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“Mr. Stone. Ah…I, um Miss—” Jeffrey started.

Just what I thought.

“Allow Miss Cole into the elevator, Jeffrey. Now please.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. She’s on her way.”

I walked away from the intercom speaker, not bothering to thank him. Whatever patience I had for the bumbling doorman was starting to run thin.

I waited in the entryway for the elevator to arrive. When the doors opened, my breath caught in my throat. No matter how many times I saw Krystina, her beauty still took my breath away. Her hair was in a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck, allowing a few stray curls free to frame her delicate face. Her tight jeans and scoop-necked sweater accented every flawless curve of her body.

She was perfect, like a goddess from the heavens. Little had I known this woman would turn my world upside down when she’d slipped and fallen that day at Wally’s. I wanted her then, and I wanted her even more now—more than I’d ever wanted any other woman in my life. She was an angel.

My angel.

I closed the distance between us in less than a second, then scooped her up under the legs to cradle her in my arms.

“Alex! Put me down!” she half scolded and giggled at the same time, swatting at my arm. I ignored her and breathed in the sweet smell of her hair.

“Mmm…not a chance. I missed you,” I murmured into her ear.

“Already?” she laughed.

“Very much,” I admitted before kissing her softly. “You’ve been on my mind all day, angel.”

“Oh, have I? I can only imagine all the wicked things you were thinking today.”

“Miss Cole, you have no idea.”

I ran my nose down the length of her cheek to nuzzle the sweet spot below her ear. She hummed and closed her eyes, angling her head to the side. I moved back up, savoring the softness of her skin, nipping along the line of her jaw. My teeth grazed her parted lips, and I kissed her again, but this time it was long and possessive. She surrendered and gave into my tongue, allowing me to revel in her taste.

“I could get used to greetings like that,” she murmured once I gave her a chance to come up for air.

“My girl likes to be swept off her feet, I take it,” I joked.

I felt her stiffen in my arms.

“I guess I do,” she said with a small smile. However, her grin didn’t quite reach her eyes, and I knew she was thinking about what I had said.

“I was only messing around, Krystina. After all, I did quite literally sweep you off your feet.”

“I know,” she said, planting a placating kiss on my cheek. I set her down, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I thought she looked relieved. Her sudden change of demeanor was perplexing.

“You okay?”

“I’m sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I think I’m just tired, that’s all. Somebody wore me out last night.”

“I didn’t hear any complaints,” I said with a wink.

“Oh, not at all. But I must admit that the day is finally catching up with me. I’d love to just lounge on the couch for a little while. Maybe watch a movie? What do you say?”

A movie?

Lying on the couch and watching a movie with a woman was foreign to me, yet it provoked some very interesting ideas. The thought of getting Krystina horizontal had me readily agreeing.

“I’m game for that. But first, I have something for you. Come with me.”

I took her hand and led her into the bedroom. When we reached the closet doors, I paused before opening them. I was thrilled at the chance to give Krystina her surprise, but I was nervous about it too.