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I rub my lips together, trying not to laugh at her using the word “creamy.” Underneath the bar top, she steps on my shoe in an attempt to stop me from laughing and causing a scene.
Clearing my throat, I lean over the bar to lookat the options. “A Pappy for me,” I say, laying my card on the bar as well as a tip.
As the bartender walks away to prepare our drinks, Winnie turns her body to face me. Her elbow leans against the bar as she gives me a smile. “Emma would be so proud of me for ordering a martini. She’s a martini girl, although she much prefers a dirty martini—extra dirty.”
My hand runs over my mouth as I shake my head at a memory from the Hamptons. “I remember. She asked the waiter for so many olives at dinner it seemed that her martini was more olive than anything else.”
“She’s back in New York tomorrow,” Winnie says, smiling at the bartender as he hands her the drink she ordered. “Once we get everything settled on Monday, she and I are going to have a day where I don’t do any work and we spend lots of money.”
“Sounds like a great plan,” I confirm. Winnie has put all of her time into helping me and Tyson tie up every loose end; she deserves a day off with her friend.
We easily find our suite. One of the attendants holds the door open as Winnie and I walk in. The attendant smiles warmly at the both of us as she compliments Winnie’s dress. “That color is stunning on you,” she comments.
“Thank you,” Winnie says, looking downward because she hates compliments.
“My name is Sara, and I’ll be in charge of taking care of the two of you this evening. Would you like to leave the door open or have it closed?”
“You can leave it open,” Winnie says sweetly.
“We’ll keep it shut tonight,” I offer at the same time.
Winnie and I look at one another as a blush breaks out over Winnie’s chest. I look to Sara, giving her a forced smile. “If we need anything, we’ll make sure to open it. But this is our first time with these seats; we’d prefer to keep it shut for the best experience.”
Sara gives me an understanding smile. She nods. “Of course.That would be my preference as well. Just know if you need anything from me, all you have to do is open the door, and I’ll be right there.” She looks at both of our hands. “I see you both have drinks and are set. If you need more later, just let me know.”
“We will,” Winnie confirms.
“If that’s all, I’ll leave the two of you to it. The show will begin in about five minutes.” She points to a little table nestled between the opera seats. “There’s binoculars there for your convenience. Enjoy, and please let me know if you need anything!”
Sara sees herself out, shutting the door just as I asked.
Winnie turns to me, a shy smile on her lips. “Why does it feel so private with the door shut?”
“Because I paid a lot of money for it to be exactly that.” I walk to her chair, offering to hold her drink so she can take a seat and get comfortable.
Before sitting down, she walks to the balcony and leans over it. She looks from the left to the right, her eyes wide as she takes in the view. Her red hair falls down her back as she turns to look over her shoulder at me. “Archer, this takes my breath away. The view is…incredible.”
I smile, setting both of our drinks on the table. “I agree.” My eyes travel up and down her body, taking my time with committing the sight in front of me to memory. The glow of the dim lights illuminates her pale skin. She’s applied some kind of lotion that makes her skin glow every time the light hits it. Expertly curled strands of her hair fall down her back, tickling the skin that is exposed due to the low-cut nature of the back of the dress.
She’s so beautiful that I’m speechless. I can’t believe she’s made me into a man deserving of her love, but it’s something I vow to myself to never take for granted. When her aquamarine eyes meet mine, my heart leaps in my chest.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you smile so big,” Winnie notes, twirling a piece of her hair aroundher finger. She continues to lean over the balcony and take in the view of the opera house around us.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been this happy.” I hold her eye contact, loving getting a front-row seat of her reaction to my words. Her breaths become heavy, and her cheeks flush.
“That’s a bold statement, considering you’re about to go against your father and lose the respect you’ve spent your whole life trying to earn from him.”
I rub the back of my neck, marveling how even though I’ve never told Winnie about how my one goal in life used to be to make my father happy, she still figured me out. She can read me like an open book, and it only makes me love her more.
“That doesn’t matter. I’ve learned there’s better—more important—things in life.”
She swallows, her eyes casting downward for a moment before she looks back at me. “Like what?”
I close the distance between us, molding my front to her back as I pin her against the railing. She gasps but immediately lets her body melt against mine. “Like you,” I say, my lips hovering over the shell of her ear. “You’re the only thing that really matters to me, Win.”
The lights begin to dim even more, cloaking the audience below us in a sea of black. The only light comes from the stage lights shining on the bright red curtain. It’s as if the entire opera house goes still with silence as we wait for the opera to begin.
“Archer,” Winnie whispers as my hands roam her waist. I only started to run my hands along her body to feel her close to me, but the way she trembles under my touch gives me ideas of wanting more from her—no matter where we are.
