The Sinner

“What a strange guy,” Guy said, watching him go. “Old school manners.”

“He’s a gentleman,” Jana said. “There’s a shortage.”

“Hmm.” Guy gave his head a shake. “Anyway, I’m behind on some phone calls. Ladies… See you tonight, Lucy.”

“Yep. See you.”

A seed of curiosity had been planted; Guy had never singled me out like that when saying goodbye. I couldn’t even remember the last time he’d said my name. And we were going to have dinner? The “fake relationship” plan was off to a good start and yet…

I could still feel where Cas’s lips had been on the back of my hand.

“Old school is right,” Abby was saying as we went back to our desks. “Cas smells like the inside of a pyramid. Like frankincense and myrrh or something.” She pulled her chair in front of me like a detective grilling a suspect. “Okay, spill it. What’s the story?”

“There isn’t much of one,” I said. “We met on Friday, and we had drinks on Saturday. That’s all.”

“That is not all. I refuse to let it be all.”

“Did you know he was going to show up here?” Jana asked and nodded at the rose still clutched in my hand.

I set it in the half-drunk bottle of water on my desk. “No idea.”

“But you like him?” Abby persisted.

“I…I don’t know,” I said. “I mean, yes, I like him. But it’s not like—”

“How you like Guy,” Abby finished. “Good on you, babe.”

“Good on me—?”

“I’ve never seen Mr. Baker look anything but cool and collected. He had no idea what to make of Cas.”

“He was very intrigued,” Jana agreed as she and Abby pushed their chairs back to their desks.

Abby shook her head. “That is not how I expected this morning to go.”

I glanced at the single red rose. “Me neither.”

Twelve

On my way home from work that afternoon, I found Casziel waiting for me at my subway station. He looked darkly handsome, leaning against a cement pillar. My stupid heart fluttered—the eyes of many women were on him; his eyes were only on me.

“You went rogue on me,” I said as I joined him, and we took the stairs up to the street. “I had no idea you were going to show up at work.”

“The element of surprise was necessary or else we’d have appeared rehearsed. And time is of the essence. I have eight days left.”

“And if we forget, we can just look at your arm to count the days you’ve been here,” I said quietly.

He looked away, as if my concern wounded and touched him at the same time.

We stepped out of the station onto the sidewalk. The sun was setting, and the sidewalks were bustling with people on their way home after the workday. Again, Cas parted the crowds like Moses parted the Red Sea. Without realizing they were doing it, the New Yorkers stayed out of his way, a few shivering as if they’d walked through a cold front.

“How was our performance?” he asked as we headed to my place. “Was Guy sufficiently curious?”

“Definitely. Even Jana and Abby noticed.” I glanced up at him. “No one’s given me a single rose before. It’s almost more romantic than a whole bouquet. More…intimate.”

That conflicted expression came over his face again, then he shrugged. “It’s just a flower, Lucy Dennings. A prop in our plan.”

“Right,” I said. We’d arrived at my studio, and I unlocked my front door. “Of course.”