I smiled at his proper tone, in spite of myself. “You should probably get back down to the gala.”
It took some maneuvering, but I managed to back out of my office while he followed me. In the hallway, I waited for him to step out so that I could re-enter, but he didn’t. Instead, he leaned against the doorjamb, crossed his arms over his chest, and studied me.
I peered down to make sure I was still covered. All good. I glanced back up and his blue eyes twinkled at me as if he’d known exactly what I was doing. My breath caught. It was exhilarating to be on the receiving end of his attention. Oh yeah—because that’s just what I needed in my life—an introverted doctoral candidate.
Nope, nope, nope. I tried to shake off the misguided attraction. I tapped my toe, signaling my impatience. He ignored me. His grin deepened.
“Tell me this, Molly Graham,” he said. “Was your plan to skive off from this gala?”
Busted!
Chapter Four
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said. I’m a terrible fibber. Judging by the way Al’s left eyebrow quirked up ever so slightly, he was on to me. I decided to bluff my way through it. “Now, if you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all,” Al said. He stretched like a big, lazy cat as if he had all the time in the world and then he didn’t move.
I glanced over my shoulder, starting to get antsy that someone from the gala might wander upstairs and see us. Not that it mattered that I was here, talking to a guest, but I already had Jones as a witness and I didn’t need anyone else adding fuel to the gossip fire.
“Admit it,” Al said. “You were going to sneak out.”
“I will admit no such thing,” I protested. “I was merely popping into my office to check on things.”
“Things?” he asked. “Like what? The kettle?”
I frowned. I didn’t have a kettle.
“Did you think you left the lights on then?” Al asked. “Or maybe a window open?” He snapped his fingers. “Or could it be you remembered that you’d left the door unlocked?”
“That’s it,” I said. “I just had a feeling that I forgot to lock the door and I was worried that vermin might get in.” I gave him a pointed stare. “It appears I was right.”
“Vermin?” Al laughed. It was a glorious sound, rich and deep like a burst of sunshine through the clouds. “Here’s what I think,” he continued. “You don’t like crowds any more than I do, and you were going to slip out unseen.”
“What makes you think that?” I asked.
“You were half undressed when you entered the room,” Al said. I felt my face get warm again. He shook his head. “Truly, I saw nothing.” He wasn’t a very good fibber either, but I appreciated the effort. “Deductive reasoning indicates that you were changing clothes so you could leave.”
“There is nothing deductive or reasonable about that faulty logic—now, would you step aside so I can get back into my office?”
“On one condition,” he said. Al stared down at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “When you leave, take me with you.”
“Absolutely not.” Realizing I had just admitted that I was ducking out, I clapped my palm over my mouth.
“Ah ha!” he said. “I knew it.”
I dropped my hand. “All right, yes, I was planning to leave. Satisfied?”
“Not by half,” he said. “Where were you planning to go?”
Again, I glanced over my shoulder. Any minute now, someone was bound to come upstairs and then I really wouldn’t be able to leave.
“I was going home,” I said. “Not that exciting.”
“No late-night pizza, or a walk in Central Park?” he asked.
My stomach grumbled. Traitor. His smile widened and my common sense was smashed to bits.
“I’m guessing you want late-night pizza and a walk in the park?” I asked. I didn’t mention that pizza was on my to do list as well.
“I thought you’d never ask.” He stepped aside.
“I didn’t,” I protested in a panic. “I never said—”
“Don’t dawdle or we’ll never sneak out of here.” Al gently nudged me into my office then closed the door. Through the wood, he said, “I’ll grab my coat while you get dressed and meet you right here.”
I stood rooted to the floor for ten seconds trying to figure out what the heck had just happened. A glance at the time, however, had me back in motion. It was a few minutes before nine o’clock. If I wanted to commit this jail break, I’d have to be quick.
“That’s not how you hold a slice of pizza in New York,” I said. We were standing beside the food cart where we’d ordered two large slices. Al was juggling his loaded pepperoni, sausage, and meatball wedge, while I folded my slice lengthwise, keeping the toppings contained. “It’s supposed to go like this.”
“I hear what you say.” His breath misted on the cold night air while he frowned at the slice in my hands. I burst out laughing.
“What?” he asked.
“That I hear nonsense is British code for I disagree completely, isn’t it?”
This time he let out a surprised laugh and sent me a rueful look. “Yes, I suppose it is, but really, why fold it?”
“So, we can walk and eat and talk at the same time,” I said. “I’ve lived here for ten years and have learned that New Yorkers are multi-taskers.”
I chomped the end of my pizza. So good! I watched Al fold his slice like I’d showed him. When he took a bite, his eyes went wide.
“That’s the stuff of gods,” he said. “You know, I’ve been here for a month and all my time has been spent on campus. I don’t feel as if I’ve seen the city at all.”
“Have you been to Manhattan before?” I asked.
“No.”
“Well, now you can say you’ve had the best pizza in the Big Apple.” This particular food cart was one of my favorites. Bri and I usually hit it at least once a week.
“Molly, will you show me the city?”
“Right now?”
Al laughed. “I’m only here for a short time. I want to see everything but mostly, I want to see the real New York, you know, the local spots like this pizza cart.”
He appeared very earnest in his long black overcoat and blue scarf, the same bright color as his eyes. I had changed into my work clothes but was also wearing a long, camel-colored wool coat with a pink-and-gray plaid scarf and matching pink beanie. With folded slices in our hands, we certainly blended with the natives.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
He opened his mouth as if he would argue his case but stopped himself and focused on his pizza instead. Wise choice. No one likes a badger.
Thinking over his request, I started to walk down the sidewalk toward the park. Al awkwardly fell into step beside me. He appeared uncoordinated, as if walking and eating at the same time was a new thing for him. Welcome to New York.
“Another positive thing to note, when you fold your slice, you don’t burn the roof of your mouth on the hot cheese,” I said.