Page 217 of Captive Ruin

I shouldn’t let it bother me.

“That’s because we have a stop to make first. Surprise date.”

My eyebrows go up. “Here?” I’m used to the rules by now. “Art auction?”

“No. Still on the list, but we’ll do that really soon.”

“Gallery visit?”

He smiles. “Warmer.”

“Lunch?” I ask. It’s a bit early.

“Afterward.”

“Any clues?”

“Isn’t driving into Chelsea clue enough?”

It doesn’t matter. He’s absolutely shit at clues; I’ve never guessed one of his surprise dates. Of course, it might be because he intends it that way.

He turns onto West 26th Street and pulls up alongside a red-and-white No Parking sign displayed clearly on the side of a building.

“I don’t think we can stop here.”

“It’ll be all right.”

It’s not like he cares about parking tickets, but I pity the poor guy who tries to tow him.

“So where are we going?”

“There.” He points out the window at the building next to us.

It’s a typical brick construction, half the buildings around here similar, the other half glass and steel. I prefer the older look; it’s charming. Every other address is an art gallery. This one’s been converted into offices, the front façade a series of arched windows with three floors of desks within.

“Who are we meeting?”

“You’ll see.”

He gets out of the car, walking around to join me.

“What are we doing?”

“You’ll see.”

I scowl at him. Four months of dates since his shoulder grew strong enough, and I still don’t like it when he does this. Except secretly, I do. I’d just never admit it.

Problem is, I think he knows I like it. It’s why he keeps doing it.

He leads me inside, the main door unlocked. There are a few lights on within, and a man is waiting in a cheap suit. I don’t recognize him.

“Ah, Mr. and Mrs—” he begins, but closes his mouth with a snap when Lukas lifts a finger.

He has that effect, especially when they’ve met before.

The ground floor is in disarray, some desks pushed haphazardly against the wall. There’s a mezzanine above, reached with a set of spiral stairs, and another floor above that. It’s a large, empty space, cables still poking out of the walls where the prior occupants didn’t bother to tidy up.

“What do you think?” Lukas asks.