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that evening, she wasn’t sure she had enough energy left to drag herself back to her apartment much less consider going out to party.
    There was a long, glossy black stretch limo parked in front of her apartment building when she finally trudged home. As tired as she was, the sight of a car like that in a neighborhood like hers was unusual enough to catch her attention and she studied it curiously as she headed toward the entrance.
    A window in the rear was lowered as she came even with the car.
    “I thought you might like a ride to the club.”
    Bronwyn jumped all over as the disembodied voice emerged from the dark depths of the car. She’d already tensed to race inside when it abruptly dawned on her that she recognized the voice. Keys in hand, she leaned down to peer cautiously inside the vehicle. Constantine sat forward and opened the door at almost the same instant, and she gaped at him, thrown into a complete state of shock as he unfolded his long, lean form from the rear of the car.
    “What are you doing here?” she finally managed to ask.
    He smiled faintly. “Offering you a ride.”
    Bronwyn frowned, glancing uneasily up and down the sidewalk. “How did you know where I live?”
    He shrugged easily. Folding his arms over his broad chest, he leaned back against the car. “My driver happened to spot you.”

    21
    Bronwyn’s doubts increased. “But … how would he have recognized me?”
    “He bought you a drink when you visited the club.”
    Bronwyn blinked at him, searching her mind. “Marco?”
    He got out of the vehicle when she called his name, grinning at her over the top of the car and she felt a lessening of tension. “You didn’t answer my question,”
    Constantine reminded her. “Would you like a ride?”
    “Oh! Well … I’m already home. I live here. But thank you for offering!”
    Constantine sent her a wry look, but he chuckled. “I thought you might like to go out.”
    Bronwyn stared at him, blinking as she tried to assimilate that. “On a date, you mean? With you?”
    “Not with Marco,” he retorted dryly. “Although, he will be driving.”
    Bronwyn reddened, but her irritation was brief. “Sorry. You caught me off guard.”
    “Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?”
    Bronwyn grimaced. “I just got off work and I pulled two shifts. I’d love to go, but … I’m not dressed to go out,” she said instead of simply telling him she was too exhausted even to feel any enthusiasm for a night out—because she suddenly wasn’t nearly as tired as she’d thought she was a few minutes earlier.
    “I’ll wait.”
    Bronwyn chewed her lip indecisively. Nanna would never have approved of her inviting a strange man into her apartment, but she couldn’t picture Constantine as a rapist or murderer. He was business owner. Even if it was a nightclub, he seemed unlikely to be dangerous. Surely, he could be trusted? “It might take me a while. Would you like to come up?”
    The smile he gave her unnerved her. “You’re inviting me into your home?”
    She grimaced. “Such as it is. You might actually be more comfortable waiting in the car.”
    He’d already pushed away from the car, however, and strode toward her expectantly. With an inward shrug, she unlocked the door, pausing to glance at Marco and wondering if she should invite him up, as well. He’d already gotten back into the car, though, and Constantine didn’t seem pleased that she’d considered it.
    Not that she intended to let that bother her! It was just plain bad manners to invite Constantine up and leave poor Marco sitting in the car!
    “He needs to watch the car,” Constantine said coolly as if he actually had read her mind.
    “I hadn’t thought about that,” Bronwyn responded, unlocking the door and heading inside. “The elevator doesn’t work.”
    Constantine paused and turned, but he didn’t comment as he followed her up the stairs.
    Bronwyn was slightly breathless by the time she’d reached her floor but the