Page 71 of Come to Me

“I’m sorry I stopped texting. I just—” He didn’t know how to explain without revealing more than he wanted.

“It’s okay. I know you’re busy. I’ve been busy too. I have a corporate booking for next summer.”

His heart lit up with happiness that she was on the path to achieving her goals. “That’s wonderful.” All of a sudden, the need to be with her overwhelmed him. “Will you go do dinner with me?”

Michaela blinked, her mouth falling open in a silent O. "Dinner?"

Heat crept up the back of his neck, and he cleared his throat, suddenly self-conscious. "Yes, dinner. Just the two of us."

Michaela stared at him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Patrick was certain he'd made a mistake, that she would refuse his invitation and he would be left standing there, his heart in his throat.

But then, a slow smile spread across her face, and she nodded. "Yes, I’d like that."

The tension in the air dissipated. Relief washed over Patrick. He mirrored her smile. "Wonderful. Shall we?" He gestured to the door.

He ignored Sydney and her friends as he escorted Michael out and to the busy streets of New York. Knowing her open and adventurous spirit, he found himself wanting to show her the sights of the city. As his driver took them to a tucked-away restaurant, Patrick pointed out landmarks and locations with interesting anecdotes. “Did you know that in the 19th century, New Yorkers ate so many oysters they were able to pave a street with the shells? They also used them for the masonry of Trinity Church.”

She scrutinized him. “Is that true?”

He held up his hand. “Honest truth.”

Michaela listened to his stories intently, her gaze bouncing from the towering skyscrapers to the hurried pedestrians, a sense of wonder etched on her face. Experiencing the city he grew up in through her brought him a sense of joy he hadn’t felt in…well…since he’d seen her last.

His driver let them off outside the restaurant. Instinctively, he took her hand and was pleased when she didn’t pull away.

"It's so different from the lake," she mused, as they walked side by side toward the restaurant. "I can see why coming to the country was such a jarring change for you."

He laughed as he opened the door for her. "It was, at first. Thankfully, you were there to show me the ropes. My time at Kincaid Lake was a breath of fresh air. Literally and figuratively."

"I'm glad you found some peace there," she said softly. "Even if it was only for a little while."

The bittersweetness of their situation settled deep into his chest. Followed by the frustrating yearning for something he couldn’t have.

As they settled into a cozy, dimly lit restaurant, the conversation flowed easily between them. It was like they’d never been apart. Patrick asked about her visit to the city, and Michaela's eyes lit up as she described the show and then filled with humor as she talked about her friends’ expensive purchases.

“So, you like it here?”

“It's amazing. But I have to admit, I'm not sure I could keep up with the pace. I can see myself visiting, but I’m a country girl at heart.”

The hope he hadn’t realized he was feeling vanished. “I understand.” He’d already been imagining her here with him. Hoping she might be tempted by the allure of the city. But it was a foolish thought.

Michaela reached across the table, her fingers brushing against his. "But I'm so glad to see you. I want to thank you for the ideas you gave me for the resort. I've been working on implementing them, and I’m starting to see results."

Pride in her filled his chest. "That's wonderful to hear.”

As the evening wore on, their conversation deepened. The world beyond their table faded away. He couldn’t stop the image of a future where he and Michaela could build something lasting from appearing again. He should take her back to Sydney’s and let her go. But as the evening drew to a close, Patrick found himself reluctant to part ways with her. The easy camaraderie they had rediscovered, the warmth of her touch, the way her eyes sparkled with genuine interest – it all combined to create a pull he couldn't ignore. He didn’t want to ignore it.

He paid the bill and they returned to his car. As the driver pulled away from the curb, he took a breath to shore up his courage. “I’d like to invite you back to my place. We can have a drink. Talk.” Of course, he’d like more, but he wouldn’t presume Michaela felt the same.

Her smile was radiant. “I’d like that.”

After a short ride to his building, he guided her up to his apartment. As they stepped through the door, Patrick felt a surge of uncertainty. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Yes, being with her filled him with joy, but when she returned home, he’d be left with a heart in tatters again.

If she noticed, she didn’t acknowledge it. She entered his place and immediately was drawn to the terrace. She stepped outside, her gaze scanning the view.

“There’s one thing missing,” he said moving to stand next to her.

“What’s that?”

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