The Last Man on Earth Read Online Free PDF

stretched up on her toes to brush a kiss over his cheek. “I promise.” She gave him a light shove toward the door. “Now, get out of here.”
    “Happy New Year, Madelyn.”
    “Happy New Year, P.G. Drive safely. There are a lot of weirdos on the road tonight.”
    He grinned. “This is New York City. There are always a lot of weirdos on the road.”
    Roughly two minutes later, dejection set in as she stood alone, feeling lost and more than a little sorry for herself. She checked the time on her wristwatch. Fifteen minutes to midnight. Stay and watch the balloons drop? Or call it an evening and look for a cab?
    She’d taken three steps toward the door when a hand lightly touched her shoulder.
    “Was that your brother and his wife I just saw leaving?”
    Madelyn turned and tipped her chin up to look at—who else?—Zack Douglas. With the mellow glow of the ballroom light playing over his swarthy skin and dark hair, he reminded her of a fallen angel.
    “What?” she murmured.
    “Your brother. Did he just leave?”
    She lowered her eyes to collect herself. “Yes. He . . . um . . . he and Caroline had a family emergency. Their son is ill.”
    He scowled. “Didn’t you arrive here with them?”
    “I did, but I told them to go on without me. I can see myself home just fine.”
    He opened his mouth as if to argue, then closed it. With a smile, he folded her hand over his elbow. “Good, then it seems I’ve got you all to myself.”
    She tried to pull her hand away, but he refused to let go.
    “Where’s your date, the doctor?” she asked.
    “Still in surgery. Another emergency came in and she was needed to assist. I spoke to her nurse a few minutes ago. She’d been asked to convey Sheryl’s apologies. Long and short, my date has stood me up.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    He shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. We haven’t been seeing each other very long.”
    “Actually, I was about to go home.”
    “You can’t leave now—it’s almost midnight. Stay and have some fun, Madelyn. That’s what New Year’s Eve is all about.”
    “I’ve had my fill of fun for one night.”
    “Surely not.”
    He released her long enough to snag two glasses of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. He handed one to her. “Drink up—the night’s young.”
    She saw his eyes twinkle. His face was a dream—far, far too beautiful for any woman’s own good.
    She hesitated, knowing she ought to tell him good night. Instead, she raised the glass to her lips and took a long, slow sip.
    Time flashed past, their glasses disappeared, and she was in his arms, her head spinning as they whirled to the music, their bodies pressed close in a way she should never have allowed.
    The band played a drumroll to signal the twelve o’clock hour was only moments away. Everyone stilled in a jubilant hush, then began to count backward from ten in a loud, boisterous chorus.
    “. . . five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . Happy New Year!”
    Colorful balloons and gaily striped confetti rained from above as horns tooted and the band swung into a brassy rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” Amid the glitter and spectacle, people embraced and kissed.
    Zack turned her to him, cupping her face in his hands as he smiled down into her eyes. “Happy New Year, Madelyn.”
    He leaned down and covered her lips with his.
    His kiss was electric, sending sparks whizzing through her body, head to foot. Her blood burned, singeing her nerve endings one by one. She shuddered and gasped and, unable to form a single rational thought, let him take more. The world narrowed down to just the two of them, leaving her aware of only Zack and the way his lips moved on hers, how warm his hands were against her face.
    He drew away, slowly, reluctantly; their lips clung for a long, last second as if the flesh itself didn’t want to be parted. Then he tucked her close and turned them once more into the dance.
    Her heart thumped in hard, quick