14. Back in New York
Anne felt guilty about returning to New York on Sunday, leaving Emily with so much responsibility. But Minnie and Mr. Greenly had offered to keep Gandalf, and her father had promised to follow the doctor’s orders and take it easy while recovering at Emily’s apartment.
Meanwhile, she felt like she’d been squeezed through the wringer of an antique washer. The sole passenger on Gherring’s jet, she was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. But she refused to go back and lay down in the master bedroom. She was determined to avoid the thoughts that would surely invade her mind if she were to lie down in Steven”s bed.
Her plan was to grab a taxi and go straight home to sleep. Maybe she’d take just one Benadryl to make sure she got a good night’s sleep.
The plane landed smoothly, and she waited for it to taxi to a stop. She already had her suitcases in hand when the pilot came back to open the door. He exited down the ladder in front of her, carrying her large bag while she followed behind. When she reached the ground, someone took her carry-on from her hand.
“I’ve got the car warmed up, waiting for us,” said Steven.
A rock lodged itself somewhere in her chest. She’d hoped to avoid being alone with Steven Gherring before going to work on Monday morning. Now she had no choice but to follow him to the waiting limousine. Still, she was grateful for the expedited trip back to the apartment. Perhaps she could keep the topic of conversation on safe ground. Work… she had to talk about work.
She crawled into the car and sat down in the middle of the shorter side seat. He took a seat on the opposite side, per her plan.
“I’ll bet we’ve had some calls from Bern during the Thanksgiving holidays,” Anne said. “I plan to start on that first thing in the morning. I’ll be at work early.”
“That sounds like a good plan, if you feel up to it. Are you sure you’re ready to go back to work tomorrow?”
“I’m fine. I’m not tired at all.” She stifled a yawn. “That was just the power of suggestion. We’ve got the Christmas party this Saturday night. And I forgot to ask if I’m supposed to contact the publicist about an escort for that party.”
“I usually don’t take a date to the company Christmas party… unless I’m actually dating someone. Are you planning to take someone to the party?”
“Maybe. But I’m not sure. Henri may be coming to New York next weekend.”
His brows creased. “Henri? I thought he… Did he tell you he was coming next weekend?”
“He said he wanted to come when I talked to him on Wednesday. But with Anna-Laure’s chemo, who knows.”
“Wednesday? Have you talked to him since then?”
“No, but I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Why are you asking?”
He pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through his messages. “Just a business matter. It’s nothing. I’ll email him tomorrow.”
She struggled to get her heavy coat off. “It’s warm in here. Ow—my hair’s caught on something.”
He dropped his cell on the seat and sprang across the car to help her. “Wait, it’s caught on this button. There, I’ve got it.”
As he pulled the coat from her shoulders, he remained on the seat beside her. The knots in her stomach grew larger.
“How’s Gram doing?”
“I finally insisted she see a doctor and get checked out. They didn’t find anything wrong with her. And by Thursday, she said she was ‘hunky-dory.’”
“That’s great.”
“Anne…” His serious tone made her throat constrict. “I think we should talk about last Tuesday.”
“You mean the office rumor about us sleeping together? I’ve come to terms with that. I mean I can certainly see why everyone would think that.”
“No, I meant… Wait—what do you mean, you see why they would think that?”
“You’re you, and I’m me. I got a promotion. Why else would you promote me, right? Only you and I know that would never happen.”
“Because you wouldn’t sleep with a man unless you were married to him, right?”
Anne was relieved. Maybe he actually got it now. “Right. So if you decide you don’t want to promote me after all, I’ll understand.”
“What do you mean? Why would I decide—” The muscles in Steven”s jaw began to flex and she could see him breathing hard. When he finally spoke again, his voice was full of hurt. “Are you implying I actually promoted you so you would sleep with me? Is that what you think of me? After all this time together, you actually think that little of me?”
“No… I—”
“I can’t believe it, Anne. Why would you think that?”
“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to think. After you… you know… And I was embarrassed because I was so… you know…”
“So you put two and two together and came up with thirteen?”
“Well—”
“There are other logical conclusions you could have made.”
“Logic has never been my strong point.”
