Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
K at’s heart thumped like a bongo drum. She glanced around the museum lobby and found everyone else going about their business, apparently oblivious to the seismic shift. Nick was extending his stay—for her.
She knew it wasn’t his love of the city or desire to sightsee. While the implications and what-ifs pummeled her inside, he waited for an answer, his eyes focused on her.
With a light laugh, she took his arm and led the way to the elevator. “Dinner tonight sounds lovely.”
“I’ll need to make a couple of phone calls, but let’s have lunch first. You like the cafe here?”
“I do, but since you have more time now, let’s go to the Terrace up on six.”
After they were seated and ordered drinks, Nick stepped outside the restaurant to deal with his flight change.
Kat took a minute to catch her breath. She glanced toward the doors, wondering if he was also extending his stay at the hotel.
It wasn’t close to Kat’s place. Should she catch him and suggest another location?
Or offer him her couch? Her face warmed as she considered the scenarios.
If he stayed at her place, she doubted he’d end up on the couch.
Just the thought made her lightheaded.
When he walked back into the restaurant with that smooth, confident gait, his eyes settled on her. She took a sip of her iced tea and patted her lips with her napkin. He did have a way of making her overheat.
“All set.” He slipped into the chair across from her. “Flight leaves at two o’clock tomorrow and the Hilton got me a room at a property near The Met.”
Boom . Question answered. “Perfect,” Kat said. Without that weighing on her mind, she could have more fun.
“So, where we headed after lunch?” he asked. “Did you come up with some locations for the photo shoot?”
“I did. I’m thinking of a cool gate near the zoo inside Central Park, and there are a couple of buildings in the area that have some nice steps and architectural features that might work.”
“No studio?”
“Let’s see how our time goes.” She’d worn a bright blue boiled-wool jacket to work today and had a couple of additional scarves in her backpack. “I think it’s warm enough we can try a few in just my jacket.”
They enjoyed their lunch at a leisurely pace but declined dessert.
Instead, they got coffees to go. “There are lots of places we can stop for re-heats along the way if we get cold,” Kat said.
Even though the sun was shining, it was January in New York, and there could be a chilly breeze in the park.
Nick hailed a cab to deliver them there. He’d already mentioned he wasn’t a fan of subways. Probably just because he wasn’t familiar with the system.
“You know, in New York City, subways are the best way to get around,” Kat told him. “Mass transit. With other people.”
“What’s wrong with a cab.?”
“Nothing but the price. Come on, the subway’s a part of the city experience.”
“Yeah. I’d sure hate to miss a city experience.”
Humor combined with his sarcasm, and Kat figured they’d be taking the subway before the day was over.
She wouldn’t press if he was totally opposed.
He’d mentioned his aversion to crowds and concrete more than once in their email conversations.
As they climbed out of the cab, Kat spun around, an idea popping into her head.
“Hey, speaking of New York experiences, do you know how to ice skate?”
“Ice skate? Sure.”
“Really? You’re serious?”
He shrugged. “I played some hockey in high school.”
“Oh, my gosh. Do you want to go skating? Down at Rockefeller Center?”
“I’m thinking you do.”
His slow, lazy smile sent tingles over her skin.
“I would love to.” With a breathless laugh, she grabbed his arm.
“I’ve been in New York City three years and still haven’t found anyone to skate with.
I took my best friend, Mia, down there once.
She didn’t know how, just trying to be a good sport.
But she couldn’t do it. Put on the skates and ten minutes later, took them off again.
” Kat shook her head at the memory of Mia on the ice—unintentionally doing the splits. “Oh, man, it was a disaster.”
“Pretty sure I can hold my own.” He pulled Kat toward him and landed a quick kiss on her lips then hoisted his computer bag onto his shoulder. “But first, show me your cool gate.”
* * *
Nick lifted Kat’s camera and familiarized himself with the zoom and other features, opting for auto focus for now.
When he looked up, Kat had positioned herself in front of the large iron gate.
She was right—the strong black vertical lines of the metal against the light gray concrete provided interest while also giving a generic background that wouldn’t compete with the main subject of the photo. Kat provided the pop of color.
