An Appointment (Summer in New York Book 4) Read online

  “When?”

  “Tonight.” He cupped my cheek. “So I can take you on a real date.”

  I gazed into his eyes and bit my lip.

  “I’ll have you back at a reasonable hour,” he said. “Since we both have work tomorrow.”

  “What time?” I asked.

  “I’ll pick you up at six.”

  He hung on my every word, waiting for an answer.

  Since he’d been so good to me, I leaned in and gave him a lingering kiss. Then I whispered, “I can’t wait.”

  I got out of his car and walked to the front door, turning back to look at him. He watched me with wonder as I gave a little wave. He waved back and winked, grinning ear to ear.

  That’s when I realized that I was not only falling for him—I was actually going to let myself.

  Chapter 10

  Preston

  I showed up early, parking in the Taylor’s driveway. There was something so innocent about tonight. Despite our age, I was picking her up at her parents’ house like we were in high school.

  It would have been nice to know her back then. Apart from the fact that she was nine when I was sixteen. But that was just a passing thought. She was with me tonight. That was all that mattered.

  I went to the front door and knocked, feeling like a kid again. I don’t know why I was so nervous.

  Austin shook my hand and led me into the living room. It was a really nice house.

  “Savannah will be down in a minute,” Austin said.

  “Dr. Cole!” Trey sprinted down the stairs and jumped in my arms.

  “Hey, buddy! How are you?”

  “What are you doing here?” he asked.

  “I’m taking your mommy out to dinner.”

  “Can I come?” he whined.

  “Trey,” Austin scolded.

  “How about this?” I set Trey down and squatted at his level. “I promise I’ll take you both out sometime soon. And you can pick the place.”

  “Really?” he asked.

  “Sure. My treat.”

  Something caught my attention. That’s when I looked up and saw her.

  Savannah slowly descended the staircase. She was wearing a short black dress with lace sleeves. It hugged her curves in just the right way—accentuating her breasts and backside. I took a breath and straightened my tie, swallowing past the dryness in my throat.

  “Hi.” She approached me with a sweet smile.

  “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” she blushed.

  Her lips were glossy and pink. They looked soft, like the inside of a rose. I knew from experience that they felt as good as they looked. Maybe better. Tasting her mouth was like kissing an angel.

  “Shall we?” she asked, waiting for me to make the next move.

  “Yes.” I was lost in her eyes. They were shining tonight.

  “Have fun you two,” Austin said.

  “Goodbye, baby.” She picked Trey up. “Give Mommy a kiss.”

  Trey kissed her on the cheek and smiled. “Mommy, you look so pretty.”

  “Thank you,” she chimed, leaving a sweet kiss on his forehead. “Listen to Grandma and Granddaddy. Don’t stay up too late. But you can have ice cream tonight if you want.”

  “Okay, Mommy.” He grinned as she ruffled her fingers through his hair.

  “Ready?” She looked at me expectantly.

  “Yeah.” I followed her outside and opened her door.

  “Bye, Mommy!” Trey yelled from the house, standing at the threshold with Austin.

  “Bye! I love you!” Savannah said.

  “Love you too.”

  She slipped into the passenger’s seat and I shut the door. While I walked around the front, Austin waved and then closed the front door. As a son, I felt kind of bad for taking Trey’s mother away from him. But it was only for a few hours. And if things moved in the direction I wanted them to, I would never try to interfere with their relationship. I’d had a mother once too, and I’d give anything to have her back.

  “So...” she said softly. “Where are we off to?”

  I turned the key in the ignition and smirked. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

  THERE WAS A NEW ASIAN fusion restaurant in Tribeca. The reviews were impressive, so I went with my gut. Once we were seated, Savannah smiled at the waiter and then glanced over the menu. To be honest, I wasn’t that hungry—an absurdity for a man like me. Maybe it was because I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

  “What?” she asked, taking a sip of water.

  I shrugged.

  “Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

  “Because.” I looked at my chopsticks.

  “Because...?”

  I gazed at her with the bite of my lip. “Because you agreed to go on a date with me.”

  She smiled, looking away to mask her feelings.

  “For a while there, I thought you never would.”

  “I know,” she said. “I’m sorry. I haven’t done this in a really long time.”

  “That’s okay.” I saw our waiter coming back. “Do you like any of the appetizers?”

  She scanned the menu. “I’ve always loved egg rolls.”

  “We’ll have two of those,” I told the waiter. “And the edamame.”

  He nodded and left to put the order in. Savannah flipped through the menu, searching for her entrée of choice. I’d already known what I wanted the moment we arrived. And it wasn’t on the menu.

  “Have you been here before?” I asked.

  “No.” She flicked her eyes up to me. “Have you?”

  “No. They just opened this week. But I’ve heard great things.”

  “Since you picked the place, I’m sure it will be wonderful.”

  I spotted a flash of light in her eyes. She looked exquisite.

  Our waiter returned with the appetizers and took the rest of our order. Savannah wasn’t drinking tonight since she had to work tomorrow. That sounded like a good idea, so I passed too.

