Chapter 28
Vanessa
You have got to be kidding me. One thing about staying over at Kyle’s on a work night was his damn cell phone alarm sounding off at five a.m. Yes, I loved the Canadian National Anthem; it had always been my favorite when I watched the Olympics, but having it play in my head over and over was a bit much.
I nudged Kyle with my elbow—okay, I gave him a little jab to the ribs but the man slept like a log. “Kyle.” No movement. I tried once more a bit louder this time, “Kyle!” Again, nothing. Rather than hit him harder, I crawled over his half-naked body to reach his phone on the nightstand.
As soon as my T-shirt covered chest hit his bare one, his arms embraced me. His sexy morning voice greeted me. “Mmm, my plan worked.”
He pulled my head to his, fusing our mouths together. My lips stayed closed in protest. When I pulled away and turned off his phone, I uttered, “Morning breath.”
Knowing he wasn’t going to win that argument, he smacked my ass. “Then get off me and go brush your teeth. I need my morning kiss.”
“You’re awfully feisty this morning,” I said as I rolled off the bed. Then I took a peek out his window and gasped. “Everything is white! Kyle, I can’t even see the building next to yours.”
Rather than get out of bed, he flipped on the television to the local news channel. A litany of school and business closings scrolled across the bottom of the screen along with some mass transit issues. It was then he decided to join me at the window. When he saw the flurry of snow, he roped his arms around my waist.
“Looks like the meteorologist was right this time around. Aren’t you glad you listened to me and brought your winter clothes over with you yesterday? I need to send an email out to my employees telling them I’m closing the lab. It appears you’re stuck with me today.”
I craned my head back to look at him. “What will we do with the time?”
“I’m sure we’ll figure it out. Now go do what you need to so I can get a proper good morning kiss while I notify the staff.”
After we had breakfast, a culinary treat consisting of peanut butter and maple syrup sandwiches, we sat on opposite ends of the couch facing each other and drinking our coffee. He tossed a blanket over our legs. It felt very domestic but not overbearing. The snow continued to fall, and from what I could tell, another six inches had accumulated since the last time I looked. Although the snow was pretty, I wasn’t a fan of it.
“I remember you telling me you hate winter. Isn’t that against the law if you’re from Canada?”
Kyle let out a laugh. “When I was younger, we didn’t have many snow days since getting dumped with a few feet was a common occurrence. If everything shut down like it does here, nothing would ever be opened. Life went on, we just rolled with it or we’d go skiing.”
“Oh, do you ski?” It was then I realized we really didn’t know too much about each other.
“I do… and what’s that look on your face? Can I take it you don’t?” He sipped his coffee and waited for my reply.
“No, I don’t see the joy in strapping sticks to my feet and careening down a mountain at a rapid speed.” My fingers traced the rim of my mug, around and around as I realized there was so much about him I didn’t know.
“Nessa, what is it?” he asked, picking up on my pensiveness.
I gave him a half-hearted shrug. “I really don’t know too much about you, and I know it’s my fault for not wanting to share a lot when we got together, but is it weird that we barely know each other, yet we’re in love?”
“Nope. People who fall in love at first sight don’t know anything about the other person. Not saying that’s us, but it’s not that uncommon. We can rectify that right now. Ask me something.”
There was a glimmer in his eyes as he peeked at me over the top of his mug. He wanted to have this conversation a while back, but I wouldn’t open up. Now, there I was, wanting the same thing.
“What’s your middle name?”
“Steven. What’s yours?”
“Lee. What was your childhood like? Were you a good student or were you a wild child?”
His bare foot met mine under the blanket. “Not really, I went to an all-boys school from kindergarten until I graduated. There was an all-girls sister school on the same campus, but for the most part it was all dudes.”
“So, not a lot of girlfriends?”
“Nope, you’re the first one.” My jaw went slack at his admission. “Well, except for little Maggie who lived next door. Hers were the first tits I touched… I was eleven… she was thirteen. I thought for sure she was the one.” A combination snort-laugh flew out of my mouth. “Sure, laugh it up, but I thought we had something special.”
I feigned a sad pout. “I’m sorry.”
