Page 87 of For the Love of Art

“I’m going to stop you there.” I placed a finger over Nathan’s mouth. “I’m happy I’m with you, really, I am. But I don’t want being with you to change everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to live in my shitty apartment that smells like moldy Chinese food.”

Nathan made a face. “Okay. I understand what you’re saying. I just–”

“We can fuck here.”

Nathan blew out a breath. “Okay. Deal.” He wet his lips. “It looks like there’s still something on your mind.”

I breathed in deeply. “I don’t want to announce our relationship.”

Nathan clicked his tongue. “You might get caught leaving here.”

I hadn’t thought of that.

“How about, until it’s in a gossip magazine, we don’t act like a couple in public.”

I bit my lip as I waited for his response. Nathan seemed to mull the thought over.

He turned so he was facing me. “How do I take you on a date?”

Another thing I hadn’t thought of.

“I guess you don’t?” I wrinkled my face, nervous about his reaction.

Nathan blew out a breath. “So, I can bring you here, have sex with you, but that’s it? Our whole relationship will be this apartment and sex?” He wet his lips. “I’m not sure how that’s treating you differently than the other women who have been in my life.”

I took his hand in mine and laced our fingers together. “The difference is that it’s just me.”

“If that’s what you want,” Nathan said, but didn’t sound convinced.

My phone vibrated on the table, and I reached for it. “I’m not ready to be in the public eye. If the city found out you were dating some nobody who lives above a Chinese food restaurant–”

“I don’t care what the city thinks. I care about you.” Nathan tucked some of my wet hair behind my ear. My phone vibrated again. We both looked down at it. “You should get that.”

I hummed. “It’s just a text from Lianne.”

Lianne

I haven’t seen you in forever!

Time to stop by the shop?

“Lianne wants me to stop by the shop.” I looked at Nathan. “Guess I’ll swing in tomorrow on my way to work.”

Nathan leaned closer and kissed me. “Damn. I was hoping to convince you to stay another night.”

He kissed me again, only this time deeper. I melted against him as his hand slipped into my bathrobe and cupped my breast.

“I’m happy to do whatever it was you were planning for tonight now. I do need to get home to Hamburger.”

Nathan looked at his watch, then back at me. “Deal.”

I will on my way to work tomorrow!

I dropped my phone on the couch. “All yours!”