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And then something occurred to me.
“You called me Jax.”
Natalie obviously hadn’t realized it. She took a quick sip of wine to cover up her smile.
“Can’t take it back,” I said. “It’s gotta be Jax from now on.”
“But that was your prize,” she said. “Although I have to admit, if you lose the land, that doesn’t seem to be much of a consolation.”
I didn’t plan on losing the land, but since we were getting along, I wouldn’t point that out.
“Nice try,” I said. “But it’s too late. Jax it is.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
I needed to distract myself from thoughts of that kiss, as if I’d suddenly be able to stop thinking about it. About Natalie naked. Underneath me.
“Your turn, sunshine. Tell me something I don’t know.”
Natalie took a big breath in and then exhaled. It was the most relaxed and unguarded I’d ever seen her.
“I’ve never been out of the country.”
“No?”
“Nope. Which is why I’m so excited about the wedding. I’ve never even had a passport before now.” She side-eyed me. “I hear you’re coming.”
“I am. Looking forward to it. Sicily is a really unique place.”
“You’ve been there?”
“Once, though just for a few days. I was stationed in Vincenza, on the mainland, at one point. A few guys and I made our way over to Sicily for a few days while on leave. One of them had ancestors who lived there.”
“Have you been to where the wedding is?”
“Cefalù? Nah. I’ve heard of it though. Supposed to be a nice place.”
“Mazzie raves about it. She and Gian met there.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“You know...” She took a sip of wine. “They didn’t get along very well at first. Mazzie thought he was a big, huge playboy and wanted nothing to do with that.”
I kept my mouth shut. Gianwasa big, huge playboy, as she put it. At least when I’d known him.
“They seem like a great couple,” I said instead.
“They are.”
With both our wine glasses empty, I got up, planning to refill us, when Natalie stopped me.
“If I drink any more, I won’t be able to drive home.”
I didn’t think twice. “You can stay here.”
For a second, she actually considered it. Natalie watched me, contemplated what an overnight at my place might entail, and dismissed the idea. I could tell even before she opened her mouth she wouldn’t be staying.
“That’s probably a bad idea.”
