The stairwell door flung open and something soft ran into him with great speed. He lost his balance, but quickly regained it in time to keep the person from falling. “Oh my…” A soft voice called as a mop of brown, bouncy ringlets slipped over shoulders to reveal big brown eyes, rosy cheeks and full, pouty lips. “I am so sorry, but she’s going to get me.” Long, black lashes blinked up at him and he forgot to breathe.

He shook off the spell and frowned. “Who is going to get you?” She was stunning. “Are you in trouble?”

“If she catches up to me I will be.” Terror marked the woman’s pretty features.

“Shira!” A woman’s voice called. “Shira, where did you go?”

“Help me.” Glancing around, her eyes rested on a short, older Italian woman. “Never mind! Hide me!” She stepped out of his hold, reached down, picked up her purse and darted behind him. Joseph couldn’t believe this was happening. He had a beautiful woman cowering behind him in the middle of his office building lobby. A gentle tug caused him to move backward and draw near to a large amount of artificial trees that were to give the foyer an atrium ambiance.

He was running really late now. Sighing, he looked at the older woman hunting for… Shira, was it? “Are you okay?”

“I won’t be if she gets her hands on me.”

Fingers touched his back and a heat went over his body. It was as if he could feel her touch through his suit.

“Is she still there?”

“She just stepped in the elevator with a displeased look.” He turned around and looked through the dark lashes to her even darker eyes. “You’re flushed, are you all right?”

“I will be, thank you.”

Her full lips curved into a smile and his heart slammed to a stop. She went from stunning to…What was more beautiful than stunning? She wasn’t overly made up, but had a doll like quality to her.

“You’re my hero. I want you to know that.” She reached up and kissed his cheek, then quickly ran for the revolving door.