Page 104 of Casanova LLC

“It’s…” She put a hand to her forehead and stroked it.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Then she thrust the phone back at me and laughed. “How do you do this to me?! Can you send me that?”

Perfect. Now I’d have her number. Just in case. “Of course. But for your eyes only.”

“On my honor.” A girl scout. An adorable one.

I attached the photo to a new message and handed the phone back to her. “Just put your number in.” She did, and some compulsion to be honest made me say, “You should know it’s been promised to someone, though.”

“Another desperate woman?”

“My uncle, actually. It’s his favorite pier.”

“Then I won’t be jealous.” She handed me back the phone and I pressed send. A moment later, her purse dinged.

I put it back in my pocket, hunched up my shoulders. “So. It would seem our plans for the night have changed.”

“Sorry? Oh, right. Mine and yours.” She chuckled. “Well, I couldn’t have asked for a better escort, but we should get going. Big day tomorrow.”

“The biggest. How excited are you?”

“Very!”

“Where will I be delivering you?”

“Just a few blocks from here. The Mercer.” She lifted her glass to her lips again. “He insisted on the tradition of sleeping apart the night before the wedding. I told him I didn’t—it’s a very nice room.” She hitched her purse further up her shoulder, readying to leave. “I have a bit of work to do, actually.”

“Work? After your rehearsal dinner?”

“I know. But I’m starting a company and it’s 24/7 at the moment.”

“Impressive. Congratulations.”

“Right now it’s all emails and paperwork and lawyers and frustrations, but I’m determined to make it great.”

“She’s ambitious, too. What kind of company?”

“Cosmetics. It’s called Visage.”

“Good name.”

“Thank you.”

We were silent.

Now was the moment.

I threw back my champagne. “All right. I’m taking you out for a drink.”

“What?”

“We’re celebrating. You’re getting married. You’re going to be the next Estée Lauder. You single-handedly launched my career. Technically, we should have multiple drinks. Come on!” Boldly, I took her arm.

She laughed and disentangled her arm. “Hang on, hang on. Let me get my coat.”

I had gotten her to unlock the door and hand me the key. Perfect.

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