Page 16 of Getting Lucky in London

I let her words roll off my back. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t make light of a situation that clearly has you upset.”

She slid to the floor, drew her knees to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them. Her forehead dropped to her knees. “This has all been a big mistake. I shouldn’t be here.”

Now, those words were different. Here I was thinking she might be the woman I’d been waiting for, and she called what we shared a mistake.

Oblivious to my thoughts, she went on, her voice muffled. “I’m sorry. I know guys like you are one and done. I wanted to be out of here before you woke up, but I overslept. And now, it’s all awkward—” Another sniffle. “—and so fucking humiliating.”

Guys like me?The words stung, but clearly, she wasn’t wrong in her perception of me. Until last night, I’d been exactly the guy she described.

I crossed the space between us, sat beside her, my back to the wall, and pulled her onto my lap. She didn’t fight me. Instead, she curled her arms around me and buried her face in my neck.

“Look at me, luv.”

“Danielle,” she murmured, her breath warming my skin.

“Danielle.” I splayed a hand on the side of her face and used my thumb to tip her head back until her watery eyes met mine. “The only thing awkward is knowing you planned on sneaking out of here this morning without saying anything whenItook the day off to spend more time with you.”

Her eyes flared in surprise. “You did?”

“I did.” I wiped the last of the wetness from her cheek. “And I have an idea that could solve your problem.”

“A locksmith?”

Chuckling, I moved her from my lap, stood, and held out my hand. “No, we’ll save that as a last resort.”

She accepted my hand, and I pulled her to her feet. I couldn’t resist the taste of her lips, but I kept it chaste. “You go shower, and I’ll make a call.”

Her brows dove into a doubtful frown, but she turned around and started up the stairs.

I headed for the kitchen, grabbed my coffee mug in one hand, and leaned against the island. I pulled my phone from my pocket and pressed a number on speed dial, then lifted the mug to my lips. I took a gulp only to wince as I swallowed the tepid coffee.

I poured the rest in the sink as my mother answered, “Michael?”

“Hi, Mum.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, but I need a favor for a friend.” Until I figured out what this thing was with Danielle,friendwas all my mother needed to know.

“What friend?”

“Her name is Danielle.”

“Michael Chandler Winters, you haven’t gotten this girl in trouble have you?”

I laughed. “No, Mum, it’s nothing like that.”

“I’m listening.”

“Well, you see…”

****

Danielle

Feeling clean and somewhat calmer, I followed Michael to his car parked in front of his house. He said he could help me, so I had little choice but to put my fate in his hands.

“It’s just a couple of blocks.” He opened the passenger door. “Normally, I would walk, but since we’re in a bit of a time crunch…”

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