SHE WAS LATE. Brianne Nelson sprinted down the street toward The Sidewalk Café. She needed this second job and the money it brought in, but all she could think about was him. Was he here as hed been last night and the night before that? Was he waiting or had he given up and gone home? And was he alone or, as usual, was he with the beautiful woman? The woman Brianne had seen hug him last evening.
Briannes heart beat a furious pace, due more to anticipation and excitement than from her mad rush to make it to work. Shed thought she would never get out of the hospital. Her last client had gotten hung up in X-ray, and by the time Mr. Johnson arrived at physical therapy, he was forty-five minutes overdue for his appointment. After his second stroke, the older man needed rehabilitation as much as Brianne needed the money this waitressing job brought in. He had a new grandbaby he wanted to hold on his lap. She couldnt reschedule or hand him off to another therapist any more than she could give up her night job.
Nor did she want to. Not since she had the man of her dreams waiting. He arrived three times a week, wearing the same type of outfit-a pair of jeans and a shirt hed obviously created himself with a pair of scissors and one good rip. The cropped shirt exposed a hint of tantalizing tanned skin, with a dark sprinkling of hair running down his abdomen until it disappeared into the denim waistband. And his forearmsshed never seen muscles that well toned. Hed piqued her interest and fed her fantasies.
She slowed her pace as she reached the outdoor entrance, her gaze taking in the crowded tables on the sidewalk, lingering on the men seated outside. Though many had jet-black hair, none made her heart race. None met her gaze with a knowing gleam in his eyes or caused a liquid rush of desire in response to his sexy grin.
She shook off the disappointment caused by his absence, reminding herself that the man she anticipated was already taken. Meeting with the same woman that many times a week spoke of devotion and commitment-to someone else. Which was why shed asked Jimmy to let Kellie handle the outdoor tables. Kellie was an accomplished flirt who rarely took any one man seriously, someone who could handle such a gorgeous customer with ease. Unlike Brianne, who had way too much interest in the man. Besides, even if he werent involved, her dating and mating skills were rusty from disuse. Brianne understood her real life. He was a fantasy. She rushed in and past the bar.
Youre late, Jimmy called out.
Im sorry.
Hang on. Someone wants to-
She ducked into the small bathroom, cutting Jimmy off before he could lecture her about burnout again. He was her boss and in the process had become her friend. She was a physical therapist by day, and Jimmy understood how badly she needed this job at night. No matter how tired or how weary she was of smiling for the customers, she had no choice. She needed the money.
She was just fortunate Jimmy put up with her often delayed arrival; he rarely complained. Like her, hed lost his parents young, and hed also raised a sibling. He just hadnt had the added pressure of having a genius brother who deserved to remain in an exclusive, expensive, private boarding school and who would attend college thereafter.
Too bad her parents hadnt thought of either Marc or Brianne when theyd gone out in a small plane in weather that even the FAA had warned against flying in. Too bad theyd invested their money in pleasure and not in insurance for their children.
She shivered, then pushed all thoughts of her selfish, risk-taking parents aside. Shed been her brothers only means of support for so long, she didnt know any different. But even a boss who was her friend couldnt keep her on if she didnt get her behind outside and start serving the customers.
Shoving her clothes under one arm, she paused to wash the grime of the New York City subway from her hands. Brianne wondered if he would show up later, and knew that thought would keep her going when her feet begged for a rest. Because, lately, she wasnt as tired, nor did she approach this job with the dread she had felt in the past. He kept her spirits high and her adrenaline flowing. Just knowing hed be waiting, watching, making her feel sexy and desirable, when she had no time to be desirable, caused her anticipation to soar.
She air-dried her hands, then grabbed her clothes and turned toward the stalls. Before she could blink, she ran smack into a customer. Sorry, she muttered.
My fault.
Brianne took a step back and found herself face-to-face with the woman who usually sat with her fantasy man. Her dark hair was layered and razored in the most up-to-date style. The shaglike cut was perfect with her lightly made-up face and trendy clothes.
The woman certainly didnt look as if shed spent the day massaging other peoples body parts, Brianne thought, glancing down at her own scrubs. Then she looked at her watch and groaned before meeting the other womans appraising gaze. Excuse me. Im running late. Brianne started for the open stall.
Can we talk first?
