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“I’m glad you like it.” The attendant stepped sideways. “Sir, you are in this cabin.”
I glanced back to find them gesturing at the room beside mine.
West grinned. “What a happy coincidence.” He nodded to the attendant. “Thank you for your assistance.”
The attendant bowed and excused themself. Westvanished into his cabin, leaving my suitcase in the corridor outside mine. I pulled it inside and tucked it away beneath the desk.
I released a breath. Finally. I was here, I had everything I could possibly need in my suitcase, and there was no reason to worry. I could let everything go.
“Would you like to get a drink?”
I flinched and spun around. West stood in the doorway, resting one of his hands against the frame. For a big guy, he moved quietly.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.” He flashed that dimple again. “So, a drink?”
I considered his offer. I’d planned to stay in my cabin for a while, but then I hadn’t expected to meet a handsome stranger, and my mama had made me promise to relax and go with the flow. She may have also dropped a few hints about finding a nice, rich husband, but that was hardly a surprise. She wanted me settled.
“I’d love to. Hold on a second.” The key was on the desk, so I grabbed it and my purse and used the key to lock the cabin behind me. I may be on vacation, but I was still a cop and wary of leaving my things unattended. “Do you know where the bar is?”
“I looked at a map of the train online before we boarded. It’s this way.” He gestured farther along the corridor.
Be still my heart. Good-looking, polite, and organized. Mama would be beside herself.
“Lead the way.” I followed him through two doors, past another series of private cabins, through another two doors, to an elegantly appointed space with half a dozen sofas, several bar tables, and a bar tucked into the corner. Classical music played softly over the speakers.
We approached the bar, and the woman behind it smiled.
“What can I get for you?” she asked.
I bit my lip. Usually, I’d drink something nonalcoholic at this time of day, but I was on vacation. I could afford to be a little naughty. “I’ll have a sauvignon blanc, please.”
She turned to West. “And you, sir?”
“The same.”
“What cabin should I charge them to?”
I started to give my cabin number, but West beat me to it.
“My treat,” he murmured as she poured the drinks. “I invited you, after all.”
My stomach flipped over. When he looked at me like that, it was easy to forget we weren’t alone, and that I hardly knew this man.
He took our drinks. “Would you prefer a sofa or a table?”
“Table.” That way, I could gaze into his eyes.
We chose a table beside the window, halfway along the carriage. He set my drink in front of me and raised his glass. I chinked mine against it in a toast, then sipped. I couldn’t help but notice the way his lean throat bobbled as he swallowed.
“This may sound silly,” he began, placing the glass down and leaning on his forearms, “but I’m really glad you ran into me.”
My heart slammed against my ribcage. “Me too.” So, my attraction to him might not be one-sided. Aware I knew nothing about him other than his name, I added, “Tell me about yourself.”
As we talked, I found myself shifting closer to him, erasing the distance between us until my side was pressed against his. My heart was light, my head somewhere in the clouds.
West told me he was from Chicago, like me, and had recently changed jobs. He worked as a bartender, and he’dalso won this trip in a contest. Perhaps that’s why our carriages were beside each other.
My insides fluttered with the excitement of a new infatuation; I couldn’t stop smiling.
