Page 34 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

He stops walking, looking at me with an intensity that makes my heart race. “That’s not true at all.”

“Isn’t it?” I ask.

Nathan hesitates, then shakes his head. “No, it’s not. I’m not the playboy everyone thinks I am, Maria. I was telling the truth when I said I take dates to events for show. The truth is…” He pauses, running a hand through his hair. “I haven’t been on a real date in years. I haven’t even… been with a woman in a… long time.”

My cheeks flush at his confession, and I look away, focusing on a seagull perched on a nearby rock. For the first time, I see how lonely Nathan must be. But isn’t that what we have in common? After my parents’ divorce, I put a wall around my heart as well.

“Really?” I ask, struggling to find the right words. “I guess… I guess we’re both more alike than I thought.”

“Maybe,” he agrees, offering a small smile that makes my heart ache.

“Doesn’t it get lonely?” I ask, half-worried that I’m opening a can of worms.

“Sometimes.” His gaze fixes on the horizon. “But I’ve always been focused on my work, so I didn’t let it bother me too much.”

I nod, understanding that we’re both hiding behind the walls we’ve built around our hearts. The realization is both comforting and heartbreaking at the same time.

“Let’s keep walking.” There’s a tightness to his voice, like he’s either over this conversation or doesn’t know where to take it from here.

I nod, falling into step beside him as we continue down the beach, lost in our thoughts.

After a few minutes, Nathan breaks the silence. “Putting my business first has always been my priority. That’s how my dad did it, and it’s all I ever knew. After seeing how it affected my parents’ marriage… well, I thought it best just to stay single.”

I can’t help but relate to his confession. It’s ironic, really, that we’re opening up while discussing our aversion to vulnerability.

“It’s funny,” I say, tucking a strand of wind-tousled hair behind my ear. “I never thought we had so much in common.”

“Neither did I.” He offers a small smile, and his eyes, warm and understanding, meet mine.

Just like that, something shifts within me. There’s something about him that makes me less afraid of being vulnerable around him.

He studies me. “How old were you when your parents got divorced?”

I kick at a small mound of sand. “I was sixteen. It came out of nowhere, and it hurt like hell.”

Just admitting how much pain the event caused is big for me, and I’m kind of surprised I’ve told him so much. It’s like he’s just pulling the truth out of me, though, and I’m helpless to stop it.

“I see,” he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets as we continue to walk. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“Thanks.” I swallow the lump in my throat. Talking about this isn’t easy, but there’s comfort in knowing that he understands. “It’s just… it’s made me a bit jaded, I guess.”

“Understandable,” he nods. “But you shouldn’t let that hold you back from finding happiness, Maria.”

“Easy for you to say,” I chuckle, despite the pang in my chest. “You’re the billionaire playboy, remember?”

“Ha, you’ve got me there.” He laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “But seriously, we both deserve happiness, don’t you think?”

“Maybe,” I concede, watching a seagull dive into the water for its breakfast. “So, what does happiness look like to you, Nathan?”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I can tell he’s giving my question some real thought. Finally, he looks at me with a soft smile.

“Right now? Honestly, it looks a lot like this.” He gestures to the peaceful beach surrounding us. “Just… spending time with someone who gets me, without any pretenses.”

“Me too.” My heart swells as our eyes meet again.

The sun casts a warm glow on the sand as we continue down the beach, picking up shells and driftwood along the way. The salty breeze tugs at my hair, bringing with it the scent of the ocean. I watch as Nathan crouches down to examine something he’s found in the sand.

“Hey, look at this.” He holds up a piece of sea glass. It’s a stunning shade of blue, smoothed by the waves and gleaming in the sunlight. “Here, you should have it.”

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