Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
He gives me a giant eye-roll and takes another bite of his hot dog. I knew he liked it. “I got it.”
“Just making sure, since you’re so stiff all the time.” I shoot my finger guns at him. “Hey-o.”
Standing, he shakes his head. “I think it’s time we went our separate ways now.”
Not looking back, his jeans hugging him in all the right places, he takes off down the street without me.
“Hey,” I call out, grabbing my purse and chasing after him. I loop my hand through his arm and yank on him to slow down.
Laughing, he leans down and places a kiss on my head before slowing down his powerful stride and enjoying New York City in the afternoon with me.
* * *
“Where are we?” I ask as we ride up a very long elevator.
“I told you it’s a surprise,” Rome answers, moving his hand to my hip and pulling me into his chest.
The only thing I know about our dinner tonight is he told me to dress sexy and to bring a coat.
So I spent the day primping my entire body, from head to toe—literally, got a pedicure—curled my hair in waves, stepped into my sexiest lingerie, and put on a killer black dress with a deep V neckline and a short hem that hits me mid-thigh.
And the heels I’m wearing, let’s just hope I don’t have to walk too far, because there is no way I’ll make it.
The elevator above us dings, indicating we’ve made it to our floor. By the small of my back, Rome guides me out of the elevator and into what feels like an open room.
With an arm wrapped around my waist, holding on to me tightly, he undoes my blindfold and presses a kiss to the side of my head when he says, “Surprise.”
It takes a few blinks before my eyes adjust, but once they do, I’m blown away. A span of windows greet me, revealing the beautiful New York City skyline at night. Lights twinkle for miles in front of me, the Hudson River just off to the side, reflecting the picturesque scenery.
“Oh my God,” I gasp.
Taking my hand in his, Rome guides me to a small sectioned-off area where there’s a table set for two, lit by candlelight, and a bottle of our favorite wine chilled and waiting to be opened.
I turn to him and wrap my arms around his neck. “Rome, I can’t believe you did all of this.”
He lightly kisses me, his lips lingering for a few seconds before saying, “Anything for you, Peyton.” He kisses me again and then asks, “Do you want to go outside, take in all the scenery before dinner?”
“I would love that.”
Still caught up in the romance of this night, it isn’t until we’re outside, staring at the busy streets of the city that I realize we’re at the top of a monumental building.
“Are we at the top of the Empire State Building?”
“Yup. Rented it for the night for us.”
“You’re kidding.”
He shakes his head, his lips sealed together.
“You seriously rented the whole building?”
He wraps his arms around me, warming me up from the cold breeze. “Not the whole building, just the touristy part. And afterward, you can have your pick of any souvenir in the gift shop.”
“Oh, you really do know how to win a girl’s heart, don’t you?”
He chuckles into my ear, the sound so sexy, so Rome.
“I know how to win my girl’s heart. Let’s put it that way. How long have we been together now? A month? I have realized that whenever we do something, you always like to get a souvenir, even if it’s just a sticker.”
I lean my head against his shoulder and take in the dark abyss that rests before us, only lit up by what seems like little lights from where we stand. “I like to remember the places I go, the things I do.”
“I think it’s cute.”
“I think it’s cute that you think I’m cute, or that you even say the word cute. If you told me two months ago that Rome Blackburn would be referring to me as cute, I would have told them they were high.”
“I don’t think you’re cute. Your personality yes, but you, no. You’re sexy, hot, and drop-dead gorgeous.”
Wow.
Considering how gorgeous this man is, it still amazes me that he sees me that way, too.
I rub my hips against his, making a low thrumming sound in the back of my throat. “You’re good to me, Rome.”
“Because I care about you.” He turns me around in his arms and lowers his hands to my back where they rest. “I hate to admit it, but you’ve kind of wiggled yourself into my life.”
“Why do you hate to admit it?” I stroke the stubble on his jaw, coarse and rough, just like him.
He grips me tighter. “Because I’m stubborn, and from the beginning, you’ve wanted to be with me and I had to succumb to the overwhelming feelings I had for you. It wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.”