Secrets (Lords of the City)

by Alice Ward

  We just have to sit through a short little welcome speech and then it will be time for cocktail hour. I’ll wait and let him approach me, if he wants. There’s every chance I misread his signals in the lobby. I don’t want to come across as aggressive. I shouldn’t even be thinking like this, I’ve been single for all of five minutes. But he’s so attractive… and he must be accomplished if he’s working with Dr. Harris.

  When I returned from the lobby, I told Piper that I’d met my idol. I hadn’t mentioned his sexy intern. I didn’t want to make a big deal out my strange moment with Colton, in case it turned out to be a misunderstanding. If there was anything I was sure of, it was that my relationship radar was way off. I was still at the point where I didn’t trust my mind or my heart. But my body was undeniably interested in the hot librarian.

  “Hello,” I greeted the others at the table as Piper and I settled into our seats. We went around the table introducing ourselves and then made small talk until the MC stepped up to the microphone. After a quick welcome, he announced that the cocktail hour had officially begun.

  “I’m going to go call Seth from the lobby,” Piper announced as the crowds around us took to their feet.

  “Are you going to be like this all week?” I asked under my breath. Of the two of us, Piper had always been the most outgoing. I’d been counting on her to stick close in the room full of strangers, but it was clear I’d have to make due on my own.

  “It’s three hours later back home,” Piper reminded me. “I just want to call and say goodnight. I’ll be yours for the rest of the evening, I promise.”

  She slipped away and I headed for one of the three bars that had been set up against opposite walls.

  “Rum and coke, please,” I said to the bartender.

  “Make that two,” added a warm, enticing voice. I turned and found Colton behind me. “You look lovely, Ms. Tyler,” he told me with a determined grin.

  I smoothed the skirt of my emerald sundress and smiled back at him with confidence. “Thank you,” I replied before turning back to the bartender. He sat our drinks in front of us and we stepped out of the growing line.

  “Would you like to sit down?” Colton asked, gesturing to an empty table.

  “Sure,” I agreed. It took every ounce of control I possessed to keep the excitement out of my voice, but I pulled it off. We sat down in front of the place cards of Dr. Carson of Illinois and Beatrice Simmons of Colorado. I hoped they’d take their time returning to their table.

  “So, what exactly do you do for The Manhattan Historical Society?” Colton asked, rolling his cocktail straw between his fingers.

  “Until last month, I ran the PR office,” I explained. “I recently moved to the museum side of the office. I’m currently spearheading a campaign to save a century old hotel in Battery Park. But I’m starting graduate school at NYU in January, and I hope to oversee the new ancient documents collection.”

  Colton lifted his brow, intrigued by my answer. “Ancient documents, huh? Am I correct in assuming your graduate studies will be in forensic library science?”

  I nodded and took a sip of my drink. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I was a little star struck by your boss earlier.”

  Teasing mischief danced in Colton’s eyes. “And here I was thinking I was the one who had you flustered.”

  I shook my head and laughed. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure you’re impressive too. You must be, if Dr. Harris chose you as his intern. I heard that he had over eight hundred applicants last year. Is that true?”

  It was Colton’s turn to shake his head. “Nine hundred and fifteen,” he corrected me.

  “And you beat them all?” I asked, lifting my voice. I crossed my legs and leaned slightly toward him.

  “I beat them all,” he replied with no attempt at modesty. “So tell me, what kind of personal collection have you gathered so far? What types of books are your favorites?”

  Colton and I spent the next hour talking about our shared love of the written word. Time flew by and before I realized it had passed, the table’s original inhabitants reappeared.

  “Sorry,” Colton said to them as we rose to our feet. We stepped away from the table and stood in awkward silence, neither of us wanting to part.

  “I guess I should get back to my table,” I told him as I watched Piper slip back into the room. When she spotted me, her eyes widened.

  “We have a free night tomorrow, once the lectures wind down. I’d love to take you out, if you’d be interested. We could continue our discussion on the Victorian Era,” he suggested.

