Page 130 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 2

Rad laughs. “Don’t drag us into this. This is all about the two of you.”

This is too amusing. I sit back in my chair and watch Marlow squirm. “Do you go on dates?”

Like an old married couple, Jackson takes this one. “We hang out, but we don’t go on official dates. It’s not like that with us. Though we do order pizza sometimes. She makes me order cauliflower crust, so that doesn’t really count as pizza.”

“I’m watching my carb intake. You know that. Anyway, there aren’t complications with him,” she says, joining in. I almost expect him to say tag, you’re it. “We already decided that if we meet someone we want to get to know better, then we’ll stop doing whatever this is.”

Jackson’s nodding, and the way they’re looking at each other, I guess they’re on the same page.

Cade says, “All right. With that out of the way, who’s coming over to watch the game?”

Rad stands. “Sorry, Tealey and I already have plans.” Tossing money on the table, he says, “Brunch is on me.”

Everyone gets up and files out of the restaurant. Just outside the door on the sidewalk, Marlow asks, “So next Sunday?”

“We’re in,” Cammie replies.

I glance at Rad, but I already know the answer. He takes my hand, and says, “We’ll be here.” I’ve never felt so right about my decision to let him back into my life. Hearing the man I can rely on to always be there privately and publicly sound so happy to be one-half of a couple makes my heart melt.

Jackson nudges Marlow. “Since I’ll be rolling out of your bed?—”

“Ew. You’re so crude, Jackson.”

“That’s why you love me.”

“I don’t love you,” she snaps. “I’m still not sure if I even like you, if I’m telling the truth.”

“Well, something keeps you sniffing around my door.”

Marlow whacks him on the arm.

Rad chuckles. “Okay, guys. I think it’s time to go. Have a good week.” Taking my hand, he leads me in the opposite direction as the four of them.

We start down the sidewalk, the warm afternoon air caressing my skin. Birds chirp happily overhead. “What do you plan on doing the rest of the day, Miss Bell?”

“Doing?” I smirk, giving him the grin I usually save for when we’re alone. “Nothing but you, Counselor.”

His arm flies into the air. “Taxi!”

EPILOGUE

Rad

Eight months later

I walked away.

And I couldn’t be happier.

It’s surreal how much my life has changed. A year ago, I would have been hitting the partners and board members hard with every reason I deserved that promotion.

Today, I stood in the conference room, removing myself from contention. It turns out, Bob Marché is financially bankrupt—morally too, but that’s another story.

Apparently, Bob thought that marrying his daughter off to me would give him an in with my family—and our money. Desperate times, desperate measures, I guess, since his last four movies tanked. It does help that Marlow was as unsuspecting as anyone else in the situation.

The mortgage papers he dangled in front of his daughter at the beach? Fake. A desperate attempt to make me close the dealand pop the question. I cut ties early enough to save the firm’s reputation. Thankfully.

And my heart had other plans.

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