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the stunning redhead who’d come in from the cold. Her warm smile held only a hint of uncertainty no doubt caused by Taylor’s and Claudia’s confused expressions.
    “Guys, this is Danielle Lennox . She’s auditioning for us tonight. Danielle, this is Taylor Croft and Claudia Galvin.”
    “Hi. I’m so glad to meet you. I’ve been coming to Colette’s to hear you play all summer. You guys are really good.” Danielle offered a hand to Claudia whose confusion had morphed into a choked expression.
    She took the newcomer’s hand and managed to reform her features into a polite smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
    Taylor seemed dumbstruck, and Owen might have found his friend’s slack-jawed response amusing except for his own prickly mood. “Taylor? Did we lose you?”
    “I’m…sorry. Uh…It’s nice to meet you too…uh…”
    “You can call me Dani; everyone does. You both seem a little surprised that I’m here. You don’t mind that Owen asked me to crash your rehearsal, do you?”
    “Not at all.” Taylor snapped out of his mild fugue and moved to open the door of the back room. “Why don’t you come inside? I’ll get you a seat.”
    With a still uncertain smile, Danielle followed Taylor into the back room, leaving Claudia staring at Owen, brows raised. “You never mentioned we were holding auditions,” she said as soon as they’d left the room.
    “ It was a spur of the moment thing. She has a nice voice, and she’s interested in being in the band. I thought it couldn’t hurt to have another vocalist in the mix. You could sing together, you know, when you’re around.”
    “Hmm.” Claudia lifted her chin and sailed past Owen into the back room. He followed her and found Taylor had set up a microphone and an amplifier for Dani. The pair stood together, heads bent over his keyboard while he showed her some fascinating aspect of the equipment. He had no doubt Taylor would be amenable to Dani joining Love Notes, and judging by the steely look in Claudia’s eyes, she would probably agree too just because she wouldn’t want anyone to think she was too jealous of another woman not to allow her to sing with them.
    Of course Dani would have to accept the invitation, and Owen was sure she would. That would be one less obstacle to Claudia being able to pursue her dream. She wouldn’t be able to use loyalty to the band as an excuse not to accept a better offer.
    He was doing everything in his power to help Claudia find the happiness she deserved. So why did she look as miserable as he felt?

Chapter Five
     
     
    Claudia sat alone at the kitchen table, her cell phone resting on the place mat in front of her. The apartment was too quiet. She was used to having the small, second-floor walk-up to herself on occasion when Lily worked the late shift at the hospital, but tonight Lily wasn’t working. She’d been dating Quinn Preston, one of Spring River Valley’s Emergency Medical Technicians, for a few weeks now, and for some reason the place seemed a lot smaller and lonelier when Lily was out with Quinn than it did when she was just off at work.
    Rehearsal had seemed different too tonight. She couldn’t argue that Danielle Lennox had a great voice and the type of fun -loving personality that would probably make her an instant hit with Colette’s regulars. As much as she wanted to fault Owen for inviting the vivacious redhead into what she’d come to think of as their sacred space, she couldn’t. Dani would be a great addition to the band.
    Who was she kidding ? Dani would be a perfect replacement.
    It had been painfully clear that Owen hadn’t wasted any time looking for a new singer. He probably couldn’t wait for Claudia to be gone for good.
    Dialing Jacob’s number turned out to be much easier than she’d expected it would be, and he picked up on the first ring, which also surprised her. Her voice deserted her for a second after he said hello, and panic made her consider hanging up.
    “Claudia,