jumped, squeezing her eyes shut, waiting for impact and the crunch of metal to explode in her ears. Seconds later they were moving along with the flow of cars, and she cautiously opened her eyes. To her horror, she saw her hand clutching her seatmate’s thigh.
“Oh, my God.” She promptly drew back, but not before noticing the rock-hard muscle beneath her palm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
He chuckled. “Not in the least. I’m Nick, by the way.”
“Mister, I need to know which way to turn at the intersection.” The driver glanced at Nick in the rearview mirror. “Where you headed…? Damn, you’re—”
“Um, I really wish you’d watch the road.” Emily tensed as brake lights lit up in front of them. This time she fisted one of the bags on her lap, silently vowing that she’d stick to walking while she was here.
“Let’s drop the lady off first, and then we’ll worry about me.”
“I don’t mind stopping for you,” Emily offered. “I’m in no hurry.”
“This is New York. Everybody’s in a hurry.”
Emily sighed. “Not me.”
“What? No hot date tonight?”
She smiled wryly. “A warm bath maybe.”
He smiled, too, and then turned his head to gaze out the window. He was clean shaven, and his dark wavy hair was cut short. His sports jacket fit his broad shoulders so perfectly it might have been tailored for him. No matter, it was cashmere and expensive. Made her wonder what he did for a living. A stockbroker, maybe? Or a lawyer? No, not a lawyer. Whatever he did, he kept himself in awesome shape.
She wanted to keep checking him out, enchanted with the attractive groove in his cheek when he smiled. But he turned back to look at her, and since it was too late to pretend she wasn’t staring, she said, “I should’ve stayed snug in that bookstore until the rain passed.”
He frowned. “You’re staying at the Thornton. You’re either a tourist or here on business.”
“Tourist.”
“And you’re spending your time in a bookstore?”
She felt the heat rise from her chest to her face. “I was looking for guidebooks.”
“Ah.” He glanced at her packages. “Which one did you get?”
Her cheeks really flamed then as her mind scrambled for an acceptable answer. She couldn’t very well admit she’d picked up Erotic New York: The Best Sex in the City. Mostly out of curiosity, not that she cared to explain.
The ringing of her cell phone saved her. She fumbled with the bags on her lap, looking for the ridiculously tiny purse she’d bought specifically for her foray into the big, bad city. No bigger than an oversized postage stamp, it barely held her cell, room key and wallet, but she liked that she could strap it safely and snugly against her body. It had to be here. And she hated to miss the call in case it was her wayward guide.
“May I?” Nick lifted the larger bag off her lap and onto his.
“Thanks.” She found her purse and managed to answer before it went to voice mail.
“Hey.” It was Marnie. “So, are you having the best time?”
Emily smiled. “I only just got here yesterday.”
“Plenty of time to get laid.”
“Jeez, have you been talking to my sister?”
Marnie laughed. “How’s the hotel? Tell me everything.”
“Um, the Thornton is great. I’ll be eating nothing but mac and cheese for the next three months after I get the bill, but yeah, it’s terrific.” She slid Nick a glance. He was looking out his window, but it was impossible for him not to overhear.
“Oh, come on. You’ve got to be rolling in dough since you never spend a dime on yourself. You don’t buy clothes, and you don’t go anywhere.”
“If that’s what you called to tell me, I’m hanging up.”
“No, wait.” Marnie laughed. “What’s your itinerary? What does your guide have planned?”
“Uh, that didn’t pan out.”
“What?”
“He stood me up.” Emily had lowered her voice, but quickly realized that had only guaranteed Nick’s interest. He was trying not to be obvious but she could tell he was straining to hear. She cleared her throat. “I don’t need anyone to show me around, anyway. I picked up a couple of travel books this afternoon.”
“Ooh, tell me you took my advice and got Erotic New York.”
“Take some time off, Marnie. Enjoy the holidays. I have to go.”
“Wait.”
“Seriously, hanging up now.”
“You sound odd.” Marnie paused. “Are you with someone?” Emily took a heartbeat too long to respond. “Good God. You are. Why didn’t you say something.”
“Goodbye, Marnie.” Emily flipped her cell phone shut and then switched it to vibrate because her friend’s persistence was legendary. Although if she thought Emily were with a guy, maybe she’d lay off for a while.
Emily felt Nick watching her, and she furtively looked his way again. That’s when she saw that the tote bag sitting on his lap had torn. It wasn’t a big tear, but enough that her new lacy black panties were sticking out of the bottom corner.
“Thank you,” she said, and carefully retrieved the bag and stuffed it into another one.
“Small quarters,” he said, “so I couldn’t help but overhear. You’re looking for a guide?”
“I was, but it’s silly really. I mean, who doesn’t know what to see in New York, right?” She abruptly turned her face and stared out at the cheery Christmas displays twinkling from the store windows. Who would put up the tree? Not her mother. Emily always did that the day after Thanksgiving.
God, why had she overreacted with her sisters? She should be at home right now, thawing the turkey and baking pumpkin pies. She shook her head. Away for two days and already homesick.
“You okay?”
His voice startled her. She’d almost forgotten he was there.
“Fine.” She darted him a look and silently cleared her throat. “Just tired. I had a tough travel day yesterday with everything so crowded and intense.” She had to quit being a baby. She was going to have a terrific time.
Everyone was right. She was too much of a hermit and needed to step out of her comfortable life. The more she’d hidden out, surrounded by her books and computer, the less social she’d become. But this was her big chance. She was going
