One Beautiful Promise

by Layla Hagen

  “I’m sure we would, hon,” Mom added. “I’m so happy you’re going out with him. Ryan would want you to be happy, you know.”

  “I do.” We’d actually talked about this once before our wedding... what we wanted for the other in case one of us died early, and we’d both made each other promise that we’d fall in love again. But that had been infinitely harder than I’d anticipated, and I hadn’t actually thought I’d want any of that... until meeting Cole.

  Being with Cole felt so natural like that. I knew in Rome that he was different. I was ready now to make him happy and just enjoy everything we had.

  “I just didn’t think I’d want to until now,” I whispered.

  “Good for you,” Mom said. I could see the relief in her eyes. “So where is he taking you tonight?”

  “I’m taking him somewhere, just have to figure out where. He’s in a bit of a mood, and I want to cheer him up. Any suggestions?”

  “Well, we don’t know New York, honey. Why don’t you ask Isabelle? I’m sure she’s explored every street in that city.”

  My mom knew Isabelle only too well. We spoke for a few more minutes, in which Dad gave me a rundown of a small greenhouse he was building in the backyard.

  After ending the call, I searched for the top ten most romantic places in New York on my phone. I wanted to do something special for Cole. I finally narrowed it down to two options I thought Cole might like. I texted Isabelle for her opinion, because she’d been traipsing through the city in her spare time. I included the link in my message.

  Laney: I want to surprise Cole with a romantic outing. Maybe a picnic? I’m thinking the High Bridge and the park, or the Brooklyn Garden. Unless you recommend something else from the list?

  Isabelle: I’ve seen everything in that article. Go for the bridge. The Botanical Garden is beautiful in the beginning of April when the cherry trees are in bloom, but now that’s over.

  Laney: I can’t believe you’ve seen so much already.

  Isabelle: Well, you have a job. I only have a few clients and a ton of free time. I was actually thinking about working as a tour guide until I get more clients. #HUSTLE.

  Laney: It’s going to get easier, trust me!

  I needed to arrange something to cheer up Isabelle too. She was a hardworking, positive person, but roadblocks chipped at everyone’s optimism. One thing at a time, though. I had to take care of Cole tonight, and tomorrow as well. I tapped my fingers on the phone as I made up my mind. I wanted to get out of the voluntary shift I’d signed up for tomorrow morning, so I headed straight to the chief of staff.

  This was an absolute first time for me.

  “Okay... I’ll just ask one of your interns to come instead,” Celia said, eyes wide.

  “Thanks. I just want some free time, you know?”

  Since I started at the hospital, I’d gained the reputation of someone who was available for extra work all the time. As an intern that had been expected anyway, but even as a resident, I’d spent more time in the hospital than necessary. Throwing myself into work meant I didn’t have time to dwell on anything else. Honestly, it had been such an easy excuse to not do things... like date.

  She smiled, running a hand through her dark curly hair that was sticking out in every direction. “Look at that. Our girl’s finally getting her nose out of books and the hospital, exploring New York a bit. Good for you.”

  I smiled back. Exploring Cole was a better explanation. My heartbeat accelerated; my smile widened. I didn’t want to just let life slide by me anymore, and I knew it was all because of Cole.

  I’d signed up for these voluntary shifts right before I left for Rome, and canceling last minute like this wasn’t okay. I had to think ahead about which shifts I could pass on to my interns. Holy shit, I’d never even considered doing that before.

  I hurried to change. My hands shook a little as I applied makeup in the staff bathroom. Yeah... no eyeliner for me. God, I was jittery. Grinning, I placed a hand on my stomach, drawing in a deep breath. Then I knew exactly what I needed to calm down my racing pulse. I played my favorite song on my phone and started swinging my hips to the rhythm almost instinctively. After shaking off some of those jitters, I approached operation makeup with renewed focus. Okay, Laney, you can do it. Come on. Show Cole the best you’ve got.