  “Okay,” I agreed with a smile. “But you will never change my mind about Dracula. I once wrote a semester paper on the inconsistencies in that nightmare.”

  “Never say never, Ms. Tyler,” he replied with a wink. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  ***

  “I swear to God, Chelsea. You sure have a knack for stumbling into the hottest guy in the room. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you met someone in the lobby,” Piper said. She perched on her bed, watching me get ready for my date with Colton.

  “I told you, Piper. I wasn’t sure if I’d read his signals right. I didn’t want to make a big deal about it and have it turn out to be nothing,” I explained for the fifth time.

  “And he works at The Library of Congress?” she asked again.

  “Yes.”

  “So… is this some sort of a fling? Or are you thinking about a long distance relationship?” she pressed.

  “I’m thinking about dinner,” I replied with a roll of my eyes. “You know I’ve never been a fling kind of girl. And I haven’t been single long enough to start thinking about a relationship. Colton’s basically living my dream life. He’s interesting and we have so much in common. It’s refreshing to meet a man who can talk books with me.”

  Piper raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know, Chelsea. I vote you have a fling. It would be good for you. It’d be like your final step in shaking off Drake for good.”

  “Drake has been shaken,” I said firmly. “I don’t need to get under a new man to get over the last one.”

  Piper crossed her arms over her chest and pushed her shoulders back. “You mean like me?” she asked defensively.

  Shit.

  “That’s not what I meant at all,” I said, turning to face her. “You didn’t jump from one serious relationship to another. You were smart. You spent some time getting to know Martin, decided that the two of you weren’t a good match, and found someone that you actually connect with. I was engaged, Piper. I thought that the rest of my life was all planned out. And as much as I’ve shaken Drake, having your entire future ripped out from under you takes some time to get over. It wouldn’t be fair of me to get involved with anyone right now.”

  “I’m sorry I snapped at you,” Piper replied with a sigh. “Between the heat and the time change, I’ve been miserable. But I have to wonder something, Chelsea. If you’re so sure you shouldn’t get involved with Colton, why did you agree to go out with him tonight? And don’t tell me that you just want to talk to a fellow book nerd. You know he’s interested in you.”

  “Are you suggesting that I’m leading him on?” I asked, my eyes narrowed.

  “I’m just asking a question,” she answered patiently.

  In all honestly, it was a question I’d been asking myself. I gave Piper the only answer I’d been able to come up with. “I guess… I know Colton’s the kind of man I’ll want to date, when I feel ready. I don’t want to pass up on the chance to get to know him.”

  “Well, that’s as good of an answer as any,” Piper assured me. “And you look amazing. Now, get down to the lobby or you’re going to be late.”

  I glanced at the alarm clock and realized she was right. I grabbed my purse and took off for the door. “I won’t be out late,” I called over my shoulder.

  “I won’t wait up,” Piper called back.

  ***

  “This is beautiful,” I gasped as Colton and I appr
oached the Santa Monica Pier.

  “And it’s very, very old,” he added. “I thought we could eat at one of the little bistros and then take a ride on one of the country’s oldest carousels. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, we could stop in at the amusement park.”

  “All of that sounds perfect,” I agreed. I shaded my eyes with one hand and held my hair off my neck with the other. The pier was almost a mile away from our hotel and I was drenched in sweat. “Especially the part where we go to a bistro… with air conditioning.”

  “By the time we finish eating, the sun will be down,” he assured me. “And we’ll get to enjoy the beautiful night sky on our walk home.”

  “I guess that’s worth the scorching walk here,” I relented with a smile. We stepped up onto the pier and I followed Colton to a small café. The chalkboard on the door announced that the daily specials were seared swordfish, lasagna, and pistachio gelato.

  “How does Italian sound?” he asked, gesturing to the menu.

  “Perfect,” I replied, eager to get out of the sun. Colton opened the door and I stepped into the cool, aromatic air. I made out hints of oregano, rosemary, and basil, and my stomach let out a grumble and I felt heat rise to my cheeks.

