Page 73 of Reckless

“Kelly, come to…New York with me,” he said as he caught his breath. “Stay with me, let me show you the city.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, not answering him right away because my gut reaction was that I needed to be back in New Hope. I couldn’t just take off to wherever I wanted. Plus, I wasn’t sure he meant it, in the heat of the moment. But the idea didn’t seem quite so impossible anymore. I could actually picture myself in New York, a part of Gage’s life, enjoying time with him. At least for a little while.

By coming to Gage, by letting him back in, I was putting myself at risk. At risk of losing the man I loved, had loved since I knew what a woman’s love for a man felt like. We’d finally made it here. Did I have enough courage to take the next step? Fear loomed over me suddenly, threatening to suck me back into my very uncomfortable comfort zone.

“You don’t have to answer right now. Think about it.” He pulled away, and I shivered, missing his warmth immediately.

Tears shimmied to the surface, and I blinked them back before he could see.

“There’s a floor-level tub in the bathroom. It’s big enough for two. I don’t know about you, but I need to soak some sore muscles.” He wagged his eyebrows when he said it, and the giggle that came out of my mouth sounded like me back when I was a junior in high school.

“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I could use a good soak.”

And it would put off the decision about New York.

“I hope you decide to come with me.” He winked, diffusing the seriousness of his tone, before walking into the bathroom and starting the water running.

I didn’t have to make a decision now. I could enjoy the night, and Gage, and see what came in the morning.

New Hope had always called out to me whenever I went far from it. Now its beckoning had been replaced by a new call, one that was pulling me toward New York and the man I’d loved since he was a boy.