  I ended up only applying mascara and a light blush. My hair was loose around my shoulders.

  Okay, that was it. I was ready to surprise Cole. Well... physically at least. My emotions were still a riot, and I couldn’t even make sense of all of them. I felt this sliver of fear at the prospect of putting myself out there, but it was so easy to push it to the back of my mind. All I had to do was to picture Cole in my mind. My face literally stretched into a grin. And those were definitely butterflies in my stomach.

  Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I rushed out of the changing room, darting toward the back door. I took a deep breath once I stepped outside the hospital. The air was pleasantly cool. It was a great time for a picnic. I’d made a plan for this evening. There was a Dumont Gourmet next to the hospital, and I loaded up on snacks: chips and a small pouch of marshmallows.

  Twenty minutes later, I was in front of his office, knocking at the door.

  “Come in.”

  His tone was clipped, and he didn’t look up when I opened the door. His office was huge, with a triple window to the left. He was sitting behind a glass desk in a dark green velvet chair. There were two other identical chairs on the other side of the desk.

  “Hey, Mr. Charmer.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Laney

  He glanced up in surprise and immediately rose from his desk, walking to me. My palms were a little sweaty.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “You seemed in need of some cheering up.”

  “Definitely.”

  “Sooo... I thought I’d help you with that. We have two options. If you still have work to do, I can just sit on the chair in front of your desk, be quiet, and munch on all the goodies I bought.”

  “What’s the alternative?”

  “We’re going for a walk in a place I chose and eat all the goodies there. I think you’ll like it.”

  Cole stepped closer, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. He touched my lower lip with his thumb. “I can’t get any work done with you here, Laney. You’re a temptation I can’t resist.” He pinned me with that intense gaze. I caught my breath. Every nerve ending heated up when he looked down my body and then back up.

  “Do you have a deadline? I don’t remember you saying anything. I wasn’t sure if you were staying here late because you wanted to just blow off steam from the morning meeting or... I’m just gonna shut up now. I can go.”

  “No fucking way, Laney. Why are you so nervous?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  He took my hand, squeezing it lightly before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. “Let’s go.”

  “My... what a gentleman,” I teased. That fire dancing in his gaze was a telltale sign that his thoughts were anything but gentlemanly.

  “For now.” His voice was low and rich, and it turned the simmer inside me to a full-blown fire.

  I nodded appreciatively. “So I can add patience to your list of qualities.”

  Cole laughed. “You have a list?”

  “Of course.”

  “Care to share it?”

  “Hmm... I think not. I fear it might make you think you can get away with anything.”

  He gave me a grin that I could only describe as... cheeky.

  “You having a list already accomplished that.”

  “Wait a second... does that mean you don’t?” I pressed my lips in fake mutiny.

  “Course I do. And unlike Ms. Secretive here, I’m more than happy to share it. I like that you’re fierce and smart and a fighter.”

  I sighed, lacing my hands around his neck. “Damn. How’s a girl supposed to keep her guard up when you say things like that?”


  “You don’t need that guard with me, Laney. I promise you don’t.”

  I licked my lips, looking him straight in the eyes. “I’m sorry... it’s just habit.”

  “Do you trust me?” he murmured.

  I nodded. “Completely.”

  “Then don’t try too hard to keep that guard up, okay?”

  I nodded, my throat clogged with emotions. God, how did he know just what to say to put me at ease? I wasn’t feeling scared, or uneasy. Just happy to be here with him.

  He led us out of the building, and I tried not to blush too much at how close he kept me with his arm around my waist. Luckily, we only encountered one person, and he was looking at his phone, so he didn’t even notice us.

  “Where are we going?” he asked once we were outside.

  “The High Bridge Park in Washington Heights.”

  “Lead the way.”

  According to Google Maps, the park was fifteen minutes away from the Upper West Side, so we Ubered there. I debated asking him about the mediation this morning, but then figured he’d talk about it if he wanted to. I held one of his hands in my lap, palm up, drumming my finger on his skin. When I looked sideways, I was startled to find him watching me intently. I’d intended to help him relax, but he was on fire.