“I got over her eventually,” he admitted with a smirk. “Then I went to Yale and met Jude and Luca. As you’re aware, I was a bit of a trouble maker, knew the Dean by his first name, and had lots of fun with my pals who relied on me to get them out of certain situations. But they weren’t saints. Believe me, they screwed around as much as I did. Soren was smart and started investing other students’ money in the market. One could argue that he started his business back then. He even recruited me and Luca as salespeople for him.”
“How did that work out for you?”
“Not so great, but I got laid a lot. After grad, I started my own company with my life long savings account, fell in love with a sexy woman, and the rest of my story is still waiting to be written.”
Everything sounded so much different than my life which was boring in comparison. He took my mug, walked into the kitchen, and came back with fresh cups of coffee for both of us.
Once he settled back under the blanket, he nudged me with his leg. “You’re turn. Tell me the tales of young Vanessa Monroe.”
“There really isn’t much to tell that you don’t already know. My life was the complete opposite of yours—except for screwing around in college.”
“Where did you go to school?” he interrupted.
“SUNY Albany.” I smiled. “After graduation, I ended up doing a few odd jobs until I was hired by the asshole. Since then, I started working for this extremely handsome guy who loves his country’s anthem.”
“Yes, he’s lucky to have you. And speaking of Canada. As you know, I go home for Christmas and I’d like you to come with me.”
I shook my head. “No way, I’d be too nervous. Plus, what if they don’t like me?”
“They will love you. Please come with me. I’ll take you to Niagara Falls before we get to my hometown just outside of Toronto.”
I had never been to the Falls or outside of the United States for that matter, but I did have my passport just in case I needed to jet off to Europe on holiday… in my dreams. “If you’re sure I wouldn’t be an imposition, then I’d love to go with you.”
“Good, because I already told my family you’d be joining us,” he informed me while grinning. “I’m sure Aunt Betty is knitting you a sweater as we speak.”
“I can’t wait to see it—if I get one, that is.”
“Well, I’m sure if you don’t get one this year, you will next.”
I set my mug down on the table and straddled his lap. “Next year, huh? You’re being a tad presumptuous. By then I could be sick of you.”
“Or I could be sick of you.” His lips twisted into a snark-filled grin.
“Nah, that won’t happen. How could you get tired of me? I’m a ray of sunshine.”
“This is true.” He leaned in and kissed my lips long and hard. “So, next year then?”
“Yeah, next year sounds great.”
Kyle
We had breakfast, talked, and watched the last three episodes of Sons of Anarchy. Hearing her swoon over Charlie Hunnam was getting old. We made love in the shower and were finally going outside to enjoy our snow day.
I waited in my living room and watched the snow continue to fall outside my window while Vanessa got ready. It was a good thing I didn’t put my heavy jacket on yet or I’d be sweating.
“Nessa! Let’s go.”
When she came out of my bedroom, I just about died and went to ski bunny heaven. There she stood in black tight-fitting snow pants that looked more like leggings, a red turtleneck sweater, a black and white form fitting ski jacket, the cutest red, white and black striped hat with a pompom on the top, and black boots.
“I thought you said you didn’t ski?”
She glanced down at herself. “I don’t. That doesn’t mean I want to look frumpy when it’s cold outside.”
I shook my head. “Grab your gloves and let’s get out of here.”
The two of us trudged through the snow-covered sidewalks. Some New Yorkers braved the weather and were out, but for the most part the city was quiet. It took longer than normal before we finally made it to Central Park.
Vanessa’s cheeks were tinged red from the cold. Snowflakes clung to her eyelashes, making her look even more adorable than she already was.
“So, what now?” She glanced around the mostly deserted park. Some families took advantage and were building snowmen or making snow angels.
“Have you ever built a snowman?”
“Nope.”
“No?” Was she kidding? My question was meant to be rhetorical.
“I told you, I was never a fan of the snow or being cold, so why would I go outside on purpose?”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, beautiful, but that changes today.”
Vanessa could say she hated the snow as much as she wanted, but it was all a lie. My girl was a champion at making snowmen, or snow people, since she thought it was chauvinistic for all of them to be men. I will say, watching her gloved hands form the perfect set of breasts out of snow was a bit of a turn on. Of course, a few of the moms in the park looked at our snow people as if they were nude paintings. That just spurred her on. In my opinion, the moms were lucky she didn’t start making the men anatomically correct.
