Page 27 of One Midnight Kiss

11

FOX

Istared into the blurred darkness outside the wine bar. The rain had come out of nowhere and was now pouring down in a classic fall storm. The downpour made it difficult to see anything outside. The streetlights looked like prisms through the rain. I kept glancing at the door, then back at my watch. Half an hour late.

I wasn’t sure what surprised me more: the fact that she was late or that I actually cared. I didn’t know Natalia well, but I would bet good money she wasn’t the type to blow off a client. She struck me as punctual, professional—down to the marrow of her bones. The kind of person who got to a meeting five minutes early just to scout out the room.

And I didn’t think she would stand me up. That would be admitting defeat. And even though I didn’t know her, I knew there was no way she would ever quit or forfeit. Besides, she was the one who suggested the wine bar.

I couldn’t decide if I was offended or pissed. Or maybe disappointed. I had actually been looking forward to sitting down with her outside of the office. Away from Christa and Wilder. Just the two of us. Clearly, she had other ideas.

I noticed the looks from some of the other couples all trying to look like they didn’t notice me sitting by myself. It was hard to say if they were looking at me because I was alone or because they recognized me as the tech guru I was. The people in the wine bar didn’t really seem like the kind of folks who would know who I was.

The waitress came by for the third time, her expression pitying now.

“Another drink?” she asked, tilting her head sympathetically.

“No, thanks.” I pushed my half-finished glass of wine away. I already decided she wasn’t coming, but it still irritated me. I didn’t have her personal number, only her office line. Calling now would make me look desperate. And I didn’t want to look desperate.

“Just the check,” I said, reaching into my pocket.

Maybe I had overestimated her. Maybe the polished exterior was just that—an exterior. Maybe she was as flaky as every other executive who thought they were too important to meet their clients face to face.

Or maybe she just wasn’t interested.

The disappointment was unexpected and unwelcome. I tossed some bills onto the table and headed out. The rain hit me like a cold slap in the face as I stepped onto the slick sidewalk. The city was a blur of headlights and neon signs reflected in puddles. I pulled up the collar of my coat and hurried toward my car.

I hopped in and blasted the heat and defrost. I pulled away from the curb and started down the road, already planning my attack for tomorrow. I was going to march right back into her office and let her know how unprofessional and rude it was to leave a client hanging without so much as a text.

I was about to turn left when I noticed a car parked awkwardly on the shoulder, its hazard lights blinking weakly through the downpour. I could make out the figure of a woman standing next to it. The woman looked drenched and miserable with no coat and wearing bright red heels. Most people would have driven past, but something made me slow down. There was a familiarity to the silhouette.

It wasn’t just any woman—it was Natalia.

I blinked, genuinely surprised. The irritation I’d felt earlier disappeared, replaced by something like concern. What the hell was she doing out here in this weather? Why was she standing in the rain instead of sitting in her car? I whipped around and pulled up behind her car, my headlights shooting directly at her. Her hair was plastered to her face.

I hopped out and walked toward her. My body blocked my headlight, letting me get a better look at her. She had an expression of frustration and embarrassment. She was soaked to the bone, shivering so hard I could see it even from a few feet away. She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her bare wrists. As if that was going to help get her warm or dry.

I noticed she didn’t have her phone in her hand, and there was a defeated slump to her shoulders.

“You’re late,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.”

“What happened?”

She sighed and kicked at the flat tire. “Tire blew out,” she muttered. “And I managed to lock myself out of the car. My phone is inside.”

I bit back a laugh. Of course she did. This woman, who looked like she had everything together, had locked herself out of her own car in the middle of a rainstorm.

“Get in my car,” I said, gesturing back toward where I had parked.

She shook her head stubbornly. “I’m fine.”

“Natalia, you’re going to get hypothermia. Just get in. Warm up for a second.”

“I said I’m fine.” Her voice was sharp, but it wavered slightly at the end. I took a deep breath, trying not to lose my patience.

“I insist.”