All the Way (Romancing Manhattan #1)(14)

“What do you suggest?” I ask London.

“The cran-apple is my favorite,” she says. “But really, you can’t go wrong with any of it.”

“We’ll take a cran-apple,” I say to the lady behind the sales counter. “Do you sell ice cream here as well?”

“We do,” she says with a smile. “Would you like a half gallon of the vanilla?”

“That’s perfect.”

Before long we’re headed home with our treats. Gabby’s where I left her less than two hours ago, and barely glances up from her movie when we walk past her to the kitchen.

“So glad we’re not burglars,” I call out to Gabby, who just waves at me.

“Told you she was okay,” London says with a smile, and sits on the stool at the island while I find a knife and plates. I dish us all up, deliver Gabby’s to her, and then lead London out to the back deck, which has killer views of the water.

“This is beautiful,” London says as she sits with her dessert.

“It’s the same view as yours,” I remind her.

“Yeah, and it’s still beautiful.” She smiles and takes a bite of her pie, then lets her head fall back as she moans in happiness. “Oh my God, so good.”

“Do you make that noise often when you eat?”

“What noise?”

“The moan.”

She frowns. “I don’t know, why?”

“Because if you do, I’ll have to make sure I don’t eat with you anymore. It makes me want to fuck you, London.”

She stops, her fork halfway to her mouth, and stares at me with her jaw dropped.

“Well, you’re blunt.”

“Frankly, I don’t know any other way to be right now because I’m so turned on I can barely see straight.”

“And flattering.”

“I’m not flattering you, I’m being honest.” I continue eating my pie, letting the conversation die, and she digs into hers as well. She sets her plate aside when she’s finished and, to my surprise, sets mine aside as well before climbing into my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck, threading her fingers in the hair at the back of my head.

“Gabby can’t see us,” she says quietly.

“No, and she’s preoccupied with her movie anyway, but I’m not getting naked with you out here.”

She smiles and drags her fingertips down my cheek.

“No, no getting naked tonight. But I’ve wanted to do this for a few days.” She leans in and presses her lips to mine, and I take over, gripping her wrists in my hands and wrapping them behind her back, pressing her chest to mine as my mouth devours her. She’s sweeter than the pie, and feels like heaven pressed against me.

She makes that little moan, grinds herself against my cock, which is pressed painfully against my jeans, and I want nothing more than to lay her back, strip her bare, and take my time exploring every fucking inch of her.

But Gabby’s here, and we’re outside, so this is not the place or the time.

God damn it.

“London,” I whisper against her mouth. “As much as I hate myself for it, I have to stop this.”

“I know,” she says, her eyes closed as she leans her forehead against mine. “What is it about you, Finn Cavanaugh?”

I kiss her nose, her forehead, then let her arms go and she braces herself against my chest as she leans back and stares down at me.

“Don’t answer that,” she says as she shimmies off of my lap. I see the cringe on her face when she moves her leg a certain way and I feel like a complete douche for not being more careful with her. “I’m not fragile,” she says, as if she can read my mind.

“No, you’re not.”

She clears her throat, brushes some stray hair off her cheek, and seems to wrap her dignity around her.

“You are sexy as hell, and I hope I get the chance to see you again,” I say as I glide my finger down her bare arm. She sends me a bright, happy smile.

“I’d like to see you again too.”

“My mother is arriving in the morning,” I reply, and she looks surprised. “She called me today, so it’s a last-minute visit, but she’ll just be here for a couple days.”

“That’ll be nice for you and Gabby,” London says with a nod.

“Here.” I unlock my phone and pass it to her. “Put your number in here so I can call you the minute she leaves.”

She smiles again and does as I ask.

“I should go,” she says. “If I don’t, I’ll throw myself at you again, and I limit that to once a day.”

“I’ll remember that,” I reply with a laugh, and stand with her. Rather than walk through the house, she takes the stairs off my deck.

“There’s a shortcut to my place down here,” she says with a wink. “Just in case you ever need it.”

And with that, she’s gone, and I’m left sexually frustrated and counting down to when I can see her again.



Two days. I haven’t seen London in two days, and it’s making me twitchy.

So while my mom and Gabby make breakfast and fuss at each other, I decide to go for a run down the beach. I prefer to go much earlier in the morning when there are fewer people out, but this will do.