and expensive perfume. It was a stark contrast to the humid, garbage-sc

orks against ceramic plates. It was a symphony o

as dark. She pressed the power button, but nothin

ia's text. Table 11. By the window. Or was it Table 1?

ear the back, tucked away in a semi-private alcove surrounded by

ked li

ng a suit jacket that fit across his shoulders perfectly-n

-Mr. Vane-had looked... wider. Sloppier. But maybe the p

rt was thumping a frantic rhythm aga

e and gripped the ba

oftly. "I'm... I'm

document in a blue folder. He slowly

breath

s not M

hair was dark blond, swept back with precision. But it was his eyes that stopped her. They were ice bl

ped to the ID badge she had forgotten to take off. It was

ow, a deep baritone that seemed t

ing again. "Yes. I'm sorry if I

er forehead, the cheap red dress that hung a little loose on

out. "I know this is awkward.

at the table. "Sir, is thi

then back at Dawn. His eyes

n said. "She

nodded an

n said. It wa

her lap, hiding the scuffed to

?" he

ater, p

h a single finger. "Water.

looked like a predator deciding whether to pla

id, her voice barely a

on the blue folder. "And Lydia

e need to fill the silence. "She said you w

n didn't change, but the air around him seemed

oked down at her hands. She was twisting the strap of her ba

m," he said. It

surprised. "Ho

r fingers when you're nervous. You'r

ed her thumb from tap

ice erupted from th

r a girl! Red d

her seat. Her

o, only sweatier. He was wearing a brown suit that was too tight, and he wa

to be here! Lydi

ber on the table she was sit

t at the w

mbled to stand up. "Oh my god. I'm so

s scanning the room. His eyes were

e hadn't moved. He was watching the scene

ered, her voice trem

t a hand shot out and c

't painful, but it was absolute. He

own,"

he'

t to Dawn. "And if you walk over there, you're going to spend the next two hours listening to him

at him. "H

her wrist, but his eyes held h

ould hear Mr. Vane arg

ty, sir," the ho

is she?" Va

ir. She wished she could

his coffee cup. He took a slow sip

ooking for a husband to solve your financial problems. A

inked.

up down. "I'm G

name. Everyone in New York knew that name. Holcom

ost of a smile touched his lips, but it didn't reach his ey