Page 18 of A Powerful Attraction
Their gazes met. “Thank you.”
From that point on, they talked until they arrived at the tallest Winthrop Hotel in the city. When the valet took his keys, Alex reached for Sherry’s hand and led her inside the hotel.
“I suppose now is a good time to tell you what I have planned.”
They stepped into the elevator, still holding hands, which she didn’t mind at all. She welcomed his touch and the easy affection he displayed toward her in such a short time.
“When we had dinner at La Tavola, you told me there were parts of the city you hadn’t seen and wished to go on a tour. Well, we’re going to do that tonight. I’m taking you on a helicopter ride.”
“I’ve never been in a helicopter before,” she said excitedly.
“Are you up for it?”
“Hell yes!”
He laughed and pulled her closer with one arm and dropped a kiss on her lips. “You’re just what I needed, you know that?” He let out a heavy breath. “I’ve dealt with some difficult situations in the past year, but in a very short time you’ve made everything better.”
Sherry cupped his cheek. “I could easily say the same about you.” She bit her lip, and he bent his head and swiped his tongue across the same place she’d bitten. Mothlike fluttering entered her belly, and she leaned into him.
Honestly sharing how they made each other feel was an important step, and one Sherry felt confident making because she trusted Alex in a way that she hadn’t been able to trust a man in a long time. She’d made Stan wait almost three months, going back and forth via text and talking on the phone, before she finally agreed to meet him in person. Even with taking such care, he’d still let her down.
She knew without a doubt that Alex would not let her down.
They exited onto the rooftop and were greeted by the pilot, an older guy with a buzzcut and crooked nose that looked like it had been broken more than once in his lifetime. After signing a waiver, they received instructions and then boarded the black helicopter. Alex and Sherry sat in the back, strapped in, and the pilot handed them headsets to muffle the noise and facilitate conversation.
Upon takeoff, Sherry clutched Alex’s hand, and he kissed her knuckles reassuringly. After a few minutes, she relaxed as they glided through the night sky, over buildings dotted with square and rectangular windows filled with light.
They soared over Highway 285 and circled the blue glass towers of the iconic King and Queen buildings, constructed to resemble chess pieces. The pilot pointed out landmarks such as the governor’s mansion, the winding Chattahoochee River, and Stone Mountain in the distance. They soared over upscale neighborhoods like Buckhead, with its high-rise buildings and expansive mansions, as well as lesser-known communities with tree-lined streets and nearby parks.
The tour lasted an hour, and when it was completed, Sherry wished they had another hour to spend in the air. As dates went, it was one of the most memorable and informative, as the pilot provided them with details about Atlanta she’d previously been ignorant about.
She and Alex said their goodbyes and got back into the elevator.
“That was fantastic!” She flung her arms around Alex’s neck and planted a juicy kiss on his lips.
He pulled her in tight and backed her into a corner of the cabin. “I love your enthusiasm. If this is my reward, we’ll have to do this every weekend.”
He kissed her neck, and Sherry’s husky laugh filled the small space. Their lips touched again, and she moaned and sighed happily. Kissing and touching Alex was quickly becoming her favorite thing to do.
When the elevator doors opened, they reluctantly pulled apart and exited onto the first floor. Alex had made a reservation in the hotel’s restaurant for a late-night dinner, so they made their way there and sat side by side in a funky orange C-shaped booth.
After the waiter took their orders, Alex slipped an arm around Sherry, and she snuggled up next to him.
“What prompted you and Rashad to start Newmark Advisors?” she asked.
Absently, Alex rubbed his palm up and down her arm. “It was actually Rashad who broached the subject. He said it as a joke, but there was always a restlessness in him, and I liked the idea. We were working for an investment firm, making good money, but after some thought, we agreed that starting our own business wasn’t such a crazy idea. Like me, he doesn’t have any family that he can count on. We’d both been on our own for so long that working for someone else didn’t sit well with us. We wanted to be in charge of our own destiny. We discussed our options, pored over the numbers, and made a plan.”
Sherry had always had her parents’ support, so she couldn’t fathom having to fend for herself at a young age. Even now, she knew that if she lost her job or any other tragedy befell her, she had her parents or extended family to depend on.
“You and Rashad are very close.”
Alex nodded. “I love him like a brother. I trust him with my life.”
“Few people can say that,” she said.
“I mean it, and I know he feels the same way about me.” He took her hand in his, and a thoughtful frown creased his brow. “Sherry, no matter what happens, I hope you know how important you are to me.”
“Whatever happens?” She laughed a little. “You’re already breaking us up?” Her stomach tightened in apprehension.
