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Want me to pick up some lunch?
Sure, though eating wasn’t what I had in mind.
I think I’m picking up what you’re dropping.
Yeah?
Yeah
Good. See you at noon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
zoe
“Finally, the weekend,” I said, walking into my apartment. “Nate?”
He wasn’t in the kitchen. Or bedroom.
I found him on the deck, but instead of opening the door, I stopped. Watched him through the sliding glass doors. His hands were folded behind his head, those sexy forearms flexed. Staring up at the sky, he looked peaceful.
But I knew better.
It hadn’t even been a week since we’d first met in person, but I’d quickly come to understand what Lucas had been trying to tell me. There were essentially two Nates. The one I’d gotten to know over text, who seemed so open. Every question I’d asked, he answered. From all of his favorite things, to his deepest, darkest desires. It felt as if, in just a short time, we’d made up for a lifetime of not knowing each other.
And then there was the Nate I didn’t know at all. The one I kept hearing about. The “private and guarded” Nate. He’d mentioned ideas for his future but seemed reluctant to talk about them. So many times he grew quiet, even after a raucous bout of lovemaking where it seemed I was getting the whole man. In those moments, I imagined he was thinking of Africa. He’d warned there would be an adjustment, but I already knew that from my father. And so, I let him have those moments, making sure Nate knew I was there if he wanted to talk about it.
But he never did.
That was the Nate I watched now. The one who kept his emotions inside. The one who claimed he had never loved a woman. Which was problematic since there was no doubt I was in love with him.
“You coming out, Zoe girl?”
I pushed the sliding glass door open all the way and stepped onto the deck. “You never even looked over at me. How did you know I was there?”
He turned his head toward me. The man was even hotter in person than in pictures. It was the eyes, the warmth in them, that didn’t translate in a pic.
“Remember what I do for a living. Or did for a living.”
“Spotter. Right. I had forgotten for a second.”
“I think you also forgot to come over here and sit on my lap.”
Smiling, I did just that as Nate sat up to make space for me. His arm went around my shoulder as he brought me in for a long, lingering kiss. It wasn’t like most of our kisses, frantic with the need of two people separated for too long. This one was slow. Sensual.
Dare I think it?
Loving.
“Oh,” I said, remembering suddenly. “Let me see.”
Nate showed me his new ink. It looked awesome.
“Hot.”
He laughed. “Thanks. So, to what do I owe the pleasure of an unexpected half day?”
“Well, I was able to wrap everything up, though I will have to go in tomorrow for an hour or two to check on a wedding reception setup. I thought maybe we could head to Sunset Winery. They have an afternoon wine cruise around the lake.” Suddenly, it occurred to me. “You don’t like wine.”
