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As she followed him to the front of the restaurant, she swore she was floating. Didn’t she deserve to have a man treat her right and not be ashamed to be seen with her? She’d forgotten how good things could be when she stopped finding reasons why life was full of disappointments.

He held her jacket while she slipped her arms in, easing it up slowly around her neck. What she wouldn’t give to have it be his arms wrapping around her instead. With a coy smile, she waited for him to put on his coat and grab his hat.

“Why don’t you wear this for now? I don’t really think it’s me anyway. At least it will help keep your hair dry.”

“Thank you.”

He set the hat on top of her head and then smoothed his hand down her cheek.

“Much better on you.”

The wine made her feel loose and daring, but she resisted the urge to kiss him right there. Instead she headed for the door with him close behind her.

A moment of panic swept over her as she realized this was it. The night had been such a breathtaking change. She didn’t want it to be over. Not yet.

“Are you sure you won’t let me take the blame on this one?”

“Absolutely. I pulled out in front of you and with the streets as wet as they are, you couldn’t have possibly stopped in time. All that matters is that you’re okay.”

“All right then.” She put her key in and unlocked the door. His presence behind her was maddening. It was crunch time. Take a risk or go the safe route…she didn’t know. With a deep sigh, she got in her car and tried to start it up.

Over and over she turned the key but the car wouldn’t start. She leaned her head against the steering wheel. It had become such a long night. Just when something was going right, reality bared its ugly teeth.

She got out of the car and slammed the door shut.

“Would you allow me to give you a lift home?”

“I…don’t want to impose. If you remember, I am the one who slammed into your backside.”

He gave her a cheeky grin and she realized what she’d said. “I meant, your car’s backside. The bumper.” A rush of heat covered her face, making her ears tingle.

“I liked the way you phrased it the first time. Since you seem to be the kind of woman who needs to be coaxed into a situation, please, I beg you, let me take you home. It’s much too miserable out here to walk and it wouldn’t sit well with me if you took a cab.” He took her hand and led her over to his car. “You can call for a tow truck when you get home.”

Sable ignored the big gash in his bumper and walked to the passenger side. She reached for the door at the same time as he did. The feel of his hand on hers carried more volts than the time she’d accidentally electrocuted herself.

“Apologies. I was taught to open doors for women.”

She pulled her hand back and let him open it. The inside of the car was plush and had all kinds of interesting gadgets. It even had the new car smell to it. He got in on his side and started up the car.

“So, where to?”

“It’s not that far, really. I live in an apartment complex at the corner of Harbor and Gleason.”

The time went by too fast for her. As he turned a corner, she sat up tall and gasped. Rows of utility trucks were parked along the front of her apartment and men dressed in tall wading boots were handing garbage cans to one another.

He gave her a concerned look. “What’s the matter?”

“Um. This is where I live. Unfortunately.”

She didn’t even wait for him to come to a complete stop before she was out of the car and running up to one of the men.

“Hi. I live here. What the hell happened?”

“Pipes broke. Flooding in all the ground floor apartments. Hope you didn’t have anything important on the floor.”

“What!”

Maxwell was at her side in a flash, his arm around her in a protective hold.

He squeezed her shoulder. “You okay?”

“No,” she whined. Could she look any less pathetic right now? “Just the fact my carpet is going to reek and anything I had on the floor is now ruined. Which means clothes. I must have broken a mirror or walked under a ladder without realizing. There’s no way one person can have this much bad luck all at once.”

“Are you superstitious?”

“Not generally, but right now, yes.” What she really wanted was a good cry and a pint of ice cream.

“Okay, aside from hitting my car and your place flooding, what was so bad about a lovely meal, a glass of wine and nice conversation?”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and didn’t care what he thought about it. “You’re right. I’m not one of those optimistic types. My glass is always half empty and that sort of thing. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember.”

He pulled her in closer, resting his chin on her head. “Don’t change a thing. I like you the way you are. Bad luck and all.”

“You say that now.”

“Now is what we have. So, you want to crash at my place? I promise you can have your own room and not be bothered.”

“I don’t have too many other places to go. If you’ll have me, I’d like it very much.”

She followed him back to the car and waited as he opened the door. There was something intriguing about seeing the kind of place he lived in. She also wanted to be bothered by him. Hot and bothered.