Chapter 129

After she had exhausted her tears, Anna splashed cold water on her face and restlessly paced back and forth in the apartment. She needed to do something. Anything. Restlessness consumed her and she decided a walk would help calm her emotions.

She grabbed her backpack and headed to the library, taking the shorter route down Columbus Avenue and avoiding Rockefeller Center. When she finally reached her sanctuary, she sat down in the atrium, feeling numb. She wanted to forget everything that had happened, wanted to forget her troubles for a few moments inside a book.

She buried her face in her hands. How had things turned so bad so fast?

As she sucked in a deep breath and stood, a glimpse of pink on the floor by the staircase caught her eye. She tilted her head and crept across the marble floor, staring at the single pink rose along the wall. Just like the one Mr. J had given her. She looked around, wondering who had dropped the rose, but no one was around. Most people took the elevator, but Anna preferred the elaborately carved marble staircase. She stared at it as she started up the stairs, but didn’t touch it. The owner would return for it. The scent wafted into her nose as she stepped by, and she paused with her hand on the railing and closed her eyes.

The scent instantly transported her back to the magical evening spent with Mr. J. What was he doing now? What had brought him to New York? Why did he want to remain anonymous? His kindness was such a stark contrast to Kurt’s... tantrum.

She smelled the second rose before she saw it, on the landing between floors. It was propped on its end against the wall. No one had dropped this one. Anna frowned at it and looked around. Another rose lay on the wide handrail at the top of the next set of stairs.

What was going on? She hurried up the stairs and stared at a fourth rose propped up against the marble wall like the second one. Curiosity got the better of her when she saw another rose at the end of a table, and instead of going on up to the third floor as she normally did, she approached the table. She looked around, subtly searching for another rose, and her heart leaped when she spotted it at the end of a bookshelf a few yards away. Was this some sort of romantic trail left for someone to follow? And if so, why was she following it?

The roses are the same as the one given to me by Mr. J.

But it was just a coincidence, right?

Of course it was. But she walked to the next rose, anyway. When she looked at the plaque identifying the genre for that bookcase, she nearly choked. Mysteries.

Another rose stuck out from the bookshelf about halfway down the aisle. She approached carefully, glancing around before she stepped into the aisle. Was it possible...

The rose lay on top of a book with a note card sticking out of the top. Her heart leaped in her chest and she carefully pulled out the book. If it wasn’t for her, she’d just put it back in its place and walk away. No one would know she’d been there.

Her heart pounded at the sight of the cover. The book was about a ballet instructor who solved murders. Her hands shook as she pulled out the card. Written in beautiful calligraphy on expensive card stock, the words made her gasp:

Friday night was magical.

— Mr. J

Anna gasped and nearly dropped both the book and rose. The roses were for her! A smile crept across her face as she put the rose to her nose and inhaled deeply. After her terrible morning, she needed this romantic gesture from a stranger. Her... lover? She could trust him to be discreet, since he wanted to keep things quiet. Kurt hadn’t heard about it, so obviously Simon hadn’t called him. And whoever was following her for Kurt hadn’t discovered Mr. J.

She hugged the book to her chest, grinning, and picked up the other roses scattered about the room. The beautiful scent enveloped her senses as she wandered around, picking out other interesting-looking mysteries. Once she’d finished picking out her selections, she headed back to the staircase and picked up the rose at the top of the stairs. When she stood, she spotted another rose at the bottom of the staircase that led to the next floor up. She giggled and scooped up the flower, following a new trail of roses up to the fourth floor.

The trail led to the biography section and to a book about Anna Pavlova, which made her smile. No card was left in the book, but it didn’t matter. The trail was for her and Mr. J was speaking to her through the books. Her heart swelled to be understood like this. And by a stranger, no less.

A third trail of roses led to a book on the history of New York City, with lots of beautiful pictures. She searched around but didn’t see any more roses and sighed in relief. If he’d given her anything else, she might not make it home. As it was, her arms and heart were full.

She practically skipped down the stairs to the checkout counter and beamed as she scanned her books at the self-checkout machine. Humming happily to herself, she packed up the books in her backpack and made her way to the library’s foyer.

“Katrina.”

