She smiled. "That's quite a threat. If you don't do what I say, I'm going to shower you with gifts."
He grinned back at her. "You know what I mean. I'll come find you after I get the keys."
"They're going to look at me like I'm a drowned rat. I wish I could say it was raining outside."
"Tell them a pipe burst in your apartment. You got soaked, and so did your clothes, and you had to move out for a night."
"That's not bad. I'm impressed with the quick lie. Also, a little scared."
He gave her a gentle push toward the store. "Go crazy."
It felt a little strange to walk even a few feet away from him, but she felt pretty safe even in the lobby. She'd been careful on the way over, keeping an eye out for any tails. She thought they were good, at least for a while.
The boutique actually had an excellent selection of clothes, including silky pajamas, undies, jeans, and T-shirts. She didn't go crazy as Max had suggested, but she bought enough to make her feel like she could hit the ground running tomorrow. When she was done, Max was waiting just outside the door.
"Looks like the shopping was a success," he said. "Did you buy something sexy to sleep in?"
"Maybe," she said, not willing to admit she had thought about him when she was picking out sleepwear. "Did you get us a nice room?"
"I did. Let's check it out."
They had to show their key to a security man at a podium by the elevator bank and had to use the key again to access the thirty-fifth floor. She couldn't help noticing discreetly placed cameras everywhere they went, which actually made her feel even safer. But she stopped worrying about safety when Max threw open the door to an incredibly luxurious suite that was unlike any place she had ever stayed before.
The suite looked like something from a magazine—easily twice the size of her entire apartment, with soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking panoramic view of Manhattan. In the living area, plush cream-colored sofas were arranged around a marble coffee table, original artwork on the walls, and a dining area that could easily seat eight people.
"Wow," she said, moving toward the windows. "This is amazing."
The view was as incredible as their suite, with Central Park stretched out directly below them, a dark rectangle of trees bordered by the glittering lights of the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side. Beyond the park, the city extended in every direction, millions of lights twinkling in the gathering dusk. She could see the spire of the Empire State Building to the south, and the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River to the north.
"It's beautiful," she murmured as Max stood next to her. "This city is everything and more."
"This is a magnificent view."
She turned to look at him. "We have to protect it, protect all the hopes and dreams out there."
He met her gaze. "That's what we're going to do. Tomorrow."
"I hope tomorrow won't be too late." At his frown, she added, "Sorry. I'm not trying to be a downer."
"I get it. But we have another day before the summit on Tuesday, and I think we need a break so we can regroup and re-energize."
"Well, this is the perfect place to do that. Do you want to take a shower and change, or order room service?"
"Let's start with room service. I'm starving." She moved over to the dining room table, where an elegant menu was encased in a thick leather folder. "This looks good, too. I could get used to living like this. What shall we get?"
He smiled at her enthusiasm. "Order whatever you want. I'm going to take a few minutes to try to reach Dominic."
"I thought we were taking a break."
"I'm just surprised he hasn't returned my calls, so I'm going to give it one more shot. See if they have a good fillet on that menu. I wouldn't mind getting a steak."
"They do. I'll put in an order." As he walked into the bedroom, she wondered a little at his need for privacy, but she wasn't going to let doubts creep in. She knew the man she was with. She'd already trusted him with her life; she could trust him with a phone call to his boss.
While he was gone, she ordered steak for him, salmon for her, and an array of side dishes and dessert; and for good measure, she threw in some beers and a really expensive bottle of wine. Her stomach was rumbling, and she was thrilled to hear the room service operator tell her the food would be there within twenty minutes.
She'd just put down the phone when Max returned to the living room. She gave him a questioning look. "Well?"
"He finally picked up. He just left the hospital. They took Samantha off the ventilator. She's breathing on her own but apparently still heavily sedated, so he wasn't able to talk to her."
