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“It’s a surprise,” I say with a grin and a wink. She blushes. Damn, I don’t know the last time I made a woman blush like this, but I love it. I love that I have that effect on her. I crank the engine and pull out into the traffic.
“Oh,” she says. “I didn’t thank you for the flowers and the card. Thank you, Miles. Actually, my favorite flower is the lily, and the card made my day. Are you a huge Jane Austen fan or is it because you know that I am?” she asks.
“Well, I mentioned before that I took literature classes in college, but Jane Austen has always stood out to me. I’ve read many of her novels, several times each. I appreciate her work,” I reply, looking over at her as she takes in that information. I can tell that I win some points with that answer. She gives me a bright smile.
“I love snuggling up on the couch and reading something written by Jane Austen. I feel like I travel through the words, and the world around me melts away,” Lizzie states.
“I know that exact feeling. I, too, have had the pleasure of diving into a book that completely consumes me.” I glance over to Lizzie and smile at how deep and thoughtful she can be. She doesn’t seem superficial but completely down to Earth. I want to know everything there is to know about her. I want to know her hopes and her fears, what her family is like, where she grew up, her happy place. Everything.
We strike up a casual conversation as I drive toward our destination. When I pull up to the New York Public Library, she gives me a quizzical look, and I just smile at her. I get out, open her door, and offer her my hand. When she slides hers into mine, I feel electricity run up my arm again. I won’t ever tire of that feeling. I walk her to the entrance, hand in hand.
“Good evening, Mr. Knight. Everything is all set and ready to go,” says the director of the library.
I wince as he says my last name, and I hope that Lizzie wasn’t paying attention to that. She’s too in awe of our location, which is the exact reaction I was hoping for. The director opens the door for us, and I lead her inside. “Thank you, Travis,” I tell him.
She looks up at me once the door closes. “What is this? Where is everyone?” she questions.
“I called in a few favors and was able to get the library closed down for just the two of us tonight.”
Her eyes widen as big as saucers, and she puts her hand over her mouth as she gasps. “Really?
“Yes, it’s just us tonight. Well, us and the servers,” I add as one is walking toward us with champagne on a silver tray. I take one of the bubbling, crystal flutes from him and hand it to Lizzie, then I take my own. She looks at me with amazement in her eyes. “To new adventures. ‘It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.’ Cheers,” I say as we clink our glasses together. I give her a wink and take a sip of the champaign.
“Another Austen quote? Do you have some written on your hand or have a notecard full of them?” she asks me teasingly. I can see the playfulness in her eyes.
“Yes, another quote, but no, I don’t have any notes with me,” I pause and take a sip of my champaign, enjoying the taste swishing through my mouth. “I can’t seem to help it when I’m around you. You know my mother always told me that ‘actions speak louder than words,’ so I suppose I get that from her. She is another literature enthusiast. She would adore you,” I declare because I know that I will be introducing them soon.
“She sounds like an amazing woman, and she raised youwell.” She gestures to the empty library in front of us. “I’m sure I would like her, also.”
I can’t help but watch her as she takes in everything. I feel like I’m seeing it all for the first time even though I have been here hundreds of times. “This has always been my favorite place in New York. I come here when I need to think or when I just want to get away from the world. It’s my solace. Although, I admit, I have never rented the whole library out,” I tell her.
“This is absolutely perfect, Miles. I love it. Thank you for doing this for me. I have never experienced something like this in my life. It’s surreal. We are in the same building with the most precious authors gathered around us. Thank you. This means more than you know,” she says as she stares straight in my eyes.
I want to kiss her right this moment. I can feel the magnet that’s pulling us toward each other, and I don’t want to resist it any longer. I lean down, cupping the side of her face and look into her eyes. “Can I kiss you, Lizzie?” She just nods, and I lean in closer to where our noses are almost touching. Our eyes are still locked on one another. I graze my lips over hers, and she shivers. I smile and deepen the kiss. Her lips are perfect and soft and warm. She lets out a small moan, and I take the invitation to further explore her mouth. My tongue sweeps in, and she tastes like the sweet champaign along with something else that is entirely Lizzie. My hand slides into her hair, and I want my fingers to get tangled in the luscious waves. I pull her closer with my forearm and silently curse that we are still holding our glasses. I want both of my hands on her. She is so responsive to my touches. I break the kiss, so we can both catch our breath. She looks up at me with a blush on her cheeks and a smile across her now swollen lips. “How about we take a tour?” I whisper as I kiss her forehead. I take her hand and she intertwines her fingers through mine, then we set off. Afteran hour of perusing the shelves, stacked with the classics and many other brilliantly acclaimed writers, I lead her to where the next surprise awaits us.
