Tyler unbuttons the coat with one hand and holds it open. The suit jacket underneath has me sucking in cold air that burns my lungs. “You dressed up. I’m kind ofshocked.”
His gaze roams up my bare legs, ending on my long jacket. “Your turn. Unless you’re not wearing anything under that coat, in which case, fuck the date, we’re goingupstairs.”
I unbutton the front of my coat, put both hands on my hips, andpose.
“Damn, Six.” His voice is reverent, and I’m glad I sprung for the new dress. “You’restunning.”
I feel myself flush in the dark. “Thanks.”
His gaze drops to the necklace hanging between mybreasts.
“Like your blingtoo.”
“First boy I ever loved gave it to me. Never forgot it, orhim.”
Tyler’s face fills with emotion as he helps me into the car. We talk on the ride, but he refuses to tell me where we’re going. When the car pulls up and the driver holds my door open, I step out into lights as bright asday.
“Broadway!” I huff out a happysigh.
Tyler shifts out after me, and as the car pulls away, he links his warm fingers through mine. “You asked me to a show a couple weeks ago, and I passed. I wanted to make it up toyou.”
The marquee on the theater has my eyes bugging out even more. “Hamilton? You’rejoking.”
I start toward the doors, but our linked hands tug meback.
Tyler’s eyes shine as he stares at me. “I love that about you,” hemurmurs.
“What?”
“You could have anything you want, and you’re still thrilled by theworld.”
“The best things aren’t about money,” I remind him, smoothing a hand down the soft fabric of his coat. “Though if this is some male ploy to get me to sleep with you at the end of the night, it’s not going towork.”
The exposed bulbs cast Tyler’s face in half shadow, and he has the decency to lookoffended.
“Don’t sleep with me because I took you toHamilton.” He steps closer to let a stream of people past us, bending toward my ear and lowering his voice. “Sleep with me because you want to. Because even though the world’s been offering you things this entire week, all you really want is to be alone withme.”
I pull back to look him in the eye. “How about because I’m not wearingunderwear?”
Tyler threads a hand into my hair, kissing me hard andhungrily.
“FuckHamilton,” he grinds out, and I suck in an appalledbreath.
“Absolutely not. We’regoing.”
Tyler’s groan vibrates through me. “Fine. But I’m feeling you up atintermission.”
The theater is beautiful, and I love everything about it. It’s opulent yet intimate, with plush red seats and arching gold decorations. Our seats are in the secondrow.
I point it all out to Tyler, and we discuss it until the lights godown.
From the opening number, I’m rooted inplace.
So many stories are powerful, but this one grabs me and refuses to letgo.
It’s about building alegacy.
Takingaction.