Page 50 of Defend Me

I whirl around so fast, the room spins and Von becomes a sky-blue blur. “For me?”

She smiles and runs a hand down the length of her ponytail.Something about that thick rope of hair sliding through those slender fingers makes my groin ache.

Caden’s sister, Caden’s sister…

“Yeah. You’ve been stuck in this neighborhood all week. New York’s a big city, you know.” She winks at me and my heart stutters. I’ve got to get a grip.

She glances at the mug in my hand. “You can finish your coffee first.”

“I’m done,” I say instantly, putting the mug on the counter.

She laughs. “That was quick.”

I grin and hope it looks cool and not lame. “I want my surprise.”

I cannot imagine what Von has planned. If someone had told me a week ago that Von would be taking me on a surprise trip in New York City, I would have laughed in their face and said I’d rather get a root canal.

I glance at my own attire. “Am I dressed okay?”

Her eyes rake down my body, her gaze sending tiny prickles over my arms. “You’ll do,” she says, the hint of a grin tugging at her lips. “Come on.”

She strides down the hall, leaving me to hurry after her. The leggings hug her ass and leave nothing to the imagination. She presses the button for the elevator and when she turns back to me, I yank my gaze up and quickly turn my attention to the art on the walls.

When we get in the elevator, as soon as the doors close it feels too claustrophobic. I’m hyper aware of the length of her arm, the swath of bare skin across her stomach, the scent of her, floral and feminine. Von slips into the jacket but leaves it unzipped. I have the sudden, dangerous urge to run my palm over the curve of her hip.

I clench my hand into a fist and focus on the floors counting down on the screen above the doors. This is ridiculous. I’ve seen plenty of women in yoga gear in my life.

The elevator doors open, and we both say our hellos to Sam and Benito before heading out into the city. Von takes out her phone but I stop her.

“Can we take a cab?” I ask.

“A cab?” Von is looking at me like I’ve just suggested we go on horseback.

My ears go hot. “It’s just…I have this list of things I’ve always wanted to do in New York, and taking a cab is one of them.”

Her expression changes to something I can’t quite pin down. She blinks and it’s gone. “Sure,” she says.

Only a few seconds later, I see one trundling down her street. I throw out my hand, feeling like I’m in a movie. The bright yellow car rolls up to a stop and I open the back door, turning to Von with an elaborate bow. “After you, my lady.”

Von barely hides her apprehension as she gets in. It seems pretty normal to me—fake leather seats with a scratched plastic barrier between the driver and the backseat. There’s a rosary hanging from the rearview mirror.

I slide in after her and my knee accidentally nudges her thigh, sending a thousand sparkles over my skin.

“Where to?” the cabbie asks.

“Seventy-second and Central Park West,” she tells the driver, who nods and pulls out into traffic.

“What’s at seventy-second?” I ask.

“You’ll see,” she replies with a sly smile.

I cross my arms and pretend to huff. “I’m not sure I like surprises.”

“Too bad.”

Von pulls a pair of oversize sunglasses from out of her jacket pocket and slips them on. I roll down my window and let the not-so-fresh air of the city wash over me. The streets flash past in dizzying fashion, becoming more crowded the farther we head uptown. When I catch the first glimpses of the trees of Central Park, I sit up straighter.

“Is my surprise in Central Park?” I ask eagerly.

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