“I’m afraid I’ll need you to scan your membership card,” the receptionist said.
I sent her what I hoped was a sheepish smile. “I forgot it at home, and I’m meeting a friend here for lunch.”
“Perhaps you could text your friend and have them come meet you here in the lobby?” she suggested. Her tone was apologetic yet firm. A polite guard dog but a guard dog nonetheless.
“Oh…Um…” I desperately tried to pull myself together. “Sure, I can do that.”
Crap, crap, crap.
I didn’t know what to do. A voice in my head was shouting,Abort! Abort!
That sounded like a good idea to me. I’d just have to find Hoffman somewhere else on another day.
But then an arm settled across my shoulders, and the heady scent of fresh air reached my nose.
“It’s all right, Agatha. She’s with me.”
The receptionist’s face changed instantly.
“Of course. Nice to see you again.”
The man who’d helped me out of the rhododendron flashed her a smile, and I swear she nearly swooned. “You too, Agatha.”
He kept one arm around my shoulders as he swiped his card and pushed the door open. Then his hand moved to my back as I preceded him out of the lobby.
As soon as the door fell shut behind us, he removed his hand from my back, but I swear it left behind a glowing imprint. I couldstill feel the heat from his skin through the thin fabric of my borrowed dress.
A few paces away from the door, we drew to a stop.
“Thanks for that,” I said, trying not to let on that I was annoyed that he’d now come to my rescue twice.
He grinned at me, his dimple making another appearance. I cursed the weakness in my knees.
“Now that we’re partners in crime, do I at least get to know why you’re sneaking into the club?”
“I’m here to meet someone,” I said. After all, that was sort of the truth. Hoffman just didn’t know I was coming to meet him.
“That’s all you’ve got for me?” he asked, sounding disappointed. “Do I at least get to know your name?”
When I hesitated, he held out his hand. I eyed it like it was dangerous. It probably was, considering that simply thinking about his hands had nearly sent me spiraling into a steamy fantasy earlier. But I couldn’t bring myself to ignore the offering.
I closed my hand around his.
I wouldn’t have called the touch electric. It was more like a sizzle, a fiery one that held a dangerous promise of even more heat.
I swore his nearly black eyes darkened, and I knew he’d felt it too.
“Emersyn Gray.”
My name came out sounding more breathless than I’d intended.
“Nice to meet you, Emersyn. I’m Wyatt.”
Of course he was.
Suspicion cut through the fogginess in my brain.
“For real? Are you just saying that because of this?” I held up the business card he’d retrieved for me minutes earlier.
