I took another step, my heel sliding sideways. I grabbed onto his arm with both hands, my clutch purse swinging wildly. “Okay, these might be a problem.”
“Might?”
“Fine. Definitely are.” I tried to take another step and nearly face-planted. Only Dane’s quick reflexes kept me upright. “It’s only two blocks.”
“Two blocks in heels on ice is like climbing Everest in flip-flops.” He gestured at my feet, where I was currently doing an impression of Bambi on ice. “From where I’m standing, you’re about three seconds away from either breaking an ankle or taking us both down.”
“I’ve got this.” I took another step to prove my point.
Dane caught me again, and this time he didn’t let go. “That’s it. I’m carrying you.”
“You are not carrying me like a sack of laundry.”
“Watch me.” He started to bend down like he was actually going to throw me over his shoulder.
“Dane Kavanagh, don’t you dare!” I tried to swat at him but my hands were still clutching his arm for balance. “I’m wearinga very tight dress and there are paparazzi somewhere around here.”
“Then stop being stubborn and hold on to me properly.”
I did as he said and immediately felt more stable. Well, physically stable. Emotionally, being pressed against Dane’s side while he held me close was making feel anything but stable.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yeah, yeah, keep walking.”
My heels still slipped with every step, but with Dane basically holding me up, I managed not to fall.
Fifteen minutes later, at a building so tall I couldn’t see the top through the falling snow, a doorman opened the door and ushered us inside.
I heard him say a few words to Dane, who acknowledged him but appeared to be mission focused. The marble floors in the lobby were almost as bad as the sidewalks outside.
“Stop,” I finally said. “No more.”
I bent down and took off one heel and then the other. I was done being wobbling around like I was taking my first steps.
Dane chuckled. “Good thinking.”
He swiped a card and we stepped into an elevator. I leaned against the wall, thanking all my lucky stars that I made it in one piece.
It felt like the ride up took a good minute, which told me we were going very high.
The elevator stopped, the doors quietly opened, and I was standing in what looked like a foyer. I expected to be in a hallway with doors like every other apartment building. There was a small sofa on one side with a console table and pretty fresh flowers sitting on another table.
Dane crossed the foyer and entered a code into the keypad next to a set of double doors.
He opened the door and gestured for me to go inside.
The second I stepped through the door, lights came on. The further I walked into the massive space, more lights turned on. It took me a second to realize it was automatic. No one was standing at a light switch.
“Holy shit,” I murmured under my breath.
I was immediately drawn to the windows that lined two sides. I could see a terrace that apparently wrapped around the side of the building.
The city spread below us. Lights twinkled through the storm with snow coating everything in white. Dane appeared behind me and helped me out of my damp coat. I couldn’t look away from the view.
This was his life. This space, this view, this level of wealth and success that I couldn’t even really comprehend.
“I’ll get you something to change into,” Dane said. “I have a feeling you’ll be staying the night. The storm’s only getting worse, and I have several guest rooms. You can take your pick.”
