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Alyssa worked her way through the elegant crowd, stopping to chat up various people, both those whom she knew and ones she hoped to know better. The event was being held at the New York City Library, a big, splashy party meant to draw out the best of the city’s upper crust in order to help terminally ill children achieve their lifelong wishes.

Because, for most of them, life was too heartbreakingly short.

He should have been here.

Disappointment flickered through her even as she swatted it aside like a gnat. Jonathan was a strong advocate of Make-A-Wish and pediatric cancer research foundations, using his platform to raise awareness and to help. Since his wife had died of breast cancer, Alyssa had expected him to take up that specific cause, or rescue animals like his daughter. Although it seemed he tried to support as many important charities as possible, this was where his heart lay—along with helping the city’s homeless.

She didn’t know why, and maybe there were no solid reasons. Yet another mystery surrounding Jonathan Lake. Of course, she had no right to hope he’d change his plans when he needed to schmooze and secure as many power players as possible. Unfortunately, they’d both learned that equaled voters. Politics had many slimy underground tunnels hidden beneath polished smiles and endless promises, but she’d found there were good people too, usually caught in the web. The strong ones survived and kept their platform as pure as possible, yet mastered the art of compromise. Jonathan could have turned bitter, or even worse, apathetic. Instead, the more obstacles he faced, the harder he seemed to fight for his ideals.

Another reason she’d begun to fall so hard for him.

Alyssa plucked a glass of champagne from a tray and glanced up at her escort. “Shall we make our way to the left or the right?”

Paul grinned. “Haven’t you learned yet? You start in the middle.”

She smiled back. She’d sat next to him at one of those boring recognition breakfasts and ended up enjoying his easy-going manner and humor. He was older but attractive, with sparkling brown eyes, salt and pepper hair, and a meaty, muscled body she appreciated. He’d been asking her out for a while now, but she’d always felt something more akin to friendship than attraction. Still, she needed to try. Especially after the incident.

She’d looked.

Broken her cardinal rule. Never see him naked. She was used to him changing clothes in a flash while she was in the office, but not once had she glimpsed even a shred of bare skin. They were ruthlessly careful to never cross the line, especially since neither of them appreciated office gossip. But this time, his laugh had charmed her like Medusa, and when she’d looked, she’d been turned to stone.

The memory of his glorious, chiseled chest on full display made a shudder wrack her body. The perfect dusting of dark, crisp hair trailing down in a magic line that disappeared under the belt of his pants. The bunch of biceps and strong line of a shoulder she ached to sink her teeth into. He’d stood before her, thighs braced apart, on full display, frozen in stillness as if he sensed the sudden surge of heat between them. The idea that he suspected she was hot for him made her cheeks burn. She’d done the only thing possible.

Pretended not to be affected and got back to business.

Shaking her head, she refocused. “The middle it is. I need to make sure I see Cam, and the director, and a few of the mayor’s business associates. Are you sure you won’t be bored? I feel like I’m still at work.”

He waved his hand in the air. “It’s fine. I need to do some networking myself. I’m just happy you finally accepted my invite.”

She frowned. “Well, I technically invited you, but I’m glad, too.”

He laughed and patted her arm. “You have a strange sense of humor. I like it.”

Alyssa didn’t take offense. She’d heard it way too often and had been called Spock by her own parents. She never understood jokes and sucked at sarcasm, instead, attacking her views on life in ways that made sense. She simply couldn’t relate to many people and had made peace with it long ago.

Most she didn’t like anyway.

Switching on her public façade, she pasted a smile on her face and attacked the throng. It was a good hour later that she was able to touch base with Cam. Dressed in a mini suit and tie, his bald head only accentuated his Irish blue eyes full of a zest for life she wished the world had more of. She hugged his parents hello where they flanked him, then knelt down in front of the guest of honor.

“Hi, Cam. You look extremely handsome tonight. How are you feeling?”

“Today’s a good day.” His smile was all sweetness, and her heart squeezed with both pain and happiness. He’d been through so much already, and they were praying this latest round of chemo had kicked him back into remission. “Is Jonathan here?”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, sweetie, he couldn’t come. He had a really important meeting, but he sent me. Told me to tell you he’ll call you later and he’s proud of you.”

He seemed to process the words. “Okay. Did you know the chief got me a real fireman’s jacket?”

She smiled with relief, knowing at six years old, he was easily distracted. Good. He’d bonded with Jonathan, but there was enough excitement here to keep him from feeling the mayor’s lack of presence. “That’s really cool. You should have worn it with your suit.”

His laugh said it was funny, even though she hadn’t meant it as a joke. Many people in the crowd wore gear to support Make-A-Wish and various cancer research funds. Cam looked up and, suddenly his face brightened. “Alyssa, the meeting is over!”

“What meeting?”

“The one Jonathan was at!” He began waving his hand in the air. She frowned, not understanding.

“Hey, champ. Well, don’t you look like Bruce Wayne today. Not planning to fight the Joker tonight, are you?”

The familiar, gravelly voice hit her straight in the solar plexus. She straightened, her heart beating madly against her ribcage like a bird whose flight couldn’t be contained. He’s here. She tried to pull it together, but she’d discovered that she did better when she prepped herself for his presence. She sucked at surprises.