Page 22

“Our office is near here, too. They have some of the best coffee in the city.”

She raises a brow. “First, it’s the best wings in the city, then the best hangover food, and now the best coffee? You sure are pretty confident in yourself.”

“Have I been wrong yet?”

“No.” She smiles. “Those bagels were pretty killer. What do you recommend here?”

I hold out my elbow to her, and she takes a second before looping her dainty fingers around the crook. Just like the other night, the feel of her against me is like a puzzle piece slotting into place.

We join the back of the short line, and I use my free hand to point at the menu printed on the wall.

“I tend to just get their house drip brew. You really can’t go wrong with anything here, but they are known for their specialty lattes.”

“Hmm.” She tilts her head to the side, almost resting on my shoulder. “Well, I do love trying new coffees wherever I can. It’s kind of like a fun game I play with myself.” She purses her lips briefly. “I think I’ll try the Spanish latte.”

“Perfect.”

I place our orders, and we wait off to the side until they’re ready.

She peers up at me through her long lashes. “So, what’s the plan?”

“I thought we could just walk and talk. It’s pretty nice out.”

“Okay. Works for me.”

We grab our drinks and head onto the busy street. It takes a few blocks until the crowds start to thin out and the bustle of the city quiets a fraction. I make sure to keep my strides steady so she isn’t rushing to keep up with the pace of my longer legs.

I do technically have a rough destination in mind, but I don’t want to spoil that for her just yet. Verity said the other night that one of the things she cares about is quality time, and I want to take the time to get to know her more. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since I closed the door to her rideshare.

Even while I was meeting with Clifton Bank, I found my mind straying to her when I’m normally locked in during deals.

For years, I’d closed myself off to any new potential partners and stuck to just the occasional one-night stand. I’d believed that my shot at love had passed me by and was hesitant to let myself become caught up in another whirlwind romance that would just leave me bruised. I’d let the fear of my ex rule my life for too long. I’d lost so many years to her, and I’ve finally gotten to a place where I can see myself trying again. Verity sparks the small ember in my chest to a flame. It’s been a while since I’vebeen in a committed relationship, but I know myself enough to acknowledge that once I become invested in a woman, I am all in.

My friends used to give me shit for it when I was younger, saying I was easily pussy-whipped. It was my nature to turn my girl into my whole world, so much so that it blinded me to everything else. I’ve spent the last decade growing from the terrible mistakes I made in the past because of that. Verity has offered me a clean slate for the first time.

I tilt my head toward her.

“All right, Verity, tell me three things.”

“Oh, this game again?” She smiles. “Okay, what three things?”

“Anything. No category.” I take a sip of coffee.

“That vagueness is a lot of pressure. Okay. I’m a Cancer, this is my third coffee of the day, and I’m pretty sure that man is peeing in that bush.”

“Wait. What?”

“Over there.”

She gestures with her coffee cup at a man in a large coat who is—yup—he’s peeing into a bush.

“Yeah, I didn’t miss that about the city.”

She laughs. “It really is a special place, isn’t it?”

“There was this one time I was waiting for the train out in Bushwick at like six a.m., and there was this dude buck naked in nothing but an adult diaper.”

“Seriously? Was he old or young?”