“Good.” I slipped my hand into hers and pulled her against me, my voice low as spoke against the corner of her lips. “Because I’m starved.”
The moment I’d done it—looked the other way when it was clear she was keeping a secret—I knew I’d fucking lost it. My control, my need to dominate every situation. Out the damn window, because I wasn’t ready to let her go.
I almost went back on my word until I felt her relax in my arms and the smile I’d been waiting to see for days finally emerged. “Lead the way, Superman.”
Any fucking doubt—gone.
We walked through to the restaurant on the opposite end of the park. I stopped in front of the entrance and turned to her. “I hope you were kidding about that burger. This place has an exquisite menu. You have to come hungry.”
“Exquisite huh? In that case, I’ll save any more comments about you until the end of the meal.”
I held open the door for her. “To be on the safe side,” I agreed and winked at her.
The restaurant was as busy as any weekend. Luckily, we wouldn’t be dealing with the crowd. “Right this way, Sir.”
I took Isabel’s hand again and followed the host. We made our way to the back and up the stairs where the noise finally quieted. The upstairs was clean and empty, save for a few guestless round tables and chairs. The rooftop had a parted wooden plank ceiling, with plants and tree lights raked through.
“Um... I’m sorry, doesn’t the rooftop close in late September for the winter?” Isabel asked the host, who glanced at me.
I turned away to let the woman answer. “Yes, it is ma’am. Please, right this way.” The host seated us at a single small table against the far end of the roof near the double railing.There was one heat lamp behind Isabel’s chair, which I’d requested—in spite of the gorgeous weather. She seemed to appreciate it.
Once the host left us alone, I turned to her, trying for the fifth time that day not to let her beauty throw me off. “So how often do you come here?”
“Here? I’ve actually never eaten here. Why?”
“You seem to be well versed in their seasonal rooftop schedule.”
She laughed and waved an arm. “Oh that’s most New York City restaurants…probably.” She swallowed and looked away.
“Well yes, they do close in September. But I wanted a private quiet setting with a spectacular view. And my apartment might have been too forward, so this was the next best thing.”
Her smile was back and she turned back to me. “Where is your apartment?”
“If you really want to know, you’ll have to come see for yourself.”
Isabel threw her head back in a quick laugh. “What happened to not being forward?”
“Out the window since you brought up my apartment.”
Her mouth fell open. “You brought up your apartment.”
“Could I start you off with drinks?” Our waiter appeared by our table.
I held up one hand while tugging at my collar with the other. “Well, I don’t know...it sounds like we’re about to skip to dessert.”
Isabel threw her hand over her mouth laughing then looked up at the waiter. “No no, we’re going to go straight for the entrees please. In case my date takes off again mid cocktail.”
I blew out a shameful breath and picked up the menu, suppressing a smile. “Do you like oysters? We’ll start with the oyster platter, and we’re fine with water for now, thank you.”
With a single nod, the waiter turned away.
“Thank you for the coffee,” Isabel blushed a little, rubbing her napkin. “That was a very...unique gesture.”
I licked my lips. “It was a bit of a long shot you’d be there that day. But I somehow got the feeling you were in the area quite often so my odds were good.”
“Did I say something to make you think that?”
“Well you mentioned that you just found your favorite new coffee place, which would be an odd choice to make if you were never around. But also, when you emailed your assistant back, you mouthed ‘five minutes’ as you typed. Now this may be a dead giveaway that I was indeed staring at your lips but I’m hoping you take that as my avid attention to detail when it comes to women.”
