Page 19 of The American

“Let it roll off.” He whispered close to her ear.

They turned to face one side and then the other of the crowd, smiled for pictures and then they hurried inside. The maître d' met them at the door and led them quickly and quietly up a set of stairs. Deep, rich hardwoods lined the walls. The floor creaked in a delicious old sound. The lights were dim, and soft classical music played.

At the top of the stairs, they continued through a smaller dining room, mostly empty, and out onto a balcony. It wrapped around the building and they climbed one more set of stairs. Exiting onto the roof, she felt like they had entered another world. Thad was grateful his assistant in America was as detail oriented as the man in Torren. Sage gasped beside him. “This is incredible.”

Candles flickered on every surface all around them. The clicking of a camera surprised them both. Then Thad groaned. “I almost forgot about this part of it all.”

He swiveled Sage and they posed for a picture. “I gave him an exclusive. He paid a pretty penny for it too.”

Their table was set in the middle of the open area on the roof. As soon as Sage sat, a waitress laid the napkin across her lap and a string quartet began soft music.

“Thad, you really know how to show a girl a good time.”

Thad eyed their cameraman and then said. “I have a lot to make up for.”

Sage nodded. “You do. You’re off to a good start. At least she doesn’t mean anything to you.”

“I’m gonna prove it. You’ll never have another moment to doubt me.”

They gave their drink orders and picked an appetizer and then Thad winked. “Let’s play twenty questions.”

She grimaced. “Too many. How about two truths and a lie?”

“What’s wrong with twenty questions? You don’t want to tell me too much, is that it?”

“Well, exactly. This is great, but I’m not totally sure where we stand yet.”

The cameraman held a recording device out to catch their conversation.

“I’ll be anything you need. Keep giving me a chance.”

She smiled and said nothing.

“Ok, my two truths and a lie…”

Chapter 11

Sage had never had more fun on a date. Thad was amazing in all his planning, and it was so exhilarating to put on a show for their audience. Dinner was delicious, and now they were headed to the “after show” as Thad had called it.

“What does the after show involve?”

“You will just have to see.”

She sat up straighter in her seat and watched out the window. “Times Square?”

The car pulled to a stop one block over from the flashing lights and noise and crowd of Times Square.

They got out and Thad hurried right to the middle of it all, people on all sides.

“What are we doing here?” She liked Times Square well enough, but usually worked hard to avoid it whenever possible. But Thad was new to New York. Perhaps he still saw the excitement in it?

As they approached, the crowd grew thicker. They had to push through groups. The area looked like several tour buses had dropped off their entire capacity of occupants. Different languages from all directions excited Sage even while she wished half the people had not come at the same time as them.

Thad led them to a roped off section and he separated the rope from the pole and bowed for her to enter.

“What? Are you sure we can? What if we mess up their thing?”

“This, my dear, isourthing.”

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