Free Celestial Bodies by Laura Leone Page A

check in again,” Nick promised.
    “And until Diana Stewart stops being a suspect, you watch your step,” Peter cautioned.
    “Right.” Nick hung up and headed back to the House of Ishtar. When he got there, he realized that he was growing pretty accustomed to the place. He had adjusted to the selection of Eastern and New Age music that played on the shop’s stereo, he didn’t mind the smell of burning incense anymore, and he even found some of the less intense customers rather likable.
    Most of all, he counted on seeing Diana every day. He realized it with a hot rush of certainty when their eyes met as soon as he let himself into the shop.
    “You were up and out early,” she said, noticing the newspaper he carried under his arm.
    “Honesty compels me to admit that I snuck out for a cup of coffee.”
    Diana laughed. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders in a torrent of disarrayed red-gold curls, as if she hadn’t brushed it yet. Her eyes held a welcoming glow, a subtle warmth that made his belly throb with longing.
    Nick cleared his throat. “Why are you down here so early?” The shop didn’t usually open until ten o’clock.
    “I’ve got things to do this morning. And Mrs. Bouvier is due any minute. Have you met her?” She leaned across the jewelry counter to pick up the appointment book, and the action made the plump curve of her breasts spill against the neckline of her aqua-colored dress.
    Nick was mesmerized by the sight, by her healthy feminine beauty. He wished things were different. He wished he could just give her a good-morning kiss and—
    “Nick? Is something wrong?” Diana had straightened and was looking at him with concern.  
    “No. Sorry.” He tried to remember what they’d just been talking about. “Um, yeah, I’ve met Mrs. Bouvier.”
    “Oh.” Diana smiled uncertainly. Then she took a deep breath and forged ahead. “Listen, about last night...” She wet her lips, and he shifted tensely. “If it would be silly for me to get involved with someone just because of what I saw in the tarot, then it would be silly for me to not get involved with someone I liked, just because I didn’t want to get involved with someone because of what I saw in the tarot.” She paused. “Do you see what I mean?”
    Nick blinked.
    “What I mean is, maybe after the shop closes tonight, we could...” Diana shrugged. “I don’t know. Have dinner or something?”
    He stared at her, desire warring with integrity.
    “Nick, does the thought of eating dinner with me repulse you, or has Ishtar got your tongue?” she asked impatiently.
    He had to make a decision, he realized. A split-second decision, and it had to be the right one. He had to choose between the most fateful feeling he’d ever known and the professionalism that was already in serious question.
    “Nick?” she prodded.
    “I, uh—”
    There was a sudden clanging behind him. Saved by the door bell!
    Nick whirled to face the newcomer. “Mrs. Bouvier!” He leaped forward to welcome her with exuberance.
    The plump, pretty-faced woman fluffed her ultra-blond hair and smiled. “Why, Diana, this gentleman of yours makes an old frump like me feel like the belle of the ball again.”
    Considering that Mrs. Bouvier possessed the best wardrobe, cosmetics, and jewelry that money could buy, Diana thought the term “frump” was a transparent attempt to win a compliment from the “gentleman.” But it worked.
    “Girls half your age wish they could be so eye-catching, ma’am,” Nick said gallantly.
    After a few more such exchanges, Diana realized this could go on indefinitely if she didn’t put a stop to it. Nick sure knew how to coat a well-used compliment with plenty of flirtatious charm to make it go down quick and easy. Since Felix still hadn’t come downstairs, she picked up the phone and called the apartment.
    Nick kept up a steady stream of conversation with Mrs. Bouvier while he tried to think of a way to get her alone, so he could