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</div><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">The day was serving up all kinds of unexpected surprises, thought Karl as a very attractive, not so curvy as Grace, blonde woman decided to come over to speak with him.  He was 'on the clock' so playful banter was not something he was going to engage in, at this time.  He wouldn't be rude, but he would offer her his professional courtesy and not much else.<br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(160, 115, 221)">"Good evening. I'm Lucia."</span> she said as she offered her hand.<br/>
<br/>
Looking her square in the eye, Karl took her hand in a firm and controlled grip, not making any attempt to squeeze it or assert dominance, and then calmly shook it a couple of pumps, saying in his soft rumbling bass, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"Karl Wahl, Miss."</span>  He released Lucia's hand in a normal fashion.  He seemed to get a feeling from her that she had more on her mind than simply being polite.  He might be wrong.  Still, he was here at this reading because of Grace, his employer.<br/>
<br/>
He spoke again, saying, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"I hope that you will forgive me, Miss, but I can't really talk, now.  I'm here with my employer, professionally...,"</span> then Karl had a moment of weakness to her feminine beauty and added, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(84, 172, 210)">"... otherwise I'd be charmed to speak with you."</span> <i>Good Lord!  Had Karl really said that?!?  Please, Lord, don't let her be flirting with me with Grace near by!</i><br/>
<br/>
Fortunately, Karl was certain that he'd kept his facial expression very neutral and he felt confident that she would understand that he really couldn't talk with her at this time.  Calmly, with his peripheral vision, he could see that Grace had still not returned to the parlor.  Also, Audrey was not in the parlor, either.  Karl then turned attention back to Lucia.</span>