Page 51 of Manhattan Kiss

“You’re beautiful,” I say again.

She offers me a modest smile and glances around the empty Manhattan rooftop. “So, tell me about this.”

“Tell you about what?”

“About this rooftop restaurant whose only diners are you and me.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Is this a thing?” she asks. “Part of your seduction routine?”

She said she doesn’t want to get hurt. Is that why she’s suspicious? I know a lot of women who would think me buying out this restaurant for the night was romantic. But I’m coming to realize that Aurora isn’t like a lot of women.

“No,” I say. “I don’t have a routine. I rarely go on dates. I’ve never been to this restaurant before. And I’ve never rented out a restaurant before.” I pause, waiting for her follow-up.

“I wasn’t trying to be rude.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m not offended. You think I might be trying to manipulate you. That’s not my style. I’m direct. Upfront. I don’t do things I don’t want to do. But you don’t know that. You don’t know me.”

“But I want you to.”

The truth of that hits me in the chest. I want her to know me. I really do.

Aurora nods. “I want that too.”

The words provide a calming balm to my discombobulation and I sit back in my chair, my eyes never leaving hers.

“When I arranged it, I thought it was because I wanted to have you to myself. I didn’t want to be distracted by the noise of other people. That’s all true. But I also think I was trying to impress you.” I’m not sure I’ve ever tried to impress a woman before, but with her it comes naturally. It makes sense.

Aurora’s a woman who’s worth trying to impress. Maybe I’m crazy, but it feels like she looks at me in a different way to most people. It feels like she’s not interested in my job title and my status. She wants to peel every layer back and get to the core of who I am. And I want to show her.

“I’m impressed,” she says. “By the thought. And the effort.” The corners of her lips lift. “Although, I imagine the effort was a request to your assistant.”

I smirk. “But it’s the thought that counts.”

“It really is. And I like that you’re trying to impress me.” A shadow of confusion crosses her expression.

I want to ask why, but I don’t. “Good.”

“It’s a beautiful view,” she says, looking over my shoulder, toward the Empire State Building.

“It certainly is,” I reply, not taking my eyes from her. She’s the only view I’m interested in.

Her blush, which I’ve not managed to illicit all night, is back.

“You are…” Her thought trails off.

“You want me to finish the sentence? Tell you who I am? Or at least how I see myself.”

She gives a small nod. “Yeah, actually, I do.”

“Focused. The object of my focus can change, but whatever I’m doing, I like to commit to that. If I’m at the office, I’m all in. If I’m with Willow, I’m not talking to the office.” I pause. “Your turn.”

“What about with women?” she asks.

I give her my best flirty smile. “I’m focused there too. Never had a threesome, if that’s what you mean.”

She rolls her eyes. “I mean, have you cheated?”