Page 12 of A Crane Family New Year

“I doubt the fall would have killed you,” came a deep voice from her left.

She slowly turned her head to find Zander silhouetted by a snowy window in the cozy, dark office. Because of course he’d witnessed her tripping.

“Are you all right?” he asked, crossing the room to come to her.

The sharp angles of his face were highlighted by moonlight, his lips elegant and masculine at the same time. He was fantastically good-looking. The genes in the Crane family were insane.

“F-fine. I’m lost.”

“Lucky for you, they sent me to find you.” He gave her a small smile that made her knees turn to jelly. “Unlucky for you, I’m lost too.”

Chapter Five

2 hours ’til midnight

Like that, Zander had found Chloe.

Or, well, she had found him.

She placed her hand delicately onto his waiting arm. He could feel how cool her fingers were through his tuxedo jacket.

“You’re cold. May I?” He reached for the buttons on his jacket.

Her red mouth popped into a little O of surprise. “If you’re sure…”

“I’m sure.” He unbuttoned his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She pulled it around her, humming softly.

“Thank you. It’s chilly up here.”

“It is.” The conversation stalled momentarily as they walked the corridor, their steps lining up in sync.

“So—”

“So—” she said at the same time.

“Go ahead.” He dipped his head for her to go on.

“You’re a Crane.”

“I am.”

“I thought we’d run out of Cranes here in the city.”

“You had. Until I arrived.”

“You and your sister.”

“She’s visiting temporarily, but yes, she has also upped the number of Cranes in this zip code.”

Chloe laughed, a sound that lightened his chest. It was nice to see what she was like when she wasn’t flustered.

“Are you involved with Crane Hotels?” she asked. “I figure there is a good chance you’re running part of the hotel empire.”

He placed his hand at her lower back as he guided her down the corridor. “Reese and I are working on a project together.”

“Sounds clandestine.”

“Not exactly. And you run Isabella’s concierge company, I hear.”

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