frantic footsteps, but the pounding in her chest was a deafening drum against her rib

ss doors lit up, descendi

34..

ing?-made her jump. Her heart leaped into he

i

side, her back hitting the far wall as she

he whispered, her voice

king gap, the hallway remained empty. Finally, they sealed her in. She let out a shudderin

fted to her

ged into dark, raccoon-like circles around her eyes. Her expensive blowout was a t

et of wet wipes and began to scrub furiously at her face, trying to erase the evidence

ey caught on the knots. The sharp tug on her scalp

essed for a day of sightseeing, stepped in. The woman's kind

ded to be searching for something in her purse, her hair falling forwar

ator finally chimed its arrival, she shot out of the doors

renched lobby. The click-clack of her heels-which she'd apparently had the foresight to put back on befor

. Just get outside. Don't look

se of the anonymous Manhattan s

familiar flash of color in the lobb

ach. She tried to swerve, to chan

la

my god, is

ht, cheerful, and

scle in her body tensi

towards her, a coffee cup in one hand and a lo

voice cracking. She forced a smile th

They took in the wrinkled dress, the still-damp hair, the scrubbe

piratorial whisper. Her gaze then locked onto the base of Elaine's neck, where the colla

clutching the collar of her dres

osity. "Okay, you have to tell me everything. Who is he? Do

was too quick, too sha

ill. Was he cute? Where did you meet him? He must have been

ite-noise buzz. She needed a li

avoiding Courtney's piercing ga

t. That's not a hickey, Elaine, that's a brand. Was he an artist? A musician?

aric Caldwell that a hysterical laugh threa

mumbled, seizing the idea.

e, anyway?" Elaine aske

unge. "My uncle has a permanent suite here for when he's in town. I was

d to drop out f

A permanent

ice. She grabbed Courtney's arm

d, her voice tight with

n't even gotten th

lancing at her bare wrist.

y towards the exit, her mov

digging in her heels. "Elaine, what i

r eyes darted nervously towards the bank of private elevators at the far end of the lobby. She ima

one of the heavy glass doors. The cool morning

omised, dragging Courtn

xture of concern and amusement on her face. "

istance as possible between herself and the hotel that held the biggest mistake of her life. The lie she'd

-