbye handshakes. Kendrick didn’t let Ben linger, herding him toward the car as quickly as he could.

Kendrick had been equal parts irritated and confused when Mitch had suggested hiring Emma. Now, he wanted to send him a thank-you card and buy him a drink.

“Holy shit,” Ben said when they’d pulled away from the curb. He’d finally dropped the French accent. “How did you get that lucky?”

“She seems competent,” Kendrick said.

Ben laughed. “It wasn’t her competence that you’re attracted to. You were hanging on her every word.”

“You mean the few words you let her get in edgewise?”

“I was helping,” Ben said. “I was talking you up. Being your wingman. I think she likes you.”

“This is a business arrangement.”

“It’s more than that. She’s into you.”

Was she? Or was she treating him the same way she’d treat any client? Kendrick didn’t think that every waitress who refilled his coffee cup wanted to date him or that the dry cleaner wanted to hook up when she chatted about the weather. How was this different?

“She never asked me where I’m from,” Ben continued. “Americans always ask. How could she resist such an easy opening? She was more interested in you, asking you all those questions.”

“Questions that she needed to ask to do her job. Are you listening to yourself?”

“I’m just saying, you are the master of missed opportunities.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Name one,” Kendrick said.

“I’ll name two. Hannah and Taylor. And let’s not even talk about Raine.”

“They’re in my orchestra. They’re in my section. You don’t date people you work with.”

“Why not?” Ben remained serious, watching the road.

“I hired Emma for her professional expertise.” Kendrick raised his voice as the car picked up speed on the highway entrance ramp. “I’m not looking for anything beyond that.”