Courting the Clown Read Online Free Page A

scream.
    Sylvie waved off his apology. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. You know what they say - from the mouth of babes...”
    “No, it’s not true at all. She must have been brainwashed by Barbie. You’ve got plenty--” Nick squeezed his eyes shut and felt like clamping a hand over his own mouth. He was no better than his daughter. He grinned sheepishly. “Oh boy. I can’t believe I said that. Sorry.”
    Sylvie was keeping busy going through more pockets, probably still in search of that elusive business card. He couldn’t see if the bit lip indicated annoyance or if she was trying to keep from laughing. “No problem. I’ll live. And there’s no need to reassure me. A complaint from a five year old won’t have me running to a plastic surgeon. Ah, there they are.”
    She’d located a small stack of damp cardboard rectangles and managed to peel one free. “Here is the agency’s card. Hope the print isn’t too smudgy from the snow. Call them, okay? See if they have a clown you and Lana would like.”
    “But―“
    Sylvie held up a hand to stop him. “If they can’t help you at all, you can call me. Okay?”
    He nodded reluctantly. “Your phone number?”
    Sylvie looked deflated, so he was glad he’d asked. “Right. Do you have a pen?”
    Nick nodded and fished around in an inner pocket until he located a pen. She motioned for him to turn around and used his back as a desk as she scribbled something on the card. “If the agency can’t help you, if nothing works out -- call me.” She looked at Lana, then her gaze slid to Emily and she bit her lip. “If all else fails...”
    Nick smiled and tucked the card into a pocket. Mission accomplished. Almost. “Thanks. Now can we give you a ride back to the office? Or home?”
    Sylvie looked down at his daughters and Nick narrowed his eyes as he met Emily’s oh-so-innocent gaze. “Em, you’re going to be nice to Sylvie in the car,” he said sternly. “No more tricks. No more clowning around. She’s off-duty now. Understand? You’re in deep enough trouble already, kid.” He leaned down to catch her eye. “One more strike, kiddo, and I’ll have to have a serious talk with Santa.”
    His fallen angel nodded. “I’ll be good, Daddy.”
    “Thanks...” Sylvie said. “I would appreciate a ride downtown. But only if you’re going there anyway.”
    “Yep, that’s where we’re headed,” Nick lied. “No problem.” He herded his daughters down the path and out the gate, where they clambered into the back seat of his SUV. He opened the passenger door for Sylvie, who climbed in and immediately went for the mirror on the visor. He started the car and
    “Oh, no,” he heard her mutter as he shut the door. When he got in on his side, she was frantically scraping at the make-up on her face with her fingernails. “What a nightmare. It’s half an inch thick! Do you suppose it will ever come off?”
    In the rear view mirror, he saw Lana leaning forwards, peering towards Sylvie with a worried look. He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m sure it will. But if you’re worried, I think I’ve got a crowbar in the trunk.”
    Sylvie slammed the visor back up and yanked her seat belt in place. “Damn Susie for abandoning me like this,” she muttered between her teeth, rubbing at the paint on her cheeks. “I was just going to observe, she promised me it would be no big deal. I should have told her to go straight to hell the minute she told me to put on this bloody costume...”
    Nick cleared his throat and interrupted before the girls got new ammunition for their ongoing Creative Cursing project. “Well... where exactly are we taking you? Home? Or to the clown office?”
    Sylvie glanced back at the girls. “The office. Clowns and Clauses . I need to get my stuff and my car. Sorry about the cursing. I’m not used to having to watch my language. I didn’t mean to... I’m just a bit... upset.”
    “I don’t blame you. Scary afternoon.”
    She rested her head