Dance Upon the Air Read Online Free Page B

able to chat, to answer some questions breezily and avoid others.
    Tarts cooled on the rack and muffins went into the oven. As the kitchen filled with light, Nell sang to welcome the day.

    Lulu folded her arms over her skinny chest. It was, Mia knew, her way of trying to look intimidating. As Lulu barely inched up to five feet, weighed ninety pounds soaking wet, and had the face of a woeful pixie, it took work for her to look intimidating.
    â€œYou don’t know anything about her.”
    â€œI know she’s alone, looking for work, and in the right place at the right time.”
    â€œShe’s a stranger. You don’t just hire a stranger, and lend her money, give her a house, without at least doing a background check. Not one reference, Mia. Not one. For all you know, she’s a psychopath running from the law.”
    â€œYou’ve been reading true crime books again, haven’t you?”
    Lulu scowled, an expression that on her harmless face approximated a pained smile. “There are bad people in the world.”
    â€œYes, there are.” Mia printed out the mail-order requests that had come through her computer. “Without them we’d have no balance, no challenge. She’s running from something, Lu, but not the law. And fate pointed her here. It brought her to me.”
    â€œAnd sometimes fate’s a backstabber.”
    â€œI’m well aware of that.” With the printouts in hand, Mia walked out of the office, Lulu on her heels. Only the fact that Lulu Cabot had essentially raised her prevented Mia from telling her to mind her own business. “And you should know I can protect myself.”
    â€œYou take in strays, your guard goes down.”
    â€œShe’s not a stray, she’s a seeker. There’s a difference. I felt something from her,” Mia added as she started downstairs to fill the orders. “When she’s more comfortable I’ll look closer.”
    â€œAt least get a reference.”
    Mia lifted a brow as she heard the back door open. “I just got one. She’s prompt. Don’t poke at her, Lulu,” Mia ordered as she handed the printouts over. “She’s also tender yet. Well, good morning, Nell.”
    â€œGood morning.” Arms full of covered trays, Nell breezed in. “I pulled my car around back. That’s all right, isn’t it?”
    â€œThat’s just fine. Need a hand?”
    â€œOh, no, thanks. I have everything stacked in the car.”
    â€œLulu, this is Nell. You can get acquainted later.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Lulu. I’ll just start setting things up.”
    â€œYou go right ahead.” Mia waited until Nell climbed the stairs. “Looks dangerous, doesn’t she?”
    Lulu set her jaw. “Looks can be deceiving.”
    Moments later Nell jogged downstairs again. She wore a plain white T-shirt tucked into her jeans. The little gold locket lay against it like a charm. “I started a first pot of coffee. I’ll bring some down next trip, but I don’t know how you like it.”
    â€œBlack for me, sweet and light for Lu. Thanks.”
    â€œUm . . . would you mind not going up to the café until I’ve finished? I’d really like you to see the whole presentation. So just . . .” She backed toward the door, face flushed, as she spoke. “Wait. Okay?”
    â€œEager to please,” Mia commented as she and Lulu filled the orders. “Eager to work. Yes, definite psychopathic tendencies. Call the cops.”
    â€œShut up.”
    Twenty minutes later, breathless, jangled with pleasure and nerves, Nell came downstairs again. “Can you come up now? I still have time to change things around if it doesn’t suit you. Oh, could you come, too, Lulu? Mia said you know everything about the shop, so you’d know if it doesn’t look the way it should.”
    â€œHmph.” Grudgingly Lulu stopped ringing up the