  “So...” I held her gaze after the waiter took our menus and left.

  “So...” She smiled and we stared at each other until it made us both laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked.

  “Nothing really.” She looked around the restaurant. “I’m just happy to be here.”

  “For the food? Or because you’re with me?”

  “Maybe a little for the food,” she teased.

  “Ah,” I waved my hand in the air, jokingly.

  “But mainly because I’m with you.”

  I watched her like a hawk, eventually growing brave enough to slide my hand over hers. She moistened her lips and looked down, feeling my skin. I hoped it wasn’t too fast. But she didn’t seem to mind.

  “You told me you like books,” she said.

  “Yes.” I caressed the back of her hand with my thumb.

  “What have you been reading lately?” she asked.

  “The latest James Patterson.”

  “What are his books about?”

  “They’re thrillers so you know—crime, politics, murder.”

  “Who else?” She laced her fingers through mine.

  Looking at our hands, I felt a surge of confidence and smiled. “Umm, Michael Connelly, John Grisham.”

  “I’m sure they’re all great,” she said. “I know who they are. I’ve just never read their books.”

  “I’d be happy to let you borrow one. That way, you can see if you like it.”

  She nodded. “I’d like that.”

  “What about you?” I asked. “I thought you liked to read.”

  “Well, when I was younger I really loved literary fiction.”

  “What’s your favorite book?” I watched her light up at the question.

  “The Great Gatsby.”

  “It doesn’t exactly have a happy ending,” I said.

  “No.” She shook her head. “What about you?”

  I took a breath and thought about it. “The Outsiders.”


  “Ponyboy?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I read it in school. I always wanted to see the movie but I never did.”

  “I have it,” I said. “You’ll have to come over sometime and watch it.”

  “Okay,” she agreed with a sweet grin. But then the food arrived, and she let go of my hand.

  “This looks great,” she told the waiter.

  “Can I get you anything else?” he asked us.

  “I’m good,” she smiled, looking to me.

  “That will be all. Thank you.”

  He nodded and went to check on another table.

  Savannah must have been ravenous. She ate a bite of orange chicken and sighed. We’d been so busy talking that we hadn’t even touched our appetizers. So I handed her an egg roll and pointed at the edamame.

  “How is it?” I asked.

  “So good.” She sank her teeth into the egg roll. “The best one I’ve ever tasted.”

  I tried my beef with broccoli and she was right. It was the best I’d ever had.

  “How is your lo mein?” I loved the way she twirled her noodles. With a fragile innocence.

  “Delicious.” Her eyes rolled back into her head. “You might have to carry me out of here.”

  “That won’t be a problem,” I said, catching her off guard. She chewed her cheek and blushed.

  “So what else do you like to do for fun?” she asked.

  The question led to a forty-five minute debate over the best movies in cinema history. She was as obsessed with film as I was. A pleasant surprise, since Abigail had been the farthest thing from a movie buff. She even donated some of my old VHS’s to a charity one time. So she could free up more room for her jewelry collection. She’d also been rude enough to get rid of them without asking me first.

  “I’m stuffed.” She pushed her plate back at the end of the meal. “But that was delicious.”

  “I’m glad you liked it. We’ll have to eat here again sometime.”

  “I’d like that.” She was glowing. But I wasn’t being fair to her.

  So I took a breath and leaned across the table. I had to tell her the truth. Even though it might kill my chances with her before we even got started. It was a cruel world. But she needed to know.

  I held her hand in both of mine, caressing her soft skin. She noticed my change in mood, catching on immediately. Following my lead, she leaned closer and lowered her head.

  “What’s up?” she asked.

  “I need to tell you something.”

  “Okay.” She gave me a small smile. “What is it?”

  “I just want to be honest with you so you won’t have any false expectations.”

  “Okay.” She furrowed her brow, looking confused.

  “I can’t have children.”

  She looked right through me, letting it sink in.

  “Abigail and I tried, but...” I looked away. “I got tested and...” I shook my head.

  She squeezed my hand. “Preston, I’m so sorry. That must have been very hard.”

  “We had problems but a baby might have solved them. That’s why she left me. I know it is.”

  “What about adoption?” she said. “Did you ever talk about it?”

  “She refused. Abigail wanted her own children. I can’t blame her. I did, too. I still do.”

  She pressed her lips together, running her thumb over the back of my hand.

  “I’ve had to accept it. I’ve had to live with her leaving me. Because I can’t be a man to her, to any woman.” I pushed down the lump in my throat. “I just thought you should know.”

  “Well, none of this changes how I feel about you.”

  I widened my eyes. “Really? You don’t care?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I don’t. I like you. And I think you like me too?”

  “Yes.” I nodded. “Very much.”

  “Good.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Then I don’t see any problem.”

  Her positivity washed over me like a tidal wave. I was soaked in her radiance. I wanted more.

  “Listen, I know it’s eight.” I looked at my watch. “And I said I’d get you back early. But would you like to see a movie with me? I’ll take you home as soon as it’s over, I promise.”

