Free Friendship on Fire by Melissa Foster

wasn’t sure if it was real or not.”
    He looked away, and Riley’s breath caught. His profile was even more striking set against the backdrop of Times Square.
    “I felt it too,” she whispered. She wasn’t sure if he’d heard her, and she wasn’t brave enough to say it again.
    “I understand why you want to be careful, and as I said, I respect your decision,” he explained. “That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy, and if I stand here looking at your beautiful face, I’m liable to do something that in no way resembles sneaking.” Josh put his hand on the small of her back for a step or two. “Come on. I want to show you something.” He shoved his hand in his pants pocket.
    It was all Riley could do to keep breathing. She followed alongside him in silence, the sounds of the busy street fading behind them. When they crossed Fifth Avenue, they were swallowed by an enchanting hush. Unlike Times Square, there were no neon lights or open storefronts. It was as if they had walked into a secret world, and in that peaceful hush, Riley’s pulse calmed and her mind cleared, and she was finally able to think clearly.  
    “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “It’s a surprise, but we’re almost there. This is one of my favorite stretches of sidewalk. Can you feel it?” He held his hands out to his sides as they walked.
    “The peaceful, magical aura?” Riley asked.
    “Yes. I never really knew what to call it, but that’s definitely spot-on.” He put his hands back in his pockets, and Riley wondered if it was to temper his desire to hold her hand—or more.
    They came upon busier streets and bright lights, and the serene hush vanished like a thought in the wind.
    “Is that—” Riley felt her eyes grow wide.
    “Grand Central Station.” A smile stretched across his lips. “I’ve lived here for so long that I almost forgot how spectacular this place really is.”
    “It’s brilliant,” she said. “Are we going in there?”
    “We are.” He reached for her hand again, and she put it out without thinking. Their fingers touched, their eyes met, and for a split second everything felt perfect, and then the voice came back— he’s your boss —and Riley drew her hand back to her side and looked away. Maybe I made a mistake . He is my boss . She looked back at Josh’s hand. But he’s also Josh .
    “It’s okay,” he said. “Come on.”
    She followed him inside the exquisite building. Her heels clicked and clacked as they crossed the station. The impossibly high, arched, green ceiling grew from golden walls with thick columns. Riley took in the magnificent structure with glorious windows that allowed the moonlight to filter in, giving the evening an even more charming feel.
    She and Josh walked past an enormous newsstand and under a portal. They appeared to be walking to another exit, and just before they reached it, Josh pointed to an escalator.
    “Down there? Where exactly are you taking me?” she asked.
    “I’ll show you.” He motioned toward the escalator, and Riley stepped on.
    She clutched the railing as they descended beneath the ground. “This is a little nerve-racking.”
    “That’s why you’re doing it with me,” he said.
    They landed on a concrete platform with subway lines running in both directions.
    “Josh,” she said. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”
    “Ri, look at me.”
    She did, but her eyes darted back to the platform and the dark tunnel just beyond.
    “I’m right here,” Josh said. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You are a smart, capable woman, and I don’t want you to feel like there’s anything you can’t do. I promise that when we’re done, you’ll feel totally different about the subway.”
    She wished she could just tuck herself beneath his arm and cuddle up against his muscular body, hiding from any possibility of getting on a train.
    “Trust me?” he asked.
    She