Which wasn’t much better. Absent were the black-rimmed glasses she often sported and he was gifted with a clear view of amazing green eyes. If he thought the schoolgirl look he’d appreciated at the Crown & Anchor turned him on, this was—
“Um, what are you doing here?” Kagan asked, her eyes darting down the hallway. “Now’s really not a good time.”
“I, uh…” What was he doing there? Oh yeah. “I stopped by to return the sweater you left at Crem’s last week.” He held it up before lying it over the back of the couch. “And to see if you were busy tomorrow night?”
“Hold on,” Charlotte said, putting her palm up like she wanted to stop traffic. She looked at Kagan. “I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me, Jelly Belly.”
“Jelly Belly?” Shane said, a grin overtaking his sloppy lead-in.
A gorgeous blush spread across Kagan’s cheeks. She narrowed her eyes at her friend and crossed her arms over her chest. Shit. He was looking there again.
Charlotte moved beside Kagan and put an arm around her. “She has an unhealthy attachment to them. Instead of a pie-eating contest, there was a jelly bean–eating contest in college and she wiped out the competition. Set a new record for the most Jelly Bellies eaten in ten minutes.”
“Good to know.”
“What I’d like to know is how you two know each other.”
“We don’t really,” Kagan said, shrugging out of Charlotte’s grasp. “Thanks for bringing me my sweater and it’s nice of you to ask about tomorrow night, but I’m busy.”
“You are?” Charlotte’s surprised tone told Shane that Kagan was lying.
“I’ve got that thing, remember?” Kagan raised her eyebrows.
Charlotte’s shoulders sagged like she was the one who couldn’t make it out with him. She swung her attention away from Kagan. “I guess she has a thing.”
A horn sounded from out front.
“Dammit. That must be my cab.” Charlotte peeked through the large bay window. “Yep.”
That was when Shane noticed the suitcase by the couch. He glanced around the room. It looked like they’d had a party on the dining room table. Guilt crawled up the back of his neck—he’d interrupted something.
“Where you headed?” he asked.
“Back to New York.”
Kagan wrapped her arms around Charlotte. “I’m going to miss you so much. Thanks again for coming.”
“You know I’d never miss your birthday.”
“It’s your birthday?” Shane asked.
“There might be a sliver of cake left if you want some,” Charlotte tossed over her shoulder. Then she put her mouth to Kagan’s ear. “You are so busted for not telling me about him. Forget your thing and go out.”
Excellent hearing ran in the Sullivan family. He smiled.
“So what kind of date are we talking?” Charlotte asked, stepping away from Kagan.
A sigh sounded from Kagan’s sexy mouth, drawing his eyes to its fullness. “It’s the opening for The Duchess,” he said. “Black tie. Food. Drink. Some music.”
“That’s the hotel you mentioned you’d been working on,” Kagan said.
“Yeah.”
“Sort of short notice to be asking me now.”
“My…” He paused. “My date just canceled on me.” He hoped she didn’t take offense.
Charlotte waved her arm in the air. “No biggie. Kagan—”
“Sorry about that,” a man interrupted, coming down the hallway and lowering a cell phone from his ear. He stopped in his tracks and his eyes narrowed on Shane.
Another car horn signaled the cabbie’s impatience.
“Dammit. I’ve got to go,” Charlotte said, reluctance in her tone. She glanced at the man and then back at Kagan. “Or maybe I don’t. I’ll catch the next flight.”
“No you won’t,” Kagan said. “I’m fine, Char. Go.” She linked arms with her friend, and they walked around him toward the front door.
Charlotte lifted her suitcase. “You sure?” Kagan nodded. “Okay. Love you, Jelly Belly. Call me over the weekend.” She smiled and like a tiny hurricane made her escape.
Once the door had shut, the guy glaring from the end of the hallway said, “This him?”
Kagan’s frown stretched across the room for a beat. Then her features softened and Shane found her sizing him up with sudden interest. She stepped closer but accidentally tripped over the knotted entryway rug. Shane caught her so that her hands landed on his chest. She took a steadying breath. “Yes, this is him.”