It wasn’t what I’d normally do. I wasn’t a private detective. I didn’t have any right to follow this strange man who had whirled into my new place of employment like a tornado, leaving all kinds of hysteria in his wake. But I couldn’t help myself. I was feeling bold.

I’d been hired on the spot to work at one of the best companies in the country. My boss was the handsome and prestigious Mr. Dante Ross. A couple of years working with him, hobnobbing with his wife, Mrs. Ramsey, I’d be able to write my own ticket.

So needless to say, I was not quite myself when I stepped out of the office and saw the estranged member of the Ramsey family emerging from the garage and making his way down the wet sidewalk. His broad shoulders were hunched against the wind. I felt sprinkles of rain hitting my cheeks but that didn’t stop me. He turned down one street and then another. When I rounded the corner at Randolph and Wabash he had disappeared.

So much for my rookie private investigating.

Suddenly, I was pulled into an alley. Before I could scream, a hand was placed over my mouth. It smelled of burning leaves and apple cider.

“What the hell are you doing?” he growled in my ear. His breath was hot against my skin. Even though terror had paralyzed every muscle in my body I felt myself leaning into him. I swallowed hard and blinked before he removed his hand from my mouth but held my arm tightly.

“I’m sorry,” I stuttered. “I saw you in the elevator and then in Mr. Ross’s office.”

“You mean my office.”

“Your office,” I squeaked. This man had just been released from prison, and for who knows how many years plotting his next caper while surrounded by other criminals, swapping stories and tricks of the trade.

“I’m sorry.” He slowly let go of my arm. “What is your name?”

“Nova Lyons.”

“Nova Lyons, you really shouldn’t follow people. Especially men you don’t know.” He stared down at me, his bright blue eyes revealing a world of anger and pain, before he turned to leave.

“You’re Alex Ramsey,” I said before he could disappear in the crowd.

“How do you know that? Did my step-father tell you?”

“Dante Ross is your step-father?” I swallowed again but my mouth was bone dry. “I heard you say that. When you barged into his office.”

“What were you doing there? Polishing his knob?”

“What? No!” I was shocked. “I was hired as the new coordinator in the development and distribution department. That’s all.”

“That’s all for now.” He snickered.

“Well, I can certainly see why everyone was in a tizzy when you came blustering in. If this is how you talk to a complete stranger, I can only imagine what you say to people you know. If you’ll excuse me, I’m not the kind of person who loiters around alleys.” I attempted to step around him but he blocked the sidewalk.

“But you are the kind of person to follow a stranger into an alley.”

I glared at him until I saw a tiny smirk curl the right corner of his mouth. My gosh, he was hot with that tight smile, and those jet-black, unkempt locks of hair jutting out. But this was unreal. I had to remind myself that this member of the Ramsey family was a felon. Not a nice guy. A criminal. He’d been in prison. I’d read all the articles. I’d seen all the pictures. He was a bad man. Still. His smirk was contagious and I felt my cheeks blushing like some schoolgirl who’d suddenly found herself face-to-face with her crush, the star player on the football team.

“Look, I’m not the kind of guy who likes to loiter in alleys either. Come with me.” He turned and started to walk ahead of me.

“Where are we going?” I hated how my voice sounded so naïve and innocent. For some reason, I wanted Alex Ramsey to think I was dangerous and brave. The last thing I wanted him to think was that I was this quiet, boring bachelorette whose greatest ambition was securing a job at his family’s company. I didn’t want him knowing the truth.

“Some place where we can talk privately,” he said and offered me his arm. I slowly wrapped my hand around his elbow. I could feel the muscles beneath his shirt and jacket. I felt so small being next to him but I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t care if it started to pour down rain again.

Alex Ramsey led me down Wabash Avenue. We passed the Russian Tea Time Restaurant, a Starbucks coffee shop, and the Blu Café which was attached to the “W” Hotel. Alex made no indication we were stopping in any of these places. Instead, he pulled me along, without uttering a word, and finally pulled the door open to the most unexpected place.

“I need to pick up the latest Batman comic book,” he said as he held the door to Clover Comics open for me.

“Are you kidding?” I gaped. He stared down at me as if I’d hurt his feelings.

“Nope.”

