FIFTEEN
CLAIRE PUSHED ASIDE ANYTHOUGHT of how fast and far she’d fallen. After last night, she couldn’t lie to herself. She was in love with Luke. Hopelessly, deeply, completely in love, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
That wasn’t exactly true. When Monday rolled around she could start to put some distance between them and see if she could learn to shield her heart. Until she found the strength to walk away. But not today, today she was determined to enjoy every minute, consequences be damned.
When he asked her where she wanted to go, she could tell he hadn’t expected her to say the Statue of Liberty, but it was her first time in New York, and she wanted to do all the crazy tourist things. Luke wanted to take a private boat, but they wouldn’t be able to dock at the statue or get off at Ellis Island, and Claire had insisted they take the ferry just like the rest of the tourists.
The line winding back and forth to the security check point stalled, and Claire glanced over her shoulder to gauge Luke’s mood. He’d traded his tailored suit for faded jeans, a pale blue T-shirt and soft leather Italian loafers that looked effortless but probably cost more than her entire shoe wardrobe combined. Or at least her normal shoes. She thought rocking back on the wedges she’d paired with the pretty floral sun dress she’d found in Anna’s amazing room of clothes.
“Let me guess,” he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind and nuzzling the sensitive skin behind her ear. “Waiting in line is part of the experience, right?”
“Well yeah,” she said, grinning up at him.
For a guy who was used to the world bending to his desires, he’d been a remarkably good sport. Although she had no doubt he’d work out a delicious way to make her pay for dragging him through the line of sweaty tourists and over-tired kids.
“See, we’re moving again.” She slipped from his arms, catching his hand and pulling him to the security check tables. She opened her bag for the security officer and made her way through the scanner, watching from the other side as he followed behind her. Yep, she was definitely paying for this later.
He shook his head when he caught up with her and took her hand, leading her to the ferry. Sprinkles and the threat of rain had kept some of the tourists away, but it also meant the benches on the upper level were damp. A little disappointed, she turned file behind the rest of the people filling the more protected seats on the lower level. Luke tugged her hand, steering her toward the steps.
“No way, sweetheart,” he said, pulling him behind her like a child. “We are getting the full experience.”
He made his way to the front of the ferry, pausing to swipe at the damp bench before sitting down. His slight wince when he sat was the only indication that he was at all uncomfortable. Claire glanced from her sun dress to the bench, and he laughed.
“Come here,” he said, spreading his legs and pulling her down onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, and she leaned her cheek against the top of his head.
“I’m not too heavy for your leg?”
“Are you kidding? This is the best part of the trip.” He hugged her to him, and they sat snuggled together as a few more intrepid souls braved the upper deck.
When the ferry pulled away from the dock, the wind picked up, and she was grateful for the shelter of Luke’s arms. The pigeons landed on the deck in front of them and started searching for abandoned crumbs. Claire got caught up in watching them strut back and forth, but when Luke nudged her, she looked up and her breath caught.
The Statue of Liberty stood on her island pedestal in front of them. It wasn’t that the sculpture itself was so impressive. It was, but it was the symbol, what the statue represented that humbled her. She squeezed Luke, and he murmured in her ear.
“She’s something isn’t she?”
“Yes,” said Claire, swallowing past the lump in her throat. She wasn’t the kind of woman to tear up at Hallmark commercials, but something about seeing the Statue from the water the way so many immigrants had after long, dangerous trips really got to her.
“Do you want to get off?” asked Luke.
She shook her head, and if her answer surprised him, he didn’t let on. They waited for the ferry to load and unload and settled in for the short trip to Ellis Island. When they pulled up to the dock in front of the striking brick buildings, Claire pressed a quick kiss to his forehead and started to rise but Luke pulled her back down. He cupped her face, turning her to face him so he could claim her mouth deepening the kiss and seeking out her tongue with his.
In a flash they went from tender affection to blazing heat. He threaded his fingers in her hair anchoring her in place for the onslaught of his mouth, and she felt his cock swell underneath her. When he broke the kiss a few moments later, he left her struggling to catch her breath.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about waiting in line,” he said with a wicked grin. “I’m thinking of all kinds of ways for you to make it up to me.” He scooted her off his lap, rubbing his palm over her butt before giving her a sharp swat.
Claire looked around prepared to be horrified, but she’d lost herself for so long in his kiss. They were alone on the upper deck. She gave him a quick eye roll and took off down the stairs, leaving him to follow behind her.
Hand in hand they made their way to the main building. Claire stopped to read every plaque and scanned the interactive rosters for any sign of her mother’s Italian family. She didn’t find anything but by the time they made their way to the next floor and the displays about illness and medical treatment, she found herself empathizing completely with the immigrants who gave up everything for a chance at a better life.
“Can you imagine having to tear your family apart?” she asked when they got to the display about quarantine. It was almost inconceivable but if a family arrived at Ellis Island and one of the children was sick, a parent would have to stay with the ill child while the rest of the family left. In some cases the ill person and their guardian were sent back to their home country alone. “Imagine making that long trip only to be turned back.”
She couldn’t believe the choices some families were forced to make. She glanced at Luke and was surprised to see his expression clouded.
“Something wrong?” she asked, laying a hand on his arm.
“Nope,” he said, shutting down any further discussion.
He tugged on her hand and she landed against him with a wumpf. Before she had a chance to catch her breath, he kissed her, urging her to open for him. She had a moment to worry that someone might walk in the room. But she didn’t have a chance to react, before he took the kiss deeper, tasting and teasing her, nipping at her bottom lip and swallowing her cries.
