One Beautiful Promise (Very Irresistible Bachelors 4)

The guide then shushed us, and neither of us spoke again as we followed the group. When we walked through the “gate of death,” a stone archway through which the losers would be dragged to their demise, my skin crawled.

The underground level was next.

“Very few people are allowed down here. They give out a limited number of tickets,” I whispered to Cole, feeling ridiculously proud. He just chuckled, putting an arm around my shoulders as if realizing that while I admired all of this, the dark history immortalized in these walls weighed on me. A current of awareness jolted through me when he squeezed my shoulder lightly.

The underground, dubbed the dungeons, was where the gladiators and animals were held. As a doctor, I couldn’t even wrap my mind around how fast infectious diseases would spread.

Stone walls surrounded us, and we walked on a metal pathway deep under the arena.

The guide spoke, and the microphone clipped at her collar amplified her voice. “The Romans had very advanced technologies. For example, they could flood the arena above completely to stage battle ships. We still don’t fully understand how that was possible, but we have detailed descriptions from the writers of the time, as well as the remnants of a few of those mechanisms to prove that this was accurate.”

Cole knocked against the stones, leaning in to whisper, “Many things are still unknown about them. Like the materials they used for the mortar that holds these stones together. It’s legendary. Two thousand years and several earthquakes later, still standing.”

The guide shushed us again. I pressed my lips together, looking at Cole out of the corner of my eye. He looked like he was barely suppressing laughter too.

We went back up afterward, on to the upper levels. There were five levels above the arena, and holy hell, the guide hadn’t been joking when she’d said that the climb was steep.

“You can climb at your own pace,” the guide said. “You can also use this part of the tour to take a break and rest a bit. We still have two hours to go. I will wait for all of you at the top, and then I’m going to explain who was sitting on each level and so on.”

“I’ll carry that,” Cole said after the guide finished her explanation, pointing to my backpack. I gladly gave it to him.

“Oh, a gentleman. I didn’t peg you as one,” I teased.

“That’s because I’m not. You’ll see that soon enough. After you, Ms. Smith.” He pointed to the stairs. I couldn’t tell if the glint in his eyes was playful or mischievous. My heart raced as we went up. He was walking right behind me, and just like last night, his proximity caused a deep hum in my body. What exactly did he have in mind? Was I even ready to find out? I wasn’t even sure I knew how to flirt anymore, but I planned to do my very best.

Chapter Four

Cole

Full confession: I wasn’t big on museums. My sisters were fans of the Guggenheim and other New York museums. I went along mostly because it gave me a chance to spend time with them, and because it made for good sm

all talk in business meetings. But I was enjoying this more than I thought. Yesterday, I’d told Laney I wanted to join her on an impulse. I’d just watched her eat that ice cream like it was her job, and thought, I want to spend tomorrow with her.

She stopped at each level, constantly snapping photos and sending them to her parents. Damn, she was a woman after my own heart. The sexy doc kept surprising me. Not only was she smart and funny but also sensitive and caring. I’d liked how determined she was to make things smooth for Isabelle. She was compassionate and warm, and I liked that a lot.

I’d always prided myself on being in shape, but these stairs were challenging.

“My glutes are burning,” Laney said when we reached the second level.

When we reached the third level, she gasped. “I need a break.”

Drawing in a deep breath, she glanced up to the top level, then back at me. I was panting too and didn’t try to hide it. These stairs were kicking my ass.

“Does your offer still stand?” she asked.

“Which one?”

“To carry me to the top.”

I laughed, even more so because her teasing smile made it clear she didn’t mean it. The next second, I lifted her up by her thighs, literally throwing her over my shoulder.

Her laughter echoed throughout the open space. I was sure that everyone was looking at us, but I really didn’t give a fuck. I pushed myself harder, because climbing these steps with Laney over one shoulder was borderline killing my muscles.

“You are insane,” she muttered through fits of laughter when I finally put her down once we’d reached the top.

“I know.”

I’d always been spontaneous and didn’t take myself seriously, but this was a bit too crazy even for me. I might not be able to walk back down... or at all today. My thighs were literally burning. I grabbed a railing for support, drawing my breath.