I don’t want to find out.
After walking for some time, we arrive at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and Luke turns to me with a grin. “You okay to walk across here?”
I hesitate, glancing at the crowd.
“I know it’s a little touristy,” he says. “But it’s worth it. The views are amazing, especially on a day like today.”
We both look up at the azure sky, not a single cloud in sight. It is a beautiful day and I don’t want to miss seeing the city from the bridge. Besides, after the trapeze this morning, this doesn’t seem so bad.
“Okay.”
He leads the way and we start to climb, Henry racing ahead. The wooden walkway takes us up higher than the traffic, with a white line dividing the narrow space. We have to keep to the left, because cyclists come tearing down the right, and the first time it happens I get a fright and lurch into Luke’s side. He chuckles and switches so he’s walking on the outside of me, and I pretend I don’t find that incredibly sweet. I also pretend I don’t want his hoodie, which he offers when he sees me shivering in the wind. I know if I snuggle into the warmth and smell of his sweater, it will be all downhill from there. And if I see those forearms of his again? Forget it. I’ll be a goner.
He shares things about the bridge as we walk, like when it was built and how long it took and how many people died in the process. I find the last bit a little morbid and when he catches my expression, he apologizes.
But I have to laugh, because he’s trying to make this good for me. I realize again how grateful I am that he’s making such an effort, because I’m certain I wouldn’t have come here on my own.
We slow our walking as we arrive at the first of the two big towers of the bridge. It’s such an iconic sight—the pointed Gothic stone arches and suspension cables stretching out to the deck below like a giant man-made spiderweb.
“Thanks for taking the time to show me this stuff,” I say to Luke as we stop to read a brass plaque set into the stone.
“You’re welcome.”
We wander over to the railing and I glance at him. “To be honest, I was nervous when Alex said you were going to take me sightseeing, but it’s been great.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed the museum, and the trapeze was really fun. Actually, this week has been the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
“Yeah.” I smile to myself. “Me too.”
I lean against the railing and look out at the glistening water, watching a water taxi and mulling over Luke’s words. Despite our circumstances, this has been one of the best weeks I’ve had in a long time. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I’ve done so many fun—and challenging—things.
It’s not just getting out of my comfort zone. It’s Luke. When I’m around him, I feel different. I connect to an inner sense of self I didn’t know existed. He makes me feel alive, and sexy, and—hell—turned on, all the time. Ever since we had sex on the plane, he’s awoken some dormant part of me and I want to explore that more. Because if I feel like that after ten minutes alone with him in an airplane bathroom, after a few stolen moments between wedding tasks and sightseeing, imagine how it could be if we were actually… together.
God. I’m having some dangerous thoughts today.
I can feel the heat of Luke beside me, and when I turn to look at him, his eyes are roaming my face. “I’m not imagining this, am I? This thing between us?”
My heart kicks and I swallow hard. “No. You’re not.”
“And we…” He glances along the bridge to check Henry is out of earshot. “We shouldn’t act on it, right?”
I give a humorless laugh. “Are you asking me or telling me?”
“I—” He wipes a hand down his face, looking pained. “Ugh, I don’t know.”
I study the cars as they pass under the metal beams below us, and draw on my last reserves of self-restraint. “No, we shouldn’t act on it. You’re still married, and even if you weren’t, you want Alex and Michael tothinkyou’re married, so…” I trail off, shrugging.
Luke nods, his brow pulling low. “Yeah. I can’t ruin their wedding with my drama.”
“Anyway,” I say, laughing to try and lighten the mood. “It’s weird either way, right? Your brother is marrying my sister and we’re essentially in-laws in a week and a half. We’ll be like family.”
“I guess that is a little weird.” His mouth twists in a dirty smile. “Mike wouldnotbe happy if he knew the things I’ve imagined doing to his wife’s little sister.”
He—what?
Heat explodes in my core and I tighten my hands around the railing. There’s dynamite in Luke’s eyes as they sink down the length of my body then slowly climb back to my face. I want so badly to ask him what he’s imagined, but somehow, I stop myself. Knowing the details of that would make this impossible.
Instead, I take a fortifying breath and do my best to send him a disapproving look. “You probably shouldn’t say stuff like that.”
