Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
And I didn’t want to just go into Tribeca and have dinner somewhere. Any guy she’s dating might do that. I want Aurora to remember tonight.
Which is why I’m standing in a rooftop restaurant with a view of the Empire State Building. The lights of the city spread out in front of me, dimming out the stars in the black sky above. There are rows of empty tables, covered in white tablecloths and flowers and then a set table for two, at the edge of the restaurant, nearest the view. It feels like a lot. But it also feels just right.
Aurora refused to let me pick her up from her apartment, so I arrived early. I shouldn’t have because now I’m questioning myself. Is booking out the entire rooftop for a first date too much? I just wanted to be away from the hustle and the bustle of the city and focus on her. I wanted it to be just the two of us.
I can’t believe how much brain space she’s occupied since she texted me, agreeing to have dinner with me. She was in my thoughts too much before she said yes, but since Sunday, she’s all I’ve thought about.
The door to the rooftop opens and I feel Aurora before I see her. Is that even possible? Could I sense a woman close to me or is it just a simple case of wishful thinking?
I turn around and it’s her.
She looks stunning. Her long brown hair is loose and curled at the edges, her hips sway as she walks towards me. She’s wearing a red dress and the outline of her breasts catches my attention. I have to do my best not to stare.
I can’t do anything but stare.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
Something in the air shifts. This is not just lust. I know how that feels and this is different. Maybe it’s just an imminent rainstorm—a rush of negative ions. Or is it something inside me? Some kind of instinctive reaction to Aurora. An ingrained understanding that this woman coming towards me is important.
“Hey,” she says, as she reaches me.
It takes me a beat to find a response. I’m in sensory overload.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I say, still confused by what’s happening to me.
“Are you sure?” she asks with a smile.
“You’re beautiful,” I say. It’s not a throwaway comment. I’m not telling Aurora something because it’s the polite thing to say to a woman who you’ve invited on a date. I’m telling her because it’s the truth. I can’t not say it. She’s not just beautiful, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“Thank you,” she says. “You always look good in a suit.” She smooths her hand down my lapel and her touch both soothes me and ignites something in me. With the physical contact, I feel inexplicably more bound to her.
She glances around. “Where is everyone?”
I blow out a breath and try to get a grip on myself. “I…it’s just us.”
“It’s just us?” she says, her eyes wide.
I shrug. “Yeah, I didn’t want to share you.” I don’t exactly understand what I’m feeling, so it’s not like I can explain it to Aurora. But now I know why I booked out the entire restaurant. Tonight is important. Aurora is important. This woman isn’t just an evening’s company. She’s so much more.
“Deacon,” she says. It’s half question, half shock.
“Let’s sit.” I need to get my shit together. I need to get to know this woman who’s sent me spinning like she has.
We make our way to the table, sit, order wine and food, and finally the servers finish bringing bread and water and wine.
“For a restaurant that’s empty apart from the two of us, it feels like there’s a lot of people on this date.” I sound irritated.
I look up and Aurora’s staring at me, her expression full of amusement. “Are you sulking because the waitstaff are doing their job?”
I narrow my eyes at her in mock annoyance at her nailing it. “Maybe.”
“Okay, glad we’ve established that. I guess some people just can’t win with you.”
“You’re right. But I think you might be the person that wins every time, no matter what you do.”
She raises her eyebrows. “You really liked those extra towels, huh?”
I can’t help but let out a half laugh. “I certainly did. They came with a kiss that was…extraordinary.”
“Wow, I’ve never heard a kiss being called extraordinary before.”
“That’s what it was.” I hold her gaze. Is she going to deny it? She couldn’t. She’d be lying. “Anything but ordinary.”
She nods, biting down on her lip. “You certainly know how to kiss.”
I let out a hum. She needs to take credit where credit’s due. “You were half of that extraordinary kiss,” I say. My gaze sweeps down to her ripe lips, wondering how long I have to wait to taste them again.