Her gait slowed to a brisk walk as she approached her building. When she saw her reflection in the glass, her theory was once again proven. What you looked like had nothing to do with why men hit on you. It was about their ego, it was nothing personal. Her long dark hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She had dark circles under her sunken eyes. Her normally olive skin was pale except for her cheeks which were bright red from exertion. Her blue hoodie was baggy and her leggings were just blah. She was a mess.
Another thing she needed to keep at the front of her mind when it came to her prince. He had a way with words and it was easy to fall under the spell of his charms. She’d almost succumbed more times than she’d like to admit. The thing was, his charms were universal. He loved women. All women. Nothing personal.
“Morning, Miss Rizzo.” Carter, the new, teenage doorman held the glass door open for her when he saw her standing outside. “How was your run?”
It still seemed surreal that she lived in a place like this. Lake Towers was a fifteen-story architectural masterpiece. Not even in her wildest dreams could she have ever imagined that she would someday live in such an upscale condo, complete with a twenty-four-hour concierge, valet, and doorman.
But just after her eighteenth birthday, her maternal grandmother, whom she’d never met, had left her a hefty inheritance. She’d used it for two things: her education and her condo.
“Great! Thanks, Carter.” Maxi was still slightly out of breath as she stepped inside the foyer of her building and removed her headphones. “How did it go last night?”
His face lit up like he’d just won the lotto. “It was great! Thanks for your help. She was like really, really impressed. I’m so glad that I didn’t just take her to a movie and dinner.”
“That’s great!” Maxi enthused.
“We’re going out again tomorrow night, so if you have any more suggestions…” Carter’s expression transformed. In the blink of an eye he was rocking full blown puppy dog eyes, which was totally unnecessary, she was more than happy to help.
When the kid had told Maxi that the girl he’d been working up the courage to ask out had finally said yes, she mentioned that the Art Institute was free admission on Thursday nights and there was a great gelato place just around the corner. She figured that it was unusual enough to be special and something that he could afford as a nineteen-year-old college student with a part-time job.
But a second date needed to be a little more.
“You could take her kayaking. It’s something active and a great way to see the city. There’s a night tour called the Ghosts and Gangsters of Hustlertown. I have tickets I can leave—”
“No!” He held up his hands. “You don’t have to do that. I can get my own tickets.”
Before Maxi could address his protests, the elevator opened and the new couple from 7G came out with their two Doberman Pinschers at their sides. The dogs instantly beelined to Maxi. Aside from their collars, one of which was bright pink with diamond studs while the other was black with metal studs, they were identical.
“Good morning to you, too, Bonnie and Clyde.” Maxi bent at the waist and greeted her newest four-legged friends, scratching their heads as they competed to see who could get in the most licks before they were pulled away.
“Sorry. They’re usually so well behaved.” Mr. 7G explained as confusion clouded his refined face.
“It’s fine,” Maxi insisted. “It’s just kisses.”
Mrs. 7G tugged on Bonnie’s leash, her brow furrowing. “It’s so strange. They never behave like this but every time they see you they act out.”
A sheepish smile pulled at the corners of Maxi’s lips. She wanted to explain that the dogs’ behavior might have something to do with the fact that last week when the outlaw-inspired canine duo had been in the elevator with the dog walker, they’d helped themselves to the roasted half-chicken Maxi had bought for dinner. She’d kept that info to herself because the last thing she’d ever want to do is get their dog walker in trouble. It really wasn’t his fault. The bird was gone before her or the dog walker had had a chance to react. So, she was pretty sure Bonnie and Clyde’s affinity towards her had more to do with poultry than true affection. In their minds she was the “Chicken Lady.” Mr. and Mrs. 7G still looked baffled as they dragged the dogs outside for their morning walk.
Turning her attention back to Carter, she insisted, “You should take the tickets. I got them through work and I won’t be able to use them. Honestly, they’ll just collect dust if you don’t take them.”
His eyes narrowed. He clearly wasn’t convinced. She could see the tug-of-war between pride and practicality waging behind his intelligent and honorable gaze.
Maxi changed tactics. “You’d actually be doing me a huge favor. You take the tour and report back to me what you and…”
“Sabrina.” A goofy grin spread appeared when he said the girl’s name. There were practically cartoon hearts floating around his head.
So sweet.
She loved love. Even if she’d never actually been in real, true love or believed she ever would be. That still didn’t diminish her affection and desire for it.
“What you and Sabrina think,” she finished. “That way I’ll know whether or not I should suggest it as a must-see activity.”
The PR firm where Maxi worked was number one in Chicago and number five in the country, which was quite an accomplishment considering they weren’t based in L.A. or New York. Part of her job as a publicist was knowing the city and all it had to offer. That way, she could entertain clients, which was why she was constantly getting comped tickets to go and experience the attractions.
Normally, she didn’t mind going and checking things out sans a plus one. But lately, with everything that’d been going on, she hadn’t felt comfortable doing that. And Simon, the guy she was currently seeing, wasn’t really the outdoorsy, kayaking type. Tonight, for example, they were going to a poetry reading. He insisted it would be “transforming.” She was doing her best to summon excitement.
She could’ve passed the kayaking tix along to one of the six people on her team, but Carter was a good kid and over the past two months that he’d been working at Lake Towers, she’d grown fond of him, like a little brother. Maybe because he reminded her a lot of the tall, athletic guys at the gym that she used to pretend were her brothers. Growing up, she’d always wanted siblings and a big family but after her mom left, her dad never remarried. He rarely even dated and when he did, it never developed into anything serious.
“If it would really help you…” Carter hesitated.