She wanted to stay at the top of that Ferris wheel forever.

“You know,” he said, a devious smile on his face. “If we’re going to be here a while . . .” Allie’s heart raced as Hudson leaned closer, his lips hovering just inches from hers. “We might as well make good use of the time.”

The ride lurched forward and Hudson cursed under his breath as they were swiftly lowered to the exit platform. Allie tried her best to stifle a giggle.

“Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?” Hudson asked. He climbed out of the car and offered her his hand.

“Actually, yes,” she said, grinning from ear to ear.

He gave her hand a sharp tug, pulling her body flush against his. Her breath caught in her throat as his blue eyes locked on hers.

“Hudson!” A voice called out.

Hudson dropped his chin. “This just isn’t my night,” he mumbled.

Allie covered her mouth to hide her smile as Hudson’s little brother, Nick, ran up, completely out of breath. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere.”

Hudson laced his fingers with hers. “What’s up, little man?”

“Can I have a dollar?”

“Why do you need a dollar?” Hudson asked, running his free hand through his unruly brown hair.

Nick bounced on the balls of his feet. “I want to play darts.”

“Darts?”

“Yeah. If you break three balloons, you win this awesome remote control race car. Pleeeeeease,” he begged, his words coming out in a rush. “It’s super cool. It’s got flames up the side and these wicked chrome hubcaps. It can spin up on two wheels and make jumps this long.” Nick stretched his arms out as far as he could.

Hudson laughed. “Okay, okay. I get the picture.” He turned to Allie. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” Allie couldn’t say no to Nick any more than she could resist his charming older brother.

Hudson flashed her a grin before turning back to Nick. “Lead the way.”

The first three darts clattered to the ground. Nick’s big brown eyes turned glassy but he shook it off. “Probably a piece of crap anyway.”

“Hey, watch your mouth, little man.”

Nick’s face fell. “Sorry.”

Hudson reached into his back pocket for the wallet he kept secured with a silver chain. “Here, let me give it a try.”

Allie watched as Hudson peeled bill after bill out of his wallet. Best she could tell he’d gone through a full shift’s worth of tips by the time he popped three green balloons in a row.

“What color do you want, Nicky?”

Nick walked over to the glass display case. He chewed on his thumbnail as his eyes roamed from one car to the next. After a few minutes he motioned for Hudson to bend down and whispered something in his ear. Allie couldn’t hear all of what he said, but she definitely picked up on the word “girlfriend” said with the kind of exaggeration reserved especially for teasing older siblings. Allie had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the look on Hudson’s face, but a moment later his expression grew serious.

“But what about the ‘super cool’ race car?” he asked.

Nick looked at Allie as he whispered his reply.

“Are you sure?” Hudson asked.

Nick responded with a huge grin and a nod. The two boys huddled together in front of the glass case. Allie saw Hudson point to something, and when he turned around, he was holding a seashell anklet.

“Nick gave up his prize.” Hudson’s mouth curved into a shy smile. “Wanted me to pick something for you.”

“Aww, thank you, Nick. That was very sweet of you.” She leaned down and planted a kiss on Nick’s cheek. “I love it.”

“Here.” Hudson held out a couple bucks. Nick grabbed the cash and took off, his cheeks blazing red.

“Will you do the honors?”

Hudson dropped to one knee. He wrapped the delicate string of shells around Allie’s ankle and fastened the clasp. When he finished, his hand lingered. Her skin tingled as he slowly brushed his fingertips up her leg, tracing a pattern as he worked his way to the hem of her yellow-and-white sundress.

“So what about me, Allie?” he asked, looking up at her from beneath long dark lashes. “Do I get a kiss, too?”

“What are you waiting for, Alessandra?” a voice asked from behind her.

Allie startled, brought back to the present day by the sound of her name. She turned to find Julian standing by the open limo door. He waved his hand impatiently, his cigarette glowing as if he were landing an aircraft. “In the car, s’il vous plaît.”

Allie ducked into the limo. Julian dropped his cigarette on the sidewalk before sliding in beside her. “Peninsula Hotel,” he told the driver.

“If you don’t mind, I think I’d just like to go to my place.”

He glanced at her before amending his instructions. “Still one stop. North Astor. Fourteen hundred block.”

“I’m really very tired, Julian. I’d rather just go to bed. Alone.” She met the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror and held up two fingers. “Two stops, please.”

Julian blew out a harsh breath. “You’ve spent the whole evening working the crowd, talking to everyone.”

After a beat, he angled his body toward hers and ran his knuckles up and down her arm. His chin lowered so that he looked up at her from beneath the tousle of light brown hair that fell in a sexy mess across one eye. “What about a little time for me?” he whispered, his accent caressing her every bit as much as his touch. Normally that was all it took to reduce her to an agreeable puddle. But not this time.

The air in the limo felt thick and warm and her temples throbbed.

“It’s been a long night and I have a terrible headache. I think the stress of this event has finally taken its toll.”

Julian’s expression hardened. He dropped his hand and straightened in his seat.

Allie sighed. She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. But it was late and she’d hardly slept the past few days. After a good night’s sleep she’d feel more like herself.

“I’m sorry.” She reached across the seat and covered his fingers with hers, giving them a gentle squeeze. When he looked at her, she offered a reassuring smile. “Rain check for tomorrow?”

He pulled his hand free and reached into his breast pocket for a pack of cigarettes. “Fine. Rain check.” The lighter flamed to life and Julian took a long drag, cursing under his breath as he exhaled. “C’est des conneries.”

Cracking the window, Allie stared out across the dark lake as the lights of the Ferris wheel glowed in the distance.

Chapter Three

Allie could hardly believe what she was hearing. She listened intently, pressing the phone to her ear as she tried to commit every word to memory. A flash of red hair caught her eye as Harper charged through the door. She was in the midst of an exaggerated U-turn when Allie waved her into the office.

“You’re very kind, but it really was a team effort,” Allie said into the phone.

Harper’s pleated miniskirt fanned out across her lap as she collapsed into one of the small upholstered chairs facing Allie’s desk. The pattern of bright polka dots was accented perfectly by the multicolored bangles stacked high on her wrist. Although she could never pull it off herself, Allie loved Harper’s quirky style, a cross between Phoebe on Friends and Jess from New Girl, with a dash of Joan from Mad Men thrown into the mix.

“I will. And thank you again for thinking of me.”

Harper raised a single brow. “What was that all about?” she asked the moment Allie hung up the phone.