She placed a finger on his lips. “Hold that thought. I’m going to go take care of a few things, and when I come back, you’re going to show me that good time. Because if you don’t, I’ve got at least one brother who will be very disappointed.”
By the time Monday rolled around, they’d definitely checked off the majority of her list that they could do in an apartment, and she was having to come up with new items. This predicament had led her to some fairly interesting websites, which she’d hastily scanned while alone in the bathroom.
So when the day dawned bright and the weather report indicated that it was going to be an unseasonably warm day for the beginning of March, she suggested, “We should go on a picnic.”
Theo blinked.
She gave him a wink. “I mean a sex picnic.”
“Okay…” A slow, sexy smirk slid across his lips. “I’m intrigued. Go on.”
“So, I’ve always”—“always” meaning since last night—“had these fantasies of having sex somewhere where we could get caught. You know, public bathrooms, airplane lavatories, in an alley—”
Theo interjected, “There aren’t very many alleys in Manhattan. We’d have to go to Brooklyn.”
She waved the correction away. “We’ll figure it out. In any case, there’s another one: sex outdoors. And since we’re so close to Central Park, it’d be criminal not to take advantage!”
That wasn’t the real reason she was suggesting it, though. Because if she was being honest with herself, she was beginning to feel a little bit… sore. No, the real reason she wanted to go on a picnic with Theo was because she wanted to steal a moment that might be close to a “real date.” Sure, there’d be sex—and she was looking forward to the sex—but a picnic in the park? That was peak romance. And she wanted the romance.
Unaware of her real motives, Theo thought it over and nodded. “Sounds good. Let me make a few calls.”
“What for?”
“It’s a bit of a hike to Central Park from here.” He gave her a sly look. “And I was wondering if having sex in the back of a limo was on your list.”
“Well, it is now.”
While Theo made his calls, Chloe took a quick shower and got herself ready. By then, the hired limo had arrived, and they drove first to Theo’s penthouse—where he picked up some clean clothes and a picnic basket filled with goodies. Theo had winked at her when he’d said that, and she guessed that the goodies in question weren’t fried chicken and brownies but something a little more risqué.
By the time they reached Central Park, it was approaching lunchtime, and that’s when they discovered that they weren’t the only people to have the idea of playing hooky at the park on this lovely day.
“I don’t suppose getting arrested for indecent exposure was on your list?” Theo asked, eyeing the crowds.
Two teachers and about six or seven preschool-aged kids holding on to a rope and wearing bright-yellow pinnies strolled by, and Chloe winced. “No, definitely not. Let’s avoid jail.”
“Good call.”
Disappointment flooded through her; she’d so wanted to have this moment with Theo. She wasn’t sure what to do.
Theo turned to her and asked, “So, since we can’t tick that off your list, how about I treat you to a New York delicacy instead?”
“Delicacy?” she raised an eyebrow. Where were they going to find a delicacy in the middle of a park?
“Yep.” He took her hand and led her toward a man standing by a pushcart under a wide umbrella. “Let me introduce you to a staple New York delicacy: chestnuts roasting under an open light bulb.”
The street vendor grinned. “Last of the season,” he said. “Better get them while they’re here!”
“One, please,” Theo said, pulling out some cash to pay while Chloe just stood there and tried to wrap her head around the concept of roasting nuts with a light bulb.
They strolled through the park, eating the light bulb-warmed chestnuts, which were surprisingly good. When they finished, Theo pointed to another food cart. “So tell me, have you ever had a real New York hot dog?”
She shook her head. “No? I’ve had hot dogs, though. They weren’t anything special.”
“Ah, then you’re in for a treat. There’s something about a real kosher hot dog in New York.” He approached the vendor and ordered two hot dogs. He pointed to an array of condiments. “Now, you can get pretty much anything you want on these within reason, but in my opinion, it’s really all about the mustard.”
The vendor nodded her head emphatically.
“The classic New York hot dog is steamed onions and mustard, sometimes a hint of sweet pickle relish,” Theo continued.
