Page 6 of Kiss Me at Midnight
To avoid additional argument, Jud joined Dotty in the signature song, bringing a smile to the old woman’s face.
“It’s too bad you weren’t inLes Misérables,” Dotty told Jud when they’d finished. “We could have sungOne Day More. Although now that you wear superhero tights, you probably don’t want to do more on Broadway.”
“We’re here,” Ryan said before Jud could contradict Dotty’s assumption. “Twenty minutes, Ms. Summer.” He slowed the car, turned into the basement parking lot of a high-rise building, and stopped next to a VIP elevator.
“I can handle this on my own,” Lily said, but she sounded uncertain.
“We’re coming with you anyway,” Jud insisted.
“Yup,” Dotty seconded.
Everyone got out. Lily entered a code from her email into the security pad and the VIP elevator doors slid open. They got into the elevator and rode toward the top floor.
Lily turned to Jud. “Why did you want to talk to me tonight?”
“I bet he wanted to ask you out,” Dotty said knowingly. “You’re just his type.”
“Ha!” Lily gave a shout of laughter. “I am nothing like the women Judson dates.”
That was then…
Jud gritted his teeth. “Actually, it’s Jud. And Iwasgoing to ask you on a date.”
“You weren’t.” Lily smoothed a wisp of brown hair back toward her bun. “You were going to ask me to help you rezone your brownstone.”
The elevator doors slid open before Jud could argue.
Chapter Two
Actually, it’s Jud.And Iwasgoing to ask you on a date.
Despite not believing him, a thrill shot through Lily. She hadn’t had many thrills since she’d graduated college and begun working in public service.
The open elevator doors began to close, bringing her back to reality and her ambitions. There was no room in her career plan for mooning over handsome actors, not even ones who held elevator doors for her.
“White and gold,” Dotty spoke reverently, looking around as she stepped out of the elevator. “It’s like I’ve died and gone to heaven. I haven’t, have I?”
“No,” Jud reassured her.
The Cohen family foyer was white marble with gold light fixtures. Whoever had designed the place had gone overboard. White marble covered the floor, went up the walls, and across the ceiling. It screamed:We have money. Lots of it.
“Someone’s redecorated since I’ve been here last,” Lily whispered, struck by how different it looked. “Back then the foyer was covered in red velvet wallpaper.”
Bordello wallpaper, Rachel had jokingly called it.
“I prefer the red velvet,” Dotty whispered, touching the marble wall and adding, “I used to play canasta with Abe’s mother. Back then this had yellow paneling.”
The Summer women turned to Jud as if expecting him to add to the conversation.
“I’ve never been here. I performed at their Hamptons house.” Jud tilted his head, studying Lily with those bright blue eyes and grinning. “Why do you think I wouldn’t ask you out?”
Lily’s pulse raced with excitement. Jud made her feel the opposite of boring.
The front door opened, saving her from answering.
“Mr. Cohen will join you shortly.” A rather non-descript old man with a shaved head escorted them to a darkly paneled library and closed the door behind them.
A French rococo clock marked fifteen minutes before midnight.
