My hands gripped the back of his jacket as he kissed me deeply, I never wanted it to end. His tongue swirled with mine and the slight brush of scruff on his chin forced a groan out of me that I should have been embarrassed about. We gasped for air when we broke apart but neither of us moved. His warm breath on mycheek was all I could focus on, until I felt him press against my leg.
I grinned at him and brushed my thumb against his cheek before kissing him again. “You are full of surprises aren’t you,” I whispered just as the door slid open.
“Maybe,” he said. His fingers found mine and as soon as the doors slid fully open, he pulled me out of the elevator that led directly to the rooftop lounge. There was a large bar area that wasn’t nearly as crowded as downstairs, and there were several small private areas set up to enhance the feeling of being all alone up here. He guided me over to the far wall where we stood and looked over at the capitol building and the Christmas tree.
“It really is beautiful up here.” He glanced at me and smiled.
“I used to come up here a lot when I was getting my business together,” he said with a faraway look in those beautiful brown eyes.
“I can see why. It feels like we’re a million miles away from the craziness below.”
“It does. Spencer, can I be honest with you?” he said as he turned and took my other hand in his too.
“Of course.” I was both anxious and excited as I waited for him to speak. I hoped he hadn’t lied and was really married, but even though that thought crossed my mind, deep down I knew that wasn’t something he’d do.
“I’m very attracted to you. There’s just something that draws me in and I don’t want it to end after the party. Would it be okay if we see each other again?” His voice was full of confidence, but his eyes were not quite so certain, and he seemed to brace for my answer.
“I feel the same way, and I would love to see you again,” I whispered and leaned in to kiss him again. “I don’t want this night to end.”
He smiled before pulling me into his arms. “Maybe it doesn’t have to. We could always get a room for the night.” Once again, his eyes were full of doubt but now there was also the fire of desire.
I considered his words for a moment and couldn’t think of a reason to say no. I wanted him, and if I was reading him right, he wanted me too. “Should we go see if they have an opening? I’m not really sure how this works,” I admitted and ignored the heat on my cheeks.
“I, umm, might have already checked on my phone when we were downstairs. Should I book it?”
“Yes,” I said, making him laugh.
“Oh, thank god. I promise I’m not usually this forward, but I want to spend the new year with you.”
“I’m glad you thought of it. I was already trying to find a reason to spend more time together. I wasn’t sure if you liked to takepeople home with you or if you preferred to go to their house,” I said, and tried not to think about how that sounded.
“Like a hookup?” he asked. “I hope this is more than a one-night stand.”
For a moment all I could do was look into his eyes. He said there was something about me, but from where I stood there was definitely something about him. “I don’t think it’s possible for me to have only one night with you.”
He kept his arm around me as I rested my head on his shoulder, and we looked out over the city below us as I wondered why I’d never noticed how beautiful it was until this very moment with this wonderful man. It was cold and a little foggy, but none of that mattered as long as he was next to me.
Six
Jake
I was relieved hedidn’t think it was strange when I asked about getting a room. This was so far outside anything I’d ever done. Since the restaurant had opened, I mostly worked or slept. But I wasn’t lying to Spencer when I said there was something about him, and I couldn’t let the night end without spendingmoretime with him. I peeked at his profile while his attentionwas still on the city below us, and wondered how someone who looked like him was single. His dark wavy hair and beautiful green eyes drew me in, but his personality and our connection hooked me.
“Did you want a drink?” I asked mostly because neither of us had moved since we’d taken up the space next to the edge of the building.
“Not really. I’m very happy where I’m at,” Spencer said, and snuggled in closer. I kissed the side of his head and went back to looking at the city. We stood a while longer and I soaked in his warmth and the quiet murmur of conversation that we were just on the edge of.
“Fifteen minutes until midnight,” the bartender announced. A few people walked over to get another drink but neither of us moved.
“Any New Year’s resolutions?” I asked Spencer.
“Well, I was going to make time to date this year. All work and all that,” he said with a wave of his hand. “What about you?”
I grinned because once again we had so much in common. “Two workaholics meet on New Year’s Eve, what could go wrong?”
“Well, hopefully more than just work,” he said with a laugh.
“And to answer your question, I don’t do resolutions. I feel like it sets you up for failure right from the start. Well, I should say it setsmeup for failure. It’s like once I decide to change something, I do everything in my power to screw it up.”