When I walked in, the first thing I saw was a life-size stand-up poster of Captain America. There were shelves upon shelves of multi-colored graphic novels ranging from the old standards like Batman and Superman to weird things I’d never heard of. The Tick. The Walking Dead. Bloodlust.

Alex headed toward the counter leaving me standing by the door. Part of me shouted RUN! He’s an ex-con and could be dangerous! What are you doing, girl? Get out of there!

But another part of me, a stronger part, urged me to stay. After all, I was in a public place. There was no sign of immediate danger.

Slowly, I inched my way into the store.

“Hey, Jasper! There’s some guy here to see you,” the clerk behind the counter yelled to an open doorway. Suddenly, a lanky guy wearing an old Star Wars shirt appeared. His eyes bugged when he looked at Alex, then relaxed and replaced by a knowing look and big smile.

“Alex! I was afraid I’d never see you again.”

“I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye,” Alex said. I heard a hint of sadness in those words.

“I know. I read all about it,” Jasper said as they hugged. “But you’re out now, huh?”

“Just got released today.”

“And this is the first place you come? I’m honored.” Jasper laughed.

“Hey, can you set me up with Batman number 17, 18, or 19?” Alex asked. “And can I use the back room?”

Jasper’s eyes shifted to me then back to Alex. I expected some kind of jeer or a nudge and a wink, a know what I mean look. But that wasn’t it at all. He looked worried, like there was something serious happening and everyone in the place knew what it was but me.

“I’ll get those wrapped up for you. Take your time.” Jasper motioned to another back room. Alex looked at me and extended his arm for me to go ahead. I held my purse tightly over my shoulder and went toward the back room marked ‘Gamers Only.’

There were half a dozen tables set up with folding chairs around them. A white board hung on the wall. A corkboard was covered with flyers advertising upcoming comic book conventions, gaming competitions, and half a dozen other nerdy things.

“So, this is where we can talk?” I asked as I heard the door close behind me. My heart started to race and I was sure that by now my deodorant had completely given up.

“You were at RIT. Did anyone look like they would come to a place like this?” he asked as he stepped forward.

“Not really. But I only saw a few people including you. You don’t look like someone who’d come to a place like this,” I jabbed nervously.

“Didn’t anyone ever teach you to never judge a book by its cover?” he asked, the sexy smirk gone from his lips.

“So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about? This is all rather strange,” I said, sounding pitifully nervous.

“I don’t know what Dante told you about me, if anything. But Ramsey Industrial Technologies isn’t going to be in existence much longer,” Alex said, seriously.

“Oh my God. You’re going to blow up the building? Are you crazy? Yes, yes you are.” My body jerked and I made a dash toward the door only to have Alex slip his strong arm around my waist and practically lift me off the floor.

“No,” he chuckled. “I just got out of jail. I have no intention of going back. What I mean is that there is going to be a change in the management which will really shake the place up.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stuttered. “You sound like a crazy person,” I replied as he continued to hold me around the waist.

“I’m not crazy. Although I should be. I was sentenced to eight years at Joliet Correctional Facility. Do you know what I had to do to get out in five?” He pulled me closer to him.

Images from movies I’d seen depicting prison life flashed through my head. There were shankings and riots and the showers. Dear Lord, the showers. I swallowed hard.

From the other side of the door I heard Jasper laughing and talking with the other employee. The walls weren’t thick. But Alex was right when he pointed out no one from RIT would be listening here.

“There is a small piece of paper in my mother’s office. It’s been there since before Dante had me sent away. Once I get my hands on it that’s when things will change. But sadly not a minute before that.” Slowly, he slipped his arm from around my waist. Without realizing it I leaned toward him but pulled back quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up.

“You expect me to believe this? You’re telling me all this like we’re confidants or secret agents or something. Look.” I cleared my throat. “I just got hired to work there. I don’t have anything to do with your problem with your family or your step-father. I was hired to…”

“You were hired because Dante wants to fuck you.”

“What?”

“You got hired on the spot without going through the proper procedures, without meeting with HR. It’s been done a dozen times before. Probably more since I’ve been gone.”

“Maybe I was hired because of my experience. I type over one-hundred-forty words a minute. I take shorthand. I have experience in coding as well as…”

“You came into your interview partially wet. Your outfit makes you look like any one of these female comic book heroine alter-egos. And you are wonderfully, beautifully green.”

