Park Avenue Prince(46)

I caught up with her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I just want to find this present and get out of here. You know I hate places like this.” It was true that shopping wasn’t my thing and I didn’t want Angie to get things out of proportion and think my dating Grace was anything more than it was.

She shrugged. “Fine. But there are plenty of pretty things here, Sam. You just need to pick one.”

But I couldn’t get just anything. When I’d taken Grace to the Frick, she’d seemed so happy with my choice, and I wanted to create that same look on her face. “I took her to the Frick for dinner on our first date and she seemed to like that. Maybe I could do something like that again? Rather than a gift.”

Angie pulled her eyebrows. “What, like you took her to the visitor café?”

“No. I hired the place out on a Saturday night. We took in the paintings and had a nice dinner in one of the rooms.”

When Angie didn’t respond, I glanced back to see if she was listening, but she was just staring at me, her mouth slightly open as if I’d told her I was going to buy the Empire State building. “What?” I asked.

“You hired out the entire Frick?”

“Yes.”

“For your first date?”

Had she not heard me correctly? “Yes. And she seemed to like it so—”

Angie snorted. “I bet she did. That’s the stuff of fairytales. You really like this girl.” She grinned so wide her face looked like it was cracking in half.

I started to head toward the door, but Angie caught up with me and shoved my shoulder. “Sam,” she said, still grinning. “You really like this girl. The Frick? That’s serious shit.”

“It’s no big deal. I just thought she’d like it and I didn’t want to be bothered by the crowds.”

“It is so a big deal. That’s the kind of shit a guy pulls when he’s in deep.”

I pushed the door open and stepped out onto the street. “Well, I’m not in deep. You know me.”

“I do,” Angie said from behind me. “That’s why it’s so exciting. I think you may be falling in love.” She squealed, which, added to her ludicrous ramblings, was more than irritating.

I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Don’t be ridiculous.” I turned north, not sure where I was heading. Angie followed, pulling her jacket tighter.

“It’s not ridiculous. It’s wonderful, Sam. I thought it may never happen. I’m so glad because it’s such an amazing feeling—you deserve all the happiness.”

I squinted at the sun that persisted despite the cold. “It’s nothing like that. Don’t get too excited. We’re just hanging out.”

“I can’t wait to tell Chas. And the four of us can go on dates.”

“Angie. Seriously, stop. I need to find a gift and you’re being no help.” I didn’t want to buy Grace something just for the sake of it. She knew how little value I placed on material things. So if I bought her something expensive but impersonal, she’d know it didn’t mean anything, that I hadn’t given it any thought.

“Promise me I won’t lose you.” Angie stopped walking and grabbed at my coat sleeve. “I love my husband. He’s a good man and we can talk about everything.” Her eyes went a little glassy. “But what you and I went through can’t be understood by anyone who hasn’t experienced it.” I knew what she meant. Chas knew the Angie who’d survived, not the girl who’d had to get there. I just didn’t understand why she thought she’d lose me.

“What are you talking about? I’ve not been able to shake you so far.”

“I mean it, Sam. What if Grace and I don’t get along? We won’t be able to spend so much time together; we’ll gradually lose contact.”

I held Angie’s shoulders. “You’re being crazy. I’m not in love with Grace and you and I will be friends until the end of time.”

“I can’t lose you.” Her gaze dropped to the ground. “I want you to be happy, but I want to be a part of that.”

I pinned her arms to her body and brought her close. “You’re not going to lose me.”

“You’re hugging me,” Angie said. “I’ve known you fifteen years and you’ve never hugged me.”

“Just go with it.”

She stood limply, me wrapped around her. “I will never leave you,” I said. “You will never lose me.”

And I wasn’t in love with Grace Astor.





Chapter Fifteen

Grace





I kept glancing at the doorway to the Four Seasons, hoping to find Sam. I’d asked him to bring Angie and her husband. Apparently her husband was busy but Sam and Angie were going to make it. It would be the first time I’d meet her, and I was nervous. I knew how much he valued her opinion. How she seemed to be the only person he listened to. If she didn’t like me, then what? Would it affect Sam and me? It had been a little over a week since he’d told me about his parents’ deaths, but I’d seen or spoken to him every day since and things were going so well, I just wanted Angie to give us her seal of approval.

“Is he here yet?” Harper asked from behind me.