All the Way (Romancing Manhattan 1)

“So now you’re saying that I’m not a good person.”

“I want to stab my own eyes out,” she mutters, and presses the heels of her hands against them, rubbing hard. “Just stab them. Maybe I’ll stab you first.”

“You’re not the only stabby one in the room.”

“What do you want from me?” London asks.

“I want you to be happy,” I reply honestly. “I want you to be as stress-free and happy as possible. I thought I did that for you.”

“Most of the time you do. But we are clearly still having a communication breakdown here, Finn. Because you want me to just smile and nod and give you what you want without asking questions, and I can’t.”

“Well, should I apologize for wanting to make your life easier, London?”

“No.” She blinks rapidly and turns away, walking into the bedroom, and I follow her. “I don’t want you to apologize for that. There is a long list of other things to apologize for.”

“Well, why don’t you make me a list, and I’ll get to work on that.”

She laughs now. Fucking laughs, and I’m so damn frustrated I want to punch a hole in the wall.

There are moments I just can’t figure her out. Or women as a species.

They completely baffle me.

“Is this funny?”

“It’s laugh or cry right now, Finn, and crying will fuck my face up, so I’m laughing. Because I’m going to wear my sexy dress and look pretty for tonight. I’ve been looking forward to it. I want to make your tongue hang out and your dick hard.”

“You do that without the dress.”

“Well, then, just wait until you see me. But if you think you’re getting your hands on me before we resolve this, you’re very mistaken.”

“Now you’re withholding sex?”

“I’m going to punch you,” she mutters, and slams the closet door.

Chapter Seventeen

~London~

I look fantastic. I bought this red dress a week ago, specifically for this occasion. It’s cut low in the front and the back, and shows off my legs nicely.

It’s essentially a napkin.

Add the fuck-me shoes and my hair piled high on my head, and I’m red-carpet worthy, if I do say so myself.

I walk past a waiter and lift a glass of champagne off his tray and take a sip. It goes down smooth. A few more sips and my ruffled feathers might start to calm down.

Finn is across the room chatting with some friends from law school that came into town for this occasion, as a surprise for him. He’s laughing, but his eyes search the rooftop until they find me, and they burn as he takes me in from head to toe.

How can we be completely irritated with each other and still want to fuck each other into next week?

I don’t get it.

“You don’t look happy,” Quinn says as he joins me, sipping his own glass of bubbly.

“I’m great.” I offer him a wide smile, but he just cocks an eyebrow and I shrug one shoulder. “Your brother is infuriating.”

“Oh yeah. It’s one of his main talents.”

I chuckle and then sigh deeply. I glance to my left, happy to see that Gabby’s here, in a pretty pink dress, talking to Finn and Carter. I’m excited to talk with her.

Then I catch a glimpse of a man as he disappears around a corner, and I scowl.

Could Kyle be here?

No. Impossible.

“Are you okay?” Quinn asks. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine.” I take a sip of my drink, and then shake my head. “I figured out what you meant the other day when you said Finn is looking at new real estate.”

“Uh-oh,” he says, and cringes. “So he followed through with it.”

“Oh yeah. He did.”

“And how did you take it?”

“Not well,” I admit. “Has he always been pushy?”

“When it comes to something he wants, yes.”

Maggie joins us, holding her own glass of champagne and smiling happily. She’s dressed in a beautiful yellow dress and her dark hair is swept up in a dignified chignon.

“Hello, darlings,” she says.

“You look beautiful, Maggie.” I lean in to press my lips to her cheek.

“Thank you, London. I think this party turned out just right.”

I nod and turn to let my eyes scan the room, catching sight of Finn again. He’s moved to another group of friends, still talking, but also still facing me. He catches me watching him and offers me a small smile, which I return.

We need to talk, but I can’t stay mad forever.

“Your dress is lovely, dear,” Maggie says. “If I was your age, I’d kill to pull something like that off.”

“It’s a birthday gift for Finn,” I admit, and watch her brown eyes light up with humor.

“That’s a helluva gift,” Quinn says.

“See, you need to find a woman like London,” Maggie says, and Quinn rolls his eyes. “Don’t you roll your eyes at me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Hey London.” Gabby’s face is excited as she joins us. “Your dress is so pretty.”