The Fine Print

“What kind of person hates New York?” 

“The same kind who loves Chicago.” 

“Take that back!” I lean over and smack his shoulder. 

He grins. “Nope. Not until you come with me to Chicago and confirm what I already know.” 

I’m pretty sure my heart might burst at Rowan’s idea. Pla

“People can’t take off and fly away whenever the feeling strikes.” 

His head tilts. “Why not?” 

“Because we have jobs and responsibilities.” 

“Leave dealing with your boss to me.” 

I shake my head, pretending to be disgusted, yet my heart accelerates in my chest.  

Our conversation is cut off too soon by the pilot a

The flight attendant opens the cabin door and all I see is white. 

“Snow! Real snow!” I take the steps two at a time and pick up a handful of glittering snow. 

Rowan stops beside me. “We got lucky.” 

“Lucky? How?”  

His eyes stay glued to my smile. “There usually isn’t snow this early in the season but they just had a storm the other day.” 

“If that’s not fate, I don’t know what is.” I throw the snow in the air and watch it all fall around me like powder. 

I close my eyes and laugh, only to open them to find Rowan staring at me. 

The staff makes quick work of our luggage, and before I can blink, Rowan has us settled into the back of a town car. He clutches onto my hand and draws idle circles with his thumb. Each rotation sends a jolt of energy shooting up my arm. 

I stare out the window the entire time, taking in the bright lights and endless amounts of people. It reminds me of the Dreamland crowds, but more aggressive. Like people have places to go and people to see, so everyone needs to get the hell out of their way. 

I absolutely love it. 

We pull into the valet of some high-rise building covered in glass and steel. 

“You live here?” I crane my neck back, taking in how the skyscraper touches a cloud. A real freaking cloud! 

He shrugs. “Sometimes. It’s one of my homes.” 

“One?!” 

He shrugs. 

“What’s it like to have more money than God?” 

“Lonely.” His word carries enough heaviness to taint the air around us. 

I’m tempted to wrap my arms around him to give him a squeeze. I can’t begin to imagine how isolating it is to be surrounded by so much wealth to the point that people stop treating him like a real person. After Rowan’s confession, I make a promise to myself to stop gawking at everything like it might disappear any second. 

“Okay. I’m going to act cool from now on and pretend none of this phases me.” 

“Don’t do that. I… It’s fun to see things from your perspective.” 

Fun?! Who knew the man could experience such joy. I’m so caught up in that admission that it takes me a second to realize the rest of his statement. 

He likes to see things from my perspective. My chest tightens, betraying me. Dammit. I should have listened to Claire. There’s no way things can stay casual between us without developing more intense feelings beyond liking one another. But why would he pursue me as Scott and Rowan if he wasn’t interested in taking things further? 

I don’t think he’s using me for sex. There would be no reason behind carting me off to New York if that was the case. 

Rowan’s hand finds the small of my back again as he leads us through an outrageous lobby with thousands of dangling gems suspended from the ceiling. He doesn’t need to press a single button on the elevators. Like he willed them himself, the doors slide open, revealing a shiny car of mirrors. 

We step inside and the doors shut behind us. 

His hand remains placed against my back. I’m tempted to step away and catch my breath, but he smells too damn good. The air thickens around us as he stares down at me. 

“This is one hell of a date.” 

“Please. We haven’t even gotten to that portion of the evening yet.” 

“Just want to let you know you’re setting an unattainable bar for future men. I’ll never accept movie theater dates after this.” 

Good, Zahra. Mention future men to throw him off. 

“That’s because you’re more of a drive-in type of girl anyway.” He grabs my hand and tugs me closer. His head tips down and his eyes shut as he leans in. My eyes flutter closed as his lips press against mine. I hold on to him as his tongue traces my bottom lip, asking me nicely to open up. My head grows heavy as my body trembles under his attention. 

The ping and the swooshing of the doors opening pulls us from our kiss. Rowan’s hand latches onto mine. He doesn’t let go as he walks us into a penthouse that could make an architect salivate all over the hardwood floors. 

“I hope you know I might never leave this place.” I walk right up to the massive two-story window that shows off a panoramic view of the entire city. 

One of his arms wraps around me, teasing the hem of my sweater while the other tilts my head to look over my shoulder. “You would give up Dreamland for the city?” 

I let out a soft laugh. “No. I love Dreamland. I could spend the rest of my life there and never get bored.” 

He looks at me with a weird expression I can’t place. “Really? Why?” 

“My whole family lives there. I’d be crazy to give that up for some random city.” 

“Hmm.” His hand strokes the sliver of exposed skin on my stomach.  

“Are you happy giving up the city for Dreamland?” I shouldn’t probe but I’m too curious. 

“I never thought I could feel happy at Dreamland again, but now I’m not too sure.”

I smile. “Really?” 

“I might have met the one person who makes the place bearable.” His gaze remains solely focused on my face. 

His answer makes my breath all shaky and my legs all wobbly. Hopeful little butterflies take flight in my stomach, proving just how far I’m falling.