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“Nothing in particular. Just life in general.” I’m actually thinking about him, about us. If there is an “us”. Everything is happening so fast. I thought for so long that Evan was the center of my world. I never pictured myself with anyone else. Spending time with Chase last night was wonderful. Everything was perfect down to the last detail. I think I’m falling for him and that frightens me. I’m freaked out about getting hurt again, and I’m afraid to let him get too close. I need to know where he wants to take this.
“What are we?” I blurt out. He cocks his head to one side, regarding me.
“What do you mean?” His tone is cautious.
“I mean, what do you want from me?”
He’s quiet for a minute, appearing to choose his words with care. “I told you that night in your cottage on the beach,” he says gazing at me. Closing his eyes, Chase takes a long breath in, then slowly releases it. He starts to repeat the lyrics from a familiar Coldplay song. The same song that was playing when we danced at my cottage the night Evan showed up. When he opens his eyes, they are full of compassion and reverence. “I can see you’re hurt. I want the chance to make you happy, to fix you.” He reaches over and tilts my head toward his. He places a soft and tender kiss on my lips, caressing my face with the back of his hand. He cups my face and gazes at me through his long lashes. ?
??I can make you happy,” he breathes. “I just want the chance to try.”
He wants to try to make me happy. This beautiful man wants me, but I don’t know how to make the fear go away. Staring into his killer blue eyes, I know I want to try too. I will take it day by day and see where it leads. I give him a shy smile, and his face lights up.
“I want to be happy, too. If you’re willing to be patient with me.”
Smiling, he wraps his arms around me, nuzzling my hair. “Patience is something I have plenty of,” he murmurs into my neck. We sit together, his arms holding me tight for some time. Finally, he lets me go and stands up. “Ready to continue our walk?” he asks. His radiant smile is infectious.
“Okay.”
We take a relaxing walk through the park, stopping at different attractions to take a breather. He persuades me to get on a rowboat, which he rents from Loeb Boathouse. I convince him to take a ride on the carousel. We both agree to walk through the Central Park Zoo, which brings us back around to Fifth Avenue near the Sherry Netherlands. It’s late afternoon as we exit the park.
“What do you want to do now?” he asks.
“I’m exhausted. I think it’s time I went home.”
“Don’t go,” he pleads. “Stay with me tonight.”
“I have no clothing here, and I don’t expect you to call Cheryl again.”
“No, I suppose not. She would have a coronary if I did that two days in a row.” He chuckles. “We’ll go back to my place and get my car.”
“Don’t we need to go back to the hotel and pick up our clothes?” I ask a bit concerned.
“Don’t worry about that. I can call for a car, or we can take a cab.”
“Cab is fine, if you could hail one.” Before I finish my sentence, he jumps halfway into Fifth Avenue and manages to somehow flag one down in under thirty seconds. A feat only a professional cab hailer could accomplish. I keep forgetting he lives here.
We get in, Chase gives the cab driver an address, and off we go. When you don’t live in the city and your normal commute when you do visit is train or subway, you forget how insane cab drivers are. They don’t pay any attention to the rules of the road, because the rules don’t apply to them. I have to hold on to the bar over the door so I don’t go sliding across the back seat. Chase is laughing at me. I can’t help but to laugh back.
After what seems like an eternity, we arrive at our destination, somewhere near Wall Street. We pull up in front of a very modern looking building numbered Forty Broad Street. He steps out of the cab, takes my hand helping me out, and then reaches back in to pay the maniac driver. Once safe on the sidewalk, I begin to relax.
His building is massive. The entrance is three stories, framed by bronze columns and a six-story base. We walk toward the entrance, and two well dressed doormen hold each of the large glass doors open for us. “Good afternoon, Mr. Remington,” the older of the two says in greeting.
Chase nods his head at both of the men, and we stroll into the lobby. The two-story lobby, with its reverent lighting and elegant lacquered red-and-black accents, make me feel as if I’m encased in the world’s most exotic lantern. He leads me over to the elevators and presses the up button. “One of the reasons I purchased an apartment here is for their enormous wine cellar,” he states.
Wine cellar?
The doors open and we get in. He presses a button for the Penthouse. Why am I not surprised?
“I just need to grab my car keys. Have a look around and tell me what you think.” He takes out his keys and opens the door. “Ladies first,” he murmurs. Once inside, I take a good look at my surroundings. I head to the open space to my left. The living room / kitchen combination is very modern with ten foot ceilings and oversized floor to ceiling windows. The lavish and Zen like interior is very tranquil with Brazilian walnut floors and Basaltito black granite borders. The walls are a soothing cream color, which contrast well with the dark color of the floors. There are two large modern cream colored couches facing each other with a large dark wood square table between them.
On the opposite side of the room is a contemporary open kitchen. Black granite countertops and backsplashes, with custom wood cabinetry the same color as the floors. He has my dream kitchen with premium appliances that include a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer with well integrated paneling plus a Miele oven, cook top and dishwasher. Either he hired an interior decorator or it was like this when he bought it.
Solid wood pocket doors lead to the master bedroom. In keeping with the Zen theme, the floors are the same throughout, as well as the walls. The bedroom has a huge walk in closet, enough to fit all of my clothes times ten. I notice my dress from last night as well as my shoes and undergarments hanging from a rod. “I had your clothes cleaned and brought over from the Sherry,” he says. I shake my head and continue walking. That explains not having to worry about our clothes.
Walking through the closet, I find the most tranquil bathroom I have ever seen. A Kohler five-piece bathroom including deep soak tub, ceiling-height mirrored medicine cabinets, and rain showerheads mounted to the ceiling. A mix of granite and marble gives the bathroom the sophisticated look. The shower has long rectangular pieces of grey granite tile encasing the entire shower. The floor is also granite tile in the form of squares. The giant spa tub is somewhat raised against the wall with a full size mirror behind it. Dark walnut wood frames the tub, as well as encasing the double sinks. I could sit in the bathtub with a few candles and a good book for hours. Turning around, I follow the same path I took in to get back out.
Passing the front door is another full bathroom and another bedroom. “This is my office,” Chase says from behind me.
