The Air Singer (The Cantors) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hand over hers and the cards fell flat on the table splayed out in front of her. The warmth of his skin radiated through her hand and she could feel the subtle callouses on his fingertips as they rested on her wrist.
    “I came here to find out where you were last night.” Roland removed his hand and returned to his relaxed position across the table. “Do you have any idea how many awe inspiring performances you missed?”
    “I will have to say no.” Tally leaned back in her chair trying to remember the talent from a week ago.
    “None. I would hear more talent at a karaoke night in a retirement community.”
    Tally snickered. “I am so sorry you had to suffer, but I’m sure there were plenty of subjects for your people watching hobby.” Tally remembered the object of his analysis last week, “So was the woman with the pony tail at the bar again?”
    A corner of Roland’s lips turned up into a smirk. “You and I spoke in a bar last week for a total of twenty minutes and I am already detecting a hint of jealousy. Should I be worried?”
    Tally’s cheeks burned. “No, I just don’t want you to think I’m going to let you put a guilt trip on me for not showing up last night when you and I both know that if you were lonely, it wasn’t my fault.”
    Roland’s brow lifted above his right eye. Tally sat back with a little more confidence in her ability to talk to him.
    “You’re right. It is completely my fault. I will need to make sure that never happens again.” Roland leaned across the table. “So will you be gracing me with your presence tonight?”
    “I don’t remember Taproom hosting open mic on Fridays.”
    “They don’t.” Roland took a sip of his coffee, “You will have to entertain me without the help of a guitar.”
    Tally’s mind listed all the ways she would like to entertain him. Realizing that Roland expected an answer, she quickly put her list away. Since it was only the second time she had seen him, going to the Taproom alone was out of the question.
    “I’ll see what Kate is doing tonight. Maybe we’ll show up.”
    Tally knew that as soon as she told Kate that Roland had shown up at the shop, she would forgive her for ruining the planned girl’s night.
    “Well then, I will leave you to your business.” Roland finished his coffee and set the mug on her table. “Don’t work too late.”
    He st ood up and smoothed out his shirt. Tally was taken aback by how tall he was.
    He smiled and began walking toward the door. Tally admired his backside until he turned around. Jerking her head up, her eyes met his. “What time should I plan on seeing you?”
    Tally decided to keep it as casual as possible. “Kate and I usually head out around eight.”
    “I will see you a fter eight then.” With a quick wink, he walked out the door.
    Tally sat there for at least five minutes trying to play over what had just happened. The ring of her cell phone brought her back to the present moment. Recognizing the ringtone, she answered right away.
    “ Kate, I think we are going to have to postpone girl’s night. You won’t believe what just happened.”

Chapter 4
     
    “I think this night would be more fun inside the bar.” Kate sat in the driver’s seat of her SUV checking her lipstick in the visor mirror. “Would you mind horribly if I went in? I’ll send water out when I can.”
    Tally took one deep breath, let it out, and then took another. Nothing seemed to calm her nerves. “What if he’s in there?”
    “I thought that was the whole reason for coming here tonight.” Kate got out of the vehicle, walked over to the passenger side door and opened it. She leaned between the door and the roof of the car. “Tally you have never let anyone rattle you this way. Here is a nice, normal guy that made the effort to go to your work and let you know that he wanted to see you tonight. What is there to be afraid of?”
    “Rejection. Humiliation. What if that energy shows up again and throws me for a