I slow my steps as I come upon a path and just take the gradual peace of walking through bushes and trees and park to calm my frayed nerves. I’m in the middle of chastising myself for threatening Constantin, even though the asshole deserved it, when a furry little ball comes flying at my legs. The suddenness of the attack sends me right onto my ass in the center of the pavement.
“Shit!” My bag goes flying out of my grip, landing on the ground and slumping to the side, papers sliding out from the top as the ball of fur on my legs bounds into my lap and a wet, sandpaper tongue laps at my cheek.
“Luna, no!” a deep masculine voice calls out.
The shadow of a man falls over me, and I jerk my gaze up and up some more to the absurdly tall man that comes to a standstill in front of me. The small blond dog that looks like a cross between a dachshund and a corgi sits with her hind legs propped on my upper thighs and her front ones planted on my chest and continues to lick at my face. Then, as the man bends down to lift her away, I realize he must be the dog’s owner.
“I’m so sorry.” Brilliant blue eyes that remind me of Giulio’s appear in front of me and… wow, okay, I never thought I’d meet another man who has the same stunning appeal as Giulio, but here he is. Dressed in a pair of light gray joggers and a plain white T-shirt that stretches pleasingly over thick biceps and a widechest, the man lifts the puppy from my lap and holds her against his chest even as he holds out a hand in a silent offer to help me up.
Luna squirms in his grip, her excitement at finding another friend making my lips twitch in amusement. I take the man’s hand and allow him to pull me to my feet.
“It’s all right,” I assure him, brushing off the small flecks of dirt and leaves still clinging to my clothes. All the while, I keep looking at the stranger and examining him.
He’s tall, at least six-foot-four, I’d guess. The guy must either be an athlete or a gym nut, too, because he’s built as what Michelle would refer to as “a brick shithouse.” Wide, sturdy, and stacked with muscles that flex beneath his clothes. Though it hadn’t been intended, eyeing him certainly gets my mind off Constantin. My attention goes up to his face. The dark shadow of a beard that’s barely growing in dusts the underside of his jaw, up his chin, and along the sides of his face.
His equally dark brown hair is cut short along the sides and longer at the top, a curl drooping adorably over the side of his forehead, giving him an almost boyish look. At least, he might have appeared boyish without all of the “hello, nice to see ya” bulging muscles. If Michelle were here, she’d be on the ground panting and drooling. Somehow, though, I can’t keep from comparing this guy to Giulio.
Yes, he’s got pretty eyes, almost as pretty as Giulio’s blue eyes, except this man has a thick ring of brown around his irises. His hair is dark, but it’s slightly shaggier than Giulio’s and though he’s wider and thicker than my husband, I can’t help but appreciate the fact that were I to hug Giulio, at least I’d be able to reach fully around him. I doubt that’d be possible with this guy.
Luna lets out a yip as the man hefts her higher on his chest. Her brown, tan, and white coloring make my heart melt almost as much as the floppy ears that smack against the side of her face and her owner’s as she shakes her head in quick, jerky back-and-forth movements. The man sighs and looks down at the pet in his arms.
“I know we’re not supposed to have dogs off their leashes after a certain time in Central Park, but I’m trying to train her, and I was hoping she’d be better behaved,” he admits.
I laugh as Luna lets out another bark, obviously demanding to be released from his hold.
“It’s fine,” I say, chuckling as I move over to my fallen bag.
“Oh, let me help you,” he says, and with one hand holding the pup to his chest, the man reaches down and gathers my papers, shuffling them back into the folder that also slipped free and gently pushing them back into the confines of my bag.
“Thanks, and please, no worries about the puppy,” I tell him. “She’s adorable.”
The man looks down at the animal in his arms, and a soft smile lifts the corners of his mouth. “That she is,” he agrees, rubbing his free hand over the pup’s head. Buoyed by her owner’s attention, Luna barks and paws at his chest, earning another pet and then a scratch behind her left ear. My lips twitch, and a laugh bubbles up as one of her lower legs begins to jerk against his chest in automatic pleasure.
“I’m Emil,” the man says, releasing Luna’s ear as he stretches the same hand out to me.
I take it. “Daisy.”
His fingers close around mine, warm and firm. When hereleases me, I take a step back and heft my bag’s strap over my shoulder again. Just as I start heading toward the street, he calls out.
“Hey, how about I walk you home?” he says. Startled, I turn back to him, and his face pinches into a light grimace. “You know, to apologize for…” He drifts off, looking down at the dog in his arms.
I laugh and shake my head. “Oh, it’s not a problem,” I say. “I’m not far.”
I take a step, and he follows. “Even better,” he says. “I won’t have to apologize for long.”
Hesitantly, I stop trying to walk away. “You don’t need to walk me home,” I tell him. “It’s not necessary.” Feeling suddenly uneasy despite the man’s smile and relaxed stance, I look over his shoulder toward the trees, but there’s no one there.
“Please, I insist.” Emil starts moving before I can refuse him again.
Unsure, but more than ready to get back to the penthouse, it takes me a few seconds to start walking. When I do, the smile Emil flashes me is all about comfort and politeness. Were he anyone else, or perhaps were I anyone else, I might assume he was hitting on me. He keeps his hands to himself, however, walking next to me with a good two-foot gap as he strokes Luna and talks about the weather and how nice Central Park is.
The penthouse is safe, I remind myself. All I need to do is get inside. It’s not like he’s going to follow me up to my floor.It’s fine. It’s fine. It’s—
“Daisy!” Relief storms through me at the familiar vibratoof Giulio’s voice. Lifting my head, face stretching into a smile, I arch a hand into the air as I draw closer to the front of the chrome-and-glass building that houses Giulio’s penthouse.
Luna yips lightly at my side as I wave excitedly to both Giulio and the man at his side. Alonzo is standing with his back against the town car that’s parked against the curb. An unlit cigarette hangs from his lips. Giulio’s face, however, darkens the second he sets eyes on Emil next to me.
As we approach, I’m preparing to launch into how I ran into him in the park and he insisted on walking me back. The second I get within reaching distance, though, all of my well-laid intentions go up in smoke.
