Page 13 of Fifth Avenue Flirt

I grab some joggers and pull them on and follow her out into the hallway. I take my keys from the bowl and the lift is waiting.

She glances at me, her bravado dimming slightly.

“This is a private elevator,” I reassure her. “No one’s going to see you. But if they did, they’d think you had style for days.”

She tilts her head.

“I was going to ask for your number,” I say, as we ride down to the basement.

“But you won’t because you know I’ll say no.”

“Do I know that?” I ask. Last night was bloody spectacular. Why wouldn’t she say yes to a replay?

“You do,” she says. “Remember, I know guys like you.”

“Maybe you don’t know guys like me. Maybe I’m the guy who will make you fall in love with him if you gave him a week.”

“Maybe that’s why I’m saying no.”

The lift doors slide open into the basement. My driver’s waiting, the headlights lighting us both like we’re on a stage.

“Thank you.” She lifts her chin toward the car. “For the ride.”

I grin. “Thank you for the ride.”

She rolls her eyes, and I move to follow her out of the lift car, but she puts her hand on my chest to stop me. “I’m good from here.”

She shuts me down at every turn.

I keep the lift door open as I watch her climb into the car. My driver reverses and I can’t see her through the tinted glass, but I wait until the car has driven off anyway.

She thinks this is the last time we’ll ever see each other.

It won’t be.

As far as I’m concerned, Avril Huntington and I are unfinished business.

FIVE

Avril

As I arrive at Hotel on Ninth Street on Monday morning, I can still feel Ben. His fingers on my hips. His tongue on my skin. I can still taste him. Every time I blink, I see him bare chested, his hands thrust into his pockets as he watches me leave in his car.

It was certainly unlike any other night I’ve ever had. I laugh to myself as I think about him making omelets for us. Any other guy would have just skipped straight to the good part. Not Ben.

“Good morning, Avril,” Dina on reception says.

I smile and wave. Despite being distracted by Ben for the last thirty-six hours, I need to do my best to keep focused. Worth is due any moment, and he, Poppy, and I are sitting down to figure out how we can get the Boston project back on track.

I step into the office I share with Poppy and Aurora, and Worth is already sitting at the table under the window.

“Good morning,” he says. “Poppy has gone to get us coffee.”

I bite back a grin. Cappuccinos, maybe? I can’t believe I booted Ben out of his own bed yesterday morning.

“You seem happy this morning,” Worth says.

“Do I? Let’s go to the boardroom.”