“No kidding! And I sent you on my jet to Fort Worth because…?”
“I don’t know. I feel really bad about that. I wish you’d gotten me a regular ticket. I’ll find some way to pay you back.”
“I don’t want you to pay me back.”
Anne chewed on her lower lip. “But I owe you so much. I’m a proud person—I don’t like to be indebted. You don’t know how that feels.”
“Did it ever occur to you that I like doing things for you?”
“I know. You really are a good person—a generous person. You really are sweet.” She gave a hardy nod.
“You’ve got to be the most infuriating woman on the planet!” He jabbed his fingers through his hair until he appeared to have been in a hurricane. Then he looked at her, piercing her with his cold steel-blue eyes. She was caught like a deer in headlights—she couldn’t look away.
Slowly, one hand came up to brush her cheek. Then his fingers dropped, trailing along her chin and down to her neck. She held her breath, afraid to move. Her skin scalded beneath his touch. His hand slid gently around the side of her neck until his fingers splayed on the back of her head.
His face was close. She could feel him breathing. She had to stop him now. Just a word and she knew he would retreat. His questioning eyes searched hers. She squeezed them tight lest he read the desire she couldn’t hide.
His fingers twisted in her hair, and he pulled her face toward his until their foreheads pressed together, their lips almost touching. Her breath came faster, almost panting. She trembled from head to toe. The waiting was torture.
She lifted her hand and tentatively touched his neck. What was she doing? This was a bad idea. He was her boss. If she couldn’t stop him from kissing her, how would she stop him when he wanted more? Yet she moved her mouth toward him, like parched lips seeking water. Her lips parted as she touched them to his—shy, timid, seeking.
He spoke to her in a stilted groan, breathing the words into her mouth. “I… am… not… sweet!” His hand tightened behind her neck and he pressed his lips firmly onto hers. He kissed her thoroughly, like nothing she could ever remember in her life.
Then he pulled away with an expletive and sat back against the seat, his chest rising and falling with heavy rapid breaths. She felt bereft—empty—with the departure of his lips. A pain as if a bandage had been torn away from a wound.
He turned to capture her gaze again. “And this time, you kissed me.”
* * *
They didn’t speakthe rest of the way home. He seemed as lost in his own thoughts as she was in hers. Her emotions were in turmoil. What did this mean? He’d as much as told her he wasn’t trying to sleep with her. Yet, his kiss said something entirely different. And the way her body reacted to him, she knew she was standing on a slippery slope. Hadn’t she warned her own girls not to put themselves in a position where they had to make important decisions in the heat of passion? No one was that strong. And she certainly wasn’t that strong after denying herself for fifteen years.
Only one thing was certain, Steven Gherring wasn’t interested in a long-term relationship with her. If he were, he would have told her. He’d had plenty of opportunities, but he’d never said anything. Even now, in the car, he sat in brooding silence next to her. He seemed to be physically attracted to her. He couldn’t fake his reaction any more than she could. But that’s where it ended. He cared for her, and he was concerned for her but no more.
More than anything else, she wanted him to find happiness and love. But as much as she might wish it were otherwise, it couldn’t be with her. At least she’d managed to keep her attraction to a physical level.
Good thing I’m not in love with him, or I’d really be a mess!
The car stopped in front of the apartment, and she climbed out. He followed her, carrying both bags. On the elevator, they stared silently at the numbers above the door until they arrived at the tenth floor. She started to take her bags, but he deftly scooped them up and led the way toward her apartment. She had no choice but to follow him and unlock her door. She turned to take her luggage from him, but he pushed his way through the door and deposited her bags on the living room floor. Then he walked back to where she stood just inside the door, watching him with wary eyes.
“I see from your expression you still don’t trust me. What did you think? That I would come in here and kiss you again?” He leaned in close and his voice became coarse. “And then did you think I would wait until you were limp with desire and take you to your bed?”
Shocked by his words, she couldn’t respond. She couldn’t even think.
