parties and powerful friends. I know you’re attracted to me. You said so yourself.”
“That was before I opened my eyes,” I state.
“Opened your eyes to what? What do you see?”
I look down and smile. “That you’re a prince and this”—I wave my arm around—“is part of the fairy tale. But you see, I don’t want the fairy tale anymore. I want real life. I want whiskey at a bar and walks in the park on a cold December afternoon. I want dinner at home, on the floor, and cheesy games where you roll dice for a pair of socks. A man who will volunteer at a men’s shelter to be near me and because, deep down, he cares about others just as much as I do. I want someone who will take care of me when I’m ill, someone I will give up anything to support when they are at their lowest.”
I bite my lip and think of Hunter. My spontaneous and playful Hunter. He’s idealistic and curious, and he knows how to pick you up when you’re having a bad day. On the surface, he appears like nothing can touch him—a rogue wanderer on the prowl for the next romance or adventure. Then, I sat with him and found that he’s the type of man willing to stay.
What he shows the world is his outward charm, but if you’re one of the lucky ones, he’ll let you into his deepest hurts. That’s the thing about a Sagittarius; when things start to get heavy, they take off in a flash. In time though, he’ll prove to be the sincerest, most compassionate partner. A man sensitive to your deepest needs and darkest desires.
He’s also observant. Hunter knew Branson only invited me because I was taken by another man. Where he was wrong is, I don’t want Branson anymore. I don’t even know if I ever really wanted him. It was the idea of him. Now that I know what it feels like to be held by a real man, I don’t want anything less.
“I want a man who is all those things and more,” I breathe.
“And you think you’ve found that?” he asks.
I step forward and take his hands in mine. “I know I have.” With a kiss to his cheek, I whisper in his ear, “Happy New Year, Branson.”
I grab my coat and head to the elevator.
In the lobby, I open the door to the outside, which is bustling with people. New Year’s Eve is the most chaotic night in New York City with many filtering over from Times Square.
A breeze picks up, and I wrap my arms around myself. I should have known better than to think I could catch a taxi, but I’m not in the right state of mind. I’m standing under the tree at Rockefeller Center, realizing I can go downstairs and catch the subway.
I turn around to go back through the revolving doors when I hear my name being called.
“Katie!”
Tingles crawl up my spine as my insides warm, and I turn to see Hunter rushing through the crowds of tourists, making his way to the base of the tree, where I’m standing. His hair is brushed back, like he’s been raking his hands through it all day, and his jaw is ripe with the scruff I adore. He’s charging toward me like a man on a mission.
A determined—and sexy—look is in his caramel eyes.
“Where are you going?” he asks with bated breath as I ask at the same time, “Why are you here?”
He grabs my hand in his. “I need to speak to you.”
My eyes tear up as I say, “Me too. You were right. This. Him—”
He moves up one step, bringing his body to mine. “Please, don’t say anything. I’ve been going over these thoughts in my head, and if I don’t get them out, I’m going to say it all wrong.”
I nod and wait as I watch this beautifully disheveled man look at me with a mixture of hesitation, sadness, and pure admiration.
“Katie, I always knew I wanted a forever love, but I could never stand anyone long enough to envision it with them. Until I met you. Now, I know you’re wondering how I can predict that you and I are going to last, and I can’t. There are so many things I don’t know, but here’s what I do know. I know your corny jokes are the best part of my day. Thinking of your smile is the only thing that