Those Red High Heels (12 page)

My confused expression must have been hilarious, because it sent Brynn into a fit of giggles. I was pretty sure I’d heard her say my new apartment, but then again she had been drinking wine, and that made her say really weird off the wall things. “I’m sorry. I think your wine is making you crazy. I’m pretty sure I heard you say ‘my apartment.’”

Brynn walked over and pulled me up so I was facing her. “Hear me out, but I think Collin and I may have found the perfect solution to our living situation. Now, not that we don’t want you here, we do, and if you don’t like this idea, you just tell me. Okay?” She confirmed my nod before she continued. “Good. As you know, Collin and Cade invested in a few properties in Manhattan, mostly in the Upper East Side, and one of those apartments became vacant.”

The look of panic, which crossed my face, must have been an indicator that dollar signs had flashed frantically across my face.

“Stop and listen before you freak out. We talked about this today with Cade at the airport, and our naked charade out in the kitchen a few minutes ago only validated that the timing is perfect! It’s a loft, so it’s an open room, but it’s fixed up and so cute, Emma. It is so you, and Collin and Cade both agreed you could live there for only $500.00/month.”

“No, now come on. That’s way too cheap, and it makes me feel like you guys feel sorry for me. What’s the regular price? Maybe I can swing it.”

Brynn stared at me with a nervous expression. “It’s ridiculous.”

“I’m learning every price tag in Manhattan is ridiculous. Just tell me. I can take it.”

“$3,400.00,” Brynn let out with a loud breath, as if she was trying to get out all the angst behind that astronomically high number.

“Yeah, I can’t do that.” I loved the city, I really did, but now I was starting to question how the real Sex and the City was even realistic. Either Carry Bradshaw was paid an abnormally high amount for her sex column, or I was in the wrong business.

Brynn grabbed my hands and walked me over to my MacBook. “Open it, and let me show you the apartment. You won’t be able to pass this up, Emma. It’s perfect.”

A little voice in my head was shouting for me to step away from the computer, but a louder shouting voice was yelling at me to check it out. “Okay, but I will pay more than $500.00. If I do a stellar job with
Stolen Ivory
, I will get to work with a few more authors, and that will bring in more money.”

“Please look, and if you’re interested we can negotiate a price.” Brynn smiled brightly at me and started clicking and typing away on my computer. When a screen finally opened with what could only be described as the perfect place for me to live, the deal was set. With floor to ceiling windows that over-looked the best view of Manhattan, and decor that suited my taste with turquoise and browns draped throughout the entire loft, I needed to live there. The kitchen was modern, with a little flair. There was a balcony and a walk in closet with the most beautiful shoe rack I had ever seen. I could picture my red heels in the middle, saying hello to me every morning.

“Let’s do $1,000.00.” I would have to cut back on a few luxuries I was becoming accustomed to, but it would be worth it to have an apartment like the one I was staring at.

“No way, that’s way too much. $700.00 and Collin won’t take anything more.”

“You’ve already talked about if I would negotiate?” I acted shocked, but it also made me smile that she knew me so well.

“Of course we did. It’s you. So, what do you say? Oh, did I mention the best part? It’s only two blocks away from us!” Brynn clapped her hands and looked so excited, I knew if I said no I would crush her. It was a great deal, I knew it was the smart thing to do. I had one question that I was really nervous about asking. I needed to get Sadie and bring her out here with me. I missed her so much. I knew New York wasn’t the place for a dog, especially a hyper black lab, but the park was close, and we could make it a daily routine to get out together.

“I have one more question. Are pets allowed?”

Brynn rolled her eyes like I had asked the most preposterous question imaginable. “Of course Sadie can live with you. As long as her stomach issues are under control,” she said with a wink, which earned her a light smack.

I finally caved and shot her a huge grin. “Okay, I’ll take it.”

Brynn and I spent the next thirty minutes planning and strategizing when I would move over to my new home. She was thrilled I was going to be so close, and I was thrilled to let Brynn and Collin live their lives Emma free. Finally, I was starting to feel like maybe I could make my new life work, even if it was the farthest thing from normal I had ever felt.

Chapter Eleven

Exactly eighteen hours later, I was patiently waiting in front of Brynn and Collin’s building, trying not to let those damn butterflies lose in my stomach again. So what if I was going to see Greyson. So what if I thought about him all night, and couldn’t get his perfect damn face out of my mind. So what if when I saw his car pull up to the curb, I wanted to grin from ear to ear, but I had to control myself and make it seem like it wasn’t a big deal. That it was two friends helping their best friends out. I let that last thought linger in my head for a minute before I stepped over to Greyson’s car. When the door opened and Greyson finally stepped out, I had to gather myself quickly, because either he was wearing a shirt that was made specifically to match his eyes, or he had one hell of a stylist.

“Good morning, Emma.”

I might have purposely worn a form fitting dress with my over the knee boots to goad a response from Greyson that I was hoping for. I had never in my life gone after a taken man, and I wasn’t planning on starting, but something in me wanted to make Greyson Lyons want me. Not that I would ever find out, but it didn’t compress my need to appeal to him.

