Page 47 of Forgotten Desires

“Right. A run. Totally makes sense.”

Crew winks. “Walk around and check out the house, I promise you’ll love the library.”

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

When Crew leaves, I turn to see Celeste watching me closely. “I’d be happy to show you around more.”

I think I need a little alone time to sort my thoughts out. “I’m kind of overwhelmed, do you mind if we do that tomorrow?”

“I don’t mind a bit. You go look around and I’ll be preparing for tomorrow with his family.”

Yes, brunch tomorrow. Crew called his brothers and sister, asking them to come to his place to discuss our big news. Not that they won’t see it in the papers tomorrow. He said it will be completely uneventful. Apparently, his family doesn’t do emotions or outrage. I was assured it will all be very civilized.

I wave and head out of the kitchen. I look around the second floor, where Celeste and Cliff reside, checking out the areas Crew didn’t show me, which is everything other than the staff quarters and the main kitchen. As I meander around, I find a dining room, family room, another guest room, and the movie room he talked about, which is literally like a damn movie theater. Then there’s another room that is nothing but windows, which is attached to the library, and I realize we must be directly below the master bedroom.

I head down the stairs and I seriously can’t comprehend it. The first door I open is a massive room with tables in the corner and I can’t tell what the room is, but it’s clearly for entertaining.

I head back out and see the terrace. Although, I don’t even know if you can call it that, because it’s freaking huge. Like the size of the dining room and kitchen combined.

It’s a little chilly, so I don’t plan to stay out here long, but the views are . . . well, billionaire views.

The terrace has two large couches, lounge chairs, and three separate firepits. The wind whips my hair in my face, but I can’t seem to go back inside. I pull it around to my side, holding it as I stare out above the trees, above so many other buildings, just looking out at Central Park and the city that never sleeps.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

I gasp and turn to see Crew leaning against the door, his towel draped around his neck with a grin on his perfect face.

“It is.”

“The view isn’t bad either,” he says, walking toward me.

Heat rushes to my cheeks and I face away, working to control myself.

Why does my traitorous heart not remember the pain of him leaving? Why do I look at him and go back to the smiles, kisses, the way he made me feel like nothing in this world could ever hurt me again?

But he did.

Crew left me, reminding me that not all love stories have a happily ever after. Sometimes, it’s a damn tragedy.

He stands beside me, his arm brushing mine. “As much as I love the city and the views of the park, it’s nothing like the tranquility of Sugarloaf.”

I look at him as he turns, putting his back to the view. “I sometimes think Central Park is a mirage. A way for New Yorkers to feel like there’s a bit of beauty and peace among the greed, shopping, and filth.”

“Everyone needs a place for peace.”

“True. My brothers and I used to play football at the park every Friday when we were kids. We grew up on the Upper West Side in the house my grandparents owned that has been in my family for generations. We would sneak out after my parents left for whatever business dinner or gala they were attending and play football for hours.”

“They didn’t let you play?”

He scoffs. “A Knight? Play a sport as undignified as football? Absolutely not. We could row, fence, or play soccer. That was it.”

“And you picked rowing.”

He smiles at me and pushes off the railing. “I hated running, so soccer was out, and there was no way I was going to fence, so . . . that left me with one option. I would’ve kicked ass in football, though.”

I smile at the image I have of a twelve-year-old Crew, sneaking out the back door to play football.

“I’m sure you would’ve. There’s not much you don’t excel at when you want something.”

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