“Maybe you’re right not to trust me. Because, believe me, I thought about it. It would be so easy, so good… I would kiss your lips.” His hand caressed her face and his thumb slid lightly back and forth, tracing her lips. “And then I would kiss your neck right here under your jaw where your blood is pulsing.” His fingers trailed down, following the path of his words. “And then I would shower kisses here.” Now his hand seared a path to explore the hidden hollow on her shoulder.
She was barely breathing, her eyes closed. She should stop him now, but instead she stood frozen in place—waiting, anticipating. Abruptly, he withdrew his hand. A small cry escaped her lips, and her eyes flew open. His face was inches from hers.
“And afterward, you would look at me with regret and disappointment. I’d become the man you accused me of being earlier tonight. So—” He pressed his lips in a gentle caress to her forehead. “I’ll earn your trust, instead.” He slipped to the door and waited to catch her eyes. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
* * *
She’d worked sohard to fight her attraction to Steven, and he’d undone all her efforts in a matter of minutes. And for what purpose?
Why had he kissed her? To tease her? To toy with her emotions? To prevent her from falling in love with Henri? Or had it simply been because he’d felt like doing it, and he was accustomed to getting what he wanted?
All these things had been accomplished, even if they weren’t his ultimate goals. But even if Steven was just teasing her with these physical episodes, she still wanted him to be happy. She still wanted to find a match for him.
She wanted him to find true love, though she would probably never experience it again. Especially now that she would spend the rest of her life comparing every other man to Steven Gherring.
If Anne hadn’t been so exhausted from traveling, sleep would’ve been impossible. As it was, her sleep was fitful and full of disturbing dreams.
The next day, Steven appeared to be totally unaffected by their physical encounters, addressing her as Ms. Best and keeping a healthy distance throughout the entire morning. As lunchtime approached, she casually asked him if he’d like to join her for lunch at Papa’s Place. She didn’t mention the fact that Ellen was coming.
His entire face brightened. His eyes sparkled and his dimples danced as he accepted her offer. “I’d love to eat lunch with you, Anne.”
“I need to go down a few minutes early and talk to May about something. Would you mind meeting me down there? May will give us a table in the private room.”
“Sure. What time?”
“If you came down about twelve fifteen, that’d be perfect.” She flashed him a nervous smile.
Hurrying down to meet Ellen, she spotted her long straight glossy locks as soon as she started down the sidewalk toward Papa’s. She’d evidently also caught the eyes of several young men, judging by the way they peered over their shoulders for a second look when they passed by.
“Oh great, you’re on time. Steven is coming, but he doesn’t know you’re going to be here.”
“Terrific.” Ellen’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “I’ll be his unpleasant surprise. That’s a great way to start.”
“It’s the only way. Trust me.”
Inside Papa’s, May spotted her and hurried over. “Anne, you’re back. You must tell me all about Paris.”
“I didn’t get to go, May. It’s a long story, but my dad was in a car accident and he almost died.”
May and Ellen gasped simultaneously. May asked, “Is he okay?”
“Yes, but several people were killed in the accident. A highway bridge iced over when it started raining. It took out at least ten cars.”
“Anne, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry. And you didn’t get to go to Paris either? That’s a pretty awful Thanksgiving.” A frown formed a wrinkle between Ellen’s eyes.
“My dad is still alive, and I got to see both of my girls. So I’m just counting my blessings.”
“You need to come and catch us up on everything that’s happened. George is pouting because he didn’t get to talk to you the last few times you dropped by,” said May.
“I promise to come soon. We also need to chat about Spencer. But today, I have a favor to ask. Can we sit in the back room? Mr. Gherring is coming.”
“No problem.”
“One more thing. Mr. Gherring doesn’t know Ellen is with me. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention that fact to him.”
May lifted her eyebrows high and gave Ellen the once over. “So I’m guessing you’re trying to make a match with Mr. Gherring and your friend, here?”
Ellen’s cheeks reddened. “It’s not my idea—I think she’s crazy.”
“I tend to agree with you,” chuckled May. She turned back to Anne. “Honey, I won’t breathe a word.”
* * *
Anne’s palmswere sweating as they waited for Steven to arrive. Perhaps if she were casual enough, he might think it was an accidental meeting rather than a planned setup. After all, this was the first time she’d actually tried to introduce him to someone. He might not be suspicious.
