Free Love in E Flat by Kate Sweeney Page B

thirties?”
    “Thirty-eight.”
    “What happened?” he asked softly.
    Lou took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. This is exactly the conversation she didn’t want to have with a Chicago cabbie, no matter how endearing Nick may be. Eventually, when you spend too much time in one place, they remembered. And Lou was all about forgetting.
    “You mean you haven’t heard?” She didn’t want to sound snippy, but she knew she did.
    Nick winced apologetically, and mercifully, the light changed. “Sorry…”
    “No, don’t be. I was rude. Life just got in the way. How’s that for now?”
    Nick looked relieved as he winked in the rearview mirror. “Works for me. Life’s been getting in my way since I was a kid.” He laughed so hard, he coughed.
    They were still laughing when Nick pulled up in front of the Four Seasons. “Want me t’wait?”
    “Please.” As she noticed when she first got into Nick’s cab, he did not have the Plexiglas partition between them. She reached over and patted him on the shoulder. “Aren’t you afraid of the possible nefarious fare?”
    “Huh? Oh,” Nick said with a laugh. “No glass. Nah…If my time is up, it’s up. I like people too much.”
    “Thanks, Nick.”
    “You got it, Lou.”
    She then had an idea and hoped she wouldn’t kick herself later... “Hey, Nick,” she started quietly.
    Nick slipped off his seat belt and turned to her. His eyes showed a mix of concern and curiosity. “Yeah?”
    “I think I’m gonna be taking Agata a few places for the next few days. I-I don’t own a car, and I thought maybe…”
    Nicked grinned. “You want to hire me for the duration?”
    “If you can.”
    “I’m an independent cabbie, and I own my taxi.”
    “Okay. You work up a fare, and I’ll pay you.”
    “Not to worry, Lou. This’ll be fine. Now go get that good-looking Rooskie.”
    As Lou walked up to the door, Agata was waiting.
    “Good morning, Aggie.” Lou held the door open.
    “Good morning, Lou.” Agata smiled as she walked past Lou.
    Lou gently sniffed the air. Oh, man, she thought, does she have to smell good, too? She noticed Agata wore a pair of dark wool slacks and black leather boots. Aggie pulled the collar of her coat around her neck, then slipped into a pair of leather gloves. Agata Karetnikov looked sexy and comfortable at the same time. Lou mentally kicked herself when she sighed openly and noticed Aggie staring at her.
    “What is wrong?” Agata asked.
    “What?” Lou asked in an almost dreamy state. She shook her head. “Oh, nothing. You’re dressed appropriately for a football game.”
    “Yes, I know,” Agata said, grinning slightly.
    Nick opened the door for her. “Good morning, madam.”
    “Good morning, Nick. It is nice to see you again.” Agata got in the cab, and Lou followed.
    “The accent gave me the chills. How ’bout you?” he whispered to Lou’s glare.
    “Where to, ladies?” Nick asked as he buckled up.
    “Northwestern, Ryan Field.”
    “I thought they were done with college football,” Nick said as he pulled away.
    “They are. This is an alumni holiday benefit. I think they’re only playing a half. But it’ll be a good story for the holidays. All the proceeds are going to charities.” She turned to Agata. “So I trust you had a pleasant night?”
    “I did. I slept very well.”
    “Must have been the company you kept.” Lou gave her an encouraging grin.
    Agata looked out the window. “Or the magnificent food.”
    Lou frowned and avoided Nick’s grunt. “The food good at that place?” he asked. “Never been. Looks kinda expensive.”
    “Very good.” Agata glanced at Lou. “Why are you frowning?”
    “I’m not frowning.”
    “When there is a deep crevice between the eyebrows, it is called a frown.” Agata smiled slightly. “At least that is what we call it in Russia.”
    Lou rubbed her forehead as if to erase the deep furrow. Why was she frowning?
    “Now tell me about this footballer