After All - Romancing Manhattan

“She’s pretty levelheaded most of the time. I talked it over with her before our first official date. Not because I think I need her permission, but—”

“I get it,” she says with a nod. “That was thoughtful of you. I should probably head home soon.”

“Stay,” I say immediately.

“Carter, Gabby’s home. I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Gabby’s not stupid,” I reply and leave the stool to walk around the island and pull Nora against me. “She knows we’re a couple, and trust me, if she had issues about it, she would voice them. And I’m not talking about the token kiss resistance she insists on voicing.”

“I know.” She smooths her hand down my chest, over my T-shirt. “I just don’t want to be a bad example for her, you know? She’s young, and impressionable.”

“You’re good for us,” I murmur as I start to sway back and forth, feeling more at home with Nora in my arms than I have in what feels like forever. “We’re not doing anything wrong, you know.”

“Aside from having sex out of wedlock?” she reminds me. “I mean, I’m not superreligious or anything, but that’s usually one that parents like to stick to.”

“If she has questions, we’ll answer them. Unless she asks questions, I’m not going to talk to my daughter about my sex life. I want you to stay. Gabby can see that we care about each other, and that what we have together is consensual and affectionate. She knows and trusts you. I don’t see anything wrong with what we have.”

“I don’t either,” she insists. “I just want to make sure we’re all comfortable because a month ago I was your assistant. And now, I’m . . . well . . . I’m . . .”

“You’re what?”

She looks up at me with tired brown eyes. “I don’t know.”

I lift her, not over my shoulder like last weekend when we were playing around, but rather cradling her to me as I carry her to my bedroom, which happens to be on the opposite end of the penthouse from Gabby’s room, thank God.

I close and lock the door, and when we’re both stretched out on the bed, I cup her jaw and lean in to press my lips to hers lightly.

“You’re everything,” I murmur. “If you want to call yourself my girlfriend, that’s fine. Companion and lover work just as well.”

“Carter,” she whispers with tears in her eyes.

“If you think this is a fling, you’re sorely mistaken.”

She laughs and leans in to bite my chin. “Well, I was planning on taking another lover next weekend, since I’ve suddenly become so good at it.”

I roll her under me, pinning her to my bed.

“Bullshit.” I kiss the side of her mouth. “I dare you to try.”

“Oh? And what will you do about it?”

I lean back and take her in, her blond hair spread over my blue sheets, her skin pale and brown eyes shining with lust and mischief.

God, I love her.

The thought of her ever not being here is one I can’t entertain. It would break me.

“I’m going to ask you nicely,” I say, rather than tell her I’d kill any man who would dare put a hand on her, “to save your body, your secrets, and the most vulnerable parts of you for me. Please.”

“You say the most amazing things.”

“Just what I feel.” I kiss my way down her neck to her collarbone. Nora sighs and her body loosens under me, and I settle in to make love to the woman who’s suddenly stolen my heart.

Chapter Eight

~Nora~

For the first time in ten years, I can honestly say I don’t want to work today. Mondays have never bothered me. I enjoy my job and look forward to being in the office each day.

But after a weekend of laughter, relaxation, and the best sex of my damn life, I’m not ready for Monday.

The city is bustling this Monday morning. Winter has settled in, nestling New York in cold and snow. It’s uncomfortable at best. I don’t enjoy winter, never have. One day, I’d like to have a vacation place in the south, where I can escape a few weeks a year to soak up some sun.

But that’s a dream for another day. It’s back to work now, back to hiding my feelings for Carter and pretending that nothing is going on outside of the office.

I thought it would be an easy challenge.

I was wrong.

It’s not easy to be with Carter, touching each other freely, and then turning it off like a faucet at work.

It’s jarring. Uncomfortable.

It sucks.

But I still believe it’s necessary, so here I am, wearing Carter’s favorite shoes again, at his request of course, shoes that were slung over his broad shoulders just last night, walking into the building he’s built with his brothers-in-law.

I’m early, since I spent the afternoon away from the office on Friday, also at Carter’s request. I don’t regret it. We need time away from here, where we can just be ourselves and learn each other.