  As soon as we got out of the car, Cole pulled me flush against him. His lips covered mine in a ferocious kiss. He pressed his thumb just under my chin; the rest of his fingers were on my neck. Then he slid his hand to the back of my head, holding me in place. He explored my mouth like he was starved for me. He twined our tongues again and again, until I rocked back and forth. Oh God, that tension building inside me was unbearable. I pressed my thighs together—most of the tension was focused there. The way he kissed me just reached deep inside me, past any barrier and guard. Oh, this man. He was going to change me completely; I could feel it in my bones. From the moment I’d met him in Rome, I’d wanted to do things differently with him.

  We laughed when we both gasped for breath. He still had one hand buried in my hair, the other firmly on my waist, brushing his lips against my forehead. My entire body was humming.

  “Let’s go,” I said. I took two steps forward before stopping, looking around with a frown. “Wait... I think this is the wrong direction.”

  Next to me, Cole was flashing me his cheeky smile again.

  “You could find the most obscure street in Rome without a map but get lost in New York?”

  “Your kiss was just too...”

  “Disorienting?” he suggested. I pinched his arm, laughing when he affectionately pulled me sideways to him.

  “Yup. That kiss was so hot it made me forget my sense of direction.”

  “I know where the entrance to the bridge is. Come on.”

  The High Bridge was the oldest one in New York, and it used to be an aqueduct. It was even more romantic than in pictures, with the wrought iron railing along it and old-fashioned lampposts. The park was at the other end of it, a sea of green with the water tower on top. When we reached it, we searched for a bench that was a little out of the way. We had a gorgeous view of the park.

  “Now, let me get out the goodies.” I put everything between us on the bench.

  “Healthy snacks not your thing, doc?”

  “Not really. Besides, you seemed down when you messaged me, so I bought comfort food.”

  I dug into the marshmallows. Closing my eyes, I popped one in my mouth, enjoying the exquisite taste on my tongue. I only blinked my eyes open when Cole made a low sound in his throat... like he’d tried to subdue a groan or a growl. His pupils were slightly dilated. The grip on his own marshmallow was so tight that he’d changed its shape. My sexy date was on fire. And I’d managed that just by humming in delight at my marshmallow? Hmm... well this was an easy tactic to take his mind off the unpleasant meeting he’d had. I mean, I had this whole plan mapped out where after dinner I lured him to his own apartment (I was betting he had the same plan) and tried one of those full-body massages on him. I was sure that I was going to take his mind off everything. But if I could start distracting him during this picnic, all the better. I just had to bring my inner siren out to play. Easier said than done, since I was used to scrubs and zero flirting. But now I was wearing jeans and a black top with a decent cleavage. I could put that to use.

  “Want to talk about your day?” I asked, trying to lean forward and press the sides of my arms into my bra somewhat clumsily. The idea was to push up my boobs a bit.

  Cole swallowed. “Laney, if you keep doing that, there will be no talking at all. Fucking hell, woman, do you want to drive me crazy?”

  Heat coiled through me. I instantly relaxed my arms. Clearly, my flirting and seduction techniques needed work.

  “Well, yeah. But maybe not right now,” I said quickly.

  Cole chuckled, and his expression brightened a bit. Okay, so I’d accomplished my mission anyway. That was good enough for me.

  “Nah, it’s fine. I got over it. Gabriel’s an asshole, and let’s just say I don’t like bullies,” he said.

  “That’s understandable. So what’s going to happen now?”

  “Schmuck thought I’d just cave in to his demands to avoid all the hassle of going to court. He was wrong.”

  He clenched his jaw. His shoulders became rigid.

  “Okay, I see you’re getting tense again. The idea was to help you relax.”

  “Trust me, Laney. This is relaxing. That day in Rome was the first time I just completely shut off my business brain. Whenever I’m with you, I just forget about everything else.”

