Rush

A cleaning crew is due to arrive in a half-hour, so I can spare Emma a minute or two.

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” She smiles before she sets off toward the guestroom. I watch her walk away. I’ve never noticed the fit of jeans on a woman before, but Emma’s hug her heart-shaped ass perfectly.

My body reacts to that.

I look down at the floor because Drake would wring my neck if he knew that my dick is infatuated with his sister.

Emma Owens is off-limits. There’s no way in hell I can go anywhere near her.

Chapter 7

Emma

The last time I was in Manhattan, my brother set aside a few hours each day to spend with me. We had lunch together at his favorite diner one afternoon and wandered around the Museum of Modern Art another day.

I jammed everything we did during that trip into today.

My first stop was a coffee shop down the street from Case’s apartment. I logged onto their Wi-Fi and spent over an hour waiting to connect to an online agent from the airline so I could plead my case to have my return date changed.

I was denied.

The agent I was chatting with suggested I purchase a one-way ticket back home, but the cost is steep.

Wasting money to get back to Seattle a few days early is foolish. I don’t need anyone to give me that lecture.

Once I finished at the coffee shop, I went to Central Park and people watched. Then I took a walk down Fifth Avenue to window shop. My next stop was the diner, followed by two hours at the museum.

My heels are blistered. I’m exhausted, and it’s still not five o’clock.

I’m standing at the entrance to Case’s apartment building, wondering if I should risk sneaking upstairs. I haven’t heard from him all day, so I’m hoping that the plan hasn’t changed and soon I’ll be inside with my shoes off.

I pat the keys that are in the pocket of my short black trench coat.

Glancing down at my phone, I check the time.

In thirty minutes it will officially be go time. Since Case is doing me a huge favor by letting me stay at his place, I decide to settle in the lobby until the clock strikes five.

I nod at the doorman as he swings the door open when I approach.

“Good afternoon, Miss,” he says the same line he always does when he greets me.

Drake introduced us to each other last year, but I can’t imagine how many faces this man sees in a day.

I’m not surprised that mine got lost among them.

“Hi, Lester.” Stepping into the lobby, I smile at him. “How are you today?”

“I don’t have a single complaint.” He tips the brim of his hat. “Are you enjoying our fair city?”

Enjoying isn’t a word I’d use. Tolerating fits the bill.

Back home in Seattle, I live in a condo on a quiet street. A park borders the back of the property.

It’s heaven in a small corner of Washington State.

Not wanting to steal Lester’s smile, I sidestep the question with one of my own. “Have you seen Case Abbott today?”

It never hurts to be prepared. I don’t know if Case will be in his apartment when I go up. Not that I would mind if he were.

I could use the company after spending the day alone.

Lester’s smile widens. “It just so happens that Mr. Abbott and I had a discussion about you earlier.”

Does Lester know that I was wrapped in a towel and brandishing a hairbrush when I met Case?

I doubt if Case even remembers what I looked like wet and trembling in fear.

Trying not to seem panicked, I paste on a forced grin. “What did he tell you about me?”

“I made an incorrect assumption when you first arrived, Miss Owens.”

My brows pop when I hear him say my name.

“I thought you were here as a guest of Mr. Abbott, but your brother is Mr. Owens.” He shakes his head. “We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

I nod. “Last year.”

“Please forgive me for that oversight.” He smiles regretfully.

“There’s nothing to forgive, Lester.”

“Circling back to your initial question, I did see Mr. Abbott a second time today.” Strategically holding out his hand, he rubs his index finger and thumb together.

Is he silently asking me to pay him for information about Case?

I have seen Drake slip the doormen some money when I’ve visited in the past, so maybe I need to follow that lead. Lester did hold the door open for me.

I fish in the pocket of my jacket. I pull out the five dollar bill I tucked in there earlier and hand it to Lester.

I have no idea if that’s enough to buy me insight into Case’s movements.

Lester closes his hand around the money before he clears his throat. “Mr. Abbott left fifteen minutes ago with the same lovely young woman who visited him last night. While I was arranging for the car to pick them up, I did overhear Mr. Abbott making a dinner reservation for two at Nova for seven o’clock this evening.”