Page 103 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

She slides up next to me, and we rest against the headboard with the sheet covering us. I take her hand, and our fingers fall, locking together. I ask, “Do you want to start, or do you want me to go first?”

“You go first.” The quiet manner isn’t fitting for a woman so vividly Technicolor to my bland world.

“I’m supposed to have a call with Andrew and my father this week to discuss if they want me to stay in Seattle or if it’s time to go. Do you want to share your thoughts with me?”

“You know I want you in New York. There’s never been a question about that. It’s just a matter of if you want to live on the West or East Coast and the pros and cons of that.”

“Maybe we need to do a pros and cons list for moving to New York. Pro: we’ll be together all the time. Another pro is your job. It’s important to you and to me. I don’t know if you want to relocate and take your company with you or expand into new territory. I’ll help you no matter what you decide.”

“Con: you don’t have the Pacific Ocean to surf in every morning. Con: you won’t need your Range Rover in the city. Con: you’ll be away from your family.”

I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss it. “Look, the pros for me are cons for you. The cons for me are pros for you. Let’s forget lists. I don’t care about the Pacific, but I’m madly in love with you, Natalie. And if you’re in Manhattan, then that’s where I’ll be.”

“This is all well and good, but I want you happy. Does the New York office even have an opening?”

Smirking, I reply, “It just so happens they never filled Garrett Stans’s position.”

Her lips are tugged to the side and pursed. Shaking her head, she glares as if he’s right in front of her. “That rat bastard.”

I get the anger, but I’ve let it go more than she has. I don’t blame her. I’ve had more time to live with the truth of what really happened. “I might have inquired about the job last month and suggested they leave it open a while longer.”

She curls around me, draping her leg over mine and leaning against me. “Love makes people do crazy things.” Looking up at me, she adds, “We’ve done the long-distance thing, me working from here as much as possible, spending every long weekend we could together. I don’t want to spend my days apart anymore. This might be the most selfish thing I’ve ever said, but I want you with me in New York. All the time.”

I tap her nose. “Be careful what you wish for.”

“Oh no, no. I’m not letting wishes, destiny determine anything, and I’m not leaving it up to fate any longer.” Sitting up, she cups my face, squishing my cheeks. “I love you, Nick. I’m ready for the next stage with you.”

That’s good to hear. She may have given up on destiny, but I’m a firm believer.

I didn’t give Natalie the love story she deserved the first or second time around, but destiny gave me a helpful shove in the ass the third time, and I won’t mess it up. I reach over to the nightstand and pull out the small velvet box.

“This may not be the top of the Empire State Building or on the beach in Malibu. But this is me, nude at the moment, but let’s overlook that aspect.”

Sitting up a little straighter to get a good gander, she dips her gaze down my body, and says, “That’s not easy to do. Compliments to you.” She chef kisses her fingers and winks.

“Though I appreciate the accolade, I saw this going differently.” I start to open the box. But she leans forward, the sheet slipping down, revealing her torso.So beautifully distracting.“You know, I have bad timing.”What was I thinking?I’m sex drunk and all feely. She deserves more. I snap the box closed, refusing to blow my plan. “Let’s do this another time.”

“What? No!” She practically lunges across the bed, grappling for the ring. “Let’s do it now. I’ll be good. No nudity. No jokes. I’m listening.”

I set it on the dresser. “It’s not you. It’s me. I got caught up in the moment.” Grabbing my boxers from the floor, I pull them on.

“It’s okay,” she says, eyeing me.

Her hair is messy, sexy, and her makeup-free face has me wishing I could steal a few more minutes kissing her, but we need to get going. “We have dinner reservations in an hour. We should probably start getting ready.”

That perks her up, and a big smile is flashed. “We do?” She peeks at the ring box and then nods with a squinted eye. “Oh, all right. Yes, I see now.” Clicking her tongue, she adds, “Gotcha.”

“Do you? Because it looks like something is in your eye.”

She rolls her eyes and climbs out of bed. “Very funny. I get the shower first for that comment.”

Rubbing my thumb over my bottom lip, I admire her backside. “My pleasure. Truly.”

Maybe I’m an asshole for making her wait, but she has me doing the stupidest shit without thinking. This time, I want to do it right.

* * *

Holdingher hand in the elevator, I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s stunning—her blond hair reminiscent of old Hollywood—sleek with a soft wave cascading in the front, meeting a deep blue spaghetti-strap top that matches her eyes.

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