Page 156 of Manhattan State of Mind

Now, it’s just me.

I ease myself onto the grass, its blades jabbing into my skin like tiny reminders of reality. I yank the photo from my pocket, holding on to it like I’m Rose gripping that dang Heart of the Ocean inTitanic.

As I look at my beaming face in the photo, my heart doesn’t just clench; it trips over itself.

With a heavy sigh, I lie back, letting the grass cushion my body. I hold the photo above me, the sunlight filtering through the glossy print.

Slowly, I shut my eyes, the photo clutched in my fist. The park’s bustle recedes to a low hum, like the world’s got its volume down, and suddenly, I’m right back there.

Back in that moment.

JP’s sprawled on the blanket, the sun gleaming off that perfectly sculpted jawline hidden beneath a layer of infuriatingly sexy stubble. I sit cross-legged beside him, absentmindedly picking at blades of grass, resisting the urge to run my hands over his broad chest. I’m horny just looking at him. God, I’m always horny these days.

“I’ll be in Vegas all next week for work,” he drawls, eyes closed from under his baseball hat.

My shoulders slump. “The whole week?”

One gorgeous brown eye opens, piercing me. “Come with me. Work from the Vegas office.”

I shake my head with a wry laugh. “Oh, yeah. Let me tell Angry Andy that I’m jetting off to Vegas on a sudden whim.”

He raises a brow, both eyes now fixed on me. “Have you forgotten who owns the company?”

“I can’t play that card. You know that.” I flick a piece of grass at him.

He intercepts my hand, suddenly serious. “Why not, Luce? Isn’t it time you started telling people about us?”

My eyes widen. “Why would I do that?”

He hoists himself onto his elbows, a scowl etched into his handsome features. “Why? You’re asking why? Are you planning on keeping me your dirty little secret forever?”

My heart flutters traitorously. I look away. “Yes? We both know I’m just using you for sex and status.”

A heavy sigh leaves his lips. “Look at me,” he says, his voice a soothing, deep baritone that has my eyes meeting his. “I need a serious answer.”

“I just… I didn’t think you were the forever type.” I lower my gaze, finding a sudden interest in the grass beneath us.

His fingers cradle my chin, tilting my face upward. “I’d like to stick around, if you’ll let me.”

“Yeah?” I breathe.

“Absolutely.” His thumb traces a path over my bottom lip. “I have no intention of letting you go.”

I can’t stop the giddy smile spreading across my face. “I think I might like that.”

“So does that mean you’ll come clean about us?”

I shuffle. “The last thing I need is to be the hot gossip in the IT department.”

“The same guys who have a shrine to Sheldon Cooper? Why the fuck do you care? I’m not sure half of them would even be interested.”

“Of course I care!”

He wraps an arm around me, pulling me on top of his firm, gorgeous body. “We can handle this, Lucy. I’ll make sure nothing looks bad on you.”

“You can do a lot but you can’t do that. You can’t control people’s judgments and snide remarks.”

“No,” he agrees. His grip on my hips tightens possessively. “But I can shift your perspective on handling it. And I can sure as hell fire anyone who messes with you.”