Chapter Fourteen

After dinner, Nate had gone over the part of the system his guys had already installed, making sure she knew how to at least arm and disarm the windows and doors. She felt better knowing she’d be able to have some extra protection that night after he left.

“So, what do you want to do now?” Mya snuggled into his side as they sat on the sofa watching the fire burn.

“That’s a loaded question,” he whispered in her ear.

“Stop.” She gently slapped his chest. “Seriously, I know you have to get up and go to work early. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t have to get something done at home. You’re welcome to stay for as long as you want.” Happiness was within her grasp, and she was almost afraid to reach out and grab it.

“I’m not ready to say goodnight yet.”

“Good,” she sighed. “Neither am I.”

“Oh! I almost forgot.” Nate stood up and went to the kitchen, grabbed his keys off the counter, and walked out the door.

Mya had a brief panic attack about him going out there, especially now that it was dark out. She followed him, grabbing a butcher knife out of the block. She went to the door, straining her ears to listen for any little sound that could be dangerous. She watched him open the truck door, grab something off the seat, and then hide it behind his back before walking back to her.

“What do you have there?” she asked.

He walked through the door, closed and locked it behind him, and raised his eyebrow at her and the knife she had in her hand. “More importantly, what you do have there?”

“I wasn’t going to take any chances.” She raised her chin in defiance.

“What were you going to do? Race out there and get close enough to whatever that was earlier in order to stab it?”

“I don’t know, something. Anything. Or maybe it just felt better to have it in my hand, like I had some control of the situation.”

“Now I know,” he began, “you lived in L.A. for a while, but you do remember how to shoot, right? Or did you go soft on me?”

Mya shook her head. “I haven’t picked up a gun in years. I’m not opposed to having one.”

“Good. It wouldn’t hurt for you to have some extra protection. You’re going to have a top-rated system here, but that doesn’t help you with all the wildlife when you are outside your home. If they perceive any danger, they will attack. It’s better to be prepared and never have to use it. As long as you can still shoot and aren’t afraid to use it, we should get you something.”

“I know what the responsibility of owning a gun means, not to mention the consequences—when you should pull it, and to understand what it’s like to pull the trigger.”

“Okay,” he said. “We’ll go tomorrow, day after at the latest, and we’ll immediately go to the range to get some practice in.”

“That sounds good. But you still haven’t answered my question: What is that behind your back?”

“Something I thought we could do tonight.” He whipped a movie out from behind his back. “Maybe you’d be interested in watching this film with me.”

“No way, really? Man, I haven’t seen this movie in years,” Mya said.

“That I can’t believe. You played this movie so many times in high school you had to buy it again on VHS.”

Mya frowned. “Possibly.” Smiling, she shrugged. “What can I say? it spoke to my hopeless romantic streak I had back then.”

“And now, do you still believe in magic, Mya?”

“It would appear it took a fifteen-year break.”

“So you’re saying I’m bringing the magic back into your life?”

“Something like that.” She smiled at him and batted her eyelashes. “Why don’t we watch the movie and find out?”

“Excellent.” Nate put the video in the player, then grabbed her hand and pulled her down to sit on the couch. “I thought maybe we could snuggle up here on the sofa. I’d yawn and stretch my arms, somehow getting my arm around you and pull you in close.” He demonstrated. “Maybe I’d even be able to kiss you a little bit. What do you say, should we?”

“I think that sounds like an excellent idea. But you can skip the part about trying to find a way to get your arm around me and just go ahead and do it.”

“I like the way you think,” he said and pulled her in closer to him. Placing his hand on her hip, he shifted her to where she was reclining. He watched her pupils grow large and smiled. “I can’t get your kiss out of my head. I think you’ve bewitched me.”

“Maybe you remember wrong.”

“Maybe I do. Should we see?” Leaning in close to her, he stopped just far enough away not to touch his lips to hers. “Can you feel it?” he whispered. “That’s the magic.” Closing the distance, he softly kissed her, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers. It was killing him to go slow, but he knew that in the end he wanted to remember every second of their time together.

His phone started ringing.

“No, no this can’t be happening.” He grudgingly pulled away from her and reached for his phone. “Robbins here,” he barked, and listened to what the person on the other end of the line spoke. “Now?” He stood up. “Fine, I’ll be there in half an hour.” Reaching down, he pulled Mya up to stand next to him. “The server for one of our largest clients is offline. They are always having problems with small animals chewing through cables and wires. I need to get them back online as soon as possible.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry. Can we try this again tomorrow night?”

“Of course we can. And the night after that, and the one after, all the way to the end of time.” She kissed him.

“You’re making it harder on me to leave.”

“Maybe I just want to make you harder.”

“I don’t think that’s possible, darling. I’d better go while I still have a client, and can walk. I’ll be by tomorrow morning. Dream of me.”

“I can do that. Be safe.”

“Always.” He quickly kissed her and left.