May led him into the back promptly at twelve fifteen. His pleased expression fell when he noticed Anne had company at the table.
“Mr. Gherring, I hope you don’t mind, but I ran into a friend of mine outside.”
“Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand and presented a forced smile.
Ellen shook it firmly. “Sorry for imposing, Mr. Gherring. My name is Ellen Dean.”
“Ellen’s an actress.”
“How is it you have so many friends? You’ve only been in New York for a few weeks.” His voice betrayed his irritation.
“Ellen was the only person on the subway who would talk to me.”
He glanced at his watch. “You know, I have a pretty busy afternoon. Why don’t you just bring something up to me, and let me leave you both to a peaceful lunch?”
He started to turn, but Anne put out her hand. “You should stay, Mr. Gherring. Ellen is very interesting. Like I said, she’s an actress. She’s got the leading role in a play that starts next week.”
His brows flew up for a moment, and then understanding dawned on his face. His expression turned fierce and dark. Anne felt her fingers trembling. Perhaps this hadn’t been such a great idea.
“May I speak to you privately for a moment, Ms. Best?”
She followed him to the door, scrambling for a cover story. “I’m sorry, Mr. Gherring, I didn’t think you’d mind—”
“I know exactly what you’re doing. This is just part of your little plan with Gram, right?” His voice was quiet but left no doubt of his anger.
Anne’s face was burning. “No, I—”
“Give it up. We both know you can’t tell a lie.”
“But you can’t leave now. It would be rude.”
“I can’t believe you still want me to… after all that’s happened…” His eyes hardened into cold blue slits. “Fine! I’ll meet your friend, if that’s what you really want.”
Striding back to the table, he slid into a chair next to Ellen. “It turns out one of my appointments has been canceled this afternoon. I have plenty of time for lunch, after all. Tell me about yourself, Ellen. You’re in a play?”
“Yes, it’s my first role. I’m trying to break into the business. I have the lead, but we’re a really small production.”
“What’s it called?”
“Rainbow Junction. Have you heard of it?”
“No, I’m afraid not. But that’s no matter.” He flashed his deep dimples at her. “What’s that fragrance you’re wearing? It’s intoxicating.”
“It’s called ‘Rain.’ Do you like it?”
He picked up her hand and lifted her wrist to his nose. “That’s really nice. It’s light and sweet. It suits you.” He held her hand a moment longer before he released it.
Anne kept a smile plastered on her face as she observed their interaction.
“Thank you, Mr. Gherring.” Ellen blushed, a pretty rose color rising to her cheeks.
“Please. Call me Steven.” His smile was devastating. “You know, Ms. Dean, I just might be interested in supporting this play of yours financially. We should get together and talk more about it.”
“Thanks, Mr. Gher—I mean, Steven. We could really use some financial support. It’s a great play, but it’s so far off Broadway no one knows about it.”
“Ellen, I have a terrific idea. I have a benefit dinner tomorrow night. Why don’t you accompany me? We could talk more about your play.”
Anne jumped into the conversation. “Wait. You have a dinner tomorrow night? I didn’t know about that—”
He pinned her with cold, angry eyes. “No, you didn’t. That was not an accident. I purposely left it off your calendar.”
He turned back to Ellen. “Can you believe that Ms. Best has been plotting with my dear grandmother to set me up with a potential wife? Yes, it seems she’s even resorted to meddling with my dinner escorts. Unbelievable, right?”
“That’s pretty crazy, I guess.”
“Yes, indeed. It seems she’s working overtime to get me hitched. To someone. To anyone who’ll have me, I suppose. Despite the fact I specifically asked her not to interfere. So Ellen, are we on for tomorrow night?”
“Sure.” She glanced nervously at Anne.
“Great.” He smiled, his sky-blue eyes studying Ellen. “Your hair is really striking. Do you do something to straighten it?”
“No, I’m one quarter Asian. It’s naturally straight.”
He reached out and lifted a lock of her long hair in his hands, gazing as the silky strand slipped through his fingers. “I hope you’ll wear it down tomorrow night. I really like it.”
