“YOU CAN’T BE mad at me.” Mai pouted indignantly, eyes never leaving her mobile phone screen. “You should’ve told him, not leave me to deal with your shit.”
“I know.” I took my credit card back from the shop assistant who’d generously relieved me of one hundred and fifty dollars for a pair of baby pink lace knickers. An expensive purchase, but one Nate would enjoy when I wore them this weekend. “Sorry.”
“Nate had a right to know what he’d been up against,” she said, finishing her tweeting and tucking her phone back in the bag almost the same size as her. God knows what she had in it. “You wouldn’t like it if you were fighting ghosts from his past, would you?”
“I sort of feel like I am.” I smiled my thanks and took the bag from the cashier, waiting until we were walking away before continuing. “That’s why I overreacted so badly. Well, that and my own history with troublesome exes. The unwelcome return of Nate’s ex is bothering him. I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s not right.”
“He won’t tell you?” Mai steered me back into the jewellery store we’d visited earlier so I could collect my other impulsive purchase presently being engraved.
“He tried a couple of times. I told him it wasn’t necessary.” I left her trying on jewellery and went to collect Nate’s gift. When she returned to my side, I elaborated. “I’m trying not to make assumptions. If I want us to have a future, I have to learn to trust him.”
“And do you?”
Without a second thought, I nodded. “I trust him to deal with her, and trust his reasons for not wanting me involved. We cleared the air. Nate knows everything.”
Keeping her attention on the ring she’d slipped on, she raised her hand in the air and admired the coloured stones. “And for being a jealous girlfriend you got a diamond necklace?”
My right hand went to the pendant around my neck. Nate’s gesture of love still had me reeling. Mai turned, her teasing smile giving away her delight. “If you’re not buying anything, can we get some lunch?” I said, rubbing my stomach. “I’m starving.”
Mai picked her bag off the counter and linked her arm through mine. “He’s gonna go cray-cray for two weeks while you’re on vacation visiting your dad.”
I cringed. “When I said he knows everything…”
Never one to hide her displeasure, she made a tsking sound. I didn’t have to look to know I was in trouble. “You haven’t told him?”
“Not yet,” I mumbled, shaking my head. “I will. Tonight.”
“Learn your lesson, K. Tell him before he finds out another way.”
I arrived at Nate’s condo not long after 10 p.m., using the key he’d returned to me on the drive into work this morning to let myself in. I’d struggled to get into yoga, and even dinner and drinks with the girls couldn’t relax me. Psyching myself up to break it to Nate that I was going away was stressing me out.
I dropped my bags by the stairs, slipped off my heels and padded along the dimly lit hallway, knowing exactly where I’d find him. He was looking at the open door of his office, anticipating my arrival.
“Hello.” I paused, taking a minute to admire him. The businessman slipped away, his eyes growing lucid and welcoming, but shadowed with tiredness. His easy smile lifted my own exhaustion. Then it stopped, just short of making his cheeks dimple.
“You okay?” He spun his chair, inviting me to fill the empty space in his lap. I did, grateful to have his arms around me.
“I’m fine.”
He murmured with content, kissing my temple then my mouth. “Good night?”
“Hmm.” He smelt deliciously fresh and clean. I snuggled into him, my head resting on his shoulder, and summarised the events of my evening. “What have you been doing?”
“Working.” Nate hugged me closer, sighing into my hair.
I glanced at the computer screen, noting at least six file tabs open. “Have you stopped at all for a break today?”
“I’ve been to the gym.” He shrugged. “And ate dinner.”
I’d fully intended to tell him about my trip, but when I teased my fingers through his unruly hair and his eyes closed and didn’t open, I knew it wasn’t the right time. “C’mon,” I said, slipping off his lap, “you’re exhausted. Time for bed.”
There was no argument. He willingly followed, leaving his workspace in organised chaos, and let me lead him upstairs. We were both asleep within minutes of hitting the sheets.
IT was nearing 6 p.m. when we entered the condo Tuesday evening. Maria had gone, leaving us a delicious Spanish chicken stew warming in the oven. I’d planned on trying out the private gym in the complex with Nate, but after being cooped up all day in the office, wanted to get outside instead. After much coaxing, I’d managed to get Nate out for an early evening stroll to stretch our legs and grab some dessert for later.
