All the Way (Romancing Manhattan #1)(28)

“I know, you’re gonna miss me, but I don’t think there’s any reason for you to keep coming here, unless you start having issues again, or feel like you’re sliding backward. But you’re a strong woman, who was in excellent health to begin with, which helped you immeasurably.”

“You’re discharging me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He folds his hands on his desk and smiles at me. “Congratulations, London, you’ve graduated from PT.”

I smile and clap my hands, tears threatening again, but happy tears this time. “Awesome. Can I start going to the gym?”

“I don’t see why not. Take it easy and listen to your body. Don’t overdo it.”

“I won’t. I’m just ready to get back into decent shape.”

“You don’t consider this decent shape?” He laughs and shakes his head.

“Joe, I was a professional dancer. I’m twenty pounds heavier and can’t run five miles without feeling like I’m going to die.”

“I get it. You’ll get all of that back. It won’t take long.”

I nod and stand when he does. I can’t help from reaching out and hugging him hard.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He pulls back and smiles down at me. “You’re going to be great.”

I nod and leave the PT office, and when I get to my car, I reach for my phone and immediately call Finn.

“This is Finn.”

“Hey, are you busy?”

“Never too busy for you. What’s up?”

“I have super-awesome news, and I need to see you right away. Can I come over?”

“Of course. See you soon?”

“Very soon.” I hang up and drive directly to his house. I hurry inside and find him in his office at the top of the stairs. “Hi.”

“Hey beautiful.” He stands and holds his arms open, inviting me in for a hug, and I swear it’s like coming home. “Your body is humming. What’s going on?”

“I have the best news ever. I’ve been discharged from PT.” I pull back and do a little dance in excitement. “I get to go to the gym and lose the weight I’ve gained. I can do pretty much whatever I want.”

“That’s the best news I’ve had all day,” he says, his handsome smile wide and happy. “Not that you’re losing weight, but that you’re healing. The curves don’t bother me.”

“The curves don’t bother me either, I just want to go to the gym,” I reply honestly. “I need to be more active than I have been. Exercise has always come easy to me, and it’s time to get back there.”

“Anything that puts this glow on your face makes me happy as well,” he says. “And I might have an idea on how we can celebrate.”

“How?”

“Let’s go to London.”

I stop and stare at him in confusion. “As in, England?”

“Yes, that one.” He leans in to kiss me softly. “To be fair, I’d already planned the trip as a surprise, and this is the perfect opportunity to tell you about it.”

“When are we leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

I feel my eyes grow wide, and then I smile and launch myself into his arms. “You’re taking me to London?”

“Baby, I’ll take you anywhere you want.”

“Let’s start with London.” I kiss him and grin when he sits me down on his desk. “This is the best surprise.”

“Just wait until you see what I’ve planned for us there.”



The lights. The music, and the dancing. The incredible acting, direction, costuming.

The story.

Finn brought me to London yesterday, first-class, and tonight he brought me to a show at the Bush Theatre, in the West End theater district, London’s equivalent to Broadway.

Our seats are, of course, stellar, and all I can do is hold his hand as I sit and take it all in avidly, soaking in every minute of it.

Oh, how I’ve missed this. Not just being a part of it, but being a lover of the theater, part of the audience, experiencing the absolute magic of what the actors create.

For two hours, we are entertained impeccably, and with each curtain call, I’m on my feet, enthusiastically applauding the hard work of everyone involved.

“What did you think?” Finn asks when the houselights come up.

“Absolutely wonderful,” I reply with a wide smile, and crook my finger, silently asking him to lean in and kiss me.

Which he happily does.

“I know some of the cast. Do you mind if we go backstage?”

“Not at all. I’d called ahead, so they’re expecting you.”

I stare at him in awe for a moment. “You thought to let them know I was coming?”

“Sweetheart, do you know who you are? You’re London Watson, and trust me when I say, no one has forgotten that.”

Tears spring to my eyes, and all I can do is take a deep breath and squeeze his hand gratefully.

“Let’s go,” he whispers in my ear, and leads me to the back of the house, where a security guard checks our IDs, then gestures for us to go behind stage where the actors are gathered, signing autographs and greeting fans.