“Not sure I want to do anything. I’ll probably just hang around here. At least this Christmas, I won’t be on the run. This year, I’m making the most of my new life.”
But when Eden settled into bed later that night, Drew still dominated her dreams.
**
After juggling meetings, canceling a few, and delegating others, Drew finally arrived in New York. He wasn’t sure how long he would be in the Big Apple, but he had no intention of returning to Phoenix until he had convinced Eden to give him another chance and marry him. He knew, without any doubt, that she was the one for him, the only woman he wanted in his life. When he called his cousins and told them of his plans, they wished him good luck and said it was about time he got his life together and found a woman worthy of his love.
Then he thought about the phone call he had received last night from Elijah Tyson. In a final effort to control his daughter, Tyson had offered Drew a million dollars to get out of Eden’s life. Drew hadn’t wasted any time letting the man know that he loved Eden and that getting out of her life wasn’t an option. No amount of money would make him give up the love of his life.
He caught a cab from the airport to the Waldorf Astoria to check in and refresh. This was the first time he had visited New York during the holidays, and holiday decorations appeared to be on every storefront. Even the hotel was decorated with holiday themes throughout, including inside the elevators. It almost made him feel as if he’d stepped into a Christmas wonderland. He couldn’t wait to see how the city would light up at night. Drew had no idea where Eden’s apartment was located, but recalled the name of her modeling agency from earlier conversations.
He caught another cab from the hotel to the modeling agency. The woman at the front desk eyed him warily and told him she could not provide him with any information on Eden. He understood. Eden was a celebrity in the fashion world, and some overly zealous fans might become stalkers. The thought of that unnerved him.
Since the woman wasn’t forthcoming with information on Eden, he hoped her agent would be. So he asked the woman if he could meet with Amélie. Unfortunately, she was at lunch. Since he had nothing better to do, he decided to wait.
It was almost two hours before she returned. “Ms. Dubois will see you now, Mr. Steele.”
He stood. “Thanks.”
Amélie Dubois stood when he entered her office and extended her hand. “Drew Steele, we finally meet,” she said in a heavy French accent.
“Yes, and I hate to bother you, but I am trying to find Eden. I know she was planning to move into an apartment, but I don’t have the address.”
The woman frowned at him. “And why do you need her address after leaving her the way you did months ago?”
Evidently, Eden had shared details of what happened with her agent, whom she also considered a good friend. “I made a mistake.”
“Typical man. Don’t you all? You hurt Eden, Mr. Steele. You ended up being just another disappointment in her life. I know Eden thought you were different.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “At the time, I wasn’t different.”
“But you are now?” she asked, a little sarcastically.
New York was a large city. This woman knew where Eden was living, and he needed that information. The sooner hemade things right, the better. For that reason, he answered her question. “Yes, I now realize how much Eden means to me.”
“And now that you know?” the woman asked.
“I intend to tell her.”
The woman looked at him, actually trying to stare him down. It was as if she could see right through his body and read his heart. Well, if that was the case, he had nothing to worry about. That heart had Eden’s name written all over it.
Letting out a sigh, she said, “I won’t give you her address.” His heart sank until she added, “Because she is no longer in New York.”
He frowned. “Then where is she?” he asked.
Obviously, that was the wrong approach. Amélie Dubois tilted her head, looking as if she was about to read him the riot act.
Before she could start, he changed his words and tone. “Will you please tell me where she is, Amélie? I really need to see her and tell her how I feel.”
She stared at him for a moment, as if weighing the depth of his sincerity. Finally, she said, “Eden is doing a photo shoot in Paris. She was to return to spend the holidays in her new apartment in New York, but she felt the need to stay away for a while. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you why.”
No, she didn’t. “Thanks for letting me know where she is. You won’t regret it.”
“See that I don’t.”
He nodded and then turned to leave. He was almost out of the office when she called out to him. “Drew?”
He turned around. “Yes?”
