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nodded
goodbye and followed Ms. Cabot to the elevator.
              Although a
breeze swept over the city, Grace felt the humidity when they reached the
sidewalk.  She lifted a hand to flag a cab and Olga pursed her blood red lips.
              “Really dear,
it’s only a few blocks! Surely a woman in your shape can walk two measly blocks
on such a beautiful sunny day,” she sniffed.
              Grace glanced
at her four-inch Louboutin heels and ground her teeth. “Fine,” she hissed.
              Five blocks
later, Graces feet burned and ached. Sweat pooled under her arms and around her
neck.
              “Ah then! Here
we are,” Olga crooned happily. She opened the door to the building and
muttered. “The elevator’s out of service. We’ll have to take the stairs.”
              Grace’s teeth
clenched. “What floor are you on?”
              Olga grinned.
“The sixth floor.”
     
    *        *        *
              Rick drove as
safely as he could to Blake’s office. He was eager to find out how Chase found
Miss Not Interested, but didn’t want to use the phone as he drove. He’d already
been detoured by one accident and didn’t want to create another.
              He knew the
vicinity of the office, but not the address. He pulled into a parking garage,
sliding his Mustang into the first available slot. As he exited the garage he
dialed Chase’s cell.
              “What the
address?”
              “What the fuck
took you so long to get here?” Chase yelled into the phone after rattling off
the address.
              “There was an
accident so I had to take a detour. Is she there?”
              “No, but she
should be back any minute.”
              “How do you
know it’s her?”
              “I drew the
fucking picture. If it’s not her then it’s her twin!” Chase snapped.
     
    *        *        *
     
              On the cab ride
back to the office Grace wanted to slide her shoes off but questionable
substances on the floor mats deterred her. Damn her luck and four-inch heels
with pointy toes!
              When the cab
came to a stop she threw a twenty at the driver, mumbling for him to keep the
change. She slowly got out of the cab and hobbled to the building doors and
through the lobby. The elevator chimed and using every ounce of energy, she ran
for it. “Wait!” she yelled as the doors began to close.
              The heel on her
right shoe snapped and sent her tumbling towards the elevator.
     
    *        *        *
              “We’ve got to
stop meeting like this,” Rick said silkily, grabbing her upper arms.
              Grace blinked
in surprise. It was the guy from the bar! Trying to maintain some dignity she
tried to stand, but yelped when she put weight on her right foot.
              A female security
guard picked up Graces heel and handed it to her. “Miss Ryan are you okay?
Shall I call for assistance?”
              Grace shook her
head, embarrassed. Mortified, even.
              “C’mon. Let me
help you to the bench,” Rick offered, wrapping an arm around her.
              He sat next to
her and noticed that her hair created a curtain against her face as she removed
her shoes. His eyes drifted to her smooth legs.  Then further up to her thighs.
              She shifted and
stretched her legs out. “Does my ankle look swollen to you?”
              Rick dragged his eyes from her
thighs. “I’ll say!” He moved from the bench, knelt on the floor and held her
calf with his hands. “Can you move your foot?”
           He’s gripping my calf! Why am
I not freaked out by this? Duh! Because he’s hot!
              “Can you move
your foot?” Rick repeated.       
              Grace blushed
and slowly moved