Page 25 of A Really Bad Idea

“Hotel?” I’m impressed and shocked at my brother’s splurge.

“We have a room at The Carlyle. See, he can be very surprising.” Beth leans into me, bracing her weight on the bar. “Hotel sex is the best.”

I shake my head with a laugh and kiss them both good-bye. As they head out, Christian is walking back in. It must be the excitement of the entire evening because my breath hitches at the sight of him—hair tousled and that cool, casual style of the unbuttoned shirt under a dark suit. I watch his broad shoulders and lean figure stroll in, making him look like a cross between a male model and a CEO.

“What’s the face for?” he asks as he walks up and rests an elbow on the bar top, angling his body toward me.

“You’re back,” I breathe.

“Where did you think I went?”

“I thought you left with Sexy Nurse Natasha.”

His chuckles deep and rubs a hand over his chiseled jaw. “Will you stop calling her that?”

“She is a nurse.” I point my finger in explanation.

He nods in agreement. “That she is.”

I lean into him with a low hum. “And she is sexy.”

He bends in even further, and his voice drops, like he has a secret to tell me. “So are you, so should I call you Sexy Nurse Meadow?”

“No.”

I look away, but he rests his forehead against the side of mine and breathes into my ear, “Let’s take a walk.”

He helps me with my coat as we say good-bye to Angela and Denny and then head out.

The streetlights provide an amber hue as we stroll the paved pathway around the lake toward the bi-level arcade of Bethesda Terrace. It’s one of those places you see in the movies yet can’t understand just how gorgeous it is unless you’re standing there.

The stone structure comprises both an upper and lower terrace, connected by two grand staircases and a smaller one leading to the fountain. The Romanesque arches overlooking the lake complete the iconic New York scene, one that is both overwhelming and comforting at the same time.

Much like the man walking beside me.

I secure the belt on my trench as the cool evening air rushes in.

Christian has his hands in his pockets, strolling casually, as if he owned the park.

“Thank you for my birthday dinner,” I say. “I’ve never had a surprise party before.”

“I’m honored to be your first.” He smiles.

When we reach the fountain, I stop and gaze up at the angel with the lily in her hand and listen to the water cascade from the tiers. I turn around and see Christian, his outline in silhouette. His presence holds so much power that it stands out in the shadows.

“Dance with me,” he says.

I look around, confused. “Here?”

His steps are steady as he walks up and stops mere inches away. He lifts my hand, and I revel in the feeling of his smooth palm holding mine in a way that’s both delicate and protective. His other arm snakes around my waist, and I take a tentative step into him and place my hand on his shoulder.

His fingers play with the thin gold chain of my wishbone necklace. I never take it off, so it’s easy to forget I have it on.

“I can’t believe you still wear this.”

“It’s from you. It’s my favorite thing in the world.”

He elegantly sways to the side, pulling me in with each step. There’s no music, yet with each motion, I feel like I’m lulled into the melody. My head falls to his shoulder, and I inhale the fine thread of his suit, mixed with his woodsy scent pouring off his skin.