  “Don’t worry. I know what you were offered for lunch,” Colton laughed. “And I didn’t eat it either. I’m starving.”

  “Table for two?” asked a heavy set woman with jet black hair and espresso eyes. Her thick Italian accent was my first sign that we’d come to the right place.

  “Yes, please,” Colton replied, gesturing for me to walk in front of him.

  He’s certainly familiar with the concept of chivalry.

  We followed the hostess to a booth at the very back of the restaurant.

  “Would you like one of the specials?” she asked as we slid across the thick leather benches. “Or would you like to see our regular menu?”

  “I’d like the lasagna.”

  “Two lasagnas,” Colton told her. “And a bottle of your house merlot.”

  “I’ll have it right out,” she said with a wink.

  “I think she thinks we’re on a date,” Colton teased once she was out of earshot.

  “Yeah, I got that impression too,” I agreed.

  “What do you think?” he asked, his mouth turned up in a daring grin. I felt put on the spot and my face flushed hot again.

  “What do I think about what?” I replied, trying to buy time to formulate an answer.

  What the hell am I supposed to say? ‘I think I’d like this to be a date. But I’m still so fucked up from my last relationship; this probably shouldn’t be a date.’ I’m sure he’d take that well.

  “Do you think this is a date? For the record, I’m hoping for a yes here,” he pressed.

  I sighed in relief when our hostess appeared with the wine. She sat two empty glasses in front of us and pulled the cork from the bottle. Colton poured a small sip, swirled it in his cup, and lifted it to his lips. . He gave his approval and she gave us a quick smile before leaving us alone again. He poured us each a glass and I took a long sip before answering his question.

  “I’d really love to give you a yes,” I began.

  “But…?”

  “But my recent past has been… complicated…”

  “Because of your fiancé,” he said gently, a statement not a question.

  I was puzzled for a moment and then a realization hit me. “You googled me.”

  “Can you tell me you didn’t google me?” he countered with a grin.

  Well of course not. That’s why I realized that you’d done it.

  “Yes, things have been complicated because of my ex- fiancé,” I admitted. “I refused to be one of those women who aired my dirty laundry in public, so what you’ve read about my relationship isn’t exactly accurate. And I’d rather not get into the intricate details.”

  “I completely understand,” he assured me. “I googled you after we met in the lobby. I know you’re not ready to dive in to something new. But I’d still like to get to know you. And when you are ready to date, I’d like to be in the front of the line.”

  Colton’s voice was soft and genuine and his eyes were full of patience.

  I’d be crazy to turn away a man like this.

  “I guess we could call this a date… since we both want to. Dates can be casual, right?”

  “Absolutely,” Colton replied with a broad grin. “Now, let’s get back to that debate about Capote. As a woman of history, I’m surprised you don’t appreciate the way he documented facts that read as fiction. The publication of In Cold Blood was a pretty historic event.“

  “It’s just the subject matter that bothers me,” I explained. “There were so many other things happening at that time that would have made for far more interesting subject matter. And his fascination with the killers always creeped me out.”

  We spent the rest of dinner debating the merits of Truman Capote’s masterpiece, and then switched to mutual praise of Pride and Prejudice as we moved onto the carousel. And when Colton kissed me beneath the stars, with the waves crashing onto the sand, he was the only man on my mind.

  ***

  “Oh my God,” Piper groaned as she sat down at the lunch table. “I’ve been to enough Renaissance revival lectures to last a lifetime. No wonder Pete sent us instead of coming to the conference himself.”

  “We’re halfway through it, Pipes. Before you know it we’ll be home and you’ll miss the beach.”

  “Our beaches are better,” she argued as my phone vibrated across the table. I grabbed it and saw Oliver’s number on the screen.

  “Hey, Ollie,” I answered.

  “Chelsea, please don’t hang up.”

  Rage filled my body at the sound of Drake’s voice. “I don’t have a fucking thing to say to you,” I told him before ending the call. My phone rang again immediately and I tossed it onto the table.