“Where are we going now?” she questions.
“You’ll see,” is all I offer with a smirk.
We walk into a room with a Jane Austen exhibit, and in the middle, sits a small round table covered with a white linen tablecloth with tapered candles lit in the middle. I lead her to the table and pull the chair out for her. She takes a seat, and I gently steal a kiss to her cheek as I take mine.
“I don’t even have the words to say or express… which is highly unusual, because I always have plenty of words,” she says. “You did all this just for me?” She looks at me in disbelief.
“I did. I have never done anything like this before, but I wanted to do it for you. I knew you would love this library as I do, and I also knew they had a Jane Austen exhibit going on. I wanted to do something special for you,” I reply honestly.
“Why did you want to do something so special? You hardly know me,” she says breathlessly as she studies my face.
“I suppose that’s true, but I feel like I know you. This probably sounds bizarre, but I feel like I was meant to meet you. Even after our brief meeting at the coffee shop, I wanted to see you again. Then we end up at the same club, and I can’t help thinking there is a reason for that. I’ve never had this instant connection with someone before. It’s an insane feeling, but I want to get to know you more. I want to spend more time with you,” I reply, as our waiter comes to the table and sets our dishes down before us. He also refills our flutes, then disappears out of the room.
She doesn’t take her eyes off me the entire time the waiter is at our table. She isn’t giving away what she’s thinking, and for a moment, I feel like I may have taken this too far, tooquickly. I take a moment and gaze at her from across the table, the candlelight flickering on her face. Every time I look at her, she takes my breath away.
“You know,” she begins, “I mentioned last night that I haven’t had the best luck with dating. Although, that’s putting it lightly. I have to say that honesty seems to have been the problem in my past relationships. As in, they were never honest with me.” She pauses for a moment, and my hands are balled into fists, just hearing about those men who have hurt her before. She sighs and continues, “I guess what I am trying to say is you seem different somehow. I’m not even sure how I have that feeling since I haven’t known you long. I do feel a connection toward you, as well. It’s kind of terrifying, given my history.”
Before she can finish, I reach over the table and grasp her hand. My thumb begins running circles over her wrist, and she looks back up at me when I say, “I’m not like them. I would never lie to you. I want to explore what’s between us. Will you take a chance with me?” I ask. She seems to ponder the question for a minute, which gets my heart racing even more.Have I overstepped? Did I rush into this? Am I going to scare her off?I’ve never asked anyone to take a chance with me. Honestly, all my past relationships and conquests have gravitated toward me, without my having to make much of an effort. Her eyes meet mine, and I see the twinkle in them, which gives me a little relief that she may feel the same way. I know she’s scared. Hell, I’m scared, too. This is all unfamiliar territory for me, but I want to jump in headfirst. Lizzie squeezes my hand, which brings me back to the conversation.
“Yes, I will, Miles.” Those four words shoot straight through my heart, and I know that I will do anything to prove to her that we are meant to be together. Forever. I can’t help but smile so large I’m sure I look ridiculous. I get up from my chair and hold out a hand to her, saying “Good, dance with me,Lizzie.”
I pull her up from her chair and put my hands around her waist, then pull her close. She drapes her arms over my shoulders as we sway to the piano ballad that is playing for us. I look down at her, and my heart swells with the happiness she has just brought me. I lean down to kiss her forehead, but she looks up at the same time and our lips meet. It’s a soft, but intimate kiss. It seems like a promise. The words that we haven’t said are in this kiss, and it’s more than I could have hoped for. The music stops and we continue to sway for a bit longer. I then lead her back to her chair, and instantly miss the warmth of her body pressed up against me.
