Sleepless in Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love 1)

He could close the laptop. He could—

With a soft curse, his fingers flew over the keys as he searched for the information he wanted.

For someone with his skills, it was easily accessed.

He read, checking for anything new, and saw that she had a new job. Promotion. Everything else was the same.

She was still living in a Tudor revival in upstate New York. Still happily married with two kids and a dog.

Life was good.

With a soft curse, he closed the page.

What the hell was he doing?

But he knew the answer to that one. Maria had given him the “isn’t it time you settled down” look. Whenever she did that, he felt the need to remind himself of the reasons why he couldn’t.

The door to his office opened and he looked up with a frown, irritated by the disturbance. “What?”

Dani looked at him searchingly, but said nothing. “There’s someone to see you.”

“I don’t have any meetings today.”

“Her name is Paige.” Dani leaned against his door. “It’s weird, boss. She was standing outside for at least ten minutes deciding whether to come in or not. She walked away twice, then came back again. We were watching from the window laying bets as to whether she would pluck up the courage or not. Maybe you have a stalker. Want me to send her away?”

They obviously thought she was one of his ex-girlfriends, come to give him a hard time.

“Don’t send her away.”

“Do you know why she’s here?”

No, but he could guess. He didn’t know what bothered him most, the fact Paige had finally had to come to him for help or the fact that it was clearly killing her to do so.

Jake stood up and flipped his laptop shut. He was glad now that he’d looked. Every piece of information on that screen reminded him to be cautious in his relationships. “Send her in.”

He didn’t need to wonder why Paige had walked away twice. He knew. She hated asking for help. Especially his help.

What he didn’t understand was what had finally driven her to his door.

He’d assumed things were going well for Urban Genie. He and Matt had shared some beers a few nights ago and Matt hadn’t mentioned anything.

While he waited, he paced over to the glass window and stared across the city, through concrete canyons that stretched from Canal Street to Lower Manhattan. Once an urban wasteland of industrial warehouses, it had been transformed into one of the country’s most expensive zip codes, a thriving neighborhood filled with affluent creative and financial talent. That was the reason he’d chosen to live and work here. That, and the fact that it was a heartbeat from the city’s financial district.

“Jake?” Her voice came from the doorway. Husky. Feminine. It was like being stroked with a fur glove.

He braced himself. All he had to do was treat her like his best friend’s little sister. Little sister. He repeated it in his head like a mantra.

Except that he knew damn well that she wasn’t little. He’d been right there, up close and personal, when she’d grown up.

One minute she’d been wearing cartoon T-shirts, her hospital room populated by cheery balloons and oversize stuffed toys, the next she was experimenting with makeup. Out with the kids’ stuff, in with slinky Victoria’s Secret.

The night she’d revealed not only Victoria’s Secrets but most of her own was welded into his brain and yet somehow, despite having her naked body offered to him virtually on a plate, he’d managed to do the right thing.

And he’d done it in a way that ensured neither of them had to go through that again.

He turned and almost swallowed his tongue. She was wearing a tailored black suit that nipped in at her narrow waist and skimmed her hips. Her heels were high and her hair—the color of rich, dark chocolate—fell straight and gleaming over her perfect white shirt. She looked efficient and corporate. And all woman.