I stifle a laugh with another sip of my drink. “I was thinking about home and how dramatically different my life is now.”
He takes a swallow of the soda water he ordered. It made me second-guess my choice of beverage, but he insisted I indulge since it was a special night for me.
“What was life at home like?”
I draw in a quick breath. “Easy, quiet.”
“Boring?” His brows perk.
I consider that for a second. “No. I wouldn’t say that. Life ran at a different pace there. I’d wake up early and work on my unfinished sketches. I’d usually sit on the front porch right after the sun came up.”
A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “It sounds very peaceful.”
He’s incredibly handsome. I’ve felt a rush of heat flowing over me since we sat down at this secluded table in this quaint bar. He not only looks like heaven dressed in that tuxedo but he smells divine. Add to that the fact that he went out of his way to arrange for me to meet Sem, and I’m ready to crawl into his lap and kiss him.
“Have you always lived in New York?” I ask to break the spell I’ve put myself under.
“Always,” he answers without any hesitation. “It’s home to me. I wouldn’t say it’s home sweet home, but it’s where I belong.”
That answer is way too intriguing for me to just skate past it without asking more. “Why isn’t it home sweet home?”
“New York can be a bitch in her own way.” He takes a sip of water and then scowls before pushing the glass away. I can tell he’s regretting not ordering something stronger. “The city hasn’t always been kind to me.”
He’s not the first person I’ve heard talking about Manhattan as if it’s a living, breathing being. I suppose in some ways it is. “What has the Big Apple done to you?”
His brows draw together as he studies my face. “It’s stolen from me.”
“It stole from me too,” I joke. “At least one New Yorker did. I think he’s a New Yorker.”
His shoulders relax with the change of subject. “The police never nabbed that asshole?”
I shrug. “Not yet. I even did a quick sketch of his face and dropped off a copy at the precinct. I thought they could match that to their database and get a hit.”
I didn’t think it could hurt. The officer at the desk gave me a sympathetic smile when I dropped off the sketch on my way to work one day. I have no idea if he even showed it to another soul. It doesn’t matter at this point. I’m over that night.
“You sound like you watch too many detective shows.” He leans forward. “My friend Sebastian works homicide with the NYPD. I could get him to take a look at the sketch. Maybe he’ll show it around. If the guy who robbed you is a repeat offender, one of Sebastian’s buddies might recognize him. “
“If you think it’s worth a shot, I can give you a copy of the sketch in class on Monday.” I know he’s trying to be helpful, but I doubt that anyone who works in homicide would recognize the jerk that took my stuff. He may be lousy in bed, but he didn’t strike me as someone capable of murder.
“You can send me a copy tonight.” He raps his fingers against my clutch. “Get out your phone so you can program my number into it.”
“I’ll bring the sketch to class. I don’t need your number.”
“You want it,” he counters, staring into my eyes. “I want yours, so let’s exchange now.”
I don’t move. “I don’t want your number.”
“The lip, Piper.” His hand leaps to my chin. “That adorable way you bite your lip makes me...”
My gaze drops to his lap. I knew I should have taken the seat across from him and not the one next to him. He’s too close, and now, he’s hard. I can see the outline of his erection through his pants.
“If you’re worried I’m going to call you non-stop I can assure you that I won’t.” He raises his right hand in the air as if he’s taking a vow. “I’ll keep my distance until you kick Rufus to the curb.”
“Rufus?” I hear the surprise in my voice when I say his name.
Griffin rolls his eyes. “The model you like hanging out with.”
“I know who Rufus is,” I say quickly. “Why did you bring him up?”