“Definitely. I’ll be out in a minute.” I take a picture of it and text it to Jill. One down. With a sigh, I dial the jeweler.
It’s dark and well past normal dinner hours by the time Victor pulls up to the lobby doors of Wolf Tower. “Thank you for the ride.” Will I ever get used to having a driver take me anywhere I want to go?
Victor meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. “You’re welcome, Ms. Mitchell. We’ll see you in the morning?”
“Bright and early.” I slip out of the car, offering the doorman a smile before I stroll through the revolving doors and into the lobby. After hours on my feet, all I want is a long, hot bath.
Every single employee greets me as I pass. I wish I knew all their names.
“Ms. Mitchell,” Sullivan calls out, his enormous frame eating up space as he closes in on me. “I was asked to give you this.” He hands me a folded note.
I frown, wariness creeping in. “From whom?”
“Didn’t say. But he’s upstairs in Lux, waiting for you.”
I gingerly unfold the paper.
And a thrill runs through me.
Ronan engulfs me in his broad arms, pulling me against his chest in a hug.
I inhale the familiar mixture of sandalwood and Marlboro cigarettes that every single one of his shirts smells of. “What are you doing here!” We texted this morning and he asked what I had going on tonight, but he always does that. “You never said you were coming to New York!”
“Thought I’d surprise you.” His deep, raspy voice warms my ears, bringing me back to countless nights under Alaska’s starry sky, laughing at his and Connor’s antics. As happy as I am, occasionally I catch myself reminiscing about a moment here or there and feeling an ache for a special time of my life, gone.
“I am floored, so you win.” With one last squeeze, I pull away and look up into those haunting green eyes of his. “You look good.” Casual, as always, in blue jeans and a plain charcoal shirt—long-sleeved, on account of the cooler weather, and clinging to his lean, sculpted body. His dark hair is buzzed as short as I remember it being. “I was going to call you this weekend.”
“Sure you were,” he teases.
“I was!” I give his biceps a playful smack. “Time just kind of got away from me.”
“Where’s Wolf?”
“Barcelona. I told you that, didn’t I?”
“Oh right, I forgot.”
I laugh. “No, you didn’t.”
“No, I didn’t.” He grins, and his gaze flitters over my mouth for the briefest moment. He’s no less appealing than he always has been, but I feel nothing, save for friendly affection. “Hungry?”
“Starving.” I haven’t eaten since lunch. Raj left a mixed green salad in the fridge for me, but now that I smell steak, a salad is the last thing I want.
“I was just about to order.” With one of his signature crooked smiles, he slides into his chair.
I collapse into the other. “Okay, so seriously, what are you doing in New York?” It’s a long way from Miami.
“Goin’ back to Indianapolis for the weekend to visit the folks. Thought I’d grab a layover and visit you. You seem stressed lately.”
“It’s fine. All good things.” I wave away his concern. “I’m so glad to see you. Where are you staying? Do you need a place? We have plenty of room.”
Ronan smooths a hand over his nape. “Yeah … Even I’m not that big of a dick. And I’m not getting on Wolf’s bad side. Don’t worry about me. I’m crashing at a friend’s place.”
“I’m a friend!”
“A friend I plan on fucking.” He chugs back his beer, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
Ronan hasn’t changed.
Our waiter comes by then and so I quickly scour the menu, landing on a burger and fries.
Ronan relaxes back in his lounge chair, his thighs sprawled. “So, Red, tell me what’s new?”
“Fuck.” Ronan smooths a hand over his jaw. “You’re gonna be a stepmom?”
“I know.” I cringe around a french fry. I didn’t hesitate to tell Ronan all about Violet—and Henry’s scandalous past with Audrey. After all, he knew about Henry long before anyone else did. He’s already proven I can trust him to keep a secret, and I don’t have to tell him to stay mum. “She asked for my help with a project. I told her she could come to my office tomorrow. It’s either a great idea or a stupid one. I mean, I don’t know her at all.”