A black-clad leg appeared, a polished black leather shoe on its foot over a deep gray sock. Then the body followed. Tall, Blue thought. His back was to her, and she saw broad shoulders in a black suit jacket. The suit perfectly complemented his long, lean frame. His dark hair ruffled in the breeze. She watched him leanback into the limo and take out a leather briefcase. He slung the strap over his shoulder.
As she wondered what he looked like, he turned. Their eyes caught and held, and Blue felt the breath lock in her chest. What the hell was he doing here? Further to that, why was he in that limousine dressed like that?
Sin, she thought. The man looked like sin. Sexy as hell, and a little dangerous. Then he smiled at her, and Blue felt an answering smile tug at her own lips. Jay Haddon had gone to the same elementary school as Blue back in Lyntacky. He was a few years older and friends with her brothers, but she knew him.
“Hey, Blue. Who’d have thought I’d run into you today.” Jay moved to where she stood and looked down at her. His eyes ran over her face and then moved to the box she was still clutching.
“Hi, Jay.”
“You all good there, Blue?”
She’d known this man most of her life, and they’d run into each other on and off over the years when their trips home had coincided, but he’d never been what she’d call a close friend. They just grew up in the same crazy town alongside each other.
“You look a little pale. What’s going on, Blue?”
Lyntacky had plenty of hot guys per capita, and she’d never thought Jay Haddon one of them, but looking up that long suit-clad body to the handsome face above, she knew that opinion had now changed.
The man was smoking hot in that suit. In Lyntacky, he was always scruffy and unkempt, but not today, she thought, looking at the smooth-shaven jaw.
“Nothing,” Blue said, realizing she was staring. “How are you, Jay?”
His blue eyes told her he wasn’t buying her words that nothing was wrong. Not blue like Sebastian’s eyes. No—these were more deep-ocean blue. He also had ridiculously longeyelashes, which she was instantly jealous of. Hers were fake. How had she not noticed them before?
“Why were you in that limousine, Jay?”
“Catching a ride.” He shrugged.
“In a limousine? Now tell me the truth.”
His smile was crooked.
“Why are you sitting there clutching a box full of—” He leaned in to look inside it. “—desk contents.”
Before she could stop him, he’d pulled out the pen holder that had pens, pencils, and other crap in it that her sister, Birdie, had made for her. It was an old can that she’s stuck pictures all over and then handwritten the words “to my big sister for her twelfth birthday.” She’d carried it with her everywhere.
“Nice. Did Birdie make that for you?”
Blue nodded, taking the pen holder from him and putting it back in the box.
“I figured it wouldn’t be Lynx or Finch.”
“No, my brothers were not into making my gifts,” she agreed.
“What’s going on, Blue? You look panicky.”
“I’m not panicky,” she said, sounding exactly that.
His gaze went over her shoulder, and she turned, hoping Sebastian hadn’t found her. But what she saw was one of New York’s finest hotels that she’d never stayed in.Who knew I’d walked that far.
“It’s cold out here. Come inside and have a drink with me,” Jay said.
“Are you staying here?”
He nodded.
“Are you rich, Jay?”
“That’s a rude question, Blue.” His mouth twitched again.