“Sure… okay…”
“Ms. Best,” he said without taking his eyes off of Ellen. “I’ll need Ellen’s contact information.”
The waitress arrived with their orders, but Steven stood. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience ma’am, but I’ll need mine boxed to go.”
He turned to Ellen and lifted the back of her hand to press it against his lips. His clear eyes caught hers in their trance. His voice was low and resonant. “Madame… Until tomorrow night, ma jolie fille.”
* * *
Anne barely touched her lunch.She supposed her stomach was upset because she knew Steven was angry with her. Still, the meeting seemed to have gone extraordinarily well. Ellen was excited the show might be getting some much-needed funding and chatted with great animation throughout the rest of the meal. But instead of the elation she ought to be experiencing, Anne felt a gnawing pain in the pit of her stomach. Why wasn’t she thrilled? Steven appeared to be enthralled with Ellen. If his date went well on Tuesday night, Steven might never try to kiss her again. Wasn’t that what she wanted? More importantly, she wouldn’t have to worry about what that kiss might lead to. She pushed her food around on her plate until she finally gave up and asked for a doggy bag.
Steven”s office door was closed, so Anne decided to FaceTime with Henri.
Henri appeared on the screen. Still sporting the scruffy look, he smiled with tired eyes.
“Hey, Henri. I missed hearing your voice. How is Anna-Laure doing?”
“She has had a rough time today, but hopefully the worst is over. She loves the book you sent her. Where did you find it?”
“I ordered it online. A seven-year-old with cancer wrote it, and it’s been translated into three languages. I wanted to do something. And since I couldn’t come to Paris, I had it sent straight to you. So she really likes it?”
“I think so. She has read it four times already.”
“Will you be able to come this weekend?”
Henri hesitated. “Yes… I am planning to go to Chicago for business on Wednesday. I will be in New York for the weekend.”
“If you’re here on Saturday, would you like to go to the company Christmas party with me? I’m kind of expected to go, since I planned most of it.”
“Maybe… but I am not feeling much like a party.”
“It’s okay if you don’t want to go. We can just wait and see how you feel.”
“Okay, that’s a good idea.”
“When will I see you? That is, assuming Anna-Laure is fine and you get to come over here.”
“I am not sure. Probably, we will get together on Friday night. That is when I first come into the city.”
“That sounds great. I’m excited to finally see you again.”
She wanted it to be true. She ought to be thrilled that she would see Henri again. But for some reason her emotions felt flat.
* * *
Back at her desk,Steven addressed work issues, not mentioning the lunch incident except for retrieving Ellen’s contact information. Still, Anne couldn’t relax in his presence. He chose the afternoon for a lesson using his email correspondence. He was constantly brushing his arm against her while leaning over to identify specific terms on her computer screen. At one point, he’d stood behind her and leaned across her shoulder, his face almost touching hers. For his part, he seemed totally unaware of the casual contact, but Anne had felt a growing discomfort. He’d ruined her. Now his close proximity stirred memories of just how good his kiss had felt. She tried to concentrate on work but was frustrated at her lack of progress and grateful when it was time to leave.
After the long subway commute, Rayna hurried out to stop Anne before she got on the elevator. “What are your plans tonight, girl?”
“Not much. I’m going to change clothes and go for a run on the treadmill right now. But I’m free later if you want to get together and talk. Is something up?”
“No, I just feel like we’ve lost touch. I like to know what you’re up to.”
“Should I call you later?”
“Sure. That’d be great.”
Anne changed quickly and headed for the gym. She needed a good run to release some tension and get all thoughts of Steven out of her head. She chose a treadmill and started her run. She planned a forty-minute run, but she might go forty-five or fifty if she was feeling strong. She’d been running for about five minutes when Steven Gherring walked in front of her treadmill, blocking her view out the window. He was shirtless, of course. He leaned his elbow on the front of her treadmill, his biceps flexing.
“Hello, Anne. Just thought I’d say hi before I start my ride.”
Anne made a vain attempt to keep her eyes locked on Steven”s face. “Hello.”