  “Was that…?”

  “Fucking Drake,” I spat. “I blocked all of his lines, so he called me from Oliver’s. He must be at the apartment. Ollie probably doesn’t even realize he has his phone.”

  Oliver would never play a part in tricking me to take Drake’s call.

  My phone stilled and then buzzed yet again.

  “Oh for God’s sake,” Piper growled, grabbing it from the table. She swiped the screen angrily and held it to her ear. “Look, you lying asshole, Chelsea doesn’t wan—”

  I watched the color drain from Pipers face and panic strangled my heart.

  Something’s wrong. Something’s very, very wrong. Why does Drake have Oliver’s phone? Why couldn’t Oliver call me himself?

  “Okay,” Piper repeated over and over again. “No, I think it’s best that I tell Chelsea. We’ll be at the airport as soon as possible. Tell Oliver we love them and we’re on our way. And Drake? Thank you.”

  Piper took a deep breath and curled her hand through mine. “Chelsea, there’s been an accident. Stacey… the cab she was in was t-boned by a delivery truck.”

  My heart hit the bottom of my stomach and for a moment, I thought I was going to fall out of my chair. I took a few deep breaths, but the panic didn’t subside. “Is she okay?” I asked, already knowing the answer. It was written all over Piper’s face.

  She shook her head slightly as tears welled in her eyes. “The truck hit Stacey’s side of the car. Drake said she’s covered in bruises and cuts. Her water broke and the doctors think she has some serious internal bleeding. They don’t have a choice, Chelsea. They’re going to deliver the baby by c-section and then they’ll deal with her other injuries. “

  The numbness that came over me was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It wasn’t like after Drake and I broke up, when I was so overcome with pain that I simply couldn’t feel anymore. This numbness gave me power; the ability to get out of my chair and do what had to be done.

  “He’s got a plane waiting?” I asked, knowing that Drake would have made all of the arrangements.

  “A
nd a car.” Piper nodded. “It’s already waiting outside. We just have to grab our stuff and get out of here.”

  “We have to call…”

  “Drake’s calling Pete,” she interrupted. “He’s thought of everything, Chels.”

  “Then let’s get the hell out of here.”

  CHAPTER 4

  e

  Drake really had thought of everything. He called one of his L.A. contacts and arranged for us to have a police escort to the airport. Without speed limits and traffic as obstacles, we were able to make it to the airport in half an hour. We were immediately directed to a private hangar, where a small jet was waiting. It wasn’t until I was buckled into the plush leather recliner that my panic returned.

  “We’re going to be in the air for nearly six hours. Do you have any idea how many things could go wrong in six hours?” I demanded frantically. “My niece could live her whole life while we’re in the air and I’ll miss all of it.” I looked at Piper and realized she was just as worried as I was.

  “I don’t know what to say, Chelsea,” she said, tears returning to her eyes.

  The door in front of us opened and our pilot stepped out of the cockpit. “Chelsea, Piper, I’m so sorry about what you’re going through. My name is Marcus Felton. I’m a business associate of Mr. Waters. I’m also a hell of a pilot, so when Drake couldn’t book you on a charter service, he called me. I’ll be in near constant contact with him via my cockpit computer. I’ll relay any news to you as soon as I receive it. Please, sit back and try to stay calm. I’ll get you to your family as quickly as possible.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Felton,” I said, appreciating his warm confidence.

  “Please, call me Marcus,” he insisted. “I apologize, but I wasn’t able to get a flight attendant on such short notice. The mini fridge and pantry in the galley are stocked. Please help yourselves once we’ve reached altitude.”

  I nodded, unable to choke out anymore words. The flight passed in a haze of fear, anxiety, and anticipation. Somewhere over Kansas, Marcus announced that my niece had been born. She was almost four months early and weighted in at only one and a half pounds. She was put on a ventilator immediately and taken to the NICU. Stacey was still in surgery. The more time that passed between updates, the more nervous I became.