enter a clean, crisp space with wall-to-wall windows on the south and west. A bunch of corporate types stood around drinking champagne and snacking on appetizers from a generous buffet table.
A heavyset man approached. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten. Who are your friends?” he asked, his eyes on Isabella.
“This is my friend, Alexandra.” Matthew pulled her close, then nodded in Isabella’s direction. “And this is her friend that we promised a sunset view.” He threw the man a stern look. “This is my father,” he finished, as if reluctant to admit the connection. “Liam Hennessey.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hennessey.” Isabella’s smile was polite.
“You, too, my dear. Call me Liam, won’t you?” The man gawked at Isabella as if she were one of the appetizers.
E Lexie’s stomach churned. What kind of man leered at his adult son’s friend at his wife’s birthday party?
Thankfully, Isabella was one step ahead. “Thank you so much.” Her smile was sweet as she placed a manicured hand on his chest and patted it. “First, I’ll have a plate of shrimp and a few of those chocolate-covered strawberries.” She dropped her hand and threw Lexie a wink before sashaying around Mr. Hennessey, leaving the older guy slack-jawed when she stepped through the sliding-glass doorway onto a spacious balcony.
Matthew cleared his throat. “Dad,” he said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
“Oh yes, well…” The man did a little throat clearing of his own and adjusted his tie over his protruding stomach. “Make sure you say hello to your mother.” He raised his flute in a mock cheer and took a swig as he slunk away.
She looked up at Matthew.
His eyes were shuttered, and he’d dropped his hand from her back to clench it by his side.
Lexie reached out and touched his arm. “Want a drink?”
He looked down at her as if he’d forgotten she was there. “No thanks, but feel free to help yourself. I’ll meet you outside in a bit.” He left her side to join a trio of silver-haired women, greeting two of them with a polite smile and the third with a stiff hug and peck on the cheek.
When that woman’s cold blue eyes met hers from across the room, Lexie rubbed her arms to stave off the sudden chill, and then fled to find those drinks. After grabbing a couple of imported beers and moving outside, she could breathe again.
Isabella had joined a dozen like-minded guests at the railing facing west in preparation for nature’s main event.
“Here you go.” Lexie handed her a bottle as she slid next to her.
“That was interesting.”
“You should see his mother,” she responded between sips, keeping her voice low so the other guests wouldn’t overhear.
“No, thanks.” Isabella laughed softly. “Liam was enough.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Maybe I should go save Matthew.”
“Stay here. I have a feeling he’ll find you soon enough.”
“It’s that obvious?”
“You two glow neon for each other.” Isabella nudged her. “Don’t look so horrified. It’s not the end of the world. It’s cute. Does make me sad for myself, though.”
Lexie shook her head. “We’re not together,” she said, before taking a deep pull on her beer.
“But you will be.”
Not like you think. Nothing lasting. We’ll burn bright then turn to ashes. “Let’s pay attention to the skyline so you don’t miss the sunset.”
“Whatever you say, chica.” Isabella laughed softly.
The landscape was dotted with industrial buildings, but straight ahead lay the East River, and beyond that the island of Manhattan, soaked in yellow and golden-orange, with shimmering pink and lavender clouds.
A familiar scent wafted on the air, and a shiver of awareness flooded her.
“Stunning,” he whispered.
Content to believe for the moment he meant her and not the view before them, she sighed and leaned back to rest her head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady as he wrapped his strong arms around her, his body so close she felt the length of him against her back—warm and solid. Ooh, he did want her, but he liked her and showed her respect, too.
What more could a girl ask for?
They stood together in a little cocoon of happiness as the ball of fire sank behind the tip of Manhattan, and left the twinkling lights of office buildings to create the famous city skyline.
Eventually, Matthew dropped his arms and stepped back. “You ready to go?”
She glanced around at the patio, the other partiers having returned inside long ago for the festivities. “I guess we should.” Then, afraid of making the wrong assumption two nights in a row,