“I’m planning to ride for an hour. I’ve gotten behind on my training.” He stretched his arms above his head, flexing every sinewy muscle in his chest and arms. Anne watched him, mesmerized, and stumbled a bit on her track.
“Is there something wrong with the fancy exercise bike in your apartment?”
“Yes, it’s broken.”
“Should I call someone for you to have it fixed?”
“No, that’s okay. I don’t mind coming down here.” He stretched again. “I’d better get started on that long training ride. You could come and talk to me when you’re finished if you’d like.” He bent over to touch his toes and did a lunge stretch on each leg. Every individual strand of his clearly defined leg muscles seemed to dance and flex. Then he sauntered over to mount an exercise bike.
Anne’s head spun. It was probably a lack of food. Surely it had nothing to do with Steven”s effortless but effective assault on her senses. He did have an amazing body. And she’d seen him in nothing but a towel. Unbidden, an image invaded her mind—Steven bending over the breakfast table, his body still damp from his shower, muscles flexing, straining the limits of the towel tucked low around his hips. She missed another step on the treadmill and barely caught herself before falling. She’d better cut her run short before she broke something.
She turned off her unit and dashed out of the gym quickly, avoiding eye contact with Steven. It wasn’t until she reached her apartment she realized she’d left her cell phone and keys upstairs in the gym. She returned to retrieve them, hoping to slip in quietly and escape another encounter with him. But when she arrived, his bike was empty, and he was nowhere to be seen.
She had to escape… to get away from everything that reminded her of Steven. It was dark outside but still early. There were plenty of people on the streets. Surely it would be safe to go visit Mr. Hamilton. She hadn’t even run on the treadmill long enough to break a sweat, so she changed quickly and hurried out the front door, waving at Rayna who was busy talking to another resident. Antonio stopped her at the door.
“Where’re you off to? Should I get you a taxi?”
“No thanks, Antonio. I’m just going a few blocks. And I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Are you sure? It’s already dark.”
“I’ll be fine. Tell Rayna I’ll call her later.”
She walked rapidly, but she didn’t feel any danger on the busy street. Mr. Hamilton’s light was on, but the door was locked. So she rang the doorbell and waited. Soon she heard footsteps and he appeared at the door.
“Come in, come in!” His eyes crinkled in a huge smile. “I’m so glad you came by. I was just making dinner. Would you like to join me?”
“I don’t want to impose,” she said, but her stomach gurgled at the scent of food drifting down the stairs.
He laughed out loud. “Your stomach says yes, so come on up.”
She followed him to his friendly kitchen and flopped into a chair at the table. He dished up two plates of spaghetti with meatballs and put a large bowl of tossed green salad on the table. Then he opened the oven and removed a pan of broiled garlic and cheese bread.
“If you don’t like Italian food, you’re out of luck.”
A loud growl answered him before Anne could speak. She giggled. “My stomach and I both love Italian. Thanks!”
She felt the tension melting from her shoulders as she chatted with Mr. Hamilton over dinner. She told him all about the stress of learning about the accident, and not knowing the outcome until arriving in Fort Worth. They discussed her new job and her misgivings about her abilities. But she purposefully avoided the subject of Steven Gherring, the source of a great deal of her anxiety at the moment.
After dinner, they went downstairs and he pulled out a vinyl record of The Lawrence Marable Quartet, entitled Tenorman. The sweet sounds of jazz filled the shop. He carved while Anne browsed through the shop. Once again, she was thoroughly fascinated, examining the precise fit where each of the puzzle-like carved figures intertwined. She went back to her favorite carving, Inseparable Love, marveling once again at the intricate pieces carved from a single piece of wood. A new sign, Not For Sale, had replaced the $7,500 price tag.
“How come you took the price tag off this one?”
He smiled. “A man actually tried to buy it from me last week. I had to make up a story about saving it for someone else. So, I decided to play it safe, since I don’t really want to sell it anyway.”
“Just out of curiosity, how much would it take for you to sell it? A million? Not that I’m planning to buy it or anything,” she chuckled.
“I don’t think I could ever sell it. I might give it to my granddaughter someday.”
“Wow—lucky girl.”
