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“You’re getting better,” he says, sounding satisfied.
“I’ve been skipping pointe class and jumps.”
He nods. “Good. I’m glad to hear it. I know you’re probably feeling anxious to get back in the swing of things, but just imagine what it’d feel like if you had to take time off indefinitely.”
I adore the way Nate speaks. It’s never occurred to me just how much I like the sound of his voice. It’s low and smooth, his range reminding me of the low notes of a cello. There’s a lilt to the way he speaks, a twinge of a New York accent affecting his syllables. I suppose it makes sense. He’s been living there for ten years, so it’s not unreasonable that the city’s influenced his speech.
It’s actually kind of hot.
What’s more, I adore his hands. Big, strong, and rough. My mind races with thoughts of him touching me all over, consuming me in heat and pleasure.
“Do you normally escort your patients after their classes?” I ask.
Nate finally stands, having finished his examination. He leans forward, a hand braced on either side of me on the table.
“No. Just you.”
“You really have a way of making a girl feel special.”
He dips his head down and brushes his lips against mine, smiling into the kiss. “Yeah, well, it helps that you’re special to begin with.”
I giggle. “What a line.”
“You complaining?”
“Nope. Definitely not complaining.”
Our mouths hover inches apart, perfectly content to just be.
“In all seriousness,” he says after a few moments, “are you doing anything later? Or were you just trying to get Tom to back off?”
I laugh softly. “I think I can rearrange things for you.”
“Just for me? Consider me flattered.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“How about dinner? For real, this time.”
I reach up and stroke the line of Nate’s jaw, admiring the burn of his stubble on the back of my fingers. “Did you have a place in mind?”
“Is Old Joe’s still running?”
Old Joe’s Italian Emporium is a favorite among the citizens of Haven. It’s—as the name would suggest—old and specializes primarily in Mediterranean dishes. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. Kids and teens mainly go for the pizza, while the older generations mostly go for their Tuesday pasta specials.
“It is,” I confirm. “How does eight work for you?”
“That’s perfect.”
“I promise not to be late this time.”
“How about I pick you up after you’re off work. That way you’ll have no excuse.”
I giggle, unable to help myself. “That sounds like a wonderful plan.”
Chapter Thirteen
Nate
Everything smells like garlic here.
It’s not bad, but it’s a bit overpowering.
We’re sitting in a small booth closer to the back of the restaurant, so it’s perfect for some quiet conversation. The only problem is that I have no idea what to say. There are so many things I want to ask, but don’t dare to.
Which ballet company do you want to work with? How far away will you have to move? Why was I the only person you’ve ever slept with? Can we skip dinner and go straight to dessert?
“You okay?” she asks softly, poking at her Cobb salad. I told her to order more, but Eve insisted that she can’t go overboard on the calories.
“Of course,” I answer a little too quickly. “Everything’s great.”
Eve smiles sweetly at me, patient. I don’t know why I feel so off-kilter whenever I’m around her. I’m normally quite the smooth talker. There are few people I can’t charm with a few simple words.
But Eve’s got my tongue twisted up in knots. I don’t want to say something stupid. I’ve never been concerned about making a fool of myself up until now. So what is it about Eve that has my palms all clammy and my heart pounding in my chest? If she were any other woman, I probably wouldn’t care.
She looks angelic under the soft restaurant lighting. There’s a fake tealight candle sitting between us on the table, flickering to mimic the movement of flames. It casts her in a gentle golden glow. Like this, I can truly admire the deepness of her dark eyes, the smoothness of her skin, the plumpness of her pink lips.
“Tell me about your life in New York,” she says after taking a bite of her salad.
“What’s to tell?”
“Don’t you have any funny work stories? I’m sure the life of a doctor must be pretty eventful.”
“It definitely never gets boring. I once got to operate on Travis Rockshire”
“Travis Rockshire, the Broadway singer?”
I nod. “The one and only.”
“That’s so cool! I didn’t know you got to work with celebrities. Was he as much of a diva as rumors say he is?”
I laugh. “Unfortunately, yes. He booked three hospital rooms so his chihuahua had enough space to run around.”
“Are pets even allowed in a hospital?”
“Nope, but try telling him that.”
Eve giggles. I really want to record the sound so I can play it on repeat. It’s so light and soothing, like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter night. I simply can’t get enough.
