Page 604 of Manhattan Bossholes

And I hoped I’d be able to sample more “benefits” at the end of the night, because fucking Felicity was unlike anything I’d experienced before. Just the thought of her beneath me sent a pulse through my body. But first we needed to put in a little more face time out in public, to make sure as many people as possible saw us together.

“Dessert?” Felicity asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Oh, you know it,” I said, glancing around to see if anyone was watching and clocked a group of women with their phones pointed at us. I tilted my head toward them so Felicity would also pick up on what was about to happen next. “But all I want to snack on is you.”

I swept her into my arms and tilted her in a cinematic backbend, then kissed her, long and slow. I felt her mouth shift from surprise to delight. Her arms slowly circled around my neck.

When I finally stood her upright, she staggered a few steps. “Wow.”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” I whispered in her ear, getting a delighted giggle out of her.

A short time later we were seated at a table at Junior’s, a well-known tourist trap that actually had some of the best cheesecake in the city. It wasn’t my typical restaurant choice, but I knew the place would be packed. Plus, I had a feeling that Felicity would appreciate something sweet while we performed for our audience.

She studied the menu for an eternity. “I can’t decide between the raspberry swirl, Oreo, or red velvet.”

“Get them all,” I said. “A sampler. We don’t have to finish them.”

She slapped her menu down on the table. “Speak for yourself, mister. I never leave dessert uneaten.”

“Well then, I guess we’ll just have to work extra hard tonight to get rid of those extra calories, huh?” I winked.

“Or you could learn to appreciate a little extra junk in the trunk,” Felicity gave me a sassy look, and I had to admit that more of her to enjoy sounded like a very good thing indeed.

We wound up with a tray of six different slices of cheesecake, and I swear Felicity looked like a kid on Christmas morning as she grabbed her fork. She leaned over to take her inaugural bite, and the moment the fork hit her mouth, she closed her eyes and moaned in ecstasy. She tilted her head backward and drew the fork out slowly and with a flourish and grinned at me as she chewed.

“Oh…my…goodness!” Felicity said as she finished. “Heaven!”

Her little show and excitement over something as simple as cheesecake was so damn adorable that my cheeks hurt from grinning at her.

“I’m so happy you’re enjoying it.”

She pushed a plate toward me. “Jump in before I finish it all.”

I took a tiny bite but wanted to make sure Felicity got her share of whatever her heart desired. I loved seeing her happy. Making her happy. And it was so simple! She didn’t need me to shower her in diamonds or take her for a night out at a top-tier restaurant. All it took was some tourist cheesecake in an overly bright and crowded restaurant.

Which reminded me we probably had more than a few phones pointed our way. I’d been so wrapped up in watching Felicity enjoy herself that I’d forgotten to keep my game face on. It was easy to forget we were performing, because being with Felicity felt so easy. So real.

She leaned back in her chair and patted her stomach. “I lied. There’s no way I can finish it all.”

I eyed the remnants left on the plate. “Same. Still, I’d say that was an impressive effort from both of us.”

“Hold on,” she said, fishing her phone out of her purse. “This is a cute moment. Give me your hand.” She pushed the plate to the center of the table and extended her arm next to it with her palm up. “C’mon. We’re doing it for Snug. Look, Sandrine made me wear the Trésor bracelet, so it’s a nice subliminal ad.”

I slid my hand toward hers and gripped it, taking a moment to admire the delicate platinum bangle set with rows of pavé diamonds. “Wait a minute. We need to foreshadow the engagement. Show the negative space on your finger so people can envision a ring on it.” I flipped our joined hands over so hers was on top.

“Perfect!” Felicity held her camera over the table to frame the image. “Now let me put a little bokeh effect on it so it looks dreamy. And…got it.” She held her phone out to show me, and I was once again reminded that Felicity was very good at her job. To turn a messy dessert plate into a romantic work of art was well beyond my creative vision.

“This is nice,” she said softly.

I realized we were still holding hands.

“I don’t want the night to end,” I admitted.

Our voices were quiet. We were no longer performing.

“It doesn’t have to.” Felicity tipped her head and raised an eyebrow at me.

I craned my neck to glance around the restaurant as my body cranked to life. “Check please!”