“Can you walk? We’re just going through there.” I pointed toward the lobby. Luckily, Frank wasn’t at the front desk, which was a good thing because Isla fell into my arms as soon as we entered the building. I adjusted her weight against my body and carried her the rest of the way to the lift. “Just going up a few floors and then we’ll get you some water and a bed.” I said that mostly to myself.
She nuzzled her face in the nook of my neck and shoulder, and I couldn’t help but take in a big gulp of her fruityscent. Jesus, she smelled good. I spent twenty-five floors and a walk down a long corridor trying to figure what her perfume was. “What is that scent?” I asked her even though she was too far gone to hear me.
When we arrived at my door, Isla stirred in my arms, so I set her down. She was sort of awake again. What the hell did she have to drink back at the Crucible that she was in and out of consciousness like this? I pushed the door open, and she strolled inside, straight toward the large windows facing the city. At this time, the city was beginning to wind down and only a few lights twinkled in the distance. I rushed to the kitchen and filled a glass with water.
“I bet you’re tired.” A trick I’d seen my sister use with her toddler whenever she wanted him to lay down for a nap. It worked with him every time, and now it seemed to have worked with Isla as well.
She nodded with sleepy eyes and let me usher her to the sofa. I grabbed the chenille throw blanket laying on the cushion and pulled it over her shoulder. With a sigh, she mumbled a thank you and cuddled herself into a ball, wrapping the cover tightly around her. She seemed so small and alone. This hit way too close to home. Whatever problems she had going on with her boyfriend or at home, I couldn’t get involved. Tomorrow, I would put her in a cab and forget this whole night ever happened.
The next morning, I lay in bed for a good half hour before I plucked up the courage to get up and deal with the drunk girl in my living room. I supposed by now she would be more hungover than drunk. I finished washing up in the bathroom then headed out.
To my surprise, she had already taken off. Fora split second, I wondered if maybe I was the one who had gotten crazy drunk last night and dreamed the whole thing. The chenille throw was back in its place, the glass of water I’d given her was also put away. I rubbed the back of my neck and looked around the apartment. I was quite sure there had been a girl in here last night.
Bloody hell, this was why I stayed away from relationships. Women were just too fucking complicated, and I didn’t have time for that kind of bullshit. I had work to do. Which reminded me, I was already late for my first day at Nicolas’s company.
I strode to my bedroom and got dressed quickly in a tailored dark suit that intimidated most people. I liked starting new projects that way. I wasn’t here to make friends. I was in the States to fix Nicolas’s security breach, not pine over a girl with a sexy beauty mark on her ass cheek and another one to match on her perfect cleavage.
Shaking my head, I adjusted my watch and forced every last detail of the night before out of my mind. I headed downstairs and made my way to the front desk. Frank’s head snapped up as if he could sense me coming. “Good morning, Mr. Noble. Your service car is ready.”
“Thank you, and good morning to you, too.” I made to leave but then turned around. “You weren’t here last night.”
“No, my daughter was in town. I took her out for a nice dinner.” He stood taller, and his grin widened.
“How is Emma?”
“Great. Great. She’s aced all her classes. She’s loving California. It’s too bad she couldn’t stay longer.” Frank shrugged.
The thought of young Emma immediately made methink of Isla again. “You must be so proud.” I hesitated for a moment, but the words left my lips before I could really process the question or my reason for asking. “Let me ask you, did you see a woman leave the building early this morning?”
“I got here at seven. No one has come through except you just now.” He picked up the receiver. “If you’d like I can check in with the previous doorman.”
“No. It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I gestured toward my waiting car. “I’m late for work.”
“Oh, allow me.” He rushed to open the lobby door and then escorted me to the black SUV.
“Thank you, Frank.” I sat back and smiled. Maybe Isla had been just a dream.
The driver made record time to the building where Windsor Financial Holdings had their offices. I rode the elevator to the twentieth floor and then headed straight to Nicolas’s corner office. I had met him a few years back at the Soho House when he was still single. We hung out many nights and got to know each other well. These days he was married and even had a baby. The poor bastard. To each his own, I supposed.
“Declan.” Nicolas came out of his office to greet me with a tight hug. “Welcome back.”
“It’s good to be back.” I glanced around the place, taking in the modern furnishings and new carpet.
“Let me walk you to your office. Casey was here all week making sure everything was as you had requested. Man, she can be a real ball-buster.” He chuckled.
“That’s why she makes the big bucks.”
Casey was my chief of staff. I trusted herimplicitly. If she said my office and team were all set for me to get started, I knew it would be.
“Here we are.” He gestured toward the woman sitting outside my office.
“Oh, bloody hell.”
4
PLEASE DON'T REMEMBER ME
Isla
