18. Up to the Rooftop
18
UP TO THE ROOFTOP
REX
I paced when nervous, and tonight was no exception. I also cut myself shaving, broke out in a cold sweat, and almost burned my hand, taking the baked brie out of the oven for our appetizer. But I’d chilled the champagne and everything was ready.
A glass of Macallan and a few deep breaths were in order before Chelsea arrived in about half an hour.
What was I so worried about? Oh, yeah. Ending my playboy days, committing to one woman, was kind of a big deal. Presenting her with a proposition for marriage was enormous.
With glass in hand, I strolled over to my penthouse windows, taking in the view, one of the best in New York. I could point out every building I owned through the glass. This was my world, and hopefully, it might become Chelsea’s, too. For a little while, at least.
I patted the little box in my pocket. She couldn’t possibly say no to the deal I fashioned. She’d have everything she wanted. Like?—
A knock at my door interrupted my worries. Glancing at my watch, it was early; it couldn’t be Chelsea arriving yet. I peeked through the peephole, surprised to find my neighbor Stanley there. With only two penthouse apartments on this floor, he had the other.
“Hey, come in. I haven’t seen you in a while.” I opened the door and welcomed the TV producer. “Want a drink?”
“Sure, thanks. I just came by to tell you I’m listing my apartment. I’m retiring in January and moving to Florida.”
“No shit? Congratulations then.” I crossed the room to my bar and poured him a glass of Macallan, too. He took it and we clinked glasses, strolling over to the window.
“Thanks. I’ll miss this place, and I’ll give proper notice to your management company.”
I’d be sad to lose him as my long-time tenant. His hair had whitened over the years, but he appeared virile at his old age. I wished him well.
“How’s the Morning City Show?”
He’d produced the city’s number one morning TV program for years and won a few daytime Emmy’s that he showed off in a glass curio cabinet on display in his entryway.
“Terrible. The boss said last minute he wants us to add cooking segments leading into Thanksgiving and Christmas, featuring comfort food, hoping to earn some ratings back. It’s a pain in my neck that I didn’t need this close to retirement. I already interviewed a dozen chefs and none of them were what I was looking for. I’m running out of time as the segments are supposed to start next week.”
“What kind of chef?”
“Any kind, at this point. The segments take planning and preparation, and it needs to happen now.” He appeared disheartened as he swallowed down half the drink, and suddenly, I knew who he should interview.
“Say, I know someone who would be perfect for the show. Chelsea Calhoun.”
“Never heard of her. Where does she chef at?”
“First, let me show you this.” I pulled up Chelsea’s social media profile for Sun-Up Deli and played the video she did for peach pie.
“Look at her.” Stanley practically tore the phone from my hands. “She’s bright, happy, plays to the camera well. Perfect for the Morning Show. But can she really cook?”
“I wouldn’t recommend her to you if she couldn’t. Trust me, Stan, she’s the woman for the job. You’d be foolish to not talk to her.” I glanced at the time; she’d be here any minute, and I didn’t want my evening plans disrupted by him. “Stop by Sun-Up Deli in the Buchanan building on Monday and speak to her yourself.”
“Okay, I just might. Hey, thanks for this.” He emptied his glass, handed it to me, and I set it in the sink on the way with him to the door. “Catch you soon.”
“Oh, Stanley? If possible, don’t mention that I referred her or we talked. If you like her, hire her on her own merits. Really, she deserves an opportunity like this.”
“Sure thing. Talk soon. ”
How amazing it would be for Chelsea? And it could fit well into my plans. If she earned a regular spot on the show, and opened her eyes to more that she could do with her talents, maybe she’d let go of the deli. Hell, I could see it now, an entire brand built around Chelsea with cooking shows, cookbooks, online sales. I’d be happy to find her an agent and hire a PR firm and an expert consultant on these things. Anything to help her be the best in the business. I mean, if we were going to be husband and wife, why wouldn’t I support her in her endeavors any way I could?
My mind raced with this turn of events until the knock came at the door. I’d keep this under wraps and hope Stanley reached out to her. Right now, I had a woman to convince to marry me.
I opened the door, and as always, the sight of her jump-started my heart. “Hello, sweetness. Come here.”
She yelped as I picked her up and carried her through. Might as well get into practice now for carrying her over the threshold. Jeez. Who had I become, thinking about all this marriage stuff? If someone had told me a year ago that I would think of getting married, I would have laughed my ass off.
In her presence now, all my worries washed away seeing the bold smile split her face. Yeah, something about this felt right. I was definitely getting everything I wanted tonight. I set her down, and she removed her coat. Not wasting time in asserting myself, I claimed her lips.
