Page 101 of Tempting Promises
I hook my heels in my fingers and we walk over to the ticket booth where I’m able to get admission because the New York Gods are looking out for me.
“Did you do all this stuff as a kid?” Rowan asks as we wait in the ridiculous line to get through security.
“I did. My dad worked in the Financial District, but he would always come meet his girlies for lunch once a week. I used to love coming to the Fashion District and shopping.”
He purses his lips. “You? Shopping?”
“I know, you would’ve thought it was my sister, but no, she hated shopping. She wanted to meet Daddy by his work. She loved the stock exchange where I wanted to have armfuls of bags and walk like a fashionista.”
It’s funny how different we became after we lost our parents. Aurora was so much like Dad. She loved the hustle and bustle of the market and she wanted to study business like him. My goals were tobe my mother. She had it made. Married a man she loved who happened to be rich and got to spend all her time with Aurora and me. It was all I wanted—to be a mom.
Now I’m constantly worried about business and I have no real plans to ever get married and have kids. I really wouldn’t want that burden now, since I’ll be homeless if I don’t get the contract.
But I don’t want to think about that part now.
“And you’re wearing street shoes now, look at how you’ve turned out.”
I laugh. “I think I’m okay. I’m staying in some swanky hotel in the penthouse.”
“That’s true.”
We move through the security line and into the museum area. It’s so funny how all these years have passed and it’s exactly as I remembered. The photos of the building being built and all the history right here.
Rowan takes my hand, lacing our fingers together as we walk, almost like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
A part of me wants to pull away because I can’t have feelings for him. He’s Rowan Whitlock. He’s off limits because of my sister and because he literally is my competition. Talk about sleeping with the enemy.
But the other part, the one that longs to have someone in my corner grips tighter. My heart sometimes isn’t in my command, like right now. I’ve had the most fun I think I’ve had in years. Walking around, laughing, talking, and smiling with him. The only times I ever feel at peace are when I’m with him, and isn’t that the worst thing ever?
We take the elevator up to the first deck and step out. It’s got amazing views of the city and we’re at that part where it’s dark, but not pitch black. The sky still has hints of lighter blues.
“Let’s go up top before the sun sets,” I say, bringing him back to the elevator to take us up to the top deck.
We get outside, to where so many iconic movie scenes have happened, and we walk around.
I find an open spot at the railing, looking through the fence at the world below. The car lights are like tiny specks, reminding me of that Lite Bright I had as a kid where you stuck the colored pegs in and the light behind it made a beautiful picture.
The wind whips my hair around my face, and I shiver a little from the cold. There’s warmth at my back and Rowan’s arms cage me in.
“This is something else, Charlotte,” Rowan says softly against my ear.
“It is. I love the history here.”
His cheek is against mine, staring out at the horizon. “What about the future?”
I turn my head a little. “What future?”
“Yours. What would you have your future look like? If you could write it.”
You.
That thought rockets through me, terrifying me because it can never be him. I close my eyes, fighting back the tears that threaten to come at the unfairness of my reality.
Somehow I keep my voice even as I speak. “I’ll have a bigger farm than now, thanks to my new contract. Since you’ll probably go under, I figure that will be where I expand first.”
His deep laugh vibrates through me. “Sure, we’ll go with that. What else? What about a family?”
“Maybe someday.”
