"You couldn't choose a better place for it."
"Don't I know it." He gave her directions to the nearest bus stop and Alexis thanked him before standing to leave.
"I just need to do a little shopping first," she said. "I came all this way, I don't want to leave empty-handed."
"Good luck," said the elderly man.
"Merry Christmas," she called over her shoulder as she hurried to find the muchdesired scooter.
Her phone rang as she studied the directory and, when she saw Ty's number on the screen, an involuntary smile tugged at her cheeks.
"Hey, stranger," she answered.
"Wow, have you fled to Madison Square Garden?" he asked.
"Noisy, huh? It's a shopping center. Betsy keeps a car on the mainland for excursions so I went with her."
"Last minute Christmas shopping?"
"Can you blame me? I've been distracted by someone who keeps inviting me to spend time with him in the vain hope that I'll remember him from high school," she said.
"Ah, you've seen through my ruse. Is it working?" She could practically hear him grinning.
"Not yet. Listen, I hope I'm not late to dinner. Betsy and I had a fight and I'll need to grab a bus to the water taxi once I'm finished. I have no clue how long that takes, but I'm guessing long."
"A bus?" he echoed. "Don't do that. It'll take ages. I'll give my buddy Paul your number."
"Who's Paul?"
"Friend of mine who owns a car service. It'll be faster."
"Don't trouble yourself."
"Trouble? I'm being completely selfish here. I don't want you to miss our…evening out." He deliberately avoided the word 'date.'
She laughed. "Fine, you're a selfish bastard sending a car for me."
"I'll see you tonight," he said.
"Thanks, Ty."
By the time she finished her shopping, her mood was elevated and she found herself whistling Christmas carols as she waited for Paul to show up outside the mall. A sleek black limousine pulled up to the curb, blocking her view. Alexis was still craning her neck for a car when a limo driver appeared in front of her.
"You must be Alexis," he said. "Tyler described you perfectly."
"Paul?" she queried.
He wasn't wearing the usual limo driver attire. In fact, he looked more like he stole the limo. Wearing ripped jeans and a faded Rolling Stones t-shirt, Paul did not exactly scream respectable chauffeur.
"Don't look so shocked," he said. "I'm not a chauffeur."
"Then why do you drive a limo?"
"I have a fleet of limos. It's kind of important when you own a limo company."
"Oh."
Paul held the back door open for her, but Alexis shook her head.