Page 35 of Last Dance, Second Chance

“No,” replied Nathan immediately. “Please don’t go because of this. I’ve... really enjoyed having you here, and I want you to stay until your parents come back. You still wouldn’t be able to walk Monty by yourself. But of course, if you don’t feel comfortable staying here...”

“No, it’s not that! It’s just that well... Claire,” said Jessica awkwardly.

“Claire?” said Nathan, looking surprised.

“Yeah,” said Jessica, embarrassed and wishing she hadn’t brought the subject up. It was Nathan’s business, and if he’d wanted to talk about it then he would have. But he’d sort of made it her business when he’d kissed her. “I overheard your mum asking what Claire would think about me staying here, so I’m guessing she’s your girlfriend... partner...?”

“She’s my wife,” said Nathan. “Well, ex-wife as of next week.”

“Oh.” Nathan was married? That wasn’t something Jessica had even considered. He certainly didn’t go around acting like someone who was married, well, separated, and very nearly divorced.

“I’m not very good at talking about it,” Nathan explained. “But we’ll be divorced in a few days. I only didn’t mention her because I really don’t like discussing her. I was having a good time with you, and it was nice not to be thinking about the divorce or the stupid decisions I’ve made in my life.”

“I’m sorry . . .”

“It’s not your fault, and I would have told you at some point. There just didn’t seem to be any need to yet.”

“So you definitely aren’t in a relationship, then?” asked Jessica. At least she didn’t need to feel guilty about stealing another woman’s bloke that way.

“No,” Nathan said. He took a deep breath. “Honestly, I still find it hard to imagine being in a relationship again. My marriage ending was pretty brutal.” He took Jessica’s hand. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you tonight. It wasn’t fair of me.”

“I kissed you just as much as you kissed me,” she said, which brought a smile to Nathan’s face.

“Yes, you did,” he said. She could swear he was blushing.

“But I’m going home to New York. You’re an amazing guy but...”

“It’s not the right time to start something between us,” Nathan finished for her.

“Exactly. If things were different . . .”

“But they’re not.”

“Do you think we can go back to just being friends?” Jessica asked.

“I would love that,” Nathan said, coming over to give her a hug. Jessica couldn’