By the time they arrived at Stitches, Inc., it was almost the end of the workday. Then again, Liza had been known to work late.
A short woman with fiery-red hair pushed in her chair at the reception desk. “I’m sorry. We’re closing.”
She wasn’t the same lady Riley and Josh had met earlier that day. This woman was much younger and seemed to have a chip on her shoulder.
Josh held on to Charlie’s leash. “We’re here to see Taylor or Liza.”Please let Liza be here.
She hiked her bag on her shoulder, circled the desk, and ushered them toward the elevator. “Taylor left at lunch and hasn’t returned. Liza hasn’t been in all day.” She stabbed the elevator button.
“You’re not the same lady from earlier today.” Riley sounded suspicious. “How many receptionists work here?”
“We have a few,” the redhead said.
That was probably true. Josh had seen a couple of different ladies at the desk when he’d visited Liza in the past.
The elevator doors opened.
Riley blocked the woman from getting in the elevator. “We need Taylor’s home address.”
Josh held in a grin at how Riley wasn’t leaving the building without getting what she wanted. And he really enjoyed that her deep New England accent was coming out in full force.
The redhead studied Riley as if she had four heads. “Seriously. I can’t give you that information.”
The doors closed.
“Even if it’s life or death?” Josh asked.
The petite lady nodded. “I could lose my job.”
Riley pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes. “How would you feel if something happened to Taylor, and we could’ve prevented it—but in the end couldn’t because you wouldn’t help us?”
The two women were in somewhat of a standoff, giving each other the stink eye.
Josh was about to appeal to the receptionist when she slumped her shoulders and stomped back to her desk. “I need your names and addresses.”
Riley and Josh swapped perplexed looks.
As if the lady knew what they were thinking, she said, “If I lose my job, I’m coming to find both of you.”
The woman was hilarious. She was a tiny thing who couldn’t hurt a fly. Despite that, Josh gave her the address to the Redwood Cove Inn. “That’s where you can find us.” She didn’t need to know much more than that or that Riley lived in Boston.
While the redhead was searching her computer, Riley leaned into Josh’s right ear. “Do you know where Liza’s office is? Maybe we should snoop around.”
Her breath on his ear was energizing, and that magic spell she’d had him under in Liza’s apartment started to cloud his senses. The urge to pull her to him and feel her against him was overpowering. But this wasn’t the time or place. Man, he was falling hard and fast. Mom had always believed in love at first sight. The minute she’d laid eyes on Dad, she’d known he was the one.
Josh’s hand snaked around Riley’s waist to settle on her lower back. It was his turn to whisper in her ear. “Hold Charlie. I know where Liza’s office is. Keep Red occupied.” Josh wanted to stay in that position so he could nibble on her earlobe and explore more of her.
Later,his brain shouted.
She dipped her head just as he was pulling away, and Josh’s lips brushed against her ear.
She spewed a noise or a moan.
Man, he was in trouble.
Josh shook off the lust-filled bubble she had him in and strutted up to Red. He glanced down both hallways, but all seemed quiet. He was beginning to wonder if anyone actually worked on that floor. Sure, he’d been in Liza’s office a time or two, but even then, he hadn’t seen many people on the floor.
“I need to use the restroom.” Josh started heading down the hall where Liza’s office was located, as was a men’s room if he remembered correctly. “I know where it is,” he tossed over his shoulder.
