Stranger in My Arms

by Madeline Harper

  A car cruised slowly by, then picked up speed. Kasey instinctively moved away from the curb and closer to the buildings, dodging trash cans, skirting the porch steps of old brownstone homes and the awnings of renovated apartment buildings.

  Kasey’s footsteps, even in her sneakers, seemed to echo between the tall canyons of concrete, steel and stone. She looked over her shoulder frequently. That had become a habit recently when she was out at night. Now she was doing it in daytime. She realized she was being a little irrational. There was no reason to feel unsafe on this peaceful Saturday morning, she told herself.

  But suddenly, she felt the impersonality of the city more than ever; it overwhelmed her. For a brief moment, she was overcome by a fantasy that she was the only person left alive in New York. Totally alone. She quickened her steps and hit Broadway almost at a run.

  When she reached the newsstand, Mike had her paper folded and waiting. “Hey there, Kasey,” he said. “It’s gonna be a scorcher. Two degrees up from yesterday, I predict.”

  Mike had a daily comment on every change in the weather. This morning, Kasey responded more agreeably than usual and even hung around for a few moments to chat about the heat. Then, crossing Broadway toward the bakery, she noticed that the city was finally coming to life, filling with pedestrians on their way out for coffee and morning newspapers.

  Fenelli’s smelled wonderful, as always, the aroma of just-baked bread mixing with that of freshly brewed coffee. Gina Fenelli was working the counter, waiting on a customer and extolling the virtues of her newest grandchild. Kasey gave her a wave before perusing the pastries, thoughtfully, her face close to the glass cases. Usually, she bought a single cheese danish. But what she craved today was a half-dozen kinds of wonderful, flaky delicacies—and someone to share them with.

  She thought of Will Eastman. He was alone in the city, too. Right next door to her. They’d been locked in close quarters together twice with no ill effects, once in total darkness. He’d even asked her to have dinner with him. Going out with Will at night might have been risky, even if it had been possible. But now, in the bright morning sunshine...

  “The usual, Kasey, a nice cheese danish?” Gina asked.

  Before she had a chance to change her mind, Kasey impulsively ordered. “No, I’d like a mixture today. One cheese, one apricot, an almond croissant, a cinnamon twist and a...chocolate croissant. A half-dozen to go, please.”

  “That’s only five, Kasey. One more.”

  “How about something special. Elegant.”

  Gina quickly reached under the glass counter. “Raspberry hazelnut torte. Very special.” She looked at Kasey speculatively. “So you’ve got company?” Happily married, with four children and twice as many grandchildren, Gina worried about Kasey’s single status.

  “Not company. Just sharing with a neighbor. Maybe.”

  Gina bagged the pastries. “You never know, dear. You always have to be prepared for the unexpected.”

  That was certainly true, Kasey thought as she walked toward her building. The unexpected had already happened when she got stranded twice with Will. What had Will called it? Fate. Kasey liked the sound of that, but she still wasn’t sure if knocking on Will’s door on a Saturday morning with a bagful of pastries wasn’t pushing fate too far.

  He might not be there—or he might not be alone. Okay, she decided. That would be embarrassing, but it would end things then and there. On the other hand, if he was there—and alone—there would be no harm in offering to share the West Side’s best pastries with him. It would be neighborly. Or was she asking for trouble?

  Kasey slowed down as she approached Bartow Tower, and tried to analyze her feelings about Will Eastman. He was certainly attractive. No, he was more than that. Handsome. Sexy. A hunk. But there was something else, something she couldn’t put her finger on. Beyond the charm and wit, there was a wariness, an edge.

  She was curious as hell about him.

  The night before, she’d made the mistake of telling Judy about being locked in the subbasement with Will. For a while, Judy’s imagination had run amok. She’d attempted to connect Will and Carl, implying that Carl could have hired Kasey’s neighbor to harass her.

  Kasey had burst into laughter over that complex scenario. Carl and Will were light-years apart; there was no way the two men could know each other.

  Besides, Will hadn’t harassed her. She’d been the bad guy, the one who’d created the problem yesterday, practically knocking him down with the door and then locking him in the storage area. After he got out, he’d been very polite and had even asked her to dinner.

