newspaper and share stock recommendations. She had a feeling Luke meant something totally different. “I’m game, but--I thought you might go home to Pittsburgh tonight.”
On a laugh, he said, “Not when we’re this close.”
Close to what?
He had a way of making her think about the possibilities, she noted. It was a clever technique—turning the switch in Grace’s mind that started her fantasizing without applying any uncomfortable pressure. His kiss had been like that, too—sensual without pushing too hard. He let her imagination do some of the work of seduction.
She had one more call to make and did it quickly—to the bookstore where she had to make her last stop of the day. The store manager sounded cool on the phone. The woman’s tone gave Grace a bad feeling about the event later. By the time she finished the call, Luke had whipped his car through downtown traffic and was pulling to the curb in front of a tall building decorated with a television network’s familiar logo. Just in time.
Luke set the parking brake and shut off the engine. He popped open his door and came around to her side of the car. By the time he opened her door, Grace had checked her face in the mirror of her compact and gathered up her handbag. He helped her out onto the sidewalk. The snow had been cleared after the previous day’s storm. The pavement was only wet underfoot, but Luke held on as if she might slip and fall.
“Wish me luck,” she said, looking shakily up at him. A few hours in the car with him, and she felt as if she knew him a whole lot better.
He smiled down at her. “You’ll knock ‘em dead.”
It felt natural to give him a kiss. She stretched up on tiptoe and pressed a light one on his mouth. But Luke took her more firmly in his arms.
“I don’t want to muss you up before your show, Princess, but….”
He turned her peck on the mouth into something much steamier, right there on the street.
Dear Miss Vanderbine in a public display! That thought flashed through her mind like a neon sign … for about two seconds before she stopped thinking about anything at all and just turned herself over to his warm, savory kiss.
“Grace?” An amazed voice from several yards away.
Grace pressed Luke’s chest and stepped away, sure she was pink in the face. “Nora!”
Nora Blackbird stepped out of the shelter of the building and came over, clearly trying to prevent a big smile from breaking out on her face. Her eyes were alight, though.
The Blackbirds were one of the oldest, most prominent families in the city. Old Money, Old Philadelphia---their history stretching back to William Penn when he first came to America and laid claim to a whole state. The Blackbirds tagged along with him and made their fortune in railroads and safety pins. Today Nora looked every inch the blue-blooded aristocrat she was—tall, slim, elegant, ladylike, always perfectly composed in public, always gracious. In private, she had a wicked sense of humor, but the kindest of hearts. She had the Blackbird dark auburn hair, worn not quite shoulder-length, and wavy. She often dressed in vintage couture.
Today she wore a flatteringly snug pencil skirt, high suede boots and a graceful swing coat, open to show a scarf the color of merlot knotted around her neck. That chic scarf might have come from the Paris flea market where Nora often uncovered enviable fashion finds.
“Nora, it’s wonderful to see you.”
Not one for air kisses, Nora gave Grace a hearty hug and said in her ear, “Darling, I’m so glad you made it.”
When Nora loosened her, Grace kept one arm around Nora and said, “This is Luke Lazurnovich, who came to my rescue last night. Luke, I’d like you to meet Nora Blackbird, my sister-in-law and one of my dearest friends.”
Nora returned his friendly smile as she shook Luke’s hand. “How nice to meet you, Luke. You’re a knight in shining armor.”
“My armor might be a little rusty. How’s your
On a laugh, he said, “Not when we’re this close.”
Close to what?
He had a way of making her think about the possibilities, she noted. It was a clever technique—turning the switch in Grace’s mind that started her fantasizing without applying any uncomfortable pressure. His kiss had been like that, too—sensual without pushing too hard. He let her imagination do some of the work of seduction.
She had one more call to make and did it quickly—to the bookstore where she had to make her last stop of the day. The store manager sounded cool on the phone. The woman’s tone gave Grace a bad feeling about the event later. By the time she finished the call, Luke had whipped his car through downtown traffic and was pulling to the curb in front of a tall building decorated with a television network’s familiar logo. Just in time.
Luke set the parking brake and shut off the engine. He popped open his door and came around to her side of the car. By the time he opened her door, Grace had checked her face in the mirror of her compact and gathered up her handbag. He helped her out onto the sidewalk. The snow had been cleared after the previous day’s storm. The pavement was only wet underfoot, but Luke held on as if she might slip and fall.
“Wish me luck,” she said, looking shakily up at him. A few hours in the car with him, and she felt as if she knew him a whole lot better.
He smiled down at her. “You’ll knock ‘em dead.”
It felt natural to give him a kiss. She stretched up on tiptoe and pressed a light one on his mouth. But Luke took her more firmly in his arms.
“I don’t want to muss you up before your show, Princess, but….”
He turned her peck on the mouth into something much steamier, right there on the street.
Dear Miss Vanderbine in a public display! That thought flashed through her mind like a neon sign … for about two seconds before she stopped thinking about anything at all and just turned herself over to his warm, savory kiss.
“Grace?” An amazed voice from several yards away.
Grace pressed Luke’s chest and stepped away, sure she was pink in the face. “Nora!”
Nora Blackbird stepped out of the shelter of the building and came over, clearly trying to prevent a big smile from breaking out on her face. Her eyes were alight, though.
The Blackbirds were one of the oldest, most prominent families in the city. Old Money, Old Philadelphia---their history stretching back to William Penn when he first came to America and laid claim to a whole state. The Blackbirds tagged along with him and made their fortune in railroads and safety pins. Today Nora looked every inch the blue-blooded aristocrat she was—tall, slim, elegant, ladylike, always perfectly composed in public, always gracious. In private, she had a wicked sense of humor, but the kindest of hearts. She had the Blackbird dark auburn hair, worn not quite shoulder-length, and wavy. She often dressed in vintage couture.
Today she wore a flatteringly snug pencil skirt, high suede boots and a graceful swing coat, open to show a scarf the color of merlot knotted around her neck. That chic scarf might have come from the Paris flea market where Nora often uncovered enviable fashion finds.
“Nora, it’s wonderful to see you.”
Not one for air kisses, Nora gave Grace a hearty hug and said in her ear, “Darling, I’m so glad you made it.”
When Nora loosened her, Grace kept one arm around Nora and said, “This is Luke Lazurnovich, who came to my rescue last night. Luke, I’d like you to meet Nora Blackbird, my sister-in-law and one of my dearest friends.”
Nora returned his friendly smile as she shook Luke’s hand. “How nice to meet you, Luke. You’re a knight in shining armor.”
“My armor might be a little rusty. How’s your
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