The other womans voice stopped Brianne cold, and she pivoted fast. Excuse me? Her heart beat more quickly.
They had nothing in common, nothing to discuss-except him. Shed done nothing wrong, Brianne assured herself. Yet the thoughts and fantasies shed spun about a man shed never met were enough to make her-a woman whod seen men and women in varying degrees of nakedness during patient therapy-blush.
But no one shed seen in patient therapy had even remotely resembled him. He was every inch a potent, sexy male who allowed her the freedom to feel like a woman, to test her limits and flirt without fear of anything more coming of it, because he was involved and she was too busy-which made him safe. Or so she thought.
Hey, are you okay? I dont want you to faint on me, the woman said with concern.
Brianne nodded. Im fine, she said, embarrassment and shame filling her. Her fantasy man had a girlfriend who wanted to talk. Brianne had witnessed that hug between them last night with a pang of envy she hadnt known she was capable of feeling. But it served to remind her that he was spoken for. She cleared her throat. Im fine, she said again. Thank you. Its just that Im running very late. My boss
Is a great guy. He said we could take a minute when you got in.
Brianne shook her head. Im not trying to be rude, but I really need to get to work. Jimmys wonderful, but he cant compensate for the tips.
I understand much more than you think. I come here often.
I know. Brianne could have bitten her tongue for that admission.
Yes, well, I dont want you to think Im rude, or that I was eavesdropping, but She shrugged, and a sheepish grin lifted her lips. I was eavesdropping. Last night. I heard you tell Jimmy how tired you were and how much you wished you could afford to get off your feet. And then he reminded you how much you want to move with your brother when he starts Stanford in the fall.
And youd like to put me on the first plane west? Brianne asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Yes. No. The woman let out a laugh. Id better just explain.
Brianne wasnt so sure she wanted to hear. If this woman thought Brianne was poaching on her boyfriend, shed probably attempt to make California look good. Which it did-a new start for both her brother and herself. Physical therapy in a warmer climate, Brianne thought. Normal hours. Friends. A life.
She sighed. Shed sent résumés, but so far she hadnt had much luck. Either shed been turned down flat or the salaries offered didnt come close to New York Citys. Brianne had to be picky if she wanted to pay off Marcs boarding school loans and her own debts.
But reality aside, Brianne had a dream job in mind. A place shed applied and still hadnt heard back from. If the Special Kid Ranch offered her placement, she hoped she could afford to take it. Working with children had always been her goal, one she hadnt been able to fulfill because the geriatrics job shed gotten right out of school paid so well. Brianne didnt hold out much hope that the Ranch offer would come or be any better than those shed had so far. She and Marc would be separated for the first time in both their lives-which was probably best for her brothers college experience, but still
Are you with me?
Brianne blinked. Yes. Sorry. She had so much on her mind these days, it was a wonder she functioned at all. Brianne refocused on the woman before her.
Are you with me?
Brianne blinked. Yes. Sorry. She had so much on her mind these days, it was a wonder she functioned at all. Brianne refocused on the woman before her.
Id say we should sit and talk, but The other woman glanced around, taking in the tiled floor and single stall, and she grinned. Well, you see the problem there. But just hear me out. Ive got a proposition that I guarantee you wont be able to refuse.
CHAPTER TWO
BRIANNE STEPPED into the ornate lobby of the luxury building on the East Side of Manhattan. A uniformed doorman met her at the entrance and greeted her with a welcoming smile. Hello, Miss Nelson.
Brianne paused, surprised the older man remembered her. Shed only met him once before, when shed visited Rina earlier in the week. Brianne paused to take in the name on his badge before answering. Hello, Harry. She smiled in return.
He tipped his head and ushered her toward the private elevator leading exclusively to the penthouse, then he punched the button and illuminated the up arrow.
While waiting, Brianne glanced around her. Glass and chrome gleamed brightly, showing off her reflection from every possible angle. She had to admit, the impact of the ornate lobby hadnt diminished on second viewing.
Youll get used to it, miss.
The doormans unexpected words told Brianne she looked as stunned as she felt. I doubt it, she murmured. Not after living on bare necessities for so long. But she had no choice, seeing as how shed be living here throughout the summer.
Without warning, the doors slid open. Brianne stepped into the elevator and the doors shut quietly, leaving her alone with her disquieting thoughts.