  Confused thoughts about Will dashed wildly around in her head as she breezed past Tim with a wave and grabbed the elevator.

  Judy was right. In spite of their two encounters, he was still a stranger. There were plenty of crazies out there, Judy had been fast to warn her, who seemed perfectly normal most of the time, until one day, out of the blue, they became monsters.

  “Monsters!” Kasey said aloud as she stepped off on the nineteenth floor. “Ridiculous.” He was just her neighbor, an intriguing man with whom she was about to share her breakfast. She headed toward his door. Sometimes a woman could be so damned careful that she missed out on life. She rang the bell of apartment 1905.

  Nothing happened. She rang again and waited. After a minute or so, her optimism began to sputter and fail. Nothing lost, she decided. She would take the pastries to her apartment, make a pot of coffee and pig out.

  The door opened. Kasey’s eyes widened. Her heart gave a disconcerting flutter as she was confronted by a broad bare chest, well-muscled legs, dark hair and beard shimmering with drops of water on a body that was bronzed, gorgeous and nude. Except for a towel that barely covered his hips. She didn’t know where to look. Up. That was safe.

  Her gaze met smiling eyes. She took a step backward and held up the bakery bag. “Pastries. I was on my way back from the bakery and...”

  Will looked down at her for a moment, the twinkle still in his eyes, his head cocked to one side. She had no idea what he was thinking.

  Then he waved her in. “Good timing. I have a pot of coffee brewing. Why don’t you wait on the balcony and I’ll get dressed.”

  Kasey stepped inside before she had a chance to change her mind and then headed down the narrow hallway toward the balcony. The layout of all Bartow Tower one-bedroom apartments was the same, so she moved quickly and easily past the bedroom and bath, across the living room, where sunlight streamed in through the balcony doors.

  Will followed her, seemingly unperturbed about his state of undress, apologizing instead about the cluttered apartment. “Sorry for the mess.” They threaded through piles of books and stacks of papers and magazines. “I’m still unpacking,” he explained easily.

  She tried to concentrate on the room and not on the man as he moved beside her, holding the towel in place. But any woman with an ounce of red blood would have had trouble avoiding that body. The flat hard muscles of his chest and abdomen, the feathering of dark hair that drifted down his chest and continued in a narrow line before disappearing under the towel, and the long lean muscles of his legs.

  She looked away, noticed a computer, laser printer and a stack of disks—an entire office set up in the corner—and managed to focus on them. “At least you have your work space arranged,” she said.

  His answer was to usher her firmly toward the outside doors. “I’ll be back in a couple of minutes with coffee. Enjoy the view. It should be familiar,” he added with a grin.

  Kasey watched as he closed the doors behind him. Clearly, he was a man serious about his privacy. She couldn’t blame him. After all, she was an unexpected guest. And she felt sure that Will wasn’t the type to open his life to anyone.

  The balcony was a perfect setting for breakfast, with a wrought-iron glass-topped table and matching chairs. Jim’s array of potted plants bloomed profusely, as usual. She’d noticed that through the spring and early summer. Whereas, only a few feet
away on her own balcony, her pitiful plants languished unhappily. This was by far a more interesting balcony, which was probably why Lo Mein visited so often.

  She sat down at the table, opened her bag of pastries and spread them on napkins as Will appeared, carrying two cups of coffee. He wore shorts and a T-shirt.

  “What a great shirt,” she said. It was brilliant chartreuse with the bright purple outline of a huge eye staring at her. A little unnerving, slightly eerie, but definitely original. “I’m a nut for unusual T-shirts.” She looked down at her own. “I don’t often resort to ones that advertise the restaurant where I work.”

  He handed her a cup of steaming coffee and let his eyes take in her shirt. “It’s an interesting logo,” he said casually. “Mine was last year’s birthday present from a friend. I brought it out to celebrate the occasion.”

  “Today’s your birthday?”

  She thought he nodded but couldn’t be sure as he sat down at the table, ignored the torte and chose the chocolate croissant. “Hmm. Great. I love chocolate. My compliments to the chef.”

