Page 19 of Full Coverage (Boys of Fall)

“I…don’t know anything about New York. Or big, fancy parties.”

“I’d love to show you.”

There was something in his voice that made her look up into his eyes. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but Nolan seemed very serious suddenly. But there was also a touch of something else…eagerness? Affection?

“I don’t even know what to wear.”

He nodded. “That’s okay. We’ll go a day early and I’ll take you shopping.”

Shopping in New York City? Randi had to admit that sounded fun. She’d just been thinking that Quinn didn’t have much for excitement. This would be an adventure.

“How much should I bring?” she asked, her thoughts spinning.

“Clothes? Very little.”

Her eyes flew up to his. “What?” She felt a grin stretching.

“You won’t need much. We’ll get what you need there.”

But a smile teased his lips, and she knew the double meaning she’d assumed behind his answer was accurate.

“I thought maybe you meant that, other than the party, we’d spend a lot of time in the hotel room so I wouldn’t need a lot of outfits.”

“Well, I thought I wanted to show you the city.”

“But now?”

“Now I’m thinking about how fun hotel rooms can be.”

So it might be that kind of trip. She had to admit that the Statue of Liberty didn’t sound like the biggest draw to New York City suddenly.

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” she said. “I haven’t ever been to New York and I haven’t spent that many nights in hotel rooms.”

Her family hadn’t had the money to travel more than a road trip here and there in Texas. And, honestly, Randi had never been bitten by the travel bug. She knew there were some amazing places that she’d probably love seeing, but she also knew that there was very little in the world that could compare to the beauty of looking out at the view from her front porch. For her. She understood that wasn’t true for everyone. But she was content. Mostly. Her life was pretty much what she’d always expected it to be. And she counted her blessings. She had a good life. Quiet, simple, surrounded by people she loved, doing things she loved.

If she wondered once in a while if there was more or if she was missing something, she figured that was normal.

“New York is amazing. And hotel rooms can be amazing,” Nolan told her.

“Can be?” she asked.

“Depends on why you’re there.”

“You mean like they’re fun when you’re there for a big, fancy party?” she teased.

“With a gorgeous woman whose kisses have been keeping me up at night.”

He didn’t smile when he said that. He was completely serious. Randi felt herself swallowing hard. “Oh.”

He seemed to realize he was being a little intense, because he leaned back. “But I really just want to treat you to a fun weekend in the city. You’ll have your own room.”

She felt a twinge of disappointment. But instead of commenting on it, she said, “Why do you want to treatme?”

“I love New York and you’ve never been. I thought it would be fun to show someone the city for the first time. Everyone I’ve been there with has been before.”

Randi bit her tongue on asking if “everyone” meant women. It did. It had to. She focused on how sweet it was that he wanted to showherthe city. “That’s really nice. If you want me to go with you, I’d love to.”

“I want you to go with me.”

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