It’s as if he’s read my mind. I blink then meet his eyes again. “I think I already am,” I whisper, bringing my hands to his. “You make me feel so many things, Rafe. Things I didn’t know I’d feel again. And most of all, you make me feel safe.”
A low growl emits from his throat. Then, suddenly, he turns me around and lifts me so I’m sitting on the counter. He bows his head until our eyes meet, our mouth merely centimeters apart. “I will always keep you safe, Brie. Always. No matter what happens, never doubt that. It’s a promise I refuse to break.”
My heart flutters at the earnest tone of his voice. It’s almost desperate, as if he’s pleading with me to believe it. But he doesn’t have to. I already do.
“I know, Rafe. I have no doubts.”
“None?”
I shake my head. “Not a single one.”
A relieved smile breaks out on his face, and before I can question it, he pulls me off the counter. “If we don’t get out of here soon, we’re going to end up back in that bed. And as good as that sounds, I have plans for you today.”
Placing my hand in his, I drag him out to the living room and grab my purse. “Then let’s go. Because the sooner we go do whatever you have planned, the sooner we can come back.” I give him a saucy wink.
He groans, making a show of adjusting himself in his jeans. He grumbles when I laugh and slaps my ass before leading me out to the elevator. As we ride down, he takes my hand, and I smile wide, unable to contain my excitement for whatever he has planned.
Even though I pester Rafe about where we’re going, he won’t tell me. However, once he drives onto Benjamin Franklin Parkway, my heart starts to race as I get a sense of where he’s taking me. Sure enough, it’s not long before we pull up to The Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“Really?!” I squeal, throwing myself across the car and my arms around his neck. I had no idea I wanted to do this, but now what we’re here, I find that I do.
He laughs. “Yes, really.”
We exit the car and hold hands as we walk up to the massive stone staircase leading up to the main building of the museum. I stop at the bottom, taking a moment to drink in the sight of the fa?ade and columns I’ve gazed upon so many times before. Closing my eyes, I try to remember the last time I was here with my parents, and instead of hurting, I smile at the happy memory.
“Brie?” Rafe’s soft whisper causes my eyes to flutter open. When he sees the tears in them, he curses and starts to turn, but I pull him close. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I thought this was a good idea . . .” he says, trailing off when I rise to my tiptoes and kiss him on the lips.
“It’s not just a good idea, Rafe. It’s perfect,” I assure him, sniffling and smiling at the same time. “I’m just a little emotional about it, remembering my parents and all. I haven’t been here in . . . Oh gosh, it’s been nearly two years. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“You said last night that, with me, you felt at home. Someone took them from you, and I know I can’t ever bring them back, but I’ll do everything in my power for you to feel as close to them as possible. Exploring the city and exploring all the places you loved visiting together seemed like a good start.”
“What did I ever do to deserve a man like you, Rafe Matthews?” I ask quietly, gazing up at him.
“You said yes,” he says simply.
“I always will,” I answer.
Even though there’s a chill in the air, heat swirls around us. It’s as if we’re in our own blissful bubble and nothing will ever penetrate it. I have no idea what I’m doing, allowing myself to become so close to someone after the disaster with Adrian, but I can’t fight my feelings for him. Still, the air between us is thick, and I’m about two seconds away from throwing my arms around him and telling him just how I feel.
One corner of his mouth tilts up into a smirk. “I’m going to remember you said that,” he warns.
I laugh, grateful that his teasing brought my soaring heart and overactive mind back down to Earth before I started spouting off emotional declarations. “That sounds terrifying,” I tease.
His smirk deepens as his hand slides down my back to cup my ass. “Oh, baby, you have no idea,” he whispers as his teeth nip at my bottom lip.
“Okay, horndog,” I tell him, pushing him back. “Are you ready to be wowed by my knowledge? After all, it’s about time I get to put my art history degree to use, even if it is just for a day.”
His expression softens. “You won’t be a receptionist forever, Brie,” he tells me.
I hold a finger up and stop him. “Let’s hope not, but drop all the serious talk.” I turn and jog up a few steps before looking back at him with a hand on my hip. “Plus, I have a scorching-hot boss. I’m not exactly clamoring for a new job any time soon.”
“A hot boss?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow.
“The hottest,” I tease. “Now, come on.
He climbs the steps two at a time until he reaches me. After he slips his hand in mine, we walk up together. Suddenly, halfway up the steps, he stops and drops my hand. He places his hands on his hips and looks around, his eyes widening.
“I had no idea,” he murmurs as a reverent look crosses his face.
My eyebrows narrow. “What are you talking about?”
He leans in and gives me a quick kiss. “Sorry, baby, but I’ll meet you at the top.”
With that, he turns and starts jogging up the steps. A light bulb flashes in my mind and I just shake my head, following him as I admire his ass. When he gets to the top, his lifts his hands in the air in triumph, not even out of breath. I finally reach him, and he grabs me by the waist and twirls me around.
“This where they filmed Rocky!” he exclaims, and I laugh, nodding. “I love this place already.”
I grin. “Umm, did you miss the Rocky statue down there? Your powers of observation are failing you,” I tease.
He looks around. “Where?”
I point, loving the boyish look of glee on his face. I having a feeling that this is just the first of many, many trips here with him, and I couldn’t be happier. I wouldn’t want to share this with anyone else.