Page 31 of Securing Samantha

Becky readily agreed. Samantha took her time getting dressed for an evening out. Her lavender-colored dress with black heels made her eyes pop. She pulled her hair up in a fancy bun low on her neck and left tendrils loosely hanging down. She applied a light amount of makeup and waited for Bryan to arrive.

He drove to a parking garage. Bryan helped her out of the car and held her hand as they rode the elevator to the building’s rooftop. His hand drifted to the small of her back as the hostess seated them at a table near the window. The scene captivated her.

“The view’s stunning,” she remarked.

“I agree,” he stated. She turned to find his gaze on her and felt the blush creep onto her cheeks.

“The food tastes great but I fear you might find it lacking after eating at Ty’s,” he told her.

“Next time you visit, we’ll dine there again. Then, I’ll pick up dessert at Bryanna’s. She makes a chocolate mousse cake to die for.” She picked up the menu and selected the salad with grilled shrimp. Bryan closed his menu and leaned back against his chair.

“I enjoyed your visit. I hope you and LJ found it fun. Becky already volunteered to come again.” He chuckled.

Samantha smiled. “She gave me a list of things she wants to see next time we come. I don’t mind. I love Serenity and it’s a great place to raise a family. I imagine the lights and all the city’s activities excite her after living in our small town.”

“Does the city hold any fascination for you?” his voice deepened as he held her gaze.

“Yes. I’ll admit it’s a new experience for me and a nice change.” She waited while the waiter poured them each a glass of wine. Bryan waited for her to order and proceeded with his.

She took a sip and played with the stem of the glass. She concentrated on the deep red wine.

“Does it excite you?” Bryan asked.

“The city?” she asked softly as she shyly peeked up from her lashes.

Bryan paused before grinning. “Yeah. Does the city excite you, Samantha?”

“I find it a bit overwhelming, but I think it comes with a lot of promise and opportunity.” She bit her lip. Something crackled in the air between them. She didn’t know how to interpret it as she intentionally stayed out of the dating game because of LJ. Flirting never came naturally to her and somehow she sat across the table playing double innuendo games with the handsome man.

“What do you say about a carriage ride through the park as your last official event of your visit?” Bryan inquired.

“I’ve never experienced a carriage ride before.” She pretended to mull over the idea.

“Then I insist. You can’t leave the Big Apple without having a wonderful memory to make you come back for more.” He leaned in, took her hand, and gently caressed it until the waiter returned with their food.

Bryan paid for their meal and guided her down the elevator. He placed her hand in his coat pocket to keep it warm and they walked the block to the carriage station. He helped her into the buggy and covered her with the blankets. His arm pulled her closer and they shared the warmth of their bodies while Samantha listened to Bryan’s voice as he lulled her into a peaceful state giving her the history of the park.

“Central Park is the first landscaped park in the United States. The wealthy merchants and landowners convinced the state legislature to purchase over seven hundred acres of land. They admired the parks in places such as London and Paris and felt the US needed one to attract an international reputation,” he whispered softly in her ear as he shifted his shoulder in order to allow her head to rest against it.

“I didn’t realize the size of the park. It definitely impressed me,” she told him.

“I hope you found other things to impress you in New York besides the park.” He teased.

“I found lots of things,” she stated.

“Maybe you’ll visit again, and I can help you narrow down those items,” he suggested.

“Perhaps.” She smiled.

When the carriage pulled into the station area, he helped her down and held her close until they returned to the car.

He handed his keys to the valet and they quietly rode the elevator to her floor. When the doors opened, he led her out and slowly walked down the hall to her room. Her heart sped up anxiously. She seemed at a loss for words when he went out of his way to give her a wonderful evening.

When they arrived at her door, he pulled her into his arms.

“Tell me if I’m moving too fast. I feel like we hold a connection and I want to invite you back the weekend your ex has LJ.” He searched her eyes and waited for her to respond.

She hesitated. “I’ll be honest with you. When my husband died, I never thought of dating anyone else. I prepared myself to raise our son by myself and with the help of some very close friends. I don’t know how things will work when I return home. But if I feel comfortable with LJ spending time with his dad, I’d love to visit again.”

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