Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I rarely felt frazzled.
But I was frazzled.
My cell blared in my matching gold purse just as I was about to walk down the subway steps. Instead, I moved off to the side, ducking into the doorway of a nearby building, and pulled out my cell.
Rafe’s name flashed on the screen.
Familiar butterflies woke up in my belly and I ignored them as always. “Hey,” I answered a little breathlessly. The cheap fabric of the dress was sticking under my arms and I was desperate to get to Brooklyn to the offices of We Bring Them to Life. Before every gig, I stopped in there for my costume change and then went back afterward to drop off the costume so they could have it dry-cleaned. The only time I ever went home in costume was if the event ran past our company’s office hours.
“Hey, have I caught you at a bad time?” Rafe asked.
“No. Just finished up the job from hell, but I’ll tell you all about it later.”
“You okay?”
My heart raced at the genuine concern in his voice. “I’m good. Promise. What’s up?”
“We have an issue. I forgot Pippa has a friend who lives in my building and she told Pippa that she’s never seen you come over. I wondered if you’d come over tomorrow night. According to our schedule, you’re not in the city tomorrow, so I’ll send a cab.”
I’d begun updating our shared app with my work schedule so Rafe would know exactly when I was free for our ruse. “That’s a forty-minute cab ride. Longer if traffic is busy,” I reminded him.
“I’m paying.”
It was part of the job, I guessed. “Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Don’t eat. I’ll cook.”
Of course he could cook. “Okay.”
“You’re not allergic to dogs, are you?”
“No, why?”
“I’ll have a guest tomorrow night. One of my patients. He’s a big friendly giant, though.”
I smiled at the thought. “I love dogs.”
“Good. You’re free tomorrow from five, right? I’ll send the cab around five thirty.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
* * *
• • •
Rafe timed my arrival perfectly.
I knew this because as we stepped into the elevator of his building, the doors opened to reveal an elegant woman around Pippa’s age.
“Rafe.” She stepped out, her gaze darting between us. “N-nice to see you.”
“You too, Octavia. This is my girlfriend, Star.”
I smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
“Star. Right. Nice to meet you too.”
Rafe placed a hand on my lower back as his other shot out to keep the elevator doors open. “Have a good night.”
I let him lead me into the elevator as Octavia threw us one last look. As she walked away, she fumbled for her purse. The doors closed and Rafe shot me a disbelieving look. “She is calling my sister-in-law right this second.”
Laughter trembled on my lips. “Why are they so obsessed with you?”
“I have no idea.” He sighed heavily.
“You knew she would be here at this time?”
“Octavia always has some event to go to and she leaves the building at exactly six thirty.”
We stepped out of the elevator onto polished floors that were immaculate. Rafe’s building was on West 63rd Street and was modern, clean, and obviously expensive. My sandals sounded noisily on the floor as Rafe led me down a wide hallway to a blue door with his apartment number on it.
The kitchen was to the right as we stepped into a small foyer. It was a modern kitchen, small but top of the line, and it was open to the dining/living room. My attention was drawn past Rafe’s furnishings to the wall of glass that led out onto a small balcony that overlooked the Hudson River.
“Wow.”
His apartment was small compared to Pippa and Hugo’s, but it had a view over the Hudson.
I didn’t even want to think what this place was costing him.
“Yeah, the view is great.” Rafe understood my awe, but he didn’t linger over it. Instead, he strode past me into the living room and squatted down to his haunches before the Great Dane the view had distracted me from. He was a puppy by the looks of his size. “Hey, buddy. Told you I wouldn’t be long.” He smoothed his big hand over the dog’s head, and the dog tried to swipe a lick of Rafe’s wrist.
“Who do we have here?” I smiled as I approached slowly.
The Dane finally noticed me and his ears perked up, but only his head moved toward me.
“This is Hector. He got neutered today and his owner wanted me to keep him overnight for observation.” The whole time he talked, Rafe smoothed his hands down Hector’s head and back. “Finn and Rebecca take turns doing the night shifts for this kind of thing, but now and then, if the animal is up to it, I’ll bring them home with me for the night. Hector’s doing good, but he’s tired and still drowsy.”