Page 64 of Against the Clock

“Uh, that doesn’t sound good.”

“Trust me, I know you prefer me dirty, but…”

“Shut up,” she says, laughing again. Her warm hand reaches for mine on the steering wheel and I grab it, pleased beyond reason that she wants to hold my hand.

“Fine, I guess I won’t tell you.”

She squeezes my hand.

“No need to beat it out of me, those are my moneymakers. Alright, so here’s the deal: my agent set up this date. I needed some help planning, seeing as how I was out of town and pretty busy this weekend. You know, a work thing.”

“Oh, a work thing, huh? I had no idea.”

“Hard to believe, isn’t it? The only good thing about working out of town is getting to have phone sex,” I say, turning left. “Trust me when I say I’d prefer the real thing every. Time.”

“Well, you’ll have to wait another five months and twenty-nine days.”

“If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes. I’d wait five years for you, Kelsey Cole. But you gotta stop distracting me, or I’ll never be able to tell you what my agent planned for us.”

“Oh, it’s my fault, huh?”

“Of course not. You can’t help how sexy you are. He arranged something special for us, he said. It usually happens on the weekend, but he pulled some strings, and…” I pull the car to a stop outside the Masonic Temple. A guy in a valet uniform steps up to the curb and I flash a grin at Kelsey before putting the car in park.

Another valet jogs around the truck, opening Kelsey’s door for her. I wait for her on the sidewalk, and she slips her slim hand in my elbow, staring up at the iconic Philly landmark in surprise.

“Are you inducting me into a secret society?”

“Yes,” I tell her solemnly. “Before I can continue things with you, you must become a Mason.”

She bursts out laughing, covering her mouth with a hand and leaning against me. Her shoulders shake as we walk up the stone steps.

“Honestly, if this is some kind of weird ceremony thing, I’m outta here.”

“You don’t want to be a Mason?” I tease. “Secret handshake, passwords, a cool hat.”

“You wear a cool enough hat for both of us.”

I tilt my head, guiding her to the front door, trying to figure out what she’s talking about. “My helmet? You think my helmet is cool? Will wonders never cease?”

She squeezes my arm and grins up at me. Her eyes get wide as her gaze drifts beyond me to the impressive doorway of the Masonic Temple.

I’ve been by this place often enough, but up close, the stone arches are more extraordinary than they seem from the street.

“This is pretty incredible,” she says. “You know I’ve lived in Philly for a few years, but I’ve never been inside this place? Maybe there is something to all this secret order stuff.”

I laugh, pressing my hand over hers on my arm. “We’re not here to join the Masons, I’m sorry.”

“Cruel of you to get a girl’s hopes up.” She looses a dramatic sigh.

An usher opens the massive, ornate wooden doors, nearly three times as tall as I am, and we both fall silent, struck by the interior of the building. Her heels echo against the black and white floor inside.

“Wow,” she says and we both stop, taking in the building. “They don’t make them like this anymore.”

“Hey, that’s my line.”

I savor the sound of her laughter bouncing off the marble entryway.

“Right this way, Mr. Harrison, Ms. Cole,” the usher at the door says, and Kelsey startles at him, looking up at me with surprise in her eyes.

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