Read Courting the Clown for Free Online

she’d remember to take it with her. This wasn’t a catastrophe. She’d just have to return the coat as quickly as possible. After all, she had his card. She had three phone numbers for the man, his pager number, two email addresses, his PA’s phone number and his home address as well as two work addresses. It probably wouldn’t be too difficult to track him down – if he didn’t beat her to it.
    Sylvie started the process of removing the damp costume, shivering now that she’d lost the warm protection of Nick’s coat. The changing room looked brighter and larger without Susie and assorted partners-in-crime crowding her with paintbrushes and not-so-practical advice – all probably aimed at distracting her from what they’d planned for her.
    Underneath, her t-shirt and underwear were soaked – and the white cotton was splotched with red and orange where the color from the wet costume had seeped through.
    Charming.
    Oh, God. Nick’s coat!
    Sylvie grimaced as she glanced back at the coat hanging by the door. She was afraid to check the inner lining. The coat looked expensive, and if it was now all stained in red on the inside, she’d have to offer to replace it.
    All in all, it was probably lucky that she’d forgotten to return it. He’d have put it on without noticing the dye, and that warm heavy coat would have clung to those nice wide shoulders, transferring the red ink to that lovely gray sweater which had looked so soft her fingers had itched to touch it.
    Damn. Those annoying butterflies were back. She clenched her pathetic abs in an effort to kill them, but it didn’t work. She should have consumed more cholesterol back at the fast-food place. Definitely.
    So, was the coat ruined or not?
    Only one way to find out.
    She strode to the door and grabbed the lapels of Nick’s coat, opening it, eyes squeezed shut.
    She opened one eye, then another one as her worst suspicions were confirmed. It was bad. It was horrible. The entire inside of the coat was splattered with red and pink blotches. And what about his car? Had she ruined his seat covers too?
    She let go of the coat and shuffled back to the changing area. That better be a well-paid job he was getting her. At this rate she’d have to work several months just to pay him back for assorted damages.
    She peeled all of the horrid costume off and threw it in the huge laundry basket, which was already overflowing with Santa costumes, equally grimy from the city snow. Their laundry bill had to be astronomical. Not that she cared. She was never coming in here again. She just wanted to go home and forget just about everything that had happened today. Home, to her tiny apartment on the fifth floor, overlooking brick walls and garbage cans. Home to a semi-hot shower, dry pajamas and a warm bed. Home to the cat she’d adopted the day after she moved in. She hoped he was in the mood for sharing. Lazarus made a wonderful toe-warmer, and now she needed one badly.
    She wouldn’t mind not seeing pink or orange for a century or so. No polka dots, either.
    The door clanged open and Susie stumbled inside, wearing a tan coat that almost hid the colorful clown suit she was wearing underneath. She was carrying several shopping bags in each hand. “Hey!” she said, green eyes sparkling with glee. “Return of the Clown! How was it?”
    “I’m not speaking to you,” Sylvie said. She turned to the mirror and tried to smooth her hair so it looked less scary. Then she’d be out of here. “I’m not sure I’ll ever speak to you again.”
    Susie whistled cheerfully. “Hey, I got a call from Mrs. Panati. She was ecstatic. The kids were thrilled with you. They want to know if you’ll be available for the boy’s birthday in February.” Susie gave her thumbs up. “Great work! Are you available in February?”
    “No, I am most definitely not available in February!” Sylvie shouted. “In fact, I’ll never be available again. Ever! Got it?”
    Susie held up her hands.