“So, um... I was wondering.” He runs a hand through his dishevelled hair still damp from his shower. “Are you still staying here, with me?” he asks, nervously, almost self-consciously.
It’s strange to see him so unsure, so uneasy.
“Yeah.” I smile softly.
His mouth stretches into a wide smile. “Okay. Do you want breakfast?”
I nod. “Breakfast sounds great.”
∞∞∞
After we’ve eaten, we head out to Central Park, where we spend the afternoon walking and taking in the beauty of the park. It’s warm out today, the sun beating down through the cloudless sky.
“I’ve always loved it here, my mom always used to bring me here, the park was special to her,” I say, tilting my face towards the sky, breathing in the fresh air, the smell of freshly cut grass filling my nostrils, the warmth of the sun on my skin.
“Were the two of you close?” Kyle asks.
“Yeah, we were really close, she was more like a best friend or a big sister than a mom, I could talk to her about anything. Until now, I’ve never been able to bring myself to come here. Too many memories, I guess.”
“Why now?”
“You,” I reply. “I guess being here with you makes it easier somehow.” I cast my gaze up to him, offering a smile to find him staring down at me.
He shocks me by taking my hand in his. We come to a stop and he turns me to face him. “You don’t know how much it means to me that you agreed to stay, not because you had to, not because I forced you, but because you wanted to.”
He takes a step towards me, closing the distance between us, his face only inches from mine. His gaze flicks from my eyes down to my mouth, he licks his lips and my breath catches in my throat. For a split second I think he’s going to kiss me, his lips hovering just inches above mine, his breath wafting gently over my face. I wait for his lips to touch mine, but they never do, instead, he pulls away from me.
He clears his throat and squeezes my hand. “Come on.” He smiles, before we continue walking.
I can’t deny the disappointment I feel that he didn’t kiss me.
Why didn’t he?
Kyle and I spend a couple more hours wandering the park, and as the clouds close in on another day, we wind our way through the narrow paths and make it back to the car. Kyle pulls the door open for me, but before I have chance to climb in, he blocks me.
“Would you like to go on a date with me?” Kyle asks.
“What?” His question catches me off guard.
“Do you want to go on a date with me?” he repeats.
“I thought that wasn’t your style?” I tease.
Kyle smiles softly. “Maybe it is after all.”
I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face. “I would love to go on a date with you.”
“Let’s get going then, need to get ready and get changed.”
He moves out of the way, allowing me room to climb into the car. He climbs in behind the wheel and head back to the hotel.
Chapter 16
Hayley
It’s almost dark when we arrive back at the penthouse.
“So where are we going?” I ask.
“We’re going out for dinner. Well, not really out, not to blow my own trumpet but the restaurant here at the hotel is next level, we have some of the best chefs in New York City and the food is to die for,” he replies.
“It sounds perfect,” I say. “Wait, I don’t have anything to wear, all I brought with me are jeans and t-shirts.”
He smiles mischievously. “Go take a shower and get ready, and don’t worry, we’ll find you something.” He turns and heads into his walk-in closet.
I make my way to the bedroom to grab my toiletries. I hop in the shower and wash my hair, for some reason I’m compelled to shave my legs. Once I’m done, I brush my teeth, dry my hair with the hairdryer and pin it up in a half up-do, letting small strands and wisps of hair fall either side of my face. My hair has a slight wave to it, so it doesn’t take long for it to take shape once it is dry. I apply a thin coat of foundation on my face and add concealer under my eyes, as well as a little mascara and some pastel pink lipstick.
I’m stood in the center of the bathroom, dressed only in a towel. Shit. What am I supposed to do now?
I head for the door and poke my head out, he’s not here, I open the door wider and step out into the bedroom when I notice a large white rectangular box sitting on the bed. I remove the lid and pull the tissue paper out to the way.
A dress. Emerald green. Lace.
I take it out of the box to get a better look, it’s the dress from the store, the one Kyle offered to buy me the first night in the casino.
“Nice, huh?” I hear from behind me.
Kyle is standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded. He’s dressed in a crisp white buttoned shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and jet-black tailored suit trousers.
“You bought the dress.” It came out more of an accusation rather than a question.
“Of course.” He smiles.
“You shouldn’t have.”
“Stop stalling. Go get changed, I want to see you in that dress.” With that, he turns and walks away.
I look down at the dress that I never in a million years thought would be mine. I run my fingers over the soft silk and smile to myself. I close the bedroom door and slip out of the towel, letting it fall to the floor. I pull on a pair of panties before stepping into the dress and place my arms through the
