Despite my lack of sleep—just as Jack had promised—I can’t stop smiling. Maybe it’s the DNA-altering sex. Maybe it’s just being close to him. I’m putting on my makeup in the mirror above the sink while Jack brushes his teeth in the second sink next to me.
His and hers sinks.
It’s nice.
I haven’t known him long, but this very settled, couply thing—it’s better than I could have imagined.
Jack rinses his mouth and grins at me. “You’re smiling.”
“You’re smiling,” I say.
“I’m smiling because I’ve had you in my bed all night and now I get to spend the day with you. What’s your excuse?”
“I need an excuse?” I say through my grin. But I’m kidding. He knows that I’m smiling because of him. “It’s nice,” I say. “Being here with you. Brushing teeth. Getting ready.”
Doing couple stuff, like we’re a couple. Not just a love affair that has a time limit on it. This feels like we’re really a couple.
“It’s not just nice. It’s perfect. And if you keep looking at me like that, we’re never going to make brunch.”
“Like what?” I ask, surprised at his reaction. “I’m not trying to be…”
“Alluring,” he says. “You’re not trying. But you definitelyarealluring. You don’t need to try. You take up all of my attention anytime you look at me. But I want to show you brunch in one of my favorite places.”
I blush at the thought. I’ve never considered myself as the kind of woman who’s alluring.
“We’re going to your hotel?” I ask.
He pauses. “No, actually that wasn’t my plan. Did you want to go there?”
“Did I just come off like a stalker?” I say on a laugh. “I don’t mind where we go. If you want to take me to your favorite place, then I want to go there. If you want to take me to your hotel, then take me there. Either way, I’ll learn more about you.”
“I think you know everything there is to know.” His expression is serious, and he’s looking at me with such intensity, I can feel it pressing into my skin.
“Jack,” I say.
He shakes his head. “I’m crazy about you.”
I tilt my head. “Crazy about me or just crazy?”
He grins and places a kiss on the top of my head. “Let’s go.”
My lipstick rolls off the counter and onto the floor. Jack immediately bends to pick it up. “There’s a dressing table in one of the walk in closets. I can clear it out for you.”
I narrow my eyes in confusion. “We’re leaving after brunch,” I say, and then I follow his train of thought.
He means if I was to come again.
If I was to move to New York and live with him.
But he knows that’s not going to happen, right? We agreed we’d hang out, spend time with each other and kinda wait for a miracle. I’m sure he didn’t put it quite like that, but that was the general gist.
Thing is, I don’t believe in miracles, but looking at Jack’s expression, he just might.
He stands the lipstick on the counter. I pick it up, drop it into my makeup bag and zip it up. It’s ready to pop into my suitcase.
“So which is it? My favorite brunch place or my hotel?” Jack asks, as we hit the heat of the city sidewalk. The doorman holds open the back door to a sedan. Jack nods, gesturing for me to go ahead and get in.
“I’m going to be controversial, Jack,” I say, as he slides into the car next to me. “Have you ever thought that maybe your favorite brunch placeshouldbe your hotel?”
