“Dammit.” I paced the platform, my annoyance escalating as people entered the station shaking out umbrellas. I hadn’t had time to check the weather. With a rueful glance at my feet, I hoped my dress shoes would withstand a soaking.
The train arrived, and my mood improved when the doors opened at Bergen Street and Ethan appeared. A slight smile tipped up the corner of his generous mouth as he strolled toward me and sat.
“Good morning.” He placed his bag on his lap and leaned in. “Miss me yesterday?”
I tried not to react, but I could feel my damn face growing hot. “You weren’t here? I don’t remember.”
“I was, just not in this car. It was too crowded, so I squeezed into the other one. It all worked out. I met a friend.”
I know you did.
“Nice for you.” I opened my paper, hoping he’d get the hint, but as I was learning about this man, he didn’t pay attention to my subtle indicators that I had no desire to talk. Maybe he saw through my bullshit.
“Yeah. It’s someone I knew from FIT.”
“Mmhmm.” I pretended to be interested in the price of gold skyrocketing. Of course, Ethan continued to babble on.
“Yeah. He’s getting married, and when I told him I work at Macy’s, he wanted to know if we sold tuxedos. Good thing we have Wi-Fi on trains because I was able to show him all the brands we carry.”
That got my attention, as I recalled the two of them, phones in hand, huddled together. I set my paper in my lap. “He’s getting married?”
Ethan grinned. “Yeah, you know, that thing where two people pledge to spend the rest of their lives together. They exchange rings, have a big party, and smash cake in each other’s faces.”
I grimaced. “I’m aware of the practice.”
“Not your thing, huh?”
I stared into space. “No.”
Ethan sighed. “I think it’s romantic. Ronnie met Steve in school, and they’ve been together forever. They’d finally saved enough money to have a wedding and a fabulous honeymoon in Hawaii. I’m happy to help. I told him I’d get all the groomsmen my discount and help him with the registry and stuff.”
“That’s very nice of you.”
“I’m a nice guy.” He leaned in close, and I could feel his breath in my ear. “I’d do anything for my friends. If you ever need anything, come by, and I’ll make sure to take care of you. Personally.”
Jesus, why did every little innuendo make me think dirty thoughts? “Thank you, but I’m good.”
“I’ll bet you are.”
“Will you stop?”
“What am I doing?” Pretending innocence, he batted his outrageously long, thick lashes. “All I meant was, if you ever need clothes or accessories, I can get them for you with my discount. And I bet you’re good because I can see your suits are very high quality. Italian, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a pretty fancy tie for a workday. Different than the ones I saw you wear earlier in the week.”
I glanced down at my shirt. I’d worn one of my better suits, and yes, the tie was a new one, a little flashier than my normal subtle stripe or plain, dark silk. It was bright blue with a paisley design.
“It was a present.”
“Old girlfriend?” he asked with a cocky grin.
“No. From my mother on my thirtieth birthday. She’d gone to France and went to all the stores—Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel. She said I needed to spice up my wardrobe.”
“She’s right.”
I didn’t feel the need to correct him and mention that she passed away several years ago.
We entered 34th Street–Penn Station, and he gathered his bag and stood. “Have a good day.”
I watched him leave and touched my tie, feeling the thick silk slide between my fingers. No one else would ever understand, but wearing this tie to a dinner honoring my father was like carrying a tiny piece of her with me.
Once outside, I noticed the rain had stopped, which I took as a good sign. My secretary greeted me with a stack of messages and an apologetic face. “Sorry, Nash, but your father’s called at least three times.”
“Did he say it was urgent?” I had a suspicion about his reason.
“No, just that he’d like you to return the call as soon as you can.”
“Well, unfortunately, you can’t always get what you want. Even the Rolling Stones knew that.” I smiled at her. “I have reports to get out. If he calls again, please tell him I’m busy. In fact, just hold all my calls. I have to accomplish a ton before close of business.”
“As you wish.”
Madeline was a gem, and though I was sure she was as curious as anyone else about my relationship with the famous Dr. Martin Roman, she never pried.
I spent the day with my head down and ate lunch at my desk. It was my own fault that I spilled my fourth cup of coffee all over my pristine white shirt and tie.
“Goddammit,” I shouted, and Madeline came flying in, to witness me standing with a brown stain spreading rapidly across my chest.
“Oh, no. I’m sorry, Nash. Can I do anything?”
Uncaring about the shirt, I whipped off the tie. “What do I do? I can’t let this get ruined.” Maybe I was overreacting.
“The dry cleaner around the corner can get the stain out. I know some of the board members use them. Would you like me to send it out? They can put a rush on it if you need it right away.”
“Thank you, yes.” The wet shirt and undershirt beneath it stuck to me, and I pulled them away from my skin. “I have to get a new shirt, I’m afraid. This one is beyond help.”
“You’ve been working nonstop all day. Just run to the store and buy a new one. Macy’s isn’t that far away.”
“Good idea.”
I slipped on my suit jacket and put my wallet and phone into my pockets. “I should be back in an hour.”
“Not a problem.” She took the tie. “Everyone is so busy getting ready for the big dinner tonight. You’re going?”
“For a little while.”
“It’s three thirty, so I’ll make sure they have this to you by five. The dinner doesn’t start until seven thirty.”
“Thanks, Madeline.”
It was a quick walk to the department store, and I was curiously light-hearted at the prospect of seeing Ethan.
Except I didn’t see him. Another sales associate approached me.
“May I help you?”
My smile was wry. “I seem to have dumped a cup of coffee on myself and need a new white shirt.”
The young man, who appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties, laughed. “You’d be surprised how many busy executives we get with this problem. You get so caught up in what you’re doing, you miss your mouth and it lands on your shirt.”
I chuckled. “Glad to know I’m not the only klutz.” I scanned the floor.
“Are you looking for something in particular?”
The last thing I wanted was for Ethan to discover I’d asked for him. I wouldn’t want him to get the wrong idea. Like I was interested in him. I wasn’t. It was just natural curiosity.
“No. These shirts are fine.” I picked my way through the plain white shirts until I found my size. “I’ll dispense with the undershirt for tonight. I’ll be wearing my suit jacket and tie the whole time anyway.”