Page 54 of Another Girl Lost

Normally, I didn’t care about a date gone sideways. He wouldn’t be the first man who’d seen me lose my composure. One guy had called me “batshit crazy.” I’d blown up my share of dates and never once looked back. But still. Luke had been nice. And I kind of liked him.

I ran past the restaurant, stopped, and searched his name on my phone. His office was close, so I ran in that general direction. Shoving the phone back in my pocket, I dashed past several side streets and looked up and saw the 2317 Building. I paused, resting my hands on my hips, and stared up at the five-story brick building. I didn’t get this way very often. So close, but I never ventured this far northeast becauseit wasn’t the safest area. Made me wonder what kind of people Luke defended. But innocent until proven guilty, right?

I tugged on the front door and was surprised it opened. Inside, I searched the directory and discovered Luke Kane & Associates was on the fifth floor. I was sweating and my scent bordered on ripe. Not exactly sexy. But maybe that was a good thing.

I punched the elevator button, and as I waited, I fluffed my shirt, trying to dry out the sweat. The doors opened, I stepped inside, and the ride to the top took seconds.

When the doors opened again, I walked down the hallway past darkened offices, toward the one with a light on. It was Luke’s. My heart thumped faster as I took a step back from the door and glanced toward the elevator. I could leave now. End all this and return to my life.

Instead, I tried the doorknob, which twisted, and slowly, I pushed open the door. The outer office was decorated with modern furniture fashioned out of metal and glass. There was a receptionist desk topped with clean, sparkling glass, and a low midcentury-modern couch and two chairs gathered around a coffee table. No magazines. Luke either didn’t like to keep his clients waiting or he didn’t care to entertain them. A partly opened door led to an office. I shifted, ready to leave. The floor creaked.

“Is someone out there?” Luke’s deep voice drifted from the office.

Shit.

Why was I here? Dawson’s visit and my own trip to Tiffany’s apartment had rattled the foundation of my carefully curated life. I wasn’t sure why, but I needed to prove to myself that the past didn’t matter as much and I still had a chance at a normal life.

I cleared my throat, walked up to the door, and pushed it open slowly.

Luke sat behind a long glass desk covered with piles of neatly stacked papers. Bookshelves were filled with leather-bound law books. Four sleek chairs encircled a round conference table.

When he looked up, he didn’t seem to recognize me at first, but quickly the tumblers fell into place. He stood. “Scarlett.”

I remained in the middle of the room. “I figured out that your office was in the 2317 Building.”

He didn’t speak, but his gaze remained squarely on me.

“I wasn’t planning on stopping by, but I was out for a run, and I realized I was close.”

Again, he said nothing.

I took a small step toward him. “I’m sorry I flaked on you last night.” Drawing in a breath, I wondered if he thought I was as unbalanced as I probably looked and sounded. “I thought I saw someone on the street, and I kind of freaked out.”

“Why?”

I ran my hand over my slicked-back ponytail. “That’s a long story. I have a kind of weird past and sometimes it comes back to bite me. Kind of a PTSD thing.” I managed a thin smile. “I just wanted you to know I’m sorry.”

When he didn’t speak, I turned to leave. I was nearly at the threshold when he said, “Thanks for stopping by.”

I faced him. “I owed you that much.”

“You really didn’t.”

“I kind of did. Again, apologies.”

“Want to try again?” His tone was casual, but his body language radiated authority and confidence.

Did I want to try again? That had to be a yes—I was here. But another attempt would mean a greater level of intimacy. Shit. Nothing had changed. I was still so easily freaked out. “I would.”

A brow arched. “You don’t look convinced.”

“I am.”

He regarded me a moment. “Drinks? Dinner?”

“You pick.”

“How about dinner? I know a restaurant located on a quiet side street. And there are plenty of marked exits if you need to make a break for it.”

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