Anna jumped at the sound of her name and nearly dropped the roses in her hands and looked around. Simon stood along the wall, wearing a black button-up shirt and khaki pants, a smile on his face. “Simon!”

“I see you found the books Mr. J wanted you to find.”

“Oh, Simon! It was—?” She sighed, happiness filling her heart. “It was just what I needed today. Please tell Mr. J I said thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

He took her heavy backpack from her shoulder. “Bad day?”

“You could say that.”

“Mr. J will be very pleased to know he made you smile.”

“This was . . . wonderful.”

“Can I offer you a ride home?”

Anna opened her mouth to accept, but remembered Kurt’s anger from the morning. “I-I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“Katrina, I just want to take you home. Nothing else.”

Anna shook her head. “My fiancé wouldn’t like it. I’ll just take a taxi.”

Simon frowned but didn’t protest. He walked with her to the doors, but she stopped before going outside and reached for her backpack. “Please, just let me go by myself. I don’t want to anger him further.”

“He was angry with you? For what?” He reluctantly handed her the heavy bag.

“Very angry. I’ve never seen him like that.” She blinked away tears. “I was... indiscreet last night, and he flew all the way from Germany to yell at me to make sure I don’t do it again.”

He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that. I assure you I didn’t call him.”

“I believe you.” She sighed. “Lesson learned. Freedom gone.”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to see Mr. J again, but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea now.”

Anna swallowed. “I want to. Terribly. But I’m afraid of getting caught.”

“Did your fiancé know about Friday night?”

“No.”

“Do you trust me to keep things as discreet as before?”

Anna looked up at him. “Yes,” she whispered.

Simon smiled. “Good. I will be in touch and let you know where and when.” He gave a little bow and walked away.

Anna watched him for a moment and then turned to go outside and catch a taxi home.

“Did she get all the books and roses?”

Seth laughed at Alex’s eagerness and then coughed as he struggled to catch his breath from running up and down the steps to set up the impromptu romantic adventure for Anna. “Can we plan a little earlier next time?” He sucked in a deep breath, scolding himself for being so out of shape . I really need to start doing cardio again. “Yeah, she got ‘em. And I think you made her day. She seemed pretty upset when she got here.”

Alex muttered against his brother in German, and Seth grimaced. “His intentions when he left Germany were good. You know he was coming to apologize.”

“She wasn’t being indiscreet. He just can’t seem to get his head out of his ass.”

Seth didn’t know what to say. Kurt hadn’t handled his visit right. At all. “But I think you more than made up for it.”

Alex was quiet. “I guess that’s something.”

“Are you going to see her again?”

“Simon was going to meet her at the door to find out if she’s interested. I’m hoping she says yes.”

Seth leaned against the wall and peered around the corner to see Anna nodding at Simon. “I think that’s an affirmative.”

“Good. You’ll have to help me come up with something just as good.”

“I’m sure between the five of us, we’ll come up with something.”

Aaron was home when Anna arrived and hugged her hard. “Where’d ya get the roses? They’re pretty.”

“Oh... somewhere.” She went into her room to put her backpack down and hesitated to return to Aaron. Would telling him about it put him in the middle if Kurt asked questions?

After finding a vase in the kitchen, she filled it with water and arranged the roses before placing them on her dresser in her room.

“What’s wrong?” Aaron walked in and sat on her bed.

She told Aaron about going out with Levi and Kurt showing up the next morning.

“He flew all the way from Germany to pull you out of some guy’s bed?”

Anna nodded.

“I never thought he was that much of a control freak.”

“I never knew a lot of things about him.”

“It’s so unlike him.” Aaron shook his head. “What the hell happened to him? Have you tried talking to Wilhelm?”

“He doesn’t care. He’s... busy.” She laced her fingers together. “Sometimes I wish I’d just stayed with Devin. At least I knew what to expect from him.”

“Oh, Anna. Don’t say that.”

She sighed. “I know.” She frowned at the idea of being with Devin again. Things hadn’t turned out the way she’d expected when she’d arrived in New York, but they were so much better than they’d been. So much better! “Well, there is one bright thing that happened while you were gone...” She told him about the mystery man and her trip to the library.

“Wow.” Aaron grinned. “Do you know who he is?”

Anna shook her head. “Simon told me to call him Mr. J.”

“It’s kinda romantic.”

“It’s nice.”