The white flakes finally stopped falling from the sky, leaving the park and its surroundings looking like a winter postcard. Everything from trees to park benches were white; it was the cleanest the city had looked all year.
Taking her hand in mine, we strolled through the park admiring the beauty the storm had left behind since tomorrow it could all look different.
“Want to see if there’s somewhere to grab a bite to eat? We never had lunch since you were too engrossed in Charlie Hunnam.”
“Haha, very funny. Food sounds great. I could even go for a slice of pizza.”
“Then I know the perfect place.”
We were both thankful the cabs were running since we were cold, wet, and tired. After a short car ride, we arrived at a small Italian restaurant. It was one of my favorites in the city.
Vanessa inhaled deep as soon as we walked in the door. “It smells amazing in here.”
Before I could agree, Pasquale, Luca’s uncle and owner, approached us. “Ah… Kyle eets-a so good to see you. Eets-a been-a long time, no?” He kissed both of my cheeks.
“Hi, Zio Pasquale. Yes, it’s been too long.” I took Vanessa’s hand in mine. “This is my girlfriend, Vanessa. Vanessa, this is Pasquale Benedetto, the owner and the best Italian cook in the five boroughs. He’s also Luca’s uncle. Vanessa knows your nephew, too.”
Her face lit up. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pasquale. It smells so good in here. Your restaurant is lovely.”
Pasquale’s olive complexion took on a reddish hue. Leave it to my girl to make him blush. “You are-a so pretty. Why you with this clown?” We all shared a laugh before he took her free hand and kissed the back of it. “Come, I bring you to the table.”
Once we sat down, Pasquale went to the kitchen and a younger man filled our water glasses and left us menus.
“Looks like the snow kept people away.”
Vanessa glanced around at the empty tables surrounding ours. “That’s okay. More food for us.” She shrugged off her jacket and turned to hang it on the back of her chair. “Luca’s uncle is so cute. I love his accent. He sounds just like Luca. Well, Luca’s English is a lot better, but still adorable.”
“You think Luca is adorable?”
She opened her menu. “Of course I do. All three of you are gorgeous specimens. Toss in your accents and it’s a no-brainer. We all thought so the night Brae met Jude.”
“Wait, I don’t have an accent.”
Vanessa grinned. “I know.” When I didn’t push further, she let out a laugh. “I’m just kidding, Kyle. Out of the three of you, you would be my first choice.”
“Okay, enough of the small talk.” Little did she know I had texted Luca to have him join us—something I now regretted.
We ordered a bottle of Chianti and suddenly the room was filled with boisterous voices. You would have thought twenty people walked in, but it was just Luca introducing Cassie to his uncle.
Vanessa turned her head and beamed, standing as they came to our table. They hung their coats up on the rack against the wall, and the girls hugged as though it had been months since they last saw each other.
I took it upon myself to fill everyone’s glass and ordered another bottle. Cassie shivered. “How about this weather and it’s only December? It’s so cold outside, I can’t stand it.”
“Um… hello? Why are you together?” Vanessa asked, wiggling a finger from Cassie to Luca and back.
“I was on the phone with Luca when Kyle texted, and he asked me to come.” Cassie rolled her eyes. “Lose that look, V. We’re just friends. Besides, why were you two out in this mess?”
“We were at the park today and Kyle brought me here to have dinner. It was nice having a day to just play in the snow. With the holidays coming up, we all get busy. Plus, we will be leaving for Canada… and…”
“You are?” Cassie looked at us in shock. Luca had an I told you so look on his face.
“Yes.” Vanessa smiled at me. “I can’t wait to see Kyle’s home.”
Cassie reached across the table and placed her hand on Vanessa’s. “This is so great. You’re happy, right, V?”
When I turned my head to look at my girl, she nodded at Cassie before turning to me. “Yes, I’ve never been happier.”
I cupped her cheek with my hand and placed a soft kiss on her lips before whispering in her ear, “I love you.”
She looked into my eyes. “I love you, too, Lyle.”
“It’s Kyle. Ky… with a K… Kyle.”
“Whatever.”