AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Skye wiggled her eyebrows. “Oh, we’ll find a way. Now go, or you’ll be late.”
I kissed Avery goodbye, grinning from ear to ear as I stepped out of the store. I rarely came to Soho, and now I wondered why. It was wonderfully romantic. Everyone sitting outside was relaxed, not huddled over their warm drinks. The end of March was usually when the weather resembled spring more than winter.
Adrenaline was pumping in my veins. I was seeing Ryker in twenty minutes. I couldn’t wait. I had a feeling tonight was going to be epic.
Chapter Sixteen
Heather
Friday nights were crazy in Manhattan, but despite being squeezed between other passengers in the subway, giddiness completely overpowered me.
I blinked at the explosion of lights and colors when I came out in Times Square, where I was meeting Ryker. We’d decided on one of the giant billboards as our meeting point. To my astonishment, I noticed Ryker coming out of the subway station as well. He stood out even surrounded by the mass of New Yorkers out to enjoy life. He simply had that magnetic presence that demanded to be appreciated. One look around revealed that I wasn’t the only one affected by him. I counted at least five women appreciating the view.
My heart squeezed. Oh, shit. I couldn’t be jealous... already. But I was. Ryker noticed me the next second.
“Hey!”
“You like to take the subway?” I asked, perplexed.
“Yeah. Cabs take longer in traffic. And why waste money when we have a perfectly good subway?”
I hadn’t expected Ryker to be so down-to-earth. He certainly didn’t have to worry about money.
“Shall we?” he asked.
I nodded, and we started walking in the general direction of the cinema. Ryker immediately put an arm around my shoulders, as if he was afraid he might lose me in the crowd. As if that was even possible. I was so aware of his presence, as if there was a palpable bond between us.
My heart rate sped up when he pulled me closer, touching the tip of his nose to my temple. A knot formed between my shoulder blades.
I can do this.
I’m ready.
I repeated the words a few times, but far from calming down, I was just working myself into a frenzy. My palms grew a little sweaty. I tried to hide them by putting my hands in my pockets. Ryker pressed his fingers into my arm, as if sensing I needed reassurance.
When we entered the cinema, he brought his mouth to my ear.
“You want me to bring you back to my sister’s store?”
“N-no.”
“That’s not very convincing, love.”
He let go of me, but our gazes were interlocked.
“Talk to me, Heather. What’s going on in your mind?”
“I’m not sure I can explain. At least, not in a way that makes sense.”
He brought a hand to my face, caressing my cheek. I loved that he wasn’t pressuring me, that he understood I needed to gather my thoughts at my own pace.
“I’m afraid that this is too soon after my breakup.”
He frowned. “Heather, this is about discovering each other. So far, I love everything I know about you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. You’re a fantastic woman, a great mother.”
