We have been to five different buildings in the city, and Ben didn't like the security in any of them. I'm starting to wish that I was looking for our New York apartment without him because Ben was never going to think any apartment in this city is safe. Our realtor has taken us all over the city - SoHo, NoHo, Tribeca, the Village, and finally the Upper West Side. Not one single apartment got him excited, and I was tired living in the hotel.
Finally, when we view the Midtown space - Ben likes the building because there is a doorman and many security cameras surrounding the building. Our realtor, Matt informs him that the building has many security features, including a private elevator that we will need a fob to enter before it allows us to enter and punch our floor.
We exit on the 48th floor and walk down the hall to apartment 48562. Matt opens the door, and we are flooded in the sunlight from the large floor to ceiling windows. I'm sold the moment I see the view of the city in front of us. Ben follows him to the kitchen, lots of counter space for him to cook at. It's narrow, but lots of space for food and dishes.
"The master bedroom is this way." Matt points down the long hallway. "You have another bedroom and home office down the opposite way."
I walk into the bedroom first and see the biggest bed positioned in front of 3 large floor to ceiling windows. Matt points to the solid frosted glass wall with a double door and explains the walk-in-closet is through there and the master bathroom.
Ben and I take our time looking at the space we'll share. It's definitely big enough for the two of us and he seems happy with the security of the building.
"Do you like this one?" I ask hopeful.
He nods and puts an arm around my shoulder. "I like how safe it feels, but the most important thing to me is the way your face lights up with this place. I like this one." He grins.
"Really? Are we agreeing to purchase our first place together? No turning back, you'll be stuck with me." I tease him.
Ben picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. "I love ya."
I nod and kiss him before wrapping my arms around his neck for a tight hug. I'm excited to start the next chapter with him and to move the hell out of the hotel suite.
At the dining room table, Matt works on the purchase request with us. I want the place so much that I offer more than asking. We head back to the hotel and wait for the decision.
Three days later, our offer is accepted, and we schedule the closing for fifteen days with a cash offer. I work with my lawyer to get the money transferred and start shopping for furniture and other items to fill our first place.
Ben and I make a quick trip back to Boston to finish our college exams. While taking mine, Ben posts himself outside the room and watches for anyone looking for us. Once we finish with things in Boston, we head back to the city and our new place.
To save his heart, I skip my college graduation ceremony.
Our first night in the apartment, we unbox and put everything together that I purchased. I feel terrible watching the movers wrestle the Alaskan king-size bed down the narrow hallway. I give them a large tip once they are complete. Ben and I race to the bedroom to break in the new bed. We watch the sunset from our bed and it's quite romantic. My fingers run up and down his bare chest and I watch his skin cover in little goosebumps.
"I want you to make the artwork for our house. I want your watercolors everywhere around this place." I kiss his pec.
"We can do better." He shakes his head.
"Ben, I want your art." I look at him.
He pulls me onto his body and my hair cascades around us. "Then I will get to work."
"Or...we can wait." I giggle and bring my lips to his.
New York quickly becomes a comfortable place we call home. We find somewhere different to eat each night, and to my surprise, he actually tries different types of food. Ben's current favorite "go-to" meal was a Vietnamese dish from the Spice Market. He loves the chicken curry and I always order the halibut cha ca la vong salad.
Ben made me promise that the subway would be off limits and I had to agree to a car service for the fall. I know the request comes from a good place, but at times he makes me feel like a child that needs permission to do anything.
We are enjoying our typical lazy Sunday, both cuddling on the couch and watching a movie from our DVR queue. Ben leans down and kisses my forehead. I will never get tired of this.
"Do you want to go shooting today?" He asks randomly.
The gun range isn't my idea of fun. I don't like guns, but I know he needs this.
"I guess." I tell him.
Since his past found him at the club in Boston, Ben gets a maximum of four hours of sleep a night. He stays up worrying about me and getting me involved in this awful mess. When he finally falls asleep the smallest noise wakes him, and he grabs his gun from the nightstand. It's beyond terrifying.
I stand up from the couch and walk into our kitchen. I grab a soda from the fridge and when I close the door, he's standing there and looking at me with sad eyes. "Do you regret meeting me?"
All I can do is shake my head no. I'm scared if I try to speak, my voice will give away my sadness. I hate that he thinks I'm better off never meeting him. I put my can on the counter and wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tight.
"No. I will never regret meeting you. Ben, I love you. Do you wish you never met me?" I whisper into his solid chest.
He pulls me away so he can look at me. "Ally, you're the best damn thing in my life. I'm just so sorry that you can't walk down the street without looking over your shoulder, or that my fear brings us to the gun range to show you how to protect yourself. I wish I could give you a better life, but I'm too selfish to let you go." He tells me honest.
"Stop! I will take it all. The good and the bad. Ben, you are my life and I take all the risks with it. I can't live my life in fear because I don't want to miss the good. When my time is up, my time is up. You walking away from me would be worse than dying."
He hugs me to his chest again, "I don't know what I did to deserve you." He kisses me.
Giggling, I grin up at him. "You said hi and gave me your dimpled smile. Not going to lie...you had me right there, Bartender Ben."
Shaking his head, he kisses me. "I know the feeling."
"Let's go shoot some guns." I fist pump the air and walk towards the bedroom.
He picks me up and carries me into the bedroom. "Winner makes dinner?" He says in my ear.
Dropping me to the bed, I remove my t-shirt from my body and lay topless in front of him. "I already made dessert. I made special brownies. I know that you're not a cop yet, maybe you'll give me a punishment..." I bat my lashes at him.
His eyes get wide with shock and the grin erupts on his beautiful face. He removes my pajama pants and quickly removes his clothing. I watch his muscles and tattoos wrap themselves around me. This is my favorite place in the world. His arms.
YOU ARE READING
Heartlines
Romance*** Complete Story *** Allyson Sicard was in her final year at Harvard and while her roommates were trying to get their Ivy League boyfriends to propose, Ally was trying to figure out which law school she wanted to graduate from. Columbia had always...
