Page 186 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“It’s not romantic, but … it makes me feel nostalgic. About us, I mean, and when we were younger.”

Cross’s grin melted into a soft smile. “Yeah, I guess it does.”

Then, his hand sneaked up the side of her bare thigh, and under her wine-red cocktail dress. Catherine squeaked under her breath, and batted his hand away.

“Nope,” she mumbled.

“I was working on recreating that memory, Catty.”

“You’re awful.”

Cross shrugged, and relaxed back into the seat. “Hey, give me some credit. I made it all the way here without stripping you naked after being gone nearly four weeks. I think I’m doing pretty good.”

“Define good.”

Catherine knew better.

Oh, she knew better.

She poked a barely sleeping bear with a very short stick.

“Good is you screaming my name, naked, and filled with my cock. That’s good, babe. And we’re working on that, Romeo’s dead now. Not me, though. I’m very much alive, and my dick’s hard. Let’s see if we make it to Manhattan, Catty.”

Jesus.

That’s exactly what they needed: Jesus.

She didn’t even think to ask why they were going to Manhattan.

They made it to Manhattan.

With their clothes still on.

Catherine intertwined her fingers with Cross’s as he pushed the top floor button on the building’s elevator. “Who lives here?”

Cross smiled faintly, not bothering to give her an answer.

She poked his shoulder.

What was up with him?

“How was Chicago?” she asked instead.

“Good,” he replied, “but long. I’ll probably be heading out again sometime over the next couple of months, depending on … uh, some things.”

“You won’t miss my graduation in June, right?”

Cross pulled her in front of him, tipped her head back, and kissed her mouth three times in quick, soft succession. “No, I will not be missing that. I promise. No matter what.”

“Oh, I got this today, by the way.”

He cocked a brow as she let go of his hand, and pulled a folded up envelope from her clutch. She waved it so he could see the Columbia University logo on the front.

“You didn’t open it?”

“Nope.”

“Your parents didn’t want you to open it as soon as you got it?”