“Green?”

“Naïve. Innocent.” Alex scoffed.

“If trusting that the man who hired me did so because I was qualified makes me green, then that’s just how I’ll have to be.” I suddenly felt the sting of tears in my eyes. “I don’t need some jailbird to tell me what I’m doing wrong. You need to remember that I’ve got one thing you don’t. I’ve got permission to be on the RIT premises.”

My mind and body felt like they were pulling in two different directions. I couldn’t escape the undeniable attraction I was feeling for Alex. But I barely knew him. No. I didn’t know him at all. Yet I wanted him.

All my thoughts were screaming to just bolt from the room. I didn’t owe him anything. Plus, this was just plain weird. Who did this sort of thing?

“You’ve got me there,” Alex said and pulled out one of the folding chairs. He sat down in it and I could see that he was exhausted. Awkwardly, I stood there unsure if I should stay or go. My pinky toe was killing me as I lifted my heel out of my pump in order to give it relief.

It felt like ten minutes had gone by before I pulled up enough courage to grab the back of another metal chair and take a seat.

“Is it really true you just got out today?”

His eyes locked with mine. He slowly nodded.

“Do you have a place to stay?”

A sly smirk spread across his lips as he slowly nodded his head yes.

“That’s good.”

“What if I didn’t?”

“Then I guess you’d be in trouble,” I replied. “What I don’t understand is why you are upset with Dante. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“Dante put me in prison.” Alex became stoic.

“How?”

“It’s a long story. But he knows that if I find that piece of paper it’ll all be over for him. That’s why he’s keeping me out.” Alex stood from his chair and walked over to me. “Stand up.”

“What for?”

“Just stand up,” he ordered as he reached down, took hold of my arms and brought me to my feet.

I didn’t move; I couldn’t. My heart was pounding like a jackhammer as I looked up at this strange, beautiful man. Before I could do or say anything he had his lips pressed against mine. I didn’t know what to do. At first my body went rigid but as he kissed me I felt all inhibitions slip away. I let his tongue find mine as I leaned into his broad chest.

When he finally pulled back I swayed loosely, wondering how I was still standing, barely feeling my legs. I should have been on my back across one of these gaming tables. My eyes fluttered open to see Alex standing there, his cheeks red.

“Why did you do that?” I asked.

“Because I was just released from prison today.” He smirked. “And I wanted to savor the forbidden fruit before Dante got his hands on you.”

“You say that as if I have no say in the matter.” I was nearly crying. What was wrong with me?

“Are you telling me that you’ll reject him?”

“I haven’t even started working there yet. Tomorrow is my first day.”

With that Alex smiled. It was a beautiful, real smile that showed off dimples. For some reason I wondered how long it had been since he’d smiled like that. So freely and honestly. It was contagious and I smiled back, nervously bouncing on my pinched pinky toe.

“Nova Lyons, I have to go.” His eyes still continued to penetrate into mine.

“Will I see you again?”

“If you are going to help me, then yes.” he opened the door. The sounds of talking and a television playing wafted in, bringing all the realities of the day into the room. I wanted to stay there with him. I wanted to feel his strong lips against mine. There was a story unfolding that I was only getting small shreds of and I wanted to know it all.

“I never said I’d help you,” I replied defiantly. Where did those words come from?

“Not with words.” He stepped aside for me to leave. Slowly I walked past him, inhaling the smell of burning leaves and apple cider that emitted from him. “I’ll be in touch.”

“How? When?” Oh, could I have sounded any more desperate?

“Tomorrow. But Nova, you need to remember one thing.” A shadow fell over his face as spoke. Sadness filled his eyes while he clenched his fists. “Dante is used to doing things his own way. Just saying no doesn’t work with a guy like him.”

There was still something unbelievable about everything Alex had told me. I left the comic book store and headed back to my apartment. Once I stepped off the elevator, I kicked off my shoes and padded barefoot down the hallway to my front door.

I was seconds away from slipping inside undetected when Richard opened his.

“Hey, how did the interview go?”

I didn’t reply and closed my door, snapping the deadbolt into place. Tomorrow was my first day at Ramsey Industrial Technologies.