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"I would have gone sooner," Jack, Chris’s dad, often claiet ready for anything"
Upon hearing this Beth, Chris’s h "I see enough to get dressed"
Jack and Beth Renshaw had scandalized their families, dumbfounded their friends, and, forty years later, were as much in love and devoted to each other as they had been after that one look back in 1968 The only flaw in their relationship was the fact that they had never been able to have a child together, but they had solved even that proble Chris
As much as the story of her parents’ speedy romance charmed Chris, she was a realist She had never felt that kind of passion, and her personal desires rarely played any role in her decisions Whatever was necessary to et the job done, she did Soh for love; until then she allowed neither her emotions nor her needs to run her life
Yet here she was, standing at the lobby entrance of the Ar up at the top-floor s and wondering about the man who lived behind them
Who is he, and how can he afford this?
Chris eyed the doorbell panel A single neatly typed label listed what evidently was the building’s only occupant: ARCHER ENTERPRISES, INC
"If you wish to gain entrance," a familiar voice said over the panel’s speaker, "you must press one of those buttons to indicate that you are at the door"
She looked into the lens of the closed-circuit security camera above the panel "But you already know I’m here" She didn’t touch the buttons "Have you been watching for me all this ti Come up" An electronic buzz released the entry lock
Chris didn’t like being rushed She preferred ti, analyze her motives, and base her choices on the most prudent course of action Out of nowhere, a cold draft made her skin shrink and sent a jolt up her spine, as if the warht had turned winter-icy
The truth was that she didn’t know thisfro and confidence, she had no business placing herself alone in an intimate situation with him And he’d made it very clear what he wanted, so any further voluntary contact on her part would virtually be the sa her consent
… it must be what you want
The buzz nore her coo to hireat deal more than her personal safety Her boundaries of behavior existed for very good reasons She had come to this city to do an important job, one that would probably make or break her career She had debts to settle and a reputation to restore In the wake of the scandal, catching the Magician constituted her only real chance of redeht stands
Then make this one count
A split second before the buzzer switched off, Chris opened the door and walked inside
Reds, golds, and browns dominated the color scheed around a massive dark walnut reception desk Several Michael Tischler prints of the Catskills hung on the walls behind crescent-shaped clusters of red leather chairs and love seats Large tables were surfaced with ates seated on wood bases carved to resemble tree stumps The ebonized floor tiles diffused the a down fro fixtures in the high, coffered ceiling
Welcolish butler If you have to inquire about price, then it is likely that you can’t afford it
Chris knew interior design and howaffluence If Rob owned Archer Enterprises, he had serious money and wasn’t afraid to spend it
She paused in front of the elevator doors A small table there held a quintet of ivory tree peonies sprouting frolass bowl She touched the delicate petals, not terribly surprised to discover they were real They reainst her cheek as they danced That had been as much of a jolt as the feel of the hard-toned eous violet eyes watching her Rob seemed almost too beautiful to be real
Like this place Like this night
Chris knew she had only advantage left She could turn around and walk out right now He couldn’t stop her She’d neverup," Rob’s voice asked, "or should I return to my prayers?"
This time Chris didn’t see the speaker or security camera "You’re very impatient"
"If I were," he said, "I would never have survived our first dance" His tone softened "You’ve nothing to fear, love I pro to her as he did: "Come to me"