Page 78 of My So-Called Perfect Life

“I promise you, we have a place to stay. It’s clean and free of roaches. It has an amazing balcony that is perfect for watching the sunset. We can make it to see tonight’s if you stop fighting me and embrace being spontaneous.”

My parents live on the coast. It was their retirement dream. They are currently visiting my aunt Nancy in Florida, so the house is empty this weekend, leaving me with the perfect location for my idea.

“Last time I was spontaneous, you got chlamydia.”

I smile and pull her into me, kissing the tip of her nose. “No, the last time you were spontaneous, we spent a nice afternoon on my bike, and you had an orgasm that left you wet the whole ride home. It all worked out. Give it a try, Dani Girl. Planning and making lists haven’t always worked out for you either. Let me take you away. Let’s enjoy a nice weekend without our lives interfering.”

“How can you leave the bar for the weekend?” she asks, always thinking of everything.

“I’m leaving Roxy in charge.” I’ve actually put a lot of thought into this part. “I’ve been tossing around the idea of opening a second bar and giving Roxy part of the current Cohen’s. This is a good trial run for the two of us.”

Her eyes widen. “Really?”

“Yes. Any more questions, or can you go throw together a few things, so we can hit the road?”

* * *

Four hours later,the sun is setting, beautifully filling the sky with pink and orange waves. Danielle is wrapped in my arms as we lounge on the chaise on the balcony, me with a beer and her with a glass of red wine.

“Cake or pie?”

We’ve been playing This or That since dinner.

“Neither,” I answer. “I prefer cheesecake. It’s the best of it all.”

She looks back at me. “It is really good. I like Oreo the most.”

She turns forward and nestles back under my chin. Everything about this moment feels right.

“Sunrise or sunset?”

“Either or. I think what matters more is who you spend them with. They’re a thing of beauty when you enjoy them with the right person.”

The game is put on hold as we watch the orange in the sky fade to dark as the sun sets.

Danielle runs the tips of her fingers up and down my arm, tracing the outline of my tattoos. “Tell me about opening a new bar. Are you going to sell Cohen’s?”

“No.” I watch her fingers dance over my skin. “Cohen’s is my baby. I could never sell it. I’m going to expand providing I can find a good location and the numbers line up in my favor. Roxy has been a huge part of making Cohen’s a success though. She deserves to have a stake in it. I don’t have any doubt she can handle it. She does most of the management stuff alongside me anyway, but this weekend will be a good chance for her to do it on her own.”

The location Evan showed me last month is about to officially come on the market. I’m hoping everything will come together, and I can score it.

A smile ghosts her lips. “That’s exciting. I’m so happy for you. You must feel so much pride as you watch it all succeed.”

“Look who’s talking.” I run my finger under the hem of her sweatshirt. “I watched you transform an empty beige room into a child’s wonderland. You put so much dedication into your craft. Your students are lucky to have you.”

“Thank you,” she says and takes a sip of her wine. “I don’t think anyone has ever noticed it the way you do. Mercy is a high school teacher—”

“What?” I interrupt her, shocked. “Your friend Mercy, the scary brunette, is a high school teacher?”

She nods. “Yep, she teaches science.”

“They didn’t have science teachers like her when I was in high school.” I laugh.

Danielle giggles. “You haven’t met teacher Mercy yet. When she’s in school, she dresses like a librarian in her button-ups and long skirts. Truthfully, I think it makes the boys want her more. Doesn’t every guy have a sexy librarian fantasy?”

My cock twitches in my pants. “I do now. What are the chances you have some button-up shirts and a pencil skirt in your bag?”

She sits up, and the wind blows through her hair, making her look so damn beautiful. Her eyes twinkle as she smiles. “No idea. I didn’t get a chance to make a list, so who knows what I have in there?”