Empire State Building, the Museum of Modern Art, and Times Square.”
“Well, we have one day.”
“And my day is in your hands, tour guide. Lead on.”
They stopped at a fountain in Central Park, Liam standing behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him, loving the feel of his strong arms around her. How could this be her life? In Central Park. With an amazing, handsome man who hadn’t run for the hills. A quiet voice poked at her, but she pushed that doubting voice aside. Today, she wasn’t going to stress about the future but live fully in the present, and that included just being with Liam.
“I’ve been to New York City more times than I can count,” he said. “I have an apartment here, even. But it’s like I’m experiencing it for the first time again, being here with you.”
She twisted in his arms so she could see his face. “Why are we staying in a hotel if you have an apartment here?”
“I wanted to stay where everyone else was. I knew you wouldn’t be comfortable staying at my apartment …” He lifted a brow in question, and she nodded in confirmation.
“Thank you for thinking of that.” On a whim, she pushed up on her toes and quickly pressed her lips to his. When she pulled back, his eyes had been lit with a fire.
He ran his hand over her cheek. “I can’t believe we’re here together.”
“Me neither.”
“Thank you for giving me another chance.”
“You’re not apologizing again for Hawaii, are you? Because I have to draw the line somewhere.”
“I’ll never stop apologizing for being an idiot.” He hugged her tighter to his chest and warmth filled her up. “I can’t believe how lucky I am. To be here, with you? I never imagined this could happen.”
She hadn’t either. Some part of her wondered if she and Liam only worked when they were both away from their work and responsibilities, but she decided that for today, it didn’t matter.
And with that decision made, she pushed up on her toes to kiss him again. He slid his fingers through her hair to hold the back of her head and deepen the kiss. Even though the park was in constant motion with people, it felt like they were the only two people in all of New York, locked together in fiery bursts of emotion and attraction. Something swelled up in Viola’s heart, filling her to the brim with warmth and happiness.
Was this love?
She couldn’t be in love with Liam. They hadn’t known each other long enough. It was too soon.
Yet what else could this be?
He pulled back a few inches, searching her eyes for something. He smiled softly, kissed her again and again, murmuring, “I think I’m dreaming.”
She wasn’t sure if she was meant to hear that or not, but she buried her nose in his shoulder.
“Me too,” she whispered.
Liam did his tour guide duties exceptionally well for the short amount of time they had. They finished walking a path through Central Park, a new intimacy between them as they held hands and stole kisses in every moment they could. They saw the Empire State Building from a distance and went into the Museum of Modern Art for about two hours. Viola could have spent two days there. Coming back to New York City was going to need to be a top priority for her.
But as the day went on, Liam grew quieter and quieter, and Viola suspected it was anticipation for the night to come. He’d confided in her, one evening when they’d had dinner together on the scaffolding, that he was nervous about having another panic attack.
“Panicking about panicking,” he’d said, laughing derisively.
But it made complete sense to her. It had happened once, and not only had he been embarrassed, but it had sent his entire life in an unexpected tailspin. Who wouldn’t be worried about that happening again?
What he needed was a distraction.
“How much time do we have left before we need to get ready?” she asked him. The sun had slipped behind the tall buildings, and the air grew cooler with every moment.
“It depends on how much time you need. The car will be at the hotel to pick us up at seven-thirty tonight and its five-thirty now.” He looked at her regretfully. “We won’t have time to take in Times Square.”
“That’s okay.”
He frowned. “What if we do it after the banquet? It’s magical at night.”
And get to spend even more time with