“Who was trying to reach you at three a.m.?” Nate asked, steering me around the small crowd piling into the already crammed bus that had just stopped. Wilshire Blvd was bumper to bumper with people heading home, the steady flow of traffic often slower than our walking pace. We were in the minority. Nobody walked in LA.
“I didn’t hear my phone ring.” In the rush to leave for work this morning, I’d forgotten to pick it up from the bedside table and hadn’t checked it all day. I slid my hand into the back pocket of his jeans, lingering there a while before retrieving my phone. I’d tucked it there for safekeeping because I had no pockets in my tank or yoga pants.
“Don’t think it was a call,” he offered, noticing me checking the missed call log. “Why leave that on when you’re with me at night?”
“In case of emergency.”
“Baby,” he snickered, swinging an arm around my shoulder, “a magnitude ten could shake this city and it wouldn’t wake you.”
I bumped hips as we walked, laughing because he was right. There had been two minor tremors since I arrived here, neither of which I’d experienced. If it hadn’t been for Mai telling me, I’d still be none the wiser. I practically skipped a few steps when I saw my brother’s name and excitedly opened the message. “Liam’s coming to LA! Look.”
Nate took the phone I was thrusting in his face, and with a wide smile, read the text aloud. “Hey, Bambi…” I waved off the puzzled look he gave me and urged him to finish. “Get your ass ready to party. I’m coming to visit. Hope your Cali friends are hot, haven’t had a shag in weeks. Text you the deets later. See you on 8th Oct. Luv ya.”
I clapped my hands gleefully. I’d never gone this long without seeing Liam and missed him dreadfully. Having him here was going to be fun.
“Okay,” Nate said slowly, tucking the phone back in his pocket. “Explain Bambi.”
“Hello?” I motioned to my lower half. “Legs?”
“Ah,” he murmured darkly, “don’t remind me.” Nate wrapped me in a one-armed hug and kissed my forehead. In trainers, I was a few inches shorter, making it easy for him to do. “You even have a few freckles, too,” he teased, tapping the end of my nose with his finger.
“Shut up!” I warned with a smile, swatting his hand away. We resumed walking in the twilight hours, my favourite time. When the sky was darkening and lights were coming on, it gave a magic to the city I loved.
“His timing is perfect. I’ll have a couple of weeks after I get back to get everything sorted.” I came to an abrupt halt on the pavement, cringing. Preferring not to chance a look at Nate, I turned to the closest shop window display.
“Back from where, exactly?” I could feel his eyes burning into the side of my head, even though I knew they would be cool, absent of their usual devotion.
“England,” I confessed, timidly.
“England?”
I nodded, noticing I’d stopped outside an upmarket jeweller. The smartly dressed assistant in the red brick fronted store holding my attention removed a tray of glittering diamonds from the window, giving us both a knowing smile as he did. “It’s my first trip back. My father’s really looking forward to seeing me.”
Guilty, I walked away, leaving Nate to process my bombshell. After a minute he caught me up. “When do you leave?” he murmured calmly, though I knew he was less than impressed this was the first he’d heard about it.
I cringed again. “Next Friday.” I kept my gaze lowered, watching the concrete disappear under my feet as I walked.
“Next fucking Friday?” He pulled me to a stop again, his hand gripping my forearm. “Were you just gonna get on a plane and hope I didn’t notice your absence? Because, honestly? I’d notice. I always notice.”
“It’s only for two weeks.” Only—like that made everything sound better. In truth, I was dreading being apart from Nate. I’d barely managed five days when he was on the East Coast. So much had happened since then, so many more feelings had developed between us, I wasn’t sure I could survive without him.
“I hate the idea of being apart for that long, too.” I manoeuvred his hand until I’d linked an arm through his and resumed walking. “I’ve considered cancelling more than once.”
“Do it. I won’t be separated again, I told you that.”
I sighed and angled my head to rest on his shoulder. “I have to see my father. This is always a tough time for him.”
