"Thank you," I tell him as he guides me toward the double doors. He keeps one hand wrapped around my waist as he opens the door and aims for the settee just inside. I always wondered what this chair was for. It's not like anybody hangs out in the lobby much.
"It was nothing," he waves it off, but I shake my head.
"You saved me."
"Just doing my job, Ms..." He pauses. Catches my eye and holds it for a long moment, as he gently lowers me onto the seat. I collapse onto it, trying to hide my relief as I finally let my legs relax. They did not want to keep holding me upright, not after all that. "Clove," he amends, gaze still fixed on me.
I fight the urge to shiver. His voice is a deep baritone, the New York accent sexy on him.
"Your job shouldn't have to involve fending off crazy attackers," I reply with a sigh. "Sorry about him."
"Don't you dare apologize," he says, nearly cutting me off. He looks dead serious as he glances over my head, and I know he's looking back through the glass windows at where Dick was a moment ago. "I see shitheads like him all the time-drunk stockbroker trust fund kids who think they deserve whatever they want." He glances back at me. "Or whoever."
I grimace and bite the inside of my lip. "The worst part is, I'm not even sure that was the worst first date I've ever been on."
I expect him to laugh, but instead, he only looks angrier. He takes a seat next to me on the settee, shaking his head.
"Men in this city can be absolute scum. They don't know how to treat a real woman."
I swallow hard. Suddenly, with him so close beside me, it's getting difficult to focus. My blood is still pumping hard, the adrenaline making my hands quivery, my feet feel numb and a little shaky. Though, it might not all be adrenaline from Dick's attack anymore. It's hard to tell, what with the way my hormones are reacting to the heat pouring off of Zayne's body and the proximity of his strong arms, his biceps visible through his uniform shirt.
I force myself to shrug, playing it nonchalant. "There are assholes everywhere, I guess."
"Not like here," he scowls. "And you shouldn't have to deal with them, anyway. You don't deserve that." He casts a sideways glance at me, our eyes locking once more. "You deserve a man who treats you right. Someone who understands your value. Who knows what a woman like you needs."
"And what's that?" I ask. Somehow, my voice has dropped to a whisper. I don't remember giving it permission to do that. Then again, I don't remember leaning toward Zayne either, and I don't remember giving myself permission to stare at his lips, just inches away from mine, slightly parted as though he's about to say something else-or maybe just close the gap between us and crush his lips against mine, kiss me until I forget about tonight.
"Respect," he replies. His eyes dip down a little too, glancing at my mouth, then back to my eyes. I lick my lips and his eyes flicker again. "Care. Whatever you desire, honestly."
My throat feels tight, my mouth dry. I suck in a deep breath of air and turn my head a little, glance around the lobby, mostly for an excuse to break the tension between us. But dammit, his scent follows me. He smells amazing-like pine needles and crisp fall air, and something else under it all, something heady and masculine and entirely him.
"Yeah. Well," I say, eyes still on the empty lobby. "Guys like that are in short supply."
"Depends where you look," he says, and I can still feel his eyes on me, burning into me, even without looking at him. It's a physical sensation, as if he's touching me, caressing me with his gaze.
"Definitely not where I met him," I say with a half-laugh. "Stupid dating app."
Zayne laughs. Damn him, even his laugh is sexy, full-throated, and deep. "Which app are you using?" he asks.
I tell him, and in response, he pulls out his phone and unlocks the screen. Shows me the same app on his background.
This time, I laugh too. "Had any better luck with the ladies on there than I have with the guys?"
He smirks. "Well, I can't say any women have stalked me home after dates," he admits. Then shakes his head. "But no, I haven't exactly met a lot of decent matches lately."
"Do share. Maybe it'll help me feel better about my abysmal luck."
He laughs and leans back on the settee. "Oh god, where to start. There was the girl who asked me to sign an NDA before we could start dating-she brought triplicate copies to the bar."
I burst out laughing.
His grin widens as he thinks back. "Hmm, and then there was the woman wearing a wedding ring. When I called her out on it, she insisted it was a fake diamond, that she just wears it to fend off guys hounding her. Sure, lady. And then one girl spent the whole date showing me photos of her five cats … "
By the time he's finished recounting his dating stories, and I've shared a few of my own, we're both laughing so hard my sides hurt. He's halfway through another story, one about one of his friends whose date wet the bed on him, when a sharply-cleared throat interrupts us.
We glance up, and Zayne is on his feet in a heartbeat, before I even realize what's happening. But then I recognize Mrs. Sharpe from the 7th floor, the one with the tiny purse dog and the husband who's almost as tiny. She has her mouth pursed now, an angry frown wrinkling her forehead as she raps her fingers on the counter behind which Zayne normally works.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Sharpe," he's saying now, whipping his hat back onto his head as he skids behind the counter. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm expecting a package."
"Of course, let me check on that." He darts into the back, and I rise, surprised to find that my legs are no longer shaky. In fact, I feel about a million times better. Maybe all the laughter and bad date stories helped relax me after all.
I sidle up to the counter and lean against it. Mrs. Sharpe glares at me. "Zayne just helped me out with a creepy date," I explain. "The guy followed me home, tried to attack me … "
That softens her up. The crease in her forehead disappears, and Mrs. Sharpe pats my arm instead. "Take my advice, honey," she says. Zayne returns with her package, and she accepts it with a smile, tucking it under her arm before she turns to me once more. "Find a good man, not a nice guy," she finishes. Then she's off toward the elevator and I can feel my cheeks heating as I peek at Zayne.
"Good advice," he says, leaning on the counter with a grin. If he's bothered at all by the fact that Mrs. Sharpe discovered him away from his desk, it doesn't show.
What are you doing, Clove? I can't flirt with him while he's working. I shouldn't be flirting with him at all, anyway. He's my doorman. He works here. I've walked past him every day for the last two years, and with any luck, I'll walk past him every day for the next two as well, because I love this apartment. It's my home. I can't do anything to jeopardize that.
"I'll quit distracting you," I say, my tone apologetic. "Thanks again, for everything."
"Anytime," he replies, then stops himself, shaking his head. "Although, of course, I hope you never have to deal with a piece of shit like that guy ever again."
I laugh. "Here's hoping."
"Yes," he agrees, eyes suddenly sincere again, locked on me. "Here's hoping."
With that, I leave him to his front desk duties. I wipe my palms on my jeans as I go. Ignore the fresh sparking in my nerve endings. This time, I definitely can't blame it on adrenaline or fear. This time, I know exactly what's causing it.
But that's the worst possible idea. If I hooked up with Zayne and things went sour, they'd go really sour.
So, I push my floor in the elevator, let the doors close behind me, and try not to think about the insanely hot man I just discovered hiding behind my doorman's uniform.
2
Midnight. I still can't sleep. Turns out adrenaline plus a healthy dose of flirting makes for one long, sleepless kind of night.
I pull out my phone and flip through my messages. I filled in my BFFs at work about the date already, blowing up our group text with details. They are appropriately shocked and appalled on my behalf. Andy even promises to buy my first round at our standing team happy hour on Thursday.
But by now, everyone's long asleep. Well, except for Celeste, who's out celebrating her boyfriend's birthday, but I don't want to bother her with more bored whining about how I'm still awake because dammit, I can't stop thinking about tonight.
You'd think it would be the stalker distracting me, keeping me up. Instead, it's images of Zayne. His piercing blue eyes as he looked me over, made sure I was okay after that attack. The flirty glint in those same eyes when he told me I needed a man who treats me right. Someone who will give me whatever I desire.