She moaned and lifted her leg on me as I planted kisses across her bare collar bone thanks to a knockout red off-the-shoulder sweater she wore. “Should we skip dinner and get right to dessert?” She asked.
“Tempting, but no. I have plans for us tonight.” I reluctantly put a pause on the kisses and took her coat and bag and hung them up. “Come with me.”
She took my hand and laughed, but stopped when something caught her eye. “Hold up. What’s this? Is that—the Eiffel Tower painting from the auction last night?”
The oversized oil painting was back in my home, thankfully one of few pieces not wrecked by the melee at the Zombie Ball. “Yes. It’s mine, but I donated it to the auction. Now it’s back.”
“It’s beautiful. One of my favorite things they had there.”
“Really? It’s yours. A gift from me.”
Her jaw dropped. “What? Just like that? You’re giving me a painting? I can’t take that.”
“Why not?”
“For starters, I have nowhere to hang it. I live on a couch right now.”
“That won’t always be the case. I’ll, um, hold on to it for you until you’re ready.”
“Rex, I don’t know what it cost you, but it’s too expensive of a gift.”
“Hey, you don’t need to worry about me and money. I have it, I make it, I invest it, I spend it. If I want to give a beautiful woman something special, I will, no matter how much you protest.”
Her hands massaged her temples. “Sorry. Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming how we come from two different worlds. I’m used to scraping by, and the simple things in life. I think the last thing a man ever bought me was a salad.”
I snorted. She deserved more, better, and I was the man about to give her everything. “Let’s make a deal. You don’t complain when I buy you something.”
“Fine, it’s just I have nothing to give you in return. I mean, what do you give the man who has everything?”
“That’s easy.” I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her forehead. “Give me your time. Be patient with me because I’m a man, and as a species, we’re known to be assholes now and again. And of course, pussy always makes a nice gift for any occasion, or just because.”
“Rex.” She burst out laughing at the last part, brightening my evening with her pearly teeth framed in red lipstick and a gorgeous curve to her lips.
“Add to that list—your sunshine. I could use more of it in my life.”
“Really? Well, that could be arranged. I have plenty to give to the right man.” She winked.
Would it be me? If she said yes, it would.
“Who knows? Maybe we’ll hang it in our own place someday.” I threw that out there, as it sounded like the exact sappy thing a hopeful man would say.
“ Our own place?”
“Sure, I hope I’m not too presumptuous here as to where this might be headed.” I took her hand to lead her up the stairs, and felt her out a bit with that question, just to be sure what page she was on.
“No. Not at all. Presume all you want.”
That was a relief. With each step we took, landing at the top, I gained more confidence in the outcome for tonight. I stopped at the top of the stairs and I captured her lips again. The same jolt of electricity hit me, as it had every time we connected. Was it just me? Falling into this role with her seemed easy and comfortable.
I opened another door and was about to take her up a skinny flight of stairs to the roof, but she held back.
“I don’t know where you’re taking me, but I have something to tell you.” A hint of worry crowded her voice.
“Oh, yeah?” I paused, hoping she’d make this fast because I suddenly I needed for her to see everything I had waiting for her.
“Rex, I called Uncle Doug today and told him I decided to stay here. I asked him to renew the lease. This is what I want more than anything, to make a good life and a good living running the deli. He agreed and said he’d call your office next week to arrange it.”
What she wants more than anything? What about me? Would she want me in five minutes after I told her my grand plan for us?
I simply nodded toward the stairs. “Come on.”
“Wait. There’s something else I want to tell you.”
“Okay.” I cocked my head.
“These past couple months, getting to know you, have been crazy good. Unexpected. Since last night, I’ve been thinking about how I reacted seeing you with Marlena. I was so jealous, and I think that must mean…I’m falling for you,” she ended in a whisper.
I broke out into a smile all over again and claimed her lips. Yes. Everything was falling into place. I had her on my hook.
We took the short flight of stairs, and, once we stepped outside onto the roof, the cold air hit us, but I was prepared. With a few clicks on my phone, the rooftop lit up with string lights everywhere, propane heaters turned on, and a snow machine at the base of the water tower above blew a light dusting of snow everywhere.
“Oh, my—what is this?” Her face, like a child’s, captured the magic all around us as she took it all in. Exactly the look I was going for. But I didn’t stop there. The rooftop was where Dad asked Mom for her hand in marriage. Surely it would work with Chelsea.
I led her down a path of rose petals to a table covered in white linen with a bouquet of red roses lit up by candlelight. As we got closer, in the middle of the table, a black velvet ring box became visible, and I reveled in her eyes growing wide at seeing it.
Now for the hardest part.