New Year in Manhattan(29)

“You did?”

“So, we’re going to make a stop on our way home, ring in the New Year and then go back to create an Everest of feathers in the living room to get naked on. Sound good?” he asked.

“Sure. Where are we seeing in the New Year?”

“You’ll see.”

I grinned at him. “I can’t believe I’m flying home tomorrow.”

“It’s gone quickly. But you’ll be back soon. You promise you’ll speak to them about your notice period?”

“I promise.”

“Because if they don’t shorten it to a month, I’m going to step in.”

“Ethan, you’re not going to do anything. I’ll deal with it. You’ve got other things to do—like clearing out closet space.”

“We can go shopping for the apartment when you get back if you like?”

“What for? What do you need?”

“Well, if you want to refurnish it or change things.”

“I love your apartment, just like it is. Why would I want to buy new things for it?”

“I want it to be our apartment.”

I grinned at him “Well, we might need some new pillows after tonight.”



* * * * *



“So, Miss Anna. One more view for you before we head home.”

I followed his eyes up toward the sky as I stepped onto the sidewalk and realized the car had stopped outside the Empire State Building. “I know you came with Leah, but it’s different at night.

“Good evening, Mr. Scott,” the doorman said and we stepped into the lobby. I looked at him. The doorman knew his name? The lobby was quiet, with just members of staff peppered around, their eyes on us.

We headed toward the elevator, which was being held open for us. I looked at Ethan but he kept his eyes straight ahead, his hand clasped in mine.

“You have friends in high places,” I said to him as the lift doors closed.

He grinned and looked down at me but didn’t say a word. We went straight to the Main Deck on the 86th floor. The elevator doors pinged and we stepped out to the internal viewing area to the sound of Tony Bennett singing Manhattan. I looked around and didn’t see a single other person. Did we have the place to ourselves? Was it closed?

Apparently, it wasn’t closed to us. By the door there was a small table, on it an ice bucket holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

“I can’t believe you’ve done this Ethan.” He was fighting a grin as he expertly opened the bottle of champagne.

“I want your first New Year’s in New York to be a proper introduction to the city. From up here, you get to see your future.”

“Our future,” I said feeling overwhelmed and breathless. “You’re amazing and I’m so lucky,” I managed to choke out.

“You got that wrong. I’m the lucky one,” he said as he handed me a glass of champagne and kissed me lightly on the lips.

He grabbed my hand and we headed outside.





Chapter Eleven


Ethan

I opened the door and we were hit by a rush of cold air.

This was meant to be it. It was just coming up to midnight and the ring box in my pocket felt like it was on fire. It was going to have to stay where it was. God forbid I ask her to marry me. God forbid.

“Is it too cold?” I asked as we walked slowly around the edge of the viewing area, stopping at various places.

“I have you to keep me warm. And it’s too beautiful not to be out here. It’s incredible. How did you manage to get the whole place just for us?”

It hadn’t been easy and it hadn’t been cheap, but it was meant to have been for a once in a lifetime moment.

“I wanted tonight to be special, I told you.”

I hadn’t pressed her on her earlier revelation. Did she mean she didn’t want to get married to anyone, or just me? Was she bullshitting me? I knew she loved me. I felt it, but I hadn’t expected this. I wanted to marry her. I wanted her to wear my ring and tell the world that she was mine. Fuck.

I could feel her looking at me and without catching her eye, I bent down and kissed her on the corner of her lips.

“Kiss me properly, Ethan,” she whispered and her hands went to my hair as she pulled me toward her. “I feel like I lost you a little.” She ran her tongue across the seam of my lips and I closed my eyes and breathed her in. She was right, I needed to feel her, to taste her. I parted my mouth and she pushed her tongue against mine. She felt so good. She always felt so good.

“You’ll never lose me. You have me for as long as you want me,” I said, drawing away from our kiss.

“Long enough for you to push me in my wheelchair over Bow Bridge?”

“Longer.”