Page 9 of Champagne Nights

“Sometimes I do.”

“Please, have a seat.” I patted the bench. “Unless you have somewhere you have to be.”

“No. Nowhere in particular.”

“I find it hard to believe that you just take strolls.” I laughed.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because you’re not the type.”

“And how do you know what type of person I am?”

“I can sense it.”

“Then please enlighten me.”

I sighed. “Okay. You’re a businessman. A powerful, very busy businessman. Work is your life, and you like control. You don’t have time to take strolls through Central Park, nor do you have the desire to.”

“Seriously, Aubrey. How the hell do you do that?”

I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Be honest with me, Ethan. What are you doing here in Shakespeare Garden?”

I heard him inhale a sharp breath. “Fine. Obviously, there’s no pulling one over on you. I asked your friend, Penelope, for your number last night. She wouldn’t give it to me, but she told me if I wanted to see you, this is where I’d find you this morning. But, please, do not tell her that I told you. I gave her my word.”

“I won’t tell her. Why did you want my number?”

“Because I want to take you out, and I don’t want to take no for an answer.”

“Why do you want to take me out?”

“I think you’re a nice girl, and I’d like to get to know you.”

“But why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you want to get to know me?”

“What’s with all the questions?” he asked.

“Don’t answer a question with a question. You’re buying time to come up with a line that will sweep me off my feet. Just so youknow, I don’t get swept up that easily. I may not have eyesight, but I’m not stupid.”

“I never said you were, Aubrey, and I’m not trying to come up with a line. I find you attractive and to be a very nice girl.”

“You don’t even know me. We talked for about ten minutes. Maybe twenty at the most.”

“Exactly. And in those ten or twenty minutes, I felt like you were someone I wanted to get to know better. See, there is no pick-up line. Just a simple fact.”

It was against my better judgment, but I couldn’t resist his charm. After all, he did come to the garden to see me.

“Okay. I will go out with you so you can get to know me better. But one time, and one time only.” I smiled.

Chapter Five

Ethan

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