“Do whatever feels natural,” he told her. “Smile or not. Cross your arms. Hold onto the spindles. Some facing front, and some from the side.”
“Nothing about this feels natural.”
“I don’t believe that. You like this place, right? Show me.”
She laughed, and he snapped frame after frame in quick succession.
He couldn’t capture the infectious melodic sound, but he caught the bright smile that widened across her face.
He snapped several more images then zoomed in for a closer focus.
The smile accentuated her high cheekbones and the sparkle in her eyes.
The light breeze blew a few strands of hair back from her face, and when she looked away from the camera and into the distance, his breath caught.
He felt as though he was seeing her the way few others ever had.
Raw and real. Comfortable in her space. Her smooth skin practically begged him to reach out and run a hand across it.
If he’d been closer, he couldn’t have resisted.
He cleared his throat. “Okay, now something a little more playful. How about holding onto the spindles and looking back over your shoulder?”
“Okay, but I feel silly.”
“You look great.”
And to prove his words, she clung to the spindles and tilted her head back with a sassy toss of her hair that made his heart slam against his chest.
He gave a low chuckle. She was good at this. “You’re nailing it. These are gonna rock. Want to try another setting?”
“Yeah. Let’s try that temple with the massive steps just up the street.”
He helped her into her coat then offered her his arm.
She took hold and leaned into him, and as they walked a couple of blocks to the building, a sense of contentment stole over him. He’d never imagined being this pumped about traipsing through New York City in the cold.
When they stopped near the steps, Kat rummaged in her backpack. “Let me change the look a bit.” She added a colorful scarf then scampered up the steps. “What do you think?”
“Looks good.” Better than good. The pop of color and energy in the center of all that concrete were like a sunbeam peeking through the clouds on a gray day.
She leaned forward against a stone post and flashed a smile.
Momentarily dumbstruck, Nick almost forgot he was supposed to take pictures, not just enjoy the view.
He lifted the camera and resumed his assignment, moving around Kat up and down the steps to get the best angles.
The new angle allowed him to get a sliver of bright sky in the background.
It almost matched the blue of her sweater—and her eyes.
Thirty minutes later, Kat couldn’t feel her feet. “I think that’s plenty,” she told Nick. “You ready to head back?”
“Sure. I think we’ve got some amazing stuff.”
She shot him a sideways glance. “Amazing might be overstating it a bit, but thanks for doing that.”
“My pleasure. Tell you what else I’ll do. I’ll take the subway now without my suitcase, but when we leave the hotel and head back this way, we get a cab. How’s that for a compromise?”
Kat shoved the camera and scarves into her backpack and smiled. This was one sensible guy. “Fair enough. I warn you, though, this’ll be a long one. Around thirty minutes.”
“Maybe we can use the time to go through the pictures.”
“That’s a great idea, if we can get a seat.
” Kat saw Nick’s grimace and regretted her words.
This time of day, there was a good chance they’d be standing, at least for part of the ride.
They could always look at the photos over dinner.
He’d taken about a thousand shots so there should be something she could use for the show. She hoped so, anyway.
Sure enough, crowds of people waited for the train when Kat and Nick made their way through the tunnel. As they moved forward to board, some jostling ahead held them back. Nick grabbed her arm as a man pushed his way in front.
“Hey, buddy, where’s the fire?” a man ahead of them asked.
The offender flashed a finger, hollered an expletive, and kept going.
Kat rolled her eyes. Great, that was sure to make Nick eager to spend time crammed into close quarters with masses of humanity.
All the seats Kat could see were occupied, so she grabbed hold of a pole.
Nick moved in close to her and did the same.
He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I hope I’m getting the full experience here. ”
“Must be your lucky day,” she told him.
“That it is,” he agreed.
The warmth in his voice told Kat his comment held a different meaning.
“What’s the deal? Are you claustrophobic?” Kat swayed against him as the train made another stop.
Nick shook his head. “No. Just prefer a little breathing room. Some personal space.”
“Oh, sorry.” She took an exaggerated step away from him.
He braced himself against the pole and slid his free arm around her waist. “You, sweetheart, are an exception.”
His warm breath at her temple sent her pulse skyrocketing, leaving her tongue-tied.