She could knock down all my walls with a smile, making me forget why they’d been up in the first place. I was starting to think none of my relationships had ever lasted because no woman could compare to Clara. Her memory had haunted me for a decade like the Ghost of Christmas Past.
I might have slept through that part of the play tonight. Those fries had been tasty, but the carbs were like a lullabydragging me down to sleep. I hid it well. Clara had barely even noticed.
The performance finished up and we said goodbye to Ganymede before we left. The woman had insisted on putting her phone number into Clara’s phone herself, that way Clara had no excuse not to call her.
Out on the sidewalk, Clara was walking on air, not bothered at all by the chill.
“That was amazing,” she said, smiling at me under the stars.
“I’m glad you liked your surprise.”
“I loved it. You know how to show a girl a good time.”
I laughed and grabbed her hand in mine. Together, we walked down the street, thrumming with energy. I decided I could open up to her a little.
“To be honest,” I said. “Tonight was the most fun I’ve had in the city in a long time.”
“I refuse to believe that.” She shook her head firmly. “Walk in any direction and you’ll find something to do.”
“That’s true, but I just get so caught up with work.” I shrugged with a soft smile on my face. “I rarely take advantage of what makes this place awesome. With you, it all feels brand-new again. So, thank you.”
Clara looked up at me with her lips parted. “Luke, I should be thankingyou. I mean, you opened up your whole world to me. I’m supposed to be helping you, but it feels like you’ve been making allmydreams come true.”
I chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck. “I helped, but you’re the one making all these connections. I’ve never spoken this much with Kerri. She loves you and it has nothing to do with me. I used to think she hated me.”
Clara grinned. “Well, then we both deserve pats on the back.”
Without a word, we had the same thought. Our hands let go and we patted each other’s back. Then we fell into each other laughing.
“Is there anywhere around here we can get a drink?” she asked. “I’m not ready to go home yet.”
The word pulsed in my head like a beating heart.Home. Was that how she thought of my penthouse?
I liked the idea. What I’d told Bonnie had been the truth. I looked forward to going home when she was there waiting for me. Clara had slotted into my life like she’d always been a part of it. I didn’t know what was going to happen after Christmas, but I hoped we didn’t have to stop exploring whatever was happening between us.
“A drink sounds great,” I said. “I know a nice place right around the corner.”
Clara hugged my arm and I led the way. Hill’s was upscale, bougie. Plenty of people inside were dressed up. Some of them had probably come fromA Christmas Carol, too. We would fit right in with our clothes.
We sat at a small corner table beneath a dim lamp casting warm orange light on us. She got a glass of wine and I ordered a vodka tonic. Soft instrumental Christmas music jingled in the background. Lights had been strung around the bar.
“This is nice,” Clara said.
“I was just thinking the same thing. The world is so much better around Christmastime.”
She laughed. “This is coming from the man who freaked out about my decorations.”
“I had forgotten about that.” I chuckled and shook my head at her. “You surprised me, is all. It’s not like I’m anti Christmas decorations.”
“So then why didn’t you put any up?” She took a sip of wine and smacked her lips. I didn’t think she knew she did that. It was cute as hell.
I took a deep breath like I needed it to get the truth out. “I never saw the point when it was just me at the penthouse. I’m glad you took the lead.”
“Someone had to.”
“So I have a big question for you,” I said.
Clara put her drink down and gave me her full attention. “A big question. Alright. As long as it’s not algebra.”
