Page 79 of Any Means Necessary

“Is this a new car?” I ask, looking around at the dashboard and into the back seat. I feel like I’m missing something. Callum shakes his head and glances over at me.

“No, why?”

“The seats are different. I thought they were leather.” My fingers run over the fabric covering the seats. It’s smooth as butter and feels expensive.

“They were. I had them reupholstered.”

“You did? Why?” I ask, surprised.

Callum’s eyes look pointedly at my bare thighs. “Do you like your little dresses?”

“Yes, I love them.”

“So do I. Now you don’t have to stop wearing your short skirts.” He places a hand on my exposed thigh, giving it a telling squeeze. I stare at him, shocked and touched by this gesture. I’m honestly at a loss for words. But when I finally open my mouth to say something, we’re turning into what looks like an airfield. My eyes widen when we pull to a stop.

That’s a fucking helicopter.

“Is that for us?” I’m in disbelief. Callum flashes me a grin that I feel all the way to my toes.

“Like I said, our night is only getting started.” With that, he’s climbing out of the car and walking around to open my door. I accept his hand and step out, my eyes glued to the sleek, black, aircraft perched on the landing pad, the rotor blades already starting to spin while it waits.

For us.

Walking towards the helicopter, our fingers intertwine to lock our connection. My other hand wraps around his thick bicep, squinting against the wind caused by the propellor. Callum only releases my hand to grip my hips in support while I step up into the back door he opens for me.

The soft gray interior is really nice with two individual seats behind the pilot seats that face backwards across from the connected seats that face the front. I move in to sit on the forward-facing seat, making room for Callum to climb in behind me. The door is closed behind us and I can hear the propellers picking up speed as the pilots prepare for take off.

Callum’s insistent on helping me with my seatbelt, making sure it’s securely fastened before we lift off the ground. The flight is smoother than I would’ve expected as we fly over the city, weaving through skyscrapers and monuments. The view is spectacular of picturesque New York City in the golden hour of the sun getting ready to set.

I’m absolutely giddy, my eyes never stop moving. Callum points out landmarks and specific buildings that we pass over, after reclaiming my hand in his. When we touch down, I’m surprised that we’re not back where we came from.

“That wasn’t the date?” I ask, stunned. Callum looks down at me, his grip on my hand flexing on our way to the waiting car.

“No, Dewdrop. That was our ride.”

“Then where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

***

Jane’s Carousel—a classic antique carousel with horses carved with incredible detail, encased in a sleek glass structure. When the driver had parked at the end of a private road between brick buildings, and I saw it, the excitement was absolutely overwhelming. I’ve always wanted to experience Jane’s carousel, but what I got is so much more.

My eyes roam across what I can only describe as the most romantic setting I’ve ever seen. An incredible sunset surrounds the glass box in breathtaking colors, the approaching twilight allowing the lights of the carousel to illuminate every intricate detail. It’s nothing short of magical.

My gaze moves to the table in front of me, taking in how picture perfect it is from the flickering white tapered candle sticks to the cloth napkin by my cutlery folded in the shape of a butterfly. If Callum had climbed into my head and pulled out the perfect date, I couldn’t have come up with something half this incredible.

Callum sits across from me, patient as usual as I gape in awe. Like a parent watching their child experience the magic of Disneyland for the first time. When my focus moves back to him, our eyes collide and I’m struck by the intensity of our connection. While I’ve been taking in every detail around us, he’s only been watching me.

When he starts to speak, I know the question before it even leaves his mouth. “What are you thinking?”

“I don’t think there’s ever been anything more beautiful than this.” I indicate to our surroundings.

“Oh, I can think of a few things.” His eyes move over me slowly, stopping where my body disappears below the table, before lifting back up to my eyes. My teeth catch my bottom lip when I smile, drawing his attention to my mouth. The air around us buzzes with chemistry.

“You like it?” Callum leans forward in his chair, his eyes never leaving me. I tell him what I’m sure he can already read all over my face.

“It’s… perfect.”

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