  “I like the sound of that. Let’s see if I can manage that now too. I have an idea. Why don’t you lie down? I can feed you,” I said confidently.

  He lay on the bench, head in my lap, looking up at me. I grinned, shoving a marshmallow in his mouth. I threw the next one in the air and failed to catch it. Cole burst into laughter.

  “Maybe not,” I muttered.

  “I like where this is going. Your breasts are right over my mouth when you lunge for it.”

  “Hey! I thought you didn’t want to be tempted.”

  “I know, but you put them right in front of my mouth. What am I supposed to do?”

  I giggled, just taking out more marshmallows before remembering the bag of chips I’d bought too. I liked watching Cole relax in my arms and forget about his troubles.

  We stayed on that bench right until sunset, but after that, it got chilly.

  “Shall we move a bit?” I asked. Cole pushed himself up from my lap, rising from the bench.

  “I have a better idea. I’m kidnapping you,” he announced, pulling me up by one hand. His voice was a delicious mix of seductive and conspiratorial.

  “Where?”

  “We’re going to this amazing place known as my apartment. It’s really close.”

  “That’s true. I didn’t realize that.”

  “I confused that compass badly with that kiss, huh?” He playfully tapped my temple.

  I pinched his shoulder lightly. “Stop being so full of yourself because of that.”

  “Impossible.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Laney

  When Cole said his loft was close, I didn’t realize we’d only need five minutes via Uber. Damn, my compass wasn’t just confused, it was downright broken.

  He led me inside with a hand to the small of my back. I was just about to fess up to my plan of using seduction as a relaxation technique when a better idea struck me.

  “I’m going to go to your master bathroom. And I want you to come after me in ten minutes.”

  He cocked a brow.

  “I’ll wait for you there,” I explained.

  “Will you be waiting naked?”

  I grinned, shaking my hips as I turned around. “You know it.”

  I was half expecting him to follow me, but he remained behind. As soon as I entered the bathroom, I turned on the tap in the tub. I also connected a Spotify list of relaxing jazz music to
the embedded sound system. I quickly discarded my clothes. I was just bending to check the water temperature when I heard the door open.

  “You’re cheating. It’s been eight minutes, not ten.”

  “Give me some credit. I wanted to burst in here eight minutes ago.”

  I grinned, straightening up slowly. My entire body hummed when I felt him behind me. He laughed softly in my ear and moved his fingertips slowly over my hands at my sides.

  “You planned this?” he asked.

  “Yep. Concocted it when you messaged me about the meeting. By the way, I’m free tomorrow.”

  He stopped moving his fingers. “Fucking hell, babe. That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Why didn’t you lead with that?”

  “It was supposed to be the cherry on the top. I was working up to that. Now I’ve gone and messed it up. But the order doesn’t matter, right? I can still give you that full-body massage. First step, let’s jump in. I can start on the massage while the tub fills with water.”

  “I like how you think.”

  He touched both ass cheeks just with the tips of his fingers in small circles, moving toward my outer thighs before skimming them upward on my ribcage. When he reached my breasts, he pinched one nipple with his fingers. He lowered the other hand down my belly, past my navel. He only nudged my clit once, but it was enough for my whole body to respond. Moaning, I braced my palms against the edge of the sink. I couldn’t believe I was so turned on already.

  “I like seeing you like this. Ready for everything I want to give you. Looking at me like I’m everything you could possibly want.”

  My chest swelled, and my voice stuttered as I whispered, “You are.”

  He looked inside me and wasn’t afraid of what he saw. He could read me so well, and I didn’t want to hide anything.

  I swallowed hard, pushing my ass against him. He moved his fingers in circles with a precision that made my knees weak.

  Every time he reached the most sensitive spot, a full-body shudder gripped me. My legs were shaking slightly. Each time, he brought me closer to a climax. I was almost there, but not quite, and that was just impossible to bear.