“Give him a holiday. Bring him here to visit you instead. I’d like to meet him.”
“The tenth is mum’s birthday…I promised I’d be there.” I appreciated the tender kiss Nate placed on my crown, his silent demonstration that he understood my reasons for having to go back. He smacked the button when we reached the crossing, shifting restlessly, both hands in his pockets. He might’ve understood, but he hadn’t forgiven the unintentional omission. I rocked on my heels as we stood, silent, waiting for the lights to change.
“Who are you flying with?” Compassion now smoothed his previously irritated edge.
“Would you believe it if I said Star?”
An unexplainable emotion flickered in his eyes as he regarded me cautiously. “Take the jet.”
“No!” I snickered.
“Take it,” he snapped, leading me briskly across the street. “Leave when you want, come back sooner.”
“I’m not taking the private company jet, Nate.”
“It’s mine,” he stated. “Like you.”
I shook my head. “I’m not an asset, unlike the jet, which is.” We stopped outside a coffee shop that was still open. I wasn’t sure if the offer was serious, but when I caught the determination in his eyes, I knew he meant every word. And he was expecting me to take him up on it.
“Seriously,” I insisted, curling windswept tendrils of hair behind my ears, “you arrange that, I won’t be impressed. Let me travel commercial.”
Even with his disapproval, Nate still looked so damned hot. I could never stay mad at him because each time I saw him, I melted. The light breeze had blown his hair into that bedroom style I loved waking up to, and his skin had a healthy outdoor glow. His white Henley top hugged his shoulders and biceps, and the jeans showcased lean legs and that seriously fine arse.
I stepped closer, linking my arms through his and wrapped them around his waist. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I said, kissing the hollow of his throat. “I was going to, but the longer I left it, the harder it became to broach the subject.”
“I’m pissed off, Kara.”
With my lips to his neck, I worked slowly up to his mouth. I’d let both of us down and it made me feel shitty. “How can I make it up to you?”
I felt the tension leave him as our bodies pressed together. Succumbing to my blatant attempt at distraction, he snaked his arms around my shoulders and let his forehead fall to mine. “I’m trying to stay mad at you,” he murmured.
“Two weeks, Nate. Then I’m back. No more trips,” I assured unequivocally. There was no need, but I stood on tip-toe and kissed his nose.
“You’ll miss the annual gala dinner I’m hosting.”
“I meant to ask you about that.” My calendar had gradually been filling up with social functions, presumably by Nate’s assistants, and this one had caught my eye. It was obviously important, so I hadn’t wanted to raise it with him until he knew I wouldn’t be going. “What’s it for?”
“A fundraiser for families affected by alcohol related accidents.” He rushed the words out, glossing over them and their significance. My brow furrowed, not understanding the relevance of such a charity to Nate.
His shoulders dropped as he stepped back out of our embrace. As he blew out a breath, those eyes turned grey, filling with sorrow. “Too many people I’ve loved have lost their lives because of alcohol.” Turning, he began walking to the door.
“Hey,” I whispered, pulling him back. The questions over what he hadn’t said hung heavier than the words he had. I rubbed his arm, urging him to open up more.
Nate’s jaw tensed. The fact his gaze was on my mouth worried me. Why couldn’t he look me in the eye? “A friend…” he started quietly, then choked up. He shook his head and spoke again, this time more firmly. “My grandparents were killed by a drunk driver. I set up a charity in their honour.”
My chest cramped with his pain, his grief mixing with my own. Suddenly, his obsession with my safety made sense. Losing loved ones in such tragic circumstances had made him the overprotective man he was today. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Nate’s hands curled around my nape. “Let’s go home. Our time together is limited. I don’t want to waste another second out here.”
Respecting his privacy, I didn’t push him to elaborate. Clearly he wanted to erase his sad memories in other, more physical ways. “Patience,” I breathed, my pulse quickening at our close proximity. With one last kiss, I pulled him into the coffee shop. “All good things come to those who wait,” I assured him, eyeing up the massive slab of tiramisu behind the glass counter.
With a swift playful smack on my backside, Nate ordered. And just like that, I was forgiven.