  She gave me a dazzling smile. “I’d love to.”

  WE PICKED A WWII DRAMA that had been out for a month. The theatre was mostly empty, because the film had received terrible reviews. But I never judged something until I’d seen it with my own eyes.

  Fortunately, Savannah shared the same sentiment.

  I led her to the back row where we settled on a pair of seats in the middle. I’d offered to buy her popcorn at the concession stand, but she was still full from dinner. I liked her answer more than I thought I would. Maybe because, at every turn, Abigail had taken it upon herself to spend my money as often and as rapidly as she could.

  “Do you come to this theatre a lot?” she asked while the previews were playing.

  “Sometimes,” I whispered. “They play old movies once a month. I’ve been to those before.”

  “That sounds like fun.” She leaned in closer, smiling. “I love watching old movies.”

  So did I. “I’ll have to take you sometime.” Since it felt natural, I used the moment to slip my arm around her.

  She relaxed beneath my touch. I sensed her smile, even in the dim lighting of the theatre. “I’d like that.”

  We finished chatting once the movie started. It was a long film, but the pacing made it seem much shorter. The story was interesting, portrayed by the familiar faces of popular actors. During the love scene, Savannah stiffened beside me. I hadn’t realized the romantic sub-plot would possess so much screen time. Since the divorce, I’d learned to get over it. So this kind of thing no longer bothered me.

  I hoped the same was true for Savannah. When Abigail left me, I couldn’t stand anything to do with love or sex or romance for what felt like the longest time. I’d had to work through my issues with a therapist. It led me to realize that Abigail just wasn’t the right person for me. Period. That was the cause of our divorce. Just because she had left me didn’t mean every woman would.

  The scene intensified as the woman began taking off the man’s clothes. They were passionate lovers doomed by circumstances and war. Her soldier could die at any moment. That was the only reason to rush. Well, that and the fact that their chemistry was off the charts. It made my heart pound to think of Savannah wanting me like that—in that way, with impatience and intensity.

  Just as I was worried she might be uncomfortable, Savannah rested her hand on my knee. There were only two people in the theatre besides us. An elderly couple who still seemed very much in love. But they were at least ten rows ahead of us with their eyes solely focused on the movie screen.

  Taking a breath, I turned my head to gaze at Savannah. She was already watching me. And I saw it in her eyes. The need to be loved, to be touched, to be worshipped. It was visceral. I would know. Because I was victim to the same misfortune.

  As my head swarmed, Savannah leaned in and kissed me. It was a soft kiss at first. But then she tugged at my collar, looking to my eyes for approval. She didn’t need any, because I’d already agreed to anything she wanted a long time ago. That was how I behaved when I was crazy about a woman.

  I pulled her into me and ran my fingers through her hair, kissing her again and again. She wrapped her arms around me as we got lost in each other, clinging to my back. I felt her nails through my shirt and gifted light kisses along her jawline.

  She tilted her head back and took short breaths, almost like I had shocked her with my touch. Then she was running her fingers through my hair, and it felt good. Damn good. I hadn’t experienced passion like this in a long time, maybe ever. It made me hope for it all the more.

  When the lights came on, we sat up and looked around. The movie was over, and the elderly couple made their way out of the theatre. I stood up and took her hand, acting like we’
d done nothing taboo.

  But once we walked outside, Savannah burst into laughter. Her cheeks were red but she hadn’t let go of my hand. We headed down the sidewalk as she leaned against me, curling her arm under mine.

  “What?” I asked. “Why are you laughing?”

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ve never done anything like that before.”

  “Like what?” I watched her face, the way she appeared carefree. It was majestic.

  “Made out in a public place.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t usually—I mean, normally I would have done that with you in private. But I guess I couldn’t help myself.” I smiled, loving the way she grinned back at me.

  “The movie was umm...”

  “Interesting,” I said.

  “Yes. It was good.” She touched my arm. “I don’t mean that I didn’t like it.”

  “It’s just that we didn’t get to see all of it.”

  “Yeah,” she said sweetly.

  “I’ll tell you what. When it’s available for rent, you can come over to my place and we’ll watch it.”

  She gazed up at me, beaming like the sun. “Okay.”

  “And I promise, we won’t have an audience.”

  She laughed as we walked down the sidewalk together. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d ever felt so content. But then it hit me—the reason why her aura spun off a tapestry of rich, bright colors.

  It was something familiar, something only gifted to the best of us.

  Her laugh. Warm. Open. Energetic.

  That was the first time Savannah Taylor reminded me of my mother.

  Chapter 11

  Savannah

  One date led to two. Before I knew it, we were spending all of our time together.

  Preston called every night to talk. He even started spending some of the time chatting with Trey.

  It meant the world to me—because he wasn’t just sucking up. He cared about my son, even though he wasn’t his. I quickly learned that Preston was an unconditional love kind of guy. When I was tired or stressed or cranky, he never pushed for his needs over mine. He wasn’t selfish. And when it came to men, I’d never known there was such a thing.