Page 1 of The Shadow

Chapter 1

Aspen

“Good evening, Miss Wilder.”

My back stiffens, the voice of my boss interrupting me as I pack up my things to leave for the day. His voice once sent a flutter of butterflies through my belly. Now, it sends ice through my veins.

“Evening, Mr. Blake.” I attempt a smile but it’s weak at best. “I hope you have a good evening.” I swing my bag over my shoulder and keeping my chin tucked down, I attempt to skirt past him.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Before I can stop him, his hand darts out and hooks my waist. “Got a hot date?” His smile is meant to be flirty, probably disarming even, but it does the exact opposite. My stomach clenches beneath his touch, my hands twisting the leather of my purse handle so tightly that it squeaks.

“No.” I laugh nervously. “Just home alone, per usual.” I mentally kick myself at the mention of being home alone. At least he isn’t aware that I’ve moved since his last unexpected visit to my apartment.

“I can change that, you know.” He leans in, a warm puff of air from his mouth hitting me in the cheek. I can smell the overly sweet notes of his cologne, something that once drove me wild. His wavy blond hair falls heavy over one of his bright-green eyes. To any other woman, Conner Blake is a fantasy. That unattainably rich, handsome boy next door who grew into the country club type that always knows just the charming thing to say to disarm you.

At least, that’s exactly how he got me.

I glance over my shoulder as I reach for his hand. “Mr. Blake.” I shove his hand away from my body and lower my voice. “I thought we agreed that it was a mistake and shouldn’t happen again.”

His smile fades, my rejection a clear blow to his ego but not a detrimental one. I’ve seen this movie before and I know well enough that he’ll only come back swinging harder next time.

“Shouldn’t being the operative word there. I never said wouldn’t.” I’m frozen in place, his large body still blocking my exit. He stares at me for several seconds, making zero effort to hide the way he undresses me with his eyes. “Well, if you change your mind”—he winks at me before reaching out to touch my chin softly—“give me a call.”

I don’t move again until he’s exited my office and I hear the chime of the elevator doors opening and then closing again.

My shoulders sag when I finally step into my own empty elevator car and lean against the back wall. I close my eyes during the quick descent down the fifty floors to the lobby, the scent of his cologne still lingering in my nostrils and on my skin where he touched me.

“Good night, guys,” I smile and wave to our two security guards and our receptionist before exiting the building and walking the two blocks to my train stop. I don’t fully relax until I’m behind the glass door of my apartment lobby with Marcus, the doorman, between me and whatever is outside.

“Looking beautiful as usual, Miss Aspen,” Marcus says when I scurry into the lobby. “You’re gonna give someone a heart attack one of these days.” He clutches his chest comically, making me laugh.

“Thank you, Marcus.” I blush at his comment, even if he’s a sixty-two-year-old man with no ulterior motives, he’s still dashingly handsome. The salt and pepper of his once dark hair has now traveled from just his temples to the better part of his head. His matching mustache and goatee paired with his round tortoiseshell glasses give him a professor look.

“Got a really good riddle for you this week,” he says as he walks me over to the bank of elevators. “What is there one of in every corner, and two of in every room?”

I repeat the riddle over to myself as I think through it. “One in every corner…”

This is a game Marcus and I have been playing for the last few months. I think it was his fun way to break the ice with me as a new tenant but it’s kind of morphed into our thing. The first time he asked me I was waiting in the lobby for the movers to show up.

“You like riddles?”

“Riddles? Like word games?”

“Exactly.” He smiles broadly, perfectly white teeth gleaming behind his lips. His eyes crinkle with the lift of his cheeks, making me smile in return.

“I do. Do you have one for me?”

He rocks on his heels like he’s thinking. “How about this one… What disappears the moment you say its name?”

I cock my head to the side and tap my chin like I’m deep in thought when the answer comes to me. “Silence.”

Marcus’ eyes grow wide. “Ohhh, you’re not just a new tenant, are you?” He gives me a sly grin. “You’re a smart one.”

“Thank you.” I giggle. “In your defense, I’m kind of a big word person.” I glance around and hold up my hand like I’m about to tell him a secret. “I do crossword puzzles in pen. The hard ones.”

His mouth falls open and a roar of laughter fills the wide-open lobby of the building. He clutches his belly. “You and I are going to be fast friends. Marcus Darvey.” He holds his hand out toward me. “Doorman extraordinaire and lifelong Chicagoan.”

“Thank you, Marcus. I’m Aspen Wilder.” I shake his hand but he brings it to his lips and bows, kissing the back of it.

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