Sorry. This parking space is directly in front of my entrance. It means we only have to walk a few steps to get inside. I dont see any other opening. Your friends back there will either have to double-park or wait until someone leaves. This time of the afternoon, when everyones coming home from work, chances of that are slim to none.
Good. Hey, I didnt think to ask. Is your main door keyed or do you have a doorman on duty?
No doorman. This is a low-budget part of town. Almost anyone who wants to enter the building can get someone to buzz them in. I hate that the people here arent more careful, but its mostly college kids and artsy people. Either they have lots of company or theyre all in the habit of forgetting their keys.
Its too late to worry about changing neighborhoods now, he said. Ill bring your beach bag. You run ahead and unlock the door. Act like weve done this a million times. Pretend this is your Oscar-winning performance.
She stuck out her tongue. Im not a struggling actress. Name me one person whos ever won an Oscar for makeup. Well, they do, but no one can name them.
If we pull off this scam, babe, Ill give you a gold statue myself. Logan scrambled out of the cramped space, retrieved Daphnes bag and actually whistled as he bounded up the steps. When she bent to insert the key, he casually placed a hand on her hip, as if it was habit.
The weight of his palm and the warmth of his long body standing so close sent heat to the pit of Daphnes stomach. She fumbled her key and wouldve dropped the entire ring had Logan not been agile enough to catch it. Smiling, he kissed her knuckles and left red paint from his mouth smeared across her white glove. Then he opened the door without a hitch.
She refused to meet his eyes, certain shed encounter a satisfied masculine smirk on his cocky face. Just continue to treat him the way you treat your brothers. She chanted that over and over, even as her brain turned to mush. Damn, she didnt need the complication of a man in her life. But then, she clearly wasnt Logan Grants type. She knew that instinctively. So at most, shed have to play hostess for an hour or so. Just until someone from his office figured out how to get here and pick him up.
CHAPTER THREE
THE FRONT DOOR CLANGED shut behind them. Daphne ducked out from beneath Logans hand without saying a word and raced up the stairs. Shed come inside in stocking feet. Logan was not only grappling with the awkward beach bag, but he still wore the oversize clown slippers.
He stopped on the first landing and pulled off the foam booties that tripped him up on every step. After that he moved better. But the woman leading the charge kept going higher and higher. Hey, he finally called, wincing as his voice echoed in the stairwell. Which floor do you live on?
Eighth. Its the top floor in this building. I started out on third, but I hated having people tramping around overhead. So the minute an apartment opened up on eight, I switched.
I cant believe theres no elevator.
Its an historic building is why. I think the circular stairs are part of the charm.
Great! Who needs historic?
Daphne had finally reached the last landing. She turned and headed down the hall, where she stopped outside the last door on her left.
Logan paused to check out possible exits. His hostess appeared to have a corner apartment overlooking the front of the building. The minute she opened the door and he walked in behind her, Logan saw with some pleasure that she also had a big corner window. He made a beeline over there to scan the street below.
Glad he was otherwise occupied, Daphne zigzagged through her living room, picking up items shed strewn haphazardly about. She wouldnt call herself a slob, exactly, but picking up never seemed a top priority, unless shed arranged for company. Or if family members phoned to say theyd be dropping by, she made certain the place looked more presentable than it did now.
She hooked an arm around the beach bag Logan had set just inside the door, then threw it and a dirty T-shirt scooped off the couch, plus yesterdays nightgown, into her bedroom. Quickly slamming the door on a rumpled, unmade bed, she hurried out to make a similar survey of the kitchen.
Ugh! Her kitchen was even messier. Daphne enjoyed cooking if she had guests. Otherwise, shed never been able to work up much enthusiasm for fixing three meals a day. And doing disheswell, last nights microwave teriyaki rice bowl and her toast plate from breakfast still sat on the counter, along with glasses and an empty orange-juice container. She really ought to develop better habits.
Lord help her if Logan Grant took a notion to open her refrigerator. There was no telling what kind of flora and fauna he might find growing in there. She cast a sidelong glance at him. He was probably hungry, but she needed to shop for groceries because shed stayed at Danes house all last week.
Damn, he muttered. The car that followed us found a parking place right across the street from your VW. The occupants dont seem in any rush to get out. But it doesnt seem as if theyre set to leave anytime soon, either. He sidled away from the window and walked to the front door.
Frowning, he turned. What did you do with the bag I carried up? Ill think better after I shower and change into my own clothes. Well, not mine but that stuff of Mikes I asked April to pack. Mikes heavier and a few inches shorter than me, but Im sure his shirt will fit. Ill have to make do with my jeans, though, no matter how grungy they are.
Daphne looked stricken. When did you ask April to pack some of her husbands clothes? I saw her stuff your old clothes in a department-store bag she sent off with her friend who left the party early. She asked Mariel, I think her name was, to toss the bag in a commercial trash bin. Ill look again, but Im sure there are no clean clothes of yours in the bag.
She hurried into her bedroom and pawed through the beach bag. She walked back out, shaking her head. The only things in there are the costumes I took to the party. Im sorry, Logan.
While Daphne was in her bedroom, hed removed the hat that had fuzzy white yarn sticking out wildly over each ear. He ran a hand through his own sun-streaked badly matted hair and tugged off the rubber band tying it back. What was April thinking? I cant go roaming around town wearing this. He gazed helplessly at his wilted costume.
April thought I was dropping you at your office. Since youre planning on phoning your boss, have him bring some clothes so you can change before you leave.
Right. Good idea. That wig fit so tight, it mustve shrunk my brain.
Gee, thats reassuring, Special Agent Grant. Youre supposed to be our governments finest protector.
Logan delivered a dirty look. Wheres your phone?
Daphne went into her bedroom and came out carrying a silver cellular.
I cant use a cell. That group outside has ways of pulling cell waves out of the air. Did you see the array of antennae on the Mercedes? Its set up with every kind of scanner known to man.
A cell is all I have. I canceled my land line after I lost my last job. I needed to keep monthly costs down.
So you dont have a computer, either? He acted as if no one could be that hard up.
No. If I need one for any reason, I run by my folks or over to one of my brothers homes. They have all the latest high-tech toys.