someone was living there.”
“I would have helped her find something better than that end of Beaker Street.”
Allie shook her head. “You don’t have a clue, do you? She would never ask you for anything.”
“What do you mean? Why not?”
“Really?” She grabbed her silk purse. “Look, I don’t think you want me here when your girlfriend arrives, so I’d better go.”
At the door, Allie turned around. “I know you’re mad at Mariah for running off with that Connors kid, and maybe she doesn’t live up to your expectations, but she and Noah need you. Call her tomorrow. Or even better, go back to Cedar Grove and see her, meet Noah.”
From the set of his jaw, she knew that wasn’t happening. “At least call her.”
“Wait,” he said. “Thanks for helping me.”
* * *
THE ELEVATOR DOORS CLOSED, and Allie slumped against the stainless-steel wall as the elevator descended from the penthouse floor to the parking garage. What had possessed her to let Clint talk her into delivering the tux? Thoughts of wowing Matt with her new, slim body? Ha! He hadn’t even noticed.
No doubt about it, Matt Jefferies had succeeded in putting his past behind him. Evidently he’d made his dreams come true. Money, great job, great apartment and definitely way out of her league.
And with that success, he needed a corporate wife. From the looks of that photo, he’d found one in Jessica. Who liked big-city living. Who would probably laugh at Allie’s job in the school system in tiny Cedar Grove. Allie squared her shoulders as the elevator stopped on the ground floor. Why should she even care what this fiancée thought?
Matt was getting married. She’d make it a point to avoid him in the future. No need in getting her heartbeat up again. Besides, she had a party to get to, one where maybe her Prince Charming waited. Or not. With her luck, Clint had fixed her up with one of the old geezers living at the retirement home where his girlfriend worked. The doors opened and she stepped out, almost colliding with a model-thin woman in a flaming red gown that was definitely not off-the-rack.
Allie jerked up short. “Oh! I’m sorry.”
The woman shook her head, her diamond teardrop earrings shimmering with the movement. “Oh, no, it was my fault entirely.”
Whoever said women with red hair shouldn’t wear red had never seen the girl in Matt’s photo. She sighed as the elevator doors closed. Oh, yeah. Matt was definitely out of Allie’s league.
As Allie walked to her car, her cell beeped, and she snagged the phone from the black satin clutch. Clint. Where are you?
Instead of texting, she speed-dialed her brother’s number. “I’m on my way,” she said when he answered.
“Well, we’re waiting on you at the hotel, and your date is here.”
Oh, joy. “I’m not the one who sent me over here, mister. And how did you get there so quick? Last I saw of you, the tow truck was pulling your car off I-240.”
“My date picked me up.”
“Oh. Well, what about my date? Who is this mystery man, anyway?”
“It wouldn’t be a mystery if I told you. Now, get a move on.”
“I need an address.”
“It’s on Main Street at the Winthrop. Put the hotel in your GPS, and when you get here, ask at the desk for the Savannah Room and tell them Jessica Winthrop invited you.”
Clint lost her at the Winthrop. Double joy. Her brother never told Allie she was attending a party hosted by Matt’s girlfriend. Now she’d see her ex-boyfriend twice on New Year’s Eve. Could it get any better?
Twenty-five minutes later, she’d managed to get lost, not once, but twice. When she finally found the Savannah Room, she spied Clint pacing back and forth outside the door, all six feet of him.
He rubbed his jaw. “Where have you been? I was worried sick that you’d had an accident...or worse.”
“I’m sorry, I got turned around.” She glanced left, then right. “Where’s your girlfriend?”
Clint winced. “She had to leave right after I talked with you. An emergency at the assisted living where she works. Said she might make it later. For a while, I thought you both were dumping me.”
Allie linked her arm in his, patting it. “I’m here now, so let’s go meet this guy you’ve managed to snooker.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Clint winked at her. “Your date twisted my arm to finagle an evening with you.”
Allie tilted her head toward him. “What? Who is this person?”
“See for yourself. Voilà.” He extended his hand, palm out.
She turned. “Peter?”
What was he doing here?
MATT SLIPPED INTO his jacket on the way to answer the doorbell again. He paused to look in the mirror and straighten his tie before sweeping the door open with a bow. “Good evening, madame.”
Jessica breezed through the doorway, a sensual aroma swirling in her wake. With her coppery hair pinned up, the diamond earrings she wore dangled against her bare neck. His gaze traveled the length of the red dress that fit perfectly. He’d never seen this one before. “Wow! You look gorgeous. I’ll have to fight the single men off tonight.”
For half a second, he considered proposing right then and there. But no, he wanted to do it right and speak with her father first.
She slipped her left leg through the slit. “So you like it?”
“Hmmm,” he said and pulled her to him.
Jessica pressed her lips against Matt’s, making his toes curl inside his Oxfords. When they parted he trailed his finger along her jaw. “So why didn’t you let me pick you up like we planned?”
“I forgot to get my mail from the box, and when I ran down to get it, there was a young mother with her baby outside the door. Found out she was waiting for a cab to come by.” The green flecks in her hazel eyes darkened. “It’s New Year’s Eve. She probably would have still been waiting if I hadn’t offered to give her a ride. After I found her destination was near your apartment, I went to plan B. And here I am.”
Knowing Jessica, it wouldn’t have mattered if the young woman needed to go clear across town.
“Who was your blond visitor?”
He blanked for a second. “Visitor?”
“The elevator. While I was waiting for it, I noticed someone came down from this floor. Female,
