“What did you find out?” he asked, after downing the rest of his coffee in one swig. He tossed the cup in the trash bin as they started back to his sister’s apartment. “Please tell me you found something so my frostbite isn’t in vain.”
“Hey, I was in and out in less than an hour. And you didn’t have to wait outside the whole time. Why didn’t you sit in the café where you got your coffee?”
“Too many people. Too cheerful. Too…” he shuddered and looked away.
It was then that his words from the previous evening returned to her mind and she realized that perhaps Murphy wasn’t handling his loneliness over his sister as well as he wanted people to think. Her heart ached for him and a new sense of protectiveness surrounded her where he was concerned. He was all alone over the holidays, same as her if she didn’t make it back home to Al Dar Nasrani in time. All the more reason to spiff up Aileen’s place and try to make it homier and more festive. Especially if he was staying there, which from looks of things he was. Truth was, she was feeling a bit lonely herself. What with Mel spending all of her free time with Daveed these days. She was actually glad she’d decided to stay at the apartment with Murphy last night. Mel had texted her that morning and told her Daveed and her had spent the night at their suite at the Plaza. She said he’d been impressed.
She snorted. Daveed could buy that place and everyone in it. If he’d been impressed by anything at the fancy hotel it had to have been his pretty little American fiancée.
Not that she begrudged them their love. Not at all, actually.
Seeing the two of them together and so happy gave her hope that she might find that same thing for herself someday. It was good she’d changed her mind about convincing Daveed to adhere to the marriage contract their parents had negotiated. They wouldn’t have suited, not like Daveed and Mel obviously did. Now, if only her Prince Charming would appear and sweep her off her feet on some magical Christmas adventure.
“Watch it!” Murphy reached out and blocked her with his arm, preventing her from stepping out into the street in front of oncoming traffic. He frowned over at her, his expression a mix of concern and irritation. “What’s the matter with you? You could’ve been hurt. Or worse. Pay attention.”
“Sorry. I was thinking.” She shook off her thoughts of a handsome stranger who’d swoop in and carry her off to a romantic hideaway and instead gave the grumpy Grinch next to her a side stare. “And yes, I did find out a couple of things from Emma.”
“Emma?”
“That’s the receptionist’s name. Nice girl. Not fond of her current job though. She’s looking to move on as soon as she can find something better.” The light turned green and they moved across the busy intersection with the rest of the crowd. “She said the place is almost empty inside, hardly any furniture at all, which supports your idea that it’s a sham company.”
“Great.” Murphy took her elbow to guide her around a large group of gawking tourists staring up at the Empire State Building, then let her go and shoved his hands back in his pockets fast, like he’d been burned by touching her. “What else?”
“Well, she said t
hat hardly anyone ever comes into the office, except for the occasional older people from the local utility company.” Shayma sidestepped a red-suited Santa ringing a bell for donations and continued on beside Murphy, their long-legged strides well matched. “She did mention a visit from a Senator one time though, but didn’t say his name.”
“Interesting.”
They turned the corner and headed back down 54th Street toward Aileen’s apartment.
“Oh, wait.” Shayma grabbed Murphy by the arm and pulled him to a stop in front of a shop where it looked like the holidays had exploded. Colorful twinkle lights covered every visible inch of wall space, along with all manner of ornaments and garlands. The air smelled of pine incense and happy carols played loudly over the speaker system. “You promised if I did my part at the salon we could stop on the way home and get decorations.”
“Aileen’s place isn’t home,” Murphy said, his tone dour. “Not without her there.”
Her heart pinched again and she bit her lip, wishing she could take back her insensitive words. “I’m sorry she’s missing, but I think if you let me do some decorating you’ll feel better. Plus, once she does come home, you want the place to look nice and jolly, right?”
He watched her for a few moments, silent, and she feared he’d refuse. But then his big, broad shoulders sagged and his head drooped down. “Fine. But nothing corny or over the top.”
“Deal.” She pulled him inside the packed store and immediately felt her own spirits begin to lift. Back home on the island, she loved spending hours in shops like this, immersing herself in holiday cheer. And while she had no formal training in decorating, she liked to think she had a flair for it. The work she’d done on her family’s home had even been featured in a magazine once, even if it was only published in Al Dar Nasrani. She told Murphy as much as they weaved through the crowds toward a towering display of twinkle lights. “They said I had an eye for color and style.”
“Hmm,” Murphy mumbled. He looked about as comfortable as a camel on an ice rink, but she wasn’t going to let his sour mood affect her Christmas buzz. Besides, if anything could get a person into a happy place, it would have to be this shop. It reminded her of a North Pole workshop, with all the wood and handmade signs pointing to different products. Even the help were dressed as elves. A guy in a green felt hat and shoes with jingle bells on the toes offered to help them find things, but Murphy gave the guy a black look that sent him scurrying away as fast as his red and green striped legs would carry him. “Let’s just hurry up and buy something so we can get out of here.”
“Bah-humbug to you too,” Shayma said, then laughed. “C’mon. Tis’ the season.”
“The season of insanity.” He picked up a package of garish purple and silver glitter balls and wrinkled his nose. “People actually put this crap on their trees?”
“Yes.” She took the package from his hand and put it back on the shelf, choosing a more tasteful gold and silver set. “The holidays aren’t about perfection. They’re about love.”
“Yeah, right.” Murphy gave a derisive snort. “Love of the almighty dollar, maybe.”
Jaw clenched, Shayma stopped and faced him, poking one red-leather gloved finger into his chest. “Listen, bub. I know you’re upset and sad and worried that your sister is missing. I am too. But I swear if you rain all over my holiday parade I will bust out all my military-trained moves on you and take your ass down before you can say Merry Christmas. Understand?”
At first, Murphy looked a bit astonished at her words, then a spark of heat fired within his dark eyes. So, he liked things rough, did he? An answering flare of desire spread outward from her core. Shayma might not be the most experienced gal on the block, but she’d had boyfriends. And lovers. And she didn’t mind a dominant man in her bed. Nope. Not at all.
Her mind filled with images of Murphy pressing her hard up against the wall with his body, kissing her rough and deep as he pulled off her clothes, the slide of his calloused hands on her skin as he stroked her and teased her and brought her to climax again and again until, finally, he buried himself within her, so far she didn’t know where his body ended and hers began. He’d fuck her hard and fast and so, so good and…
People jostled around them and jarred Shayma back to reality. She swallowed hard, at least comforted to know that Murphy looked as flummoxed as she felt. Had he been imagining them having sex too?