If I Had You by Heather Hiestand

choice. But it doesn’t feel like a proper half day, I’ll tell you that.”
    â€œNo, it doesn’t. And you should have a full day, at least one.”
    She stared down at her gloves. “I’m happy as long as I can creep downstairs and listen to the music at night.”
    His tongue touched his upper lip for a fraction of a second. “You go on a little holiday every evening?”
    She smiled. “I suppose. I do love the music. I think my situation will change when the Marvins are working again, properly, in a theater. Right now they have too much time on their hands and we’re really just trying to get to know each other.”
    â€œAt least, for your sake, theatrical people are late risers,” he mused.
    â€œYes, and I don’t sleep well. It works in my favor.”
    â€œUnless I’m specifically told not to allow anyone near the nightclub door, I won’t trouble you,” he promised. “Now that I know what it means to you.”
    â€œThat’s very kind,” she said. “Decent of you.”
    â€œUntil the rules change again,” he said. “I must do as I’m told. I can’t be seen being flirtatious.”
    â€œI would never ask you to risk your job for the sake of me listening to hot jazz,” she said. “Or flirting with me.”
    His slight smile pronounced his cheekbones. “It’s Friday. The club should be on fire tonight.”
    She felt like they were flirting now. Bittersweet that he’d be cold to her again when they arrived. “Do you often work inside it?”
    â€œNo, New Year’s was the only time. Did you enjoy dancing with Mr. Eyre?” His tongue darted out again.
    â€œNot as much as Mrs. Marvin did,” Alecia said without thinking.
    Ivan grinned. This close to him, it was hard not to stare, not to wish he would kiss her again.
    The cab stopped with a jerk. She glanced out the window and was keenly disappointed with the sight she’d adored just two weeks ago. “Back to the hotel so soon? I hadn’t realized.”
    Ivan was already stepping out. He helped her down, then paid the driver.
    â€œYou shouldn’t, you should take the taxicab back to your flat. You don’t need to be here today.”
    He hesitated. She could see he really didn’t want to be at his workplace. He probably wanted to take his sister to see the brooch. “Take the taxicab, Ivan. Mr. Marvin gave me enough money for the fare.”
    â€œVery well.” He nodded brusquely, lifted a hand to the doorman who had been hovering nearby, then climbed back in.
    Through the window, she could see Ivan sitting very straight, as if he were uncomfortable. Mindful of the money she carried, she went through the hotel speedily, though she would have loved to dawdle at the dress shop, or even sit on the banquette seating arrangement across from the salon to watch the ladies as they exited with new hairstyles. Her own hair was a heavy, neatly tucked coil against her neck.
    She asked the lift operator to take her to the fifth floor and was so focused on putting money into Richard’s hands that she almost missed the elderly hand waving to her from behind the fern across from the lift door.
    She recognized Mrs. Plash. When the old woman stepped out from behind the large plant, Alecia saw she held an old apron in a bundle.
    â€œWhat do you have there?” she asked.
    Mrs. Plash looked down, confused.
    â€œHere, let me assist you,” Alecia said, moving to take the bundle. It rattled, its unwieldy burden shifting. She took it to the chair next to the lift door and unwrapped it. Crystal ashtrays, all with the distinctive GR logo in the middle.
    â€œOh dear,” Mrs. Plash murmured.
    â€œYou have quite a collection here,” Alecia said. “Do you know where you found them?”
    â€œDid you know a woman recently officiated at a wedding for the first time in London?” Mrs. Plash said,