  “Thanks. The name’s Fenelli and the bakery’s across Broadway... But you didn’t answer. Is today your birthday?”

  “Guilty,” he admitted.

  “And you asked me to dinner last night to celebrate? Now I feel terrible that I couldn’t go.” At the same time, she wondered why a man as attractive as Will had no one to share his birthday with.

  His mouth curved in a smile. “You could have quit your job and come with me.”

  Kasey took a bite of the cinnamon twist and shook her head. “I wouldn’t go so far as to quit my job, but I’m glad I gave in to the impulse to buy a few extra pastries and share breakfast with you.” She held up her coffee cup in a toast. “Happy birthday!”

  “Thanks.” He looked at her over the rim of his cup. The gaze was so intense that it caused a little shiver to travel down Kasey’s spine despite the heat of the sun. “Are you always so impetuous, Kasey?” he asked.

  “Most of the time,” she admitted. “It’s a very bad trait, I’m told. My friend Judy says—” Kasey broke off and settled back in her chair, her arms crossed determinedly. “Oh, no, Will Eastman. Not this time. I go on and on about my life while you remain mysterious about yours.”

  He examined the pastries. “This one looks good.”

  “Raspberry hazelnut torte.”

  “Great choice.” He took a big bite.

  “But you’re not going to tell me about yourself,” she probed. “No fair.”

  He leaned back in his chair. “Life isn’t fair, Kasey. Haven’t you learned that?”

  She was surprised by the bitterness in his words, but he didn’t stop for her to comment.

  “Since you wouldn’t have dinner with me—”

  “Couldn’t,” she corrected.

  “Since you couldn’t have dinner last night, what about tonight?”

  “Work. Remember?”

  “Even on the weekend?”

  “Especially on the weekend, at least while my boss is out of town.”

  “What about a late dinner?”

  Kasey laughed. “That would be pretty late!”

  “I don’t mind if you don’t.”

  “All the good restaurants would be closed,” she told him. “But I have an idea. We could have lunch in the park.”

  A fleeting unreadable look flickered across his face. He shook his head.

  “Why not?” she asked

  “Not during the day,” he said, adding quickly, “It’s too hot.”

  “It’ll be cool by the lake, and the city’s practically deserted, so we’d have Central Park almost to ourselves. We could stop at a deli, or even better, buy hot dogs in the park, with sauerkraut, mustard and onions—and an orange drink. And fries!” She was warming to the idea of lunch before she’d even finished breakfast.

  Will laughed but didn’t seem convinced. “It’s a long, hot walk to the lake.”

  “Then we’ll take a taxi.” She took a bite of the cinnamon twist.

  “You have all the answers.” He leaned across the table and touched her lips with his napkin. “Sugar,” he explained.

  Their faces were close. She could smell his warm soapy scent and see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. Kasey felt something inside her tighten. It was a powerful, visceral—and totally sexual—reaction to Will’s closeness.

  Unable to unlock herself from his gaze, she pushed back her chair. At least that seemed to ease the tension between them. “So how about it?” she managed to say. “Shall we do it?”

  His eyes challenged hers. “Do it, Kasey?” He raised his dark eyebrows.

  “Have lunch in the park.” Why couldn’t she stop looking at him? It was impossible, that’s why. The balcony was just too small. She would be much safer in the vastness of Central Park.

  He looked away. She breathed a sigh and waited.

  After a long moment, he gave a little shrug. “Why not? Let’s eat hot dogs in the park and enjoy the sun. Meet you by the elevator at noon.”

  Kasey realized she was holding her breath. She let it out slowly. She and Will had just taken a big step in their unusual relationship. But was it a step in the right direction?

  * * *

  “I DON’T BELIEVE IT,” Will said as they got out of the taxi in the middle of Central Park. “It’s an oasis.”

  “Nope, just a lake.”

  “I’ve never seen this end of it,” he told her.

  Will followed Kasey toward the lake as a gondola pulled away from the dock. “Are we in New York or Venice?”

