“You don’t even have to ask,” she murmured.

“Yes, I do. I would never take you for granted.” He switched to the other foot, laughing when her eyes rolled back in her head. “Although now that I know your weakness, maybe I can convince you to stay on the East Coast with the promise of free foot massages.”

She finally gave in, letting a gasp of enjoyment escape her lips. “It just might work.”

His hand froze for a second before continuing. “Don’t tease me.”

“I’m sorry.” With her hand, she turned his face toward hers. It hovered on the tip of her tongue that she didn’t feel so certain about leaving New York, but she hesitated. “Daniel, take me home. For tonight, let’s just pretend I’m not leaving and we’ve got all the time in the world.”

He considered her. “I’m not sure I can do that, but I’ll try. For you.”

She stood and slipped her shoes back on with a grimace. “I’ll go say good-bye to Hayden and her mom. Meet you by the bar.”

Familiar hunger swirled in his eyes. “Hurry.”

Story nodded and hurried off. After five minutes of searching, she found Hayden and her mother sitting on a chaise lounge, deep in conversation with an older gentleman, her friend’s eyes practically glazing over with boredom. She signaled her with a wave.

“Hey, we’re taking off.” She leaned down and kissed Hayden on the cheek. Her mother didn’t pause in her speech, but nodded in acknowledgment at Story. “Thanks for everything. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Sure, sure. Leave me here to rot while you get your freak on with Mr. Wonderful.”

“I love you.”

“You should.” She gave her a push. “Bye.”

“Bye.” Turning in the direction of the bar, she searched for Daniel’s tall figure among the crowd and saw him standing at the bar, talking to someone. As she neared, she saw that a woman stood close enough that she brushed against Daniel. The woman, dark-haired and willowy, appeared to be a little older than Story. In a strapless white cocktail dress, she looked cool and perfect. Like fancy hotel parties were a part of her everyday agenda.

Unable to see Daniel’s face, she watched as the woman ran a hand down the front of his shirt, smiling up at him flirtatiously. Story felt her heart sink to her stomach, and tears sprang to her eyes. But something urged her closer. Feeling like her insides had been hollowed out, she sidestepped a group of women and Daniel’s face came into view. His eyes were not on the woman, but furiously scanning the room. For her? He looked uncomfortable, backing away from the woman and saying something Story couldn’t hear.

Standing so close, the two made a beautiful couple. It became painfully obvious to Story then that they’d been intimate at some point in the past. The knowledge felt like a punch to the gut.

These are the kinds of women he normally dates, she thought. The same kind of woman Fisher left me for. Classy, well connected…beautiful. She could barely stand being in high heels longer than an hour. Until now, Story hadn’t realized the women she’d been picturing as Daniel’s conquests were loud and trashy with bad dye jobs. She should have known he would attract women like this instead. Women with whom she’d been unconsciously competing for Fisher. And now Daniel. Only this time, she didn’t think she could survive losing.

Every instinct told her to turn and run. Run away from what she was seeing. Go back to California and pretend none of it ever happened.

But then Daniel’s eyes met hers, a dozen emotions flickering in their depths. Relief, desire, apology, dread. And then, for just a brief second, she saw shame. Not shame as though he’d behaved inappropriately. No, he clearly couldn’t be more relieved to see her. Quite possibly, he even needed rescuing from the woman in white. She read shame over what he’d done in the past. Of her bearing witness to something she wasn’t meant to see.

That made her mind up. Whether or not she’d consciously made the decision, she’d made Daniel hers in her mind long before now. He meant something to her. She wanted to belong to him, too. And if they had a chance in hell, she needed to get thicker skin. This probably wouldn’t be the last time a woman from his past popped up, but what she chose to do now would determine how she handled it in the future. She could either run away crying or go get her man. She chose the latter.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she started toward them. Daniel held an arm out, his eyes begging for understanding.

She slid into his side in time to hear him say, “Here she is. This is my—”

“Girlfriend. Story.” She smiled and extended her hand out to the brunette. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Dutifully, the woman shook Story’s hand, but didn’t return her smile. “Wow. Daniel Chase has a girlfriend. I honestly didn’t believe it. You deserve some kind of a medal, hon.”

Turns out a nice outfit doesn’t mean class. “I don’t need a medal. I’ve got him.” She reached down and took Daniel’s hand. Their eyes met, his filled with astonished gratitude. “Ready to head home, trail mix?”

“Ready, sunshine.”

Chapter Eighteen

Daniel watched Story from across the taxi’s leather seat as they weaved in and out of traffic on the FDR Drive. She’d rolled down her window, allowing the warm night air to rush in and blow blond hair around her face. Streetlights illuminated her briefly as they passed underneath, giving him flashes of her face in the darkened cab.

They hadn’t spoken since leaving the party, but thankfully their joined hands rested on the seat between them. She hadn’t let go of him once since the unfortunate encounter with his past at the bar. Daniel gripped her fingers like a lifeline. Without the simple connection, he felt like she could disappear at any moment.

He’d been granted a stay of execution. He knew how difficult it must have been for her, seeing him with someone he’d obviously slept with. If he ever saw Story with an ex-boyfriend, he would never have been able to swallow the jealousy long enough to be the bigger man. Especially if the faceless prick had the nerve to touch her.

Despite his requests for the woman to back off, she’d completely disregarded his words. She’d actually laughed at him, thinking he was joking. And could he really blame her? He didn’t recall the when and how of their association, but she probably had every right to assume he would go home with her, no questions asked. She couldn’t have known how drastically he’d changed. That one woman ruled his every thought and action.

He’d been on the verge of walking away, giving up on any attempt to be polite. Before he could make his move, he’d seen Story watching them and thought, “That’s it. It’s over. I f**ked this up before it even began and hurt her in the process.”

Debating on the quickest way to catch her when she inevitably turned and ran for the elevator, he’d been shocked when instead she’d swooped in and claimed him. I don’t need a medal. I’ve got him. Daniel would never forget that moment if he lived for a hundred years. Within the space of a minute, he’d gone from feeling like the lowest possible life form to champion of the world. Someone who might be worthy of her. She’d made him feel wanted in a way he wasn’t accustomed. Now that she’d referred to herself as his girlfriend, he didn’t know how he could live without hearing it every day. Did he have a choice?