A thrill ran through her, a thrill and the certainty that she was okay. She could let herself fall for the young man before her, because he adored her. She hadn’t dared hope that tonight’s adventure might culminate in something like this. But now that he was here she went to him and fell into his arms. “I needed this … I’ve missed you so much.”
“I had to come.” He still had his arms around her waist, and he eased closer to her. “If you knew what you do to me, Bailey …” He seemed like he might kiss her and she was certain she wouldn’t have stopped him.
But he seemed to find his composure, and he pulled back slightly. Enough so they weren’t breathing the same air anymore. “I have something to tell you.”
“So you came here in person?” She leaned her head back slightly and laughed, the way he always made her laugh. “Brandon, you do know that’s not how the rest of the world tells someone something. By flying across the country like this.”
“I’m not the rest of the world.” His eyes still held the smokiness from a moment ago. “So … my agent gave me a handful of scripts last week, and asked me which one I wanted to do.” He paused, clearly enjoying his ability to draw out the moment. “I told him, naturally, a love story with Bailey Flanigan. Nothing else, right?”
“Of course.” She caught his hands in hers and felt the blush in her cheeks. A movie like that would be amazing … she could hardly imagine how much fun they’d have. “What did he say?”
Brandon looked disappointed, but not enough to change the mood. “No love story. Not for now.” His eyes danced. “But maybe next time. So that’s good news.”
“Okay …” Confusion stretched out the moment. “You came here to tell me that?”
“No … that’s not why.” He chuckled, giving up the game and finding a more serious tone. “Since I couldn’t do our love story yet, I picked an action movie. We film on location for eight weeks … and guess where our location is?”
She thought for a moment. “Not Tahiti?”
“No, not Tahiti.” He framed her face with his hands and searched her eyes, her expression. “We’re filming right here, Bailey … in New York City.”
“What?” She stepped back, her heart in her throat, her mind suddenly racing ahead, dizzy and overjoyed. “You’ll be here for eight weeks?”
“Yes!” He hugged her again for a long time. “Maybe longer if I can stretch it out.”
Bailey couldn’t believe it, couldn’t imagine how blessed she was. Other than Betty and Bob and their friends, she didn’t have a person she could hang out with in the city. But now … now she would have Brandon. “You’re really serious?” She took hold of his arms, looking deep into his eyes. “I can’t believe it!”
“I’m moving here the first of December.” He wrapped her in his arms again and held her that way for a long time. When they eased back, as they made their way closer to the railing and the spectacular view of New York City, he put his arm around her shoulders. “I had to tell you in person.”
There was no way Bailey could’ve been happier, not then or for the next hour as they talked about her struggles with the Bible study and his determination to pray for her. He had plans for the two of them tomorrow, and as he said goodnight to her at the steps of her apartment, he grinned. “I have a question for you … but not until tomorrow.”
“Okay.” The happy in Bailey reached all the way from her heart to her head and down to her toes. She grinned, willing the night to hurry up. “You can ask it then.”
As she got ready for bed and slid under the covers that night, she thanked God for Brandon in her life, and for the adventures they shared every time they were together. And as she fell asleep she could think of just one thing.
The question Brandon Paul was going to ask her tomorrow.
Twenty-Six
BRANDON HAD PREPARED FOR THESE FEW DAYS IN NEW YORK City since the last time he was here, a month ago. As the morning dawned, he walked to the window of his hotel room and smiled. God had given them a perfect day … the leaves as bright orange and red as they would ever be, the sky a perfect blue overhead.