Page 9 of Lorenzo

But I’m not going to tell him that.

I just force a bright smile. “Yes. Fine.”

“Emily! Talk to me!” demands Anna through the phone.

With an air of amusement, the stranger picks up the phone and hands it to me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. Please don’t worry about me.”

I say this, assuming he’d insist on staying. Maybe even taking me for coffee.

He doesn’t.

“Well, then,” he says, his smile dazzling. “I’ll leave you to your day.”

And with that, he walks away.

As I stand watching him go, a woman who’d been selling keychains to tourists comes over to me.

“Honey, you are one lucky girl.”

“Lucky,” I say, turning to her. “Why?”

She shudders. “I’ve watched those horses come unglued before. It ain’t pretty. Lucky you’re alive. And also lucky Mr. McDreamy himself pulled you out of danger’s way.”

“McDreamy? Is that his name?” I ask, confused.

“No,” she says with a hearty laugh. “But that’s what I call him. I see him pass this way from time to time.”

Well, she can call him McDreamy. To me, he’s a modern-day Darcy.

“Emily!” Anna’s voice screams from my phone.

“Right here,” I say, speaking into it as I head down the road to the The Circle Hotel ahead.

As I walk, I tell Anna the story of the horse and my Darcy-like savior.

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay,” she says. “Send me the horse pictures. And wedding snaps too! I can’t believe you’re getting married without me. We promised to be one another’s maids of honor when we were kids.”

“We’ll do that,” I assure her. “But I’ll have a different groom. Gotta go. Let’s talk later.”

CHAPTER 4

LORENZO

The rich-looking lady, the one who looks like some billionaire’s wife, has been eyeing me ever since I passed her in the hotel bar.

When I pass again, she follows me into the single-use powder room and turns the lock herself.

I watch her do it in the mirror. Black marble floor, gold faucets, lighting so warm it’s practically a bedroom suite.

“You’re Lorenzo Ricci,” she says, her voice husky.

“I am.”

I look her over. Chanel suit. Silk stockings. Long blonde hair, the kind that costs big money to maintain.

Bored suburban lady here in the city while hubby closes another multi-million-dollar deal.