Page 41 of Manhattan Kiss

“Tell me everything,” she says. Her not wanting me to find anyone in New York seems to have been forgotten.

I give her a quick update about how Deacon spilled coffee on me, I hated him, he apologized, how we ended up having dinner together, how there’s definitely chemistry between us.

“So now what?” she asks.

“He gave me his number. He wants to go to dinner. I told him I’d think about it.”

“Because you want to think about it or because you want him to sweat for a bit?”

I don’t think Deacon is the kind of guy who sweats over whether a woman will call him. “Because I want to think about it. He’s a guest in the hotel. I’ve never been in this situation before. There’re no written rules about not fucking the repeat guests, but Avril and Poppy probably won’t like it.”

“Do they have to find out about it?”

“If we’re going out to dinner, then…”

“New York’s a big city. It would be a coincidence if they ran into you.”

Poppy ran into her boyfriend’s wife, so I’m not sure how big of a city it really is. And anyway, the way I see it, the likelihood of getting caught shouldn’t factor into my decision.

“Right. But they’re both really lovely. They’ve taken a huge risk bringing me over here. I don’t want to piss them off.”

“I get it. But you have to think about your happiness, Aurora. You always put everyone else first. Maybe they wouldn’t like it, but maybe it’s worth the risk.”

“I understand what you’re saying. It just makes me feel uncomfortable. It feels like I’m lying to them.”

“So tell them,” Darcy says.

“What? The hot guy in Room 325 wants to take me to dinner, do you mind?”

“Yes,” she replies. “Why not?”

“I don’t know. Isn’t that a weird thing to go to your boss about?”

“I think it says you’re being respectful.”

“Maybe,” I say.

“Aurora, this is your summer to live a little. I think you should take everything New York is offering. A summer fling seems like it should be mandatory. Just don’t fall in love with him and stay stateside. Or I’ll have to move over there. It’s bad enough having Ryder and Scarlett out there.”

It feels strange that Darcy’s brother and his wife live in this city. It’s a long way from home—geographically and…psychologically.

“They’ll be back from Colorado soon. You’ll all have to meet up,” Darcy says. “And you’ve got Ryder’s fortieth in the diary, haven’t you?”

“Yes, the party’s in my diary. Are you going to be able to make it?” Ryder is having celebrations on both sides of the Atlantic. Because he’s Ryder Westbury. Darcy didn’t know if she was going to be able to come over, but it would be so good to see her.

“I don’t know, especially now William has broken his arm. But you’ll go, and you must see them before then anyway. I hate that you’re on your own over there. Even if you have been kissing randos.”

I laugh at Deacon Black being considered random. “I’ve messaged with Scarlett. We’re going to have brunch. The Americans love brunch.”

“It’s ridiculous,” Darcy says. “It’s basically lunch with a few egg courses on the menu. I honestly don’t see what the fuss is about.”

I grin, hoping she hears it down the phone. “I miss you, Darcy.”

“I miss you too. Speak to Avril and Poppy. And go to dinner with that guy.”

I want to go to dinner with Deacon. But I don’t want to piss off Avril and Poppy. Darcy’s right, I should just talk to them. What’s the worst that can happen?

“Maybe,” I say.