Her cell phone started ringing, and she ran to dig it out of her purse.
“What’s up, Rayna?”
“I called thirty minutes ago, and you didn’t answer. I thought something might have happened. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine—I must’ve left my purse downstairs during dinner. I just had Italian food with Mr. Hamilton. He’s the one I told you about. You know, he lives above his woodcarving shop. You should come and see it sometime.”
“Okay, sure. But are you coming home soon?”
“Yes, I didn’t realize I’d been here for two hours already. I’m leaving right now.”
Anne heard muffled voices in the background and Rayna came back on the phone. “You really should take a taxi. It’s dark outside.”
“Maybe. But I’ll probably just walk. I need the exercise. I didn’t manage to finish my run tonight. Anyway, it’s a beautiful clear night, and I have a warm coat and hat and gloves. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Rayna started to protest again, but Anne disconnected the call. She turned to Mr. Hamilton. “I guess I need to go. My friend Rayna has suddenly gotten very motherly.” She bundled up and gave Mr. Hamilton a big hug before dashing out the door.
Making her way down the deserted street, she had some misgivings about her decision. She would have hailed a cab, but there were no cars to be seen. She began to get a little nervous when a man across the street seemed to slow down as she came his direction. He was probably just looking at the street sign, but it appeared he was studying her, instead. She scolded herself for being paranoid and picked up her pace a bit, slipping her hand into her purse to find the comfort of a can of mace she’d had for ten years. Who knew if it even worked after this much time? The streetlights made shadows under the awnings, and she began to imagine someone hiding in every darkened doorway. Perhaps it would have been wise to get a taxi after all.
She saw a figure coming toward her on the same side of the street. He was making rapid progress, although he didn’t appear to have on running attire. She stepped into a sheltered doorway to remain undetected as he passed by. But when he got closer, she recognized his face.
“Steven?”
“Anne!” He almost fell down as he skidded to a stop. He darted to her hiding place and pulled her into his arms. She sank into their safety and comfort, holding on as if she were drowning.
“You can’t be this stupid. You’re a grown woman—a mother! What would you tell your daughters about being alone on a deserted street in New York at night?”
“H-how did you know?”
“Because Rayna… she happened to be talking to you when I was walking out the lobby door.”
“You didn’t have to come,” she said stubbornly. “I only had another block or so. I would’ve been fine.”
“Really? And that’s why you were hiding in that doorway when I came by?”
“I have my mace.” She pulled the can out of her purse.
“You should keep that, but you should never put yourself in a place where you need to use it.” He kept his arm around her and started guiding her back toward the apartment building.
She began to shiver.
“Are you cold?” He pulled her closer.
“No,” she confessed. “I think it’s that adrenaline thing, like what happened after Jeff made that pass at me. I suppose it’s possible I might have gotten a little afraid when this huge thug came running toward me at a marathon pace.”
He chuckled. “I’m a huge thug now?”
“When you’re alone on a deserted street at night, everyone is a huge thug.” She sighed. “You’re right. I should’ve taken a taxi.”
“You could’ve called me. I would’ve gone with you.”
“I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone.”
“How do you know Mr. Hamilton, anyway? Wait, Gram introduced you. Of course.”
“I love his shop. His carvings are amazing.”
“I should visit the old guy. I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
They arrived at the apartment building. “Thanks for walking me safely home. You really are sweet, just like I said. I’ll see you later. Where was it you were going?”
“Oh—you mean where was I going before?”
“Yes, when you were going through the lobby?”
“I was just headed to the drug store down the block to… to get some… some aspirin. But come to think of it, I have some in the apartment.” He walked into the lobby with her.
Rayna grabbed her arms and squeezed, scolding. “Anne, you mustn’t go anywhere again without talking to me first.”
She stared at Rayna as if she had two heads. “What on earth has gotten into you, Rayna? You never used to worry so much.”
“I don’t know. Aren’t we friends?” Her voice was distressed as she cut her eyes toward Steven.
“Sure we are. I didn’t mean anything by it. Thanks for caring.”
But secretly, Anne was baffled by her friend’s sudden excessive controlling behavior.