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thought of going in made her shiver. Strange things happened in that building. Weird visions. Bizarre thoughts. “It’s such a nice day, I’d rather wait out here.”
    The woman looked up and down the street, nodded and disappeared into the club, shutting the door behind her.
    Lainie plopped down on the top stoop, resigning herself to a long wait. The view across the street wasn’t a pretty sight. A dirty, rusted elevated train track perched above a dried-out patch of land filled with dead, brown weeds. Rusted machinery poked up here and there, giving the field an abandoned feel.
    To her left and down the street were other warehouses, some still operational but most abandoned and covered in graffiti. To her right began the rejuvenation process Chevalier started and others were completing. Shops and storefront businesses had thrown open their doors on what was looking to be the warmest day of the year. The lunch hour was over, but a couple blocks away a few people strolled the sidewalk and window-shopped. The juxtaposition of the two sides of the street was odd but at the same time uplifting, reminding her life was a continuous cycle of resurrection, restoration and rebirth. What was old, was new again.
    She considered walking down the street and looking into the shop windows. The day was warm and sitting in the hot son was making her thirsty.
    “Madelaine.”
    With a squeak of surprise, Lainie jumped up and spun around. Her foot slipped off the top step and her arms windmilled frantically. A strong hand clamped down on her wrist, hauling her back on the step and keeping its grip until she found her balance.
    Her hand flew to her chest, as if she could physically stop her racing heart. She looked up into the clear, silver eyes of Chevalier.
    “You scared me to death,” she said.
    He didn’t loosen his hold and didn’t tear his gaze away. He was still dressed in the magnificently cut gray suit he’d worn the night before. His silver tie was undone, his eyes bloodshot and his black hair mussed. This wasn’t the Chevalier she’d met last night. The man she met appeared impeccable, no hair out of place. This man looked like he’d had a rough night with a few bottles of whiskey, yet his eyes were clear, if weary. And his body was tense, on alert.
    What was the same, though, was her reaction to him. Just like last night, her hands turned clammy and she found it hard to breathe, as if a large rock had settled on her chest.
    He mumbled something French-sounding. “I thought…” he said in English then shook his head. His gaze slid to her hand still resting above her pounding heart. “I frightened you.”
    “No.” She lowered her hand. “Well, maybe a little.”
    “There is no need to be frightened of me.”
    She wasn’t sure she was frightened of him. It was more like she was frightened of her reaction to him. Which made no sense.
    “You break my heart with your fear, Madelaine.”
    He spoke as if they knew each other. But they didn’t. She swore they’d never met and yet… She sensed they did know each other. More than their brief encounter the night before. It was as if she knew him in ways she shouldn’t.
    Suddenly he was right there, so close his suit coat brushed against her blouse. She stared into those light gray eyes that seemed so familiar.
    “Have we met before?” she asked.
    He pulled back as if startled. “Excuse me?”
    “I’m sorry.” She looked away, her cheeks heating in embarrassment. “It’s just… You look familiar.”
    He touched her cheek, his thumb feathering across her jaw, causing goose bumps to race up her arm and her breath to catch. His gaze fell to her lips while his thumb continued its lazy exploration of her cheek and jaw. Lainie swallowed, her legs suddenly weak. If she didn’t have so much pride, she would have leaned against him for support.
    Suddenly his hand was gone and he stepped back. His jaw muscle clenched and his eyes narrowed. “Perhaps I too thought you