“I did want to use you—at first. I wanted to get to Lu Lawson any way I could. But then I saw you. You were skating, doing whatever the hell it is you do when you go around in circles for hours, and I watched you. And …you take a great picture, but in person you're unbelievable. I had to talk to you. Not because of your mother. Because you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.” He was breathing hard. “I know I'm supposed to pretend that doesn't matter to me and I'm really interested in your mind, but I'm a guy. And we're shallow. Any girl who looks like you must know that.” He was panting now. “Will you, for Christ's sweet sake, slow down before I pass out?”

He really did sound as if he might. She slowed down just a little. He grabbed her arm again and stopped her. This time she didn't pull away.

“Now that I've talked to you, I am interested in your mind. You're smart.”

She'd always known she was, but most people didn't see it.

“There's something about you, something you keep hidden.”

He'd seen that too.

“You don't know anything about me,” she said.

“Not yet. But I'm going to. And I'm warning you, I know where you live. I'll be outside your building every morning and every evening until you give in.” He was so close to her that he could have kissed her. Instead, he lifted her chin up so she was looking into his eyes. “And I promise I will never ask you to give my musical to your mother. I'll never bring it up.”

Liar, she thought.

Then he grinned. “You'll have to ask me for it. When you've learned to trust me.” Then he released her arm, and out of nowhere she was going to cry, and she couldn't let him see it. She turned and walked away. After a second, he called out, “One more thing,” and ran after her. He pulled the ten-dollar bill out of his pocket and jammed it into her hand. “Don't ever, ever throw your money at me again,” he said. He wasn't smiling. She nodded and swallowed back the tears. Then he kissed her—on the forehead.

“You don't have to stake out my building,” she said. “I skate at Rockefeller Center every morning at ten.” She could hardly believe the words were coming out of her mouth.

“Yeah,” he said. “I know.”

BOBBY CAME EVERY morning to watch Rose skate—the way Nonna used to, when Rose was little. Although, of course, this was totally different. The third morning, after Rose finished skating, she allowed herself to be talked into walking to the Theater District with him to drink coffee and talk.