  “Isn’t it great? The gondola’s authentic. All the way from Italy. And the boathouse has been turned into a restaurant.

  “My guess is that we’re not eating there.”

  Kasey laughed. “Not when we have our special hot dogs.”

  “And orange drinks,” he added.

  They crossed a wooden deck in front of the restaurant and went down the steps to a lush green knoll beside the lake. Kasey unfolded a red-and-white-checked tablecloth and they settled on the grass.

  Looking around, Will commented, “You were right. The place is almost deserted.”

  “Everybody who can gets out of the city in August.” Kasey passed Will a hot dog. “These are the best in the world, I’m told. ‘Course, I’ve only been in Missouri and New York. I guess you’ve traveled a lot.”

  “A lot,” he acknowledged, “but you’ve discovered a place I didn’t even know existed.” He took a big bite of his hot dog.

  “What do you mean by ‘a lot’?”

  “Um?” he asked, his mouth full.

  “What’s ‘a lot’? Europe? The Far East?”

  “Um. Both,” he said, taking another bite.

  “You’re impossible,” Kasey chided. “Every time I ask a question, you eat! Why won’t you talk about yourself? Stop,” she warned with a laugh, “don’t take another bite of that hot dog!”

  Will grinned. “Can I have a swig of my orange drink?”

  “Okay,” she agreed. “If you’ll tell me about yourself then. After all, we’re neighbors.”

  “And that means we tell all? You have a very interesting way of looking at life, Kasey.”

  “Everyone tells me that I’m too open, but there’re worse things in life.”

  “Maybe,” Will replied. “But this is New York City, not a small town. Things are different here.”

  “But I’m the same, Will. I’m always friendly and outgoing. Too trusting, I guess. And you’re the way you are.”

  Will took another long swig of his drink, pulled off his sunglasses and lay back on the grass. He put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. Kasey couldn’t help noticing how the movement delineated his chest and shoulder muscles under his T-shirt. “And how am I, Kasey?”

  “Secretive and mysterious.”

  “Secretive and mysterious,” he repeated. “Maybe I should dispel that image.” He opened his eyes and squinted a little as he looked over at
her. “By giving you a brief résumé. I was born in Vermont thirty years ago. Went to college in the East. Got married. Got divorced. No children. In New York to start a new life.”

  “A new life,” she repeated. “How?”

  Will laughed. “You don’t give up, do you? Well, maybe I’ll get a job. It shouldn’t be too difficult since I’ve done just about everything from bartender to cabdriver to construction worker...” He closed his eyes again.

  Kasey finished her hot dog and watched him as he lay there quietly, seemingly so relaxed. Sophisticated and stylish were words that came to mind. Not bartender or taxi driver. She remembered his apartment with its top-of-the-line computer system. The thought of Will as an ordinary worker didn’t seem to fit, especially since she’d seen his very expensive, far from blue-collar, clothes.

  I guess you use your computer for résumés,” she commented.

  “Mmm. Sometimes. Among other things.”

  Since he was being evasive again, Kasey tried another tack. “Well, if things get really tough for you, we might be able to use an extra bartender at Windows.”

  He opened one eye, squinting again. Was he grateful—or amused? she wondered. She couldn’t tell.

  “Thanks,” he said simply. “I’ll keep that in mind. Actually, I’m onto something now that may work out.”

  Kasey stood, put their paper plates and cups in the trash and leaned back against a tree near Will, wishing she had the nerve to stretch out beside him. Just for the fun of it, she let herself fantasize about what that would be like, lying next to Will, her head on his shoulder, relaxed, happy, while listening to his soft breathing and feeling the warmth of his body.

  “So, what brought you to New York?” he asked, jolting Kasey from her fantasy.

  She took a moment to recover. “I came with someone else—my boyfriend, actually.”

  Will raised one dark eyebrow as Kasey continued, “He wanted to give the big city a try. He hated it. I loved it. He tried to adapt for my sake, but that just made us both miserable. So he left and I began looking for a job. The only one I could get before my money ran out was waitressing at Windows. There,” she said, “ask me a simple question, and I give a very complete answer, don’t I?”