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“Right.” She pulled her hand away and tucked it under her leg. “Because you’re as harmless as a hungry lion.”
“Perhaps, but I’d never intentionally hurt you. Despite what you may believe, I always wanted to make you happy.”
But he hadn’t been able to make her happy, had hurt her, and the truth of that hung in the air between them.
* * *
How had Lucas convinced Emily to go for drinks at the top of a hotel with a revolving restaurant so they could view the New York City night skyline?
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t lived here her whole life. She knew what the city looked like. She’d guess most everyone in the restaurant were tourists except them.
“You guys need anything?” their waitress asked. There was a one drink minimum, but they’d both ordered bottles of water rather than anything alcoholic.
Just being with Lucas made her feel drunk.
Or maybe it was the slowly turning restaurant.
But she doubted it. The room turned at a pace where you didn’t realize you were even moving until you started watching the buildings around you.
“Admit it, this was a good idea.”
She fought to keep her gaze from going to his no doubt smug expression. “I suppose.”
“What would you have rather done?”
He sounded as if there was nothing she could say that would top what they currently did. She had to admit, the evening had been nice, talking with him had been nice even, but she wasn’t admitting those things.
“Gone back to my place?” she suggested.
“My bad. You win.” He stood, pulled a money clip from his front pocket and tossed a bill onto their table.
“Lucas.” She laughed, tugging on his arm. “Sit down.”
“But you said...” Grinning, his eyes full of mischief, he sat back down.
“We’re here now. I want to see if I can see the Statue of Liberty from up here.”
“I was told that you once could, but new buildings have gone up since this one was built and have blocked the view.”
Disappointment filled her. “Oh.”
“I’d take you there if you want to see Lady Liberty.”
“I’ve been before.” On an elementary school field trip, they’d taken the ferry out to the island and toured the statue. She’d been in total awe of the size and magnificence of such a gift symbolizing freedom. She’d often wondered if any country had given another such a glorious present.
“Sometimes things are better the second time around.”
She hesitated only a moment before agreeing. “I guess we could go. It has been quite a few years since I visited.”
“I’ve never been.”
She looked at him in disbelief. “What?”
He shrugged. “It’s not that big of a deal. I’ve just never been out on the island.”
“Which means you’ve never gone up in the statue, either?”
“No.”
