Page 99 of Never Quiet

Chapter Twenty-One

Hayden handed her into the car and slid in beside her.

Amanda asked, “We can pretty much assume we’re being followed and photographed constantly, is that right?”

“I would place money on it, yes.”

“Excellent. Birds and stones and all of that.”

At a lovely mini-mansion, he stepped to the sidewalk and extended his hand. She took it, exited the car, stepped close, and slipped her palm along his neck. One of his arms wrapped around her back.

“Hayden?”

“Yes, Amanda?”

“I promise to be gentle.”

Then she brushed her lips across his. His other arm went around her, his palm cupping the back of her head, and he deepened the kiss, coiling his tongue around hers. He tasted of chocolate and she sighed against him.

Allowing him to lead, she kept pace, grateful she wasn’t the novice she’d been a few months before. At least she knew what to expect, what was possible, and wanted more of it.

Preferably from someone who noticed she existed.

On a New York City street, Amanda kissed a man and was grateful to feel something. Perhaps not as earth-shaking as her first kiss with Erick after years of wanting him, but it felt wonderful.

After fifteen seconds, he broke the kiss and stared into her eyes for a long moment. “You taste like chocolate.”

She smiled. “So do you. I have a voracious sweet tooth.”

“Have I mentioned that your grasp of vocabulary is a particular pleasure of mine?” She tugged her lower lip between her teeth. “Amanda, it seems you might have gotten old enough, fast enough, after all.”

“Outstanding.” She nuzzled his jaw and added in a low voice, “Let’s give the monsters a run for their money, Hayden.”

“Inside, you tempting creature.”

At the top of wide stairs, a man greeted them. “Mr. Delkin. It’s been quite a while, sir.”

“Hello, Stav. This is Amanda Lang.”

The big man’s eyes widened and he quickly opened the door. “Miss Lang. We’ve been expecting you. Enjoy your evening.”

“Thank you. Call me Amanda.”

He bowed and they walked through the doors into a lobby that truly stunned the eye.

A woman across the room dropped a small clipboard. In a low murmur, she said, “Hayden?”

“Natalia, allow me to introduce Amanda Lang. Amanda, this is Natalia Roman. The owner of Trois.”

The woman clipped across the marble in gorgeous heels. She had extraordinary blue eyes and curling blonde hair. “Now I understand the fuss about you the last few weeks. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lang. Particularly in the company of a man we don’t see often enough.”

“Amanda, please. I hope to get Hayden out more. This building is gorgeous. What year was it built? My grandmother would sketch for hours in here.”

“Aren’t you a darling? It was built in 1901. Let’s get a drink in your hand and you can ask me whatever you like.”

“Oh, uh, I can’t drink.”

Natalia smiled. “Here, you can.”

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