Part 11 (1/2)

”I want it to be our apartment.”

I grinned at him ”Well, we might need some new pillows after tonight.”

”So, Miss Anna. One more view for you before we head home.”

I followed his eyes up toward the sky as I stepped onto the sidewalk and realized the car had stopped outside the Empire State Building. ”I know you came with Leah, but it's different at night.

”Good evening, Mr. Scott,” the doorman said and we stepped into the lobby. I looked at him. The doorman knew his name? The lobby was quiet, with just members of staff peppered around, their eyes on us.

We headed toward the elevator, which was being held open for us. I looked at Ethan but he kept his eyes straight ahead, his hand clasped in mine.

”You have friends in high places,” I said to him as the lift doors closed.

He grinned and looked down at me but didn't say a word. We went straight to the Main Deck on the 86th floor. The elevator doors pinged and we stepped out to the internal viewing area to the sound of Tony Bennett singing Manhattan. I looked around and didn't see a single other person. Did we have the place to ourselves? Was it closed?

Apparently, it wasn't closed to us. By the door there was a small table, on it an ice bucket holding a bottle of champagne and two gla.s.ses.

”I can't believe you've done this Ethan.” He was fighting a grin as he expertly opened the bottle of champagne.

”I want your first New Year's in New York to be a proper introduction to the city. From up here, you get to see your future.”

”Our future,” I said feeling overwhelmed and breathless. ”You're amazing and I'm so lucky,” I managed to choke out.

”You got that wrong. I'm the lucky one,” he said as he handed me a gla.s.s of champagne and kissed me lightly on the lips.

He grabbed my hand and we headed outside.

Chapter Eleven.

Ethan I opened the door and we were hit by a rush of cold air.

This was meant to be it. It was just coming up to midnight and the ring box in my pocket felt like it was on fire. It was going to have to stay where it was. G.o.d forbid I ask her to marry me. G.o.d forbid.

”Is it too cold?” I asked as we walked slowly around the edge of the viewing area, stopping at various places.

”I have you to keep me warm. And it's too beautiful not to be out here. It's incredible. How did you manage to get the whole place just for us?”

It hadn't been easy and it hadn't been cheap, but it was meant to have been for a once in a lifetime moment.

”I wanted tonight to be special, I told you.”

I hadn't pressed her on her earlier revelation. Did she mean she didn't want to get married to anyone, or just me? Was she bulls.h.i.+tting me? I knew she loved me. I felt it, but I hadn't expected this. I wanted to marry her. I wanted her to wear my ring and tell the world that she was mine. f.u.c.k.

I could feel her looking at me and without catching her eye, I bent down and kissed her on the corner of her lips.

”Kiss me properly, Ethan,” she whispered and her hands went to my hair as she pulled me toward her. ”I feel like I lost you a little.” She ran her tongue across the seam of my lips and I closed my eyes and breathed her in. She was right, I needed to feel her, to taste her. I parted my mouth and she pushed her tongue against mine. She felt so good. She always felt so good.

”You'll never lose me. You have me for as long as you want me,” I said, drawing away from our kiss.

”Long enough for you to push me in my wheelchair over Bow Bridge?”

”Longer.”

”Long enough for you to have to remember things for me because I can't?”

”I do that already.”

”That's true,” she said thoughtfully. ”Okay, long enough that I can't take my bra off without my b.o.o.bs. .h.i.tting the floor?” My mouth twitched at the corners. ”And don't you dare say that happens already.”

”Longer.”

”Long enough for us to wave our grandchildren off to college?”

”Longer.” My chest constricted but I managed to get that single word out. So kids were okay, grandkids were okay, but not marriage?

Our Q&A was interrupted by the sound of horns honking and people cheering and the distant pop of fireworks.

She grabbed my wrist to look at my watch and then up at me. ”Happy New Year Ethan,” she said, grinning at me.

I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her toward me. ”Happy New Year, Anna.”

When our fingers and toes had turned blue from cold, we headed home. Anna seemed excited by our trip and although I was pleased to have made her happy, I had hoped the evening would have turned out a little differently.

”Are you okay?” Anna asked as we carried pillows and blankets from the bedroom and arranged them on the floor opposite the views of the Hudson.

”I'm always okay if I'm with you.”

”Okay, if you're sure.”

I wasn't sure at all. Something hard had lodged in the pit of my stomach. ”Of course. I'm just going to miss you, that's all.”

”I'm going to speak to the partners as soon as I get in to the office. I'll be back before you know it and then you won't be able to get rid of me.”

”I can't wait,” I said and kissed her on the head, trying to give her the rea.s.surance I needed.

My phone vibrated against the table. Andrew and Mandy were calling.

Anna looked at me. ”Are you going to get that?”

I shook my head. ”No, let's just be us tonight.” Mandy would be dying to hear about how my proposal went. What would I say?

”Can we stay up all night in our den of nakedness?”