Page 9 of Spades

I feel a rush of warmth to my cheeks. “You really don’t have to.”

He offers his arm. “I insist.”

I take his arm, and he escorts me to the front door of my building. I reach into my pocket and grab my keys, but they slip through the thick mittens I’m wearing.

He reaches down, grabs my keys, and hands them back to me. “Here you go.”

I can’t help it, I beam up at him. “Did you pop right out of a fairy tale? You’re like my knight in shining armor tonight.” I run my hand up the arm of his overcoat. “Or rather, my knight in woolen armor.”

“It’s a wool-cashmere blend, actually.” He grins.

I giggle. “Silly me.” I turn toward my door and place the key in the lock. “Well, good night. Thank you so much for an unexpectedly lovely evening.”

He looks at me, his beautiful eyes smoldering, and for a moment, I think—I hope—he’s going to kiss me.

Instead, he places a hand over mine. “Alissa, I want to see you again.”

I blink. “What did you have in mind?”

He smiles. “I belong to an exclusive club downtown. An underground speakeasy. I’d love to take you there for a drink, maybe a dance or two.”

“Drinks and dancing?” I ask. “I haven’t been to a club like that since I was in college.”

He holds up a hand. “This place isn’t like that. It’s not the type of place where people bump and grind to EDM while druggies shoot up in the corner. It’s very classy. The kind of place where people get dressed up. Live music, crafted cocktails. I think you’d like it.”

I’m not really one for dancing. And I don’t drink terribly often.

But this man—this generous, mysterious, and completely gorgeous man—has me leaning in. There’s something so utterly fascinating about him, and I want to know more.

“Uh…sure. I’d be delighted to join you for drinks, Maddox.”

He nods, his eyes bright. “Then it’s a date. Are you free tomorrow evening?”

I close my eyes, thinking over my work schedule. “I work until five tomorrow. But I could join you for the evening. It’ll be Friday, after all. I’m sure I’ll be ready for a drink.”

“Perfect. Meet me downtown around six. Randolph and State. Shouldn’t be too far from your hospital.”

“All right.”

“In the meantime”—he grabs my mittened hand and kisses it chastely—“have a wonderful evening, Alissa.”

Even through my mitten, I feel the warmth of his lips. It takes everything in me to not invite him up to my flat right now.

But Maddox seems to be the type who enjoys courting a woman, getting to know her before bedding her.

I look into his eyes. Such a magnificent shade of hazel, and even in the darkness of the Chicago winter’s night, they almost glow.

“You too, Maddox.”

I turn and open the door, giving him one final wave before closing it behind me.

I immediately look through the peephole. He turns around and walks back to his car, starts it, and drives away.

I turn back around, walk up the stairs to my apartment, and enter. The second I close the door, I place my back against it and slide to the ground.

Whoisthis man? And what has he awoken inside me?

I haven’t felt a flutter in my stomach like this since… Since…

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