Page 34 of Manhattan Kiss

“It would be weird if I wasn’t British.”

“I guess.” The lift doors ping open, and when we get to Room 325, we line up the trolley and Bev knocks on the door.

Deacon opens and does a double take when he sees me.

“Room Service,” Bev says, in a much softer tone than she uses normally. “Where would you like it?”

Deacon’s eyes are all on me as Bev pushes the trolley past him and he holds the door open. I try not to look at him, but I can feel the weight of his stare. Bev is going to notice something if he doesn’t snap out of it. As I pass him in the corridor, he lets go of his bedroom door and his hand sweeps over my waist. It’s like he’s pure molten lava with the trail of heat he leaves.

Our eyes meet, and immediately heat pools between my thighs and my nipples tighten.

I want this guy.

I want him to be kissing me up against a wall.

I want his hands over my arse, his erection pressing into my stomach.

I’ve seen plenty of good-looking men in my time, but no one who’s ever made me feel this pull toward them. What is it? Something in the New York air? Or is it because I know how he can make women scream?

Bev pulls out the leaves of the trolley, turning it into a table, then takes the plate from the warmer underneath, placing it on the tablecloth. She then removes the cloche from the salad and places it back inside the warmer.

All I’ve managed to do is receive an eye fucking from Deacon Black.

I need to focus.

“Is there anything else we can get for you?” Bev asks.

Deacon manages to tear his stare away from me and look at Bev. “No, thank you.” He discreetly hands her a tip, and Bev nods and we head out.

Thank god he didn’t try to tip me. I might have punched him in the face.

And that would be a shame because his face is really pretty.

Bev leads the way and I start to follow. As I go, Deacon grabs my wrist. I snap my head back to him. Our eyes meet again.

His gaze is full of desire. Longing. Fire.

My eyelids flutter at his touch and I tug myself free and follow Bev.

I need to get some distance between us or I’m going to sink to my knees and beg for his cock.

Not tonight.

I glance around and he’s in the doorway, still watching me. I offer him a half smile before the door shuts.

THIRTEEN

Aurora

Every chance I get I walk the streets of the city. And with every step it feels like I’m becoming part of it. I love it far more than I thought I would. London is only a couple of hours from Woolton, but I never felt like it was my place. Whenever I visited London, I always went with Darcy who knew it extremely well. I always felt like her guest in the city. But getting to know New York on my own is unexpectedly fun.

Maybe it’s all the fantasies about Deacon Black I’m having. If I was a guy, I’m pretty sure I’d have a permanent hard-on at the moment. It’s definitely worse when I’m at the hotel, but this feeling of desire that Deacon has stoked in me is constant. I’ve never known anything like it.

Thankfully, I have a day off today. The worst things about hotel work are the hours. Working weekends, working evenings, and having split days off are what I hate the most. I’ve agreed with Avril that when I start as director of rooms, I won’t have split days off. It was a complete non-negotiable for me. But during these few weeks of training, I do have to put up with it.

Although today isn’t really a day off. I’m meeting Avril and Poppy for brunch. They both seem lovely and I’d probably be friends with them if I knew them outside of work, but the fact is, they’re my bosses. But they invited me to lunch today and I can’t exactly say no.

I make my way up to Central Park and Tavern on the Green.