Rush

“It was good to see you again, Maya.” I smile at her before I look to Case. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

“Sure thing.”

I turn and start toward the hallway, stopping when a small rectangular card on the floor catches my eye. I hear the sound of footsteps, and lowered voices as Case and Maya make their way to the foyer.

With a quick bend of my knees, I scoop the card into my palm.

Flipping it over, I read the first line etched in gold ink.

Maya Bishop. Licensed Real Estate Broker.

Chapter 22

Case

Glancing at my closed apartment door, I jab a finger into the elevator call button just as Maya pushes a finger into the middle of my chest. “You like her. You like Emma, don’t you?”

“She’s Drake sister,” I remind her, and myself, if I’m honest.

“So?” She cocks her hip. “What does he have to do with this?”

I shake my head. “Everything.”

Letting out a breath, she rolls her eyes. “In my opinion, this is none of his business.”

“He’s my best friend, Maya.” I drag a hand through my hair. “She’s off-limits.”

“She’s not,” she stresses the words with a raise of her voice. “He doesn’t get a say in what or who you want.”

This is a conversation I don’t want to have with her, so I change the subject. “What’s the good news?”

“Pam and Rod are this close to placing an offer on the apartment.” She holds her index finger and thumb an inch apart. “I can sense when an offer is imminent, and I think I’ll have something concrete to put in front of you tomorrow.”

I crack a smile. “No shit?”

“Anton was interested too.” She brushes a hand over her shoulder. “With any luck, we’ll have a bidding war on our hands.”

That would be the brass ring. I’d settle for any decent offer at this point. I want the apartment out of my hands so Drake can start married life with his new bride in the place he belongs. I know what his dream future looks like, and I’m going to help him make it a reality.

That means the apartment has to sell, so he’s free to pursue what he needs. He has lived here so I haven’t had to come back to face this city, but all of that is changing now. New York is a part of my past, and it’s time I left it there forever.

***

Thirty minutes later, I walk back into my apartment.

After I rode the elevator down to the lobby to see that Maya got safely to Drake’s car and driver, I made a few calls.

Lester stood a few feet away, gathering details that he’ll likely sell to anyone who will drop a dollar in his palm.

Thankfully, the calls didn’t involve anything remotely sensitive personally or professionally.

I stop when I notice Emma sitting on the couch.

She’s changed into black yoga shorts and a white tank top.

I don’t know what the hell I did to deserve more time with her tonight, but I’ll take it.

“Emma,” I call to her as I drop my keys and phone on the foyer table. “I thought you turned in for the night.”

She flicks a fingernail over a card in her hand. “Can we talk?”

Her tone gives nothing away. I don’t know her well enough to read anything into it. If the expression on her face is a clue, this conversation is going to be a hell of a lot more serious than the one we had over dinner.

“Sure,” I toss back, stalking toward her.

Whatever it is, I can handle it as long as she’s not about to tell me she’s as insanely attracted to me as I am to her.

If that’s the case, I might have to bid farewell to my friendship with her brother.

I settle onto the leather. I give myself at least two feet from her so I can semi-focus on what she’s about to say and not the fact that she’s braless beneath the tank.

Whatever makeup was on her face earlier has been scrubbed clean.

She’s so fucking beautiful.

“I found something on the floor,” she confesses before I can say anything. “I don’t understand it.”

I glance down at the card in her hands. All I see is a blank white canvas. “What did you find?”

She flips it over and pushes it toward me. “Maya works in real estate. Is she selling this apartment? Does Drake know? I’m sure he would have told me if he’s planning on moving, but maybe not given the fact that I had no idea he was getting married.”

Her knees are bouncing and her hand is shaking. Realization hits me that words rush out of her at breakneck speed when she’s anxious.

I take Maya’s business card from her. This is the moment of truth.

“Drake doesn’t have a clue.” I lock eyes with Emma. “By the time he gets back to New York, I want this place sold.”