“Oh my gosh!” I lean forward until my chest is flush with my knees and cover my head with my hands. My words are muffled against my skirt. “I was hoping you wouldn’t mention that.”
“Can I take the funny symbols to mean you like my ass?”
I peer up at him. “Seriously? You’re going to call me out on one drunken text?”
His smile grows. “If it means you like my ass, you’re forgiven. I have a secret that shouldn’t be too secret.”
I sit back up and look him in the eye. “I already know you’re not great with women. Which isn’t true, by the way. What other secret do you have?”
“I like your ass.”
I shake my head. “Is that all?”
“Oh no. I like your ass and...” He takes his finger and traces my cheek. “Your eyes. Your smile.” His finger continues moving downward. “The way you shivered as I kissed your neck.”
“I’m ticklish.”
He keeps going, his touch moving along the side of my breasts. “Your tits.”
“They’re not that impressive. Have you seen my best friend’s?”
Trevor laughs. “I didn’t think Stephen’s were that remarkable. Yours are definitely more impressive.”
His response makes me giggle.
“I love your laugh. And in this dress and even in the jeans last night, you have shapely, sexy legs.” He looks back to me, our gazes set on one another. “There’s a part of you that I haven’t experienced, somewhere between your tits and legs, and believe me, I want to.”
“Rather direct for a man not good around women.”
“That’s why you scare the shit out of me. When I’m around you, I say things I’d never say. I want things, things I’m willing to do anything to get. I also want to be everything you deserve. That means that even though my first idea for this date was taking you to my apartment and getting to know that part of you that I’m missing, we drank frozen hot chocolate and are about to walk around Central Park.”
I stand and hold out my hand to him. “Come on. Let’s walk. Remember, I’m free until work in the morning.”
Trevor’s eyes sizzle, golden flakes exploding like fireworks as he reaches for my hand.
Hand in hand, we walk along the main path, taking in the crowds of people, all most likely brought out by the nice weather. New Yorkers are a hardy bunch. Winter doesn’t stop them, but spring brings them out of the woodwork. Like rats in the subway, and yes, I mean that favorably, sunshine, flowers, and budding leaves awaken the masses.
“Can I ask you about one other thing that’s been bugging me?” Trevor asks.
“Sure.”
“Do you want to steal cars or is there something about credit?”
I twist and play punch his shoulder. “Stop. My autocorrect was having problems last night.”
“Oh, we’re blaming autocorrect?”
“Yes. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”
After nearly two hours of walking and one pedicab ride, we’re back to the entrance.
“May we continue this date on to dinner?” Trevor asks.
“I want to.” And I really do.
“I sense something else.”
“It’s Kimbra. Since I arrived in the city, I’ve only seen her last night, and as you know, I kind of left abruptly. She’s sent me a few hundred text messages this afternoon and wants me to come over to her apartment.”
Trevor’s smile grows. “I think she’s setting you up.”
“What? Why?”
He pulls his phone from his pocket. When he shows me the screen, he too has multiple text messages from Kimbra and a few from Duncan.
“When you came into the restaurant, I was talking to my brother. I mentioned that my date arrived. Since then, the two of them have been blowing up my phone. I had to put it on silent. Kimbra thinks she sensed something between us last night.”
My eyes widen as I chew momentarily on my bottom lip. “You mean we aren’t as good of actors as we thought?”
“Apparently, neither of us should give up our day jobs for Broadway.”
“Well, there goes that backup plan.”
“Right?” he asks. “All those voice lessons down the drain.”
“You sing?”
“Only in the shower.”
My cheeks rise and heat as they undoubtedly fill with pink.
Trevor reaches for my hand and hails a taxi. “That’s it. I’m taking you to my apartment to hear me sing.”
“Trevor...”
When the taxi stops, he gives the driver an address that right away I recognize.
“Wait a minute. You don’t seriously think we should show up at Kimbra and Duncan’s together. Do you?”
Before he answers, I willingly get into the back seat.
“My lady, I’m tired of keeping our history a secret.” He turns my way as the taxi moves forward. “We can change our destination. We can go to my apartment or you back to your hotel. But no matter where we go, I’m not making the same mistake I made before. This will not be our only date. I want another one and another one. I think coming clean to Duncan and Kimbra is the first step.”
“What if they’re upset?”
“It won’t stop us. Nothing will stop us.” He leans close and kisses me.
I’ve never wanted anyone to be more right about anything.
Chapter Sixteen
Trevor
Of course, my brother and his wife live in the penthouse, their apartment complete with an amazing view of the Empire State building. “Have you been here before?” I ask Shana as the elevator moves upward.
“Once.”
“Good.”
Shana turns my way and smiles. Today’s walk in the sun and wind has left her cheeks pinkened. Her hair is pulled back in a long ponytail, the ends twisting into long curls and her eyes are wide. “Is there a reason we’re now talking in one-word sentences?”
“I was just thinking that it was a dick move to bring you here before my apartment.”
“Why?”
“Now, who’s using one word?”
Thankfully we’re alone in the elevator as it continues its climb. To access the penthouse, you must first check in on the lobby floor and the doorman must enter a key, unless of course, it’s your penthouse and then you have a key.
“Okay, why was it a dick move?” she asks, leaning back against the wall of the elevator.
I look at the numbers changing above the door and know there’s no way I have time to explain that my apartment pales in comparison to Duncan’s. Instead, I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Because I would rather be back at my place serenading you.”
Shana squeezes my hand. “If you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, I’m going to be very disappointed.”
“No, my lady, when we’re together in my shower, I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
Shana takes her free hand and reaches out to the elevator’s control panel, her finger poised to push something.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for the turn-around button.”