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In the back of his car, with Adrian’s driver taking me through the city, I sit alone. According to Noah, he’s to take me to dinner and Adrian is meeting me there.
I play it off as if I’m not nervous at all. As if tonight doesn’t feel different. As if that’s a perfectly normal thing to happen. It’s a perfect New York City evening. The sunset is a watercolor painting above the buildings, slowly growing darker as the few stars we can see appear high above us.
I’m in love with him, and no matter what he says, I think he loves me too. My heart beats faster with every minute that passes on the drive, and I can’t concentrate on my phone. Finally, I put it in my purse and ignore it completely. All the emails I need to send can wait.
I don’t miss Noah’s eyes peeking back at me and the third time I meet them, I cave.
“Is he going to break up with me?” I question, my voice squeakier than I’d have liked, though I know he’s not the person I should be asking.
His head tilts a bit and if I’m not mistaken, the wrinkles that form around his eyes indicate that he’s smiling although I can’t see that part of his face. “I didn’t think you were dating, Ms. Parks.”
I laugh, feeling a little less nervous. “Very funny.” My fingers fidget among themselves.
He laughs back at me. “He would be a fool to do such a thing. And Mr. Bradford isn’t a fool.” I can only nod in agreement although I don’t feel entirely reassured.
“Besides, we’re here so it’s a little too late to run.”
Peeking out through the tinted window, my gaze focuses on a tempting man in a suit. Heat flows through me seeing Adrian’s waiting for me on the sidewalk. He pulls the door open for me before I know what’s happening. I step out, slipping my hand into his to keep my balance.
“I’ll take it from here,” he tells Noah, and that’s when I see we’re at the Waldorf again. Glancing down at my office attire, I give Adrian a look and he only smirks back.
“If you’d like to go shopping first,” he offers although I’m certain it’s more for comic relief than anything else.
“You are a devilish man,” I comment, and move to stand beside him, his hand still holding mine.
His rough chuckle is a soothing balm. “You look gorgeous,” he reassures me.
With every step, the nervousness lingers but it’s different now that I’m with him. Maybe it’s the way he holds me, or the way he peers down at me. The way his hand splays against my back as we walk in or how he helps me into the booth. I’m not sure what it is, but I want it all.
I would give him everything I have today, for him to simply want me tomorrow.
* * *
Adrian
“Sir, another?”the waiter asks, politely gathering my attention. If I recall correctly, he’s the same waiter we had our first night at the Waldorf, our dinner that never came to be.
The same tucked away booth as well.
I shake my head once. “Thank you, though.”
“And for you?” he asks Suzette.
“I’d like dessert I think,” she says and gazes back at me as if asking if I’d like to join her.
I only smile back, feeling the nerves heat.
“Maybe the dark chocolate tart?” the waiter suggests and I pray I don’t show my reaction in the least.
When the plate comes out, her diamond will be on it. My composure threatens to break when she agrees.
I’ve gone over every response she could have.
If she says it’s too soon, I’ll respond, if not now, then when?
If she thinks I’ve gone crazy, I’ll agree, I am losing it because of her.
It doesn’t matter what she thinks of it, so long as she says yes. So long as she’s mine to have and to hold, to be with me forever. For fuck’s sake, if she thinks it has to do with work, I’ll tell her how I signed a damn contract I shouldn’t have because I couldn’t get her off my mind. That alone should convince a businesswoman like her that she should say yes before I go broke drowning in thoughts of her all day.
