AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You look amazing," I say, offering my hand for hers to land on.
She smiles, as her hand extends and I bring it to my mouth to kiss. "Thank you. You're not so bad yourself," she teases, taking in my outfit with a sly grin.
I chuckle and order us both a drink, grateful for the small talk that eases any lingering nerves. After the bartender hands us our drinks, she turns to me, green eyes alight.
"So..." she prompts.
"So?"
"How'd you know I'd wake up and read your note in time to meet you at 9?"
I smile, leaning an elbow against the bar. "I didn't."
"An hour is not much time for a lady to beautify."
"Lacey, it takes no time at all for you to be beautiful."
She rolls her eyes, but I catch the flush creeping up her collarbone. "Smooth talker."
"Just stating the truth." I glance at her drink and then my platinum watch. "You might want to hurry up, though. We wouldn't want to be late."
"Late? For what?"
"For the boat ride."
Her eyes widen as she struggles to swallow her next sip. "We're going on a boat ride?"
I nod, my excitement growing as I watch her reaction. "Yes, I thought it would be a nice change of pace." My gaze roams over the red satin covering her curves. “You brought your sketchbook, right?"
She pats her bag, smiling.
After finishing her drink, she takes my hand, and we head outside. The night is warm and clear, the moon shining down on us as we step onto the sidewalk.
A thrill curls up my spine at the thought of her impending reaction. The private car I've called for pulls up in front of us, and her mouth falls open as she takes it in.
"Is this...for us?"
I nod, opening the door for her. "Yes, I thought we could use a little luxury."
She climbs into the car, touching the leather seats. "This is amazing," she says, settling in next to me.
As we drive to the dock, I can't take my eyes off of her. Her golden-brown skin seems to glow in the dim lighting of the car, and her hair cascades over one shoulder, tempting me to run my fingers through it. But I resist, not wanting to mess up her carefully styled curls.
When we arrive at the dock, she takes in the sight of the private yacht waiting for us with wide eyes. "You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet," she says, leaning in to give me a quick kiss. I temper the urge to deepen it. Barely.
"Beats the hell out of that Beauty and the Beast?" I ask.
She blinks. "You got the name right."
"I've been practicing."
We make our way down to the pier, and there it is, our private yacht for the evening, waiting like a proud stallion ready to take us around Manhattan.
Lacey looks up at the shiny white behemoth of a boat, her green eyes as wide as saucers, mouth slightly agape. "Oh, Aidan...this is incredible," she whispers.
"Let's explore." I take her hand and lead her onto the yacht.
With the sun set, New York City transforms into a glittering jewel, its buildings and bridges a testament to human ambition, illuminated against the night sky. I feel a swell of pride as the captain, in crisp white, greets us with a smile.