I smiled and slipped into his car, setting my purse securely on my lap before hearing him close the door behind me. I had, of course, left
Stolen Ivory
inside of my room this time, under my pillow so the next episode of WWE would be left to the real stars on TV.

Greyson walked around the car and entered the other side. When he was securely seated beside me, Tony merged into what can only be described as a sea of yellow bumblebees frantically making their way to their beehive. I don’t know if I would ever get used to the amount of taxis on this small island.

“Thank you, Greyson, for coming with me today. I know Brynn appreciates it, but I hope this didn’t interfere with any of your work plans.”

“No, I went in this morning to catch up on a few things, so the timing of this appointment worked out well.” He smiled over at me and was about point-five seconds away from making me go into a Greyson trance before I snapped out of it.

“So, do you know much about this band? Are you into music?” I knew this was small talk, but a huge part of me was very interested in getting to know this man. He intrigued me.

Greyson sat back and relaxed a little. “I do love music. I grew up mostly listening to classical, because that’s all that was acceptable. I also love the oldies like Frank and Nat King Cole.”

“I love Nat King Cole. His voice was amazing.” I sighed and remembered when I would go over to my Granddad’s house, how we would listen to Mr. Cole over and over again. He also loved the Glen Miller Band, which made me think of him anytime I heard it on a radio station. “What about Elvis?”

Greyson immediately started shaking his head. “Please tell me you’re not an Elvis fan. I don’t think we can be friends if you tell me you like his music.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; who doesn’t like Elvis? He’s the king for a reason. “Are you kidding me? Are you being a New York snob and dissing Elvis? The Elvis?”

“A New York snob?” was all I got back in response.

“Yes, snob. Elvis may have went out in a crappy way, but his voice, his music. He brought a whole new genre of music to our nation. I do like him. Do we need to draw a line across the back seat?”

Greyson let out a huge laugh and leaned over to me, and when he reached out presumably to grab my hand, I went still and looked at his beautiful blue eyes. The atmosphere shifted quickly, and just as fast as his reaction happened, he pulled back his hand and placed it back on his leg.

I broke the sudden awkwardness by asking an equally awkward question. “So, did you and Nora get things patched up?” The minute that question left my mouth, I instantly regretted it, but also inwardly was happy because I really needed to know that his going to Ellis and Liberty Island hadn’t resulted in a huge argument.

Greyson let out a little sigh, and answered my question right away. If I did make him uncomfortable, he didn’t show any signs of it. “Nora gets agitated easily. She doesn’t have many women as friends, and doesn’t get out much. She’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. We have to.”

I almost didn’t hear the last thing Greyson said, because before I could ask him any more questions, Tony announced we had arrived at our destination.

When we both were out of the town car, and walking into a back alley, I suddenly had an uneasy feeling. I did not like the back alleys in New York. Maybe I had watched too many crime movies. That also made me think of Greyson’s driver, Tony. He really looked like he could have walked right off the set of
The Sopranos
. “Has anyone ever told you that Tony looks like one of the guys from
The Sopranos
?”

“That’s because he was on
The Sopranos
,” Greyson said matter-of-factly, like it was no big deal and I had asked a silly question.

I came to a complete halt and didn’t know if he was messing with me or being serious. “Really?”

Greyson laughed and turned around to face me. “Yes, he was in the last season and got axed in the end. Nora’s father is a mutual friend and told my father he had a friend looking for a job.”

“That’s cool,” I said in my nonchalant voice, pretending I didn’t think it was such a big deal. Looking at Greyson was dangerous. I noticed things about him, like he wasn’t a huge man, but he was exactly the kind of build and height I loved. It took everything in me to not run my hands down his chest and wrap them around his waist to bring him into me. So, I walked past him and continued with our mission. “I’m curious. If this band is so amazing, why in the world are we entering their place through a back alley?” I asked with a little more nervousness in my tone than I was hoping for.

“You’ve got me. I’ve seen these guys play at a few functions and they really are quite good. I’m questioning the alley scene as well.”

When we found the door that had the exact number as the one Brynn had written down, Greyson pushed it open and we stepped into a world that didn’t match anything on the exterior.

“Wow,” I said and looked around at the gorgeous, yet urban, swanky nightclub. Greyson laughed and pretended to push my mouth shut.

I swatted him away as we walked to the front, where a man came out of an office. “Hi there. How can I help you two?”

I stepped forward and handed him a paper Brynn had printed off. “Hi, we’re here for Brynn and Collin Donahue. They weren’t able to make it today to their appointment with,” -I had to look back down at the paper to remember the name of the band-, “With Red Velvet.”

The man smiled and shook our hands, introducing himself as Nick, the band’s manager. “Yes, Brynn informed me you would be coming in their place. The guys are warming up and should be ready in a few minutes. While they finish, let’s step into my office and I’ll show you the contract. We have sent this over to Collin, and he has agreed on the price. I need to send a hard copy back with you.”