A Werewolf in Manhattan Read Online Free PDF Page A

They were mere acquaintances, after all. This wasn’t a date, and she’d do well to remember that. He was humoring her desire to party a little.
    “This way.” He lightly touched the small of her back to guide her toward a black enameled doorway.
    When he used a card-key to open the door, he verified her suspicion that he was taking her to a private club. No wonder she’d never heard of it.
    The black enameled door opened into a small lobby, decorated in grays and blacks with a splash of red here and there. On their right was a narrow stairway carpeted in red, but no sign indicated where it led.
    “Jessie’s is upstairs.” Aidan gestured for her to climb the carpeted steps. “I think you’ll like it.”
    She had no doubt she would. So far, Aidan’s world had seduced her with luxury, and she expected the same from this exclusive club. Soft jazz filtered down to her as she climbed the stairs. She was aware of Aidan behind her, his footfalls amazingly light considering his solid build.
    She’d never realized until tonight how graceful he was. She felt like a klutz in comparison, but then, she’d never claimed to be coordinated. Aidan would be a marvelous dancer. And a marvelous lover . The thought had no business showing up in her head, but there it was, taunting her with possibilities.
    At the top of the stairs, a silver-haired man in a tuxedo moved out from behind a tall reception desk and shook Aidan’s hand. “Aidan. It’s good to see you.”
    “It’s good to be back, Sylvester. This is Emma Gavin. She writes—”
    “The werewolf books.” Sylvester eyed her with obvious curiosity. “This is indeed a pleasure. I’ve read them all.”
    “Really?”
    “I find them fascinating,” Sylvester said. “So detailed.”
    “Fortunately, I was blessed with a good imagination.”
    “You certainly were.” Sylvester exchanged a glance with Aidan. “Table for two?”
    “Please.” Aidan helped her off with her coat.
    His touch produced the same electric charge as when he’d helped her put it on. She would have to get over that. While Sylvester hung their coats on a rack behind the desk, she gave herself a talking-to.
    Her self-talk continued as she followed Sylvester through an arched doorway. Having a drink with Aidan is a onetime deal, and she ... whoa . Had they somehow wandered into an alternate universe? The club seemed to be nestled in a forest, a forest on the second floor of a brick building in the middle of Manhattan.
    She couldn’t help staring. “Wow.”
    “I thought you’d like it.” Aidan sounded pleased.
    “I love it.” She wasn’t sure how the owners had managed the effect, but the trees arching over the small dance floor seemed real, as did the ones scattered around the perimeter of the room.
    Tiny white lights winked like fireflies in branches, which curved to create intimate bowers for each rough-hewn table. To her right, a live jazz trio played on a moss-covered knoll.
    Sylvester led them to a table near the back of the room and pulled out Emma’s chair.
    “Thank you, Sylvester.” She glanced back at him. “This is quite a place.”
    He smiled at her. “A waiter will be over soon to take your order. Enjoy.” He laid an affectionate hand on Aidan’s shoulder before leaving them.
    Aw. Emma didn’t need more reasons to admire Aidan, but she was getting them anyway. He obviously inspired friendship and respect among his associates. “Thank you for sharing this place with me,” she said. “I thought we’d just find a little tavern somewhere, but this is breathtakingly beautiful.”
    “There’s more. Look up.”
    She did and was dazzled by the night sky, complete with stars, peeking through the foliage. The effect was so real she would swear someone had slid the roof back, except they were in the heart of the city, where the lights blocked out the stars completely.
    Aidan settled into the chair across from her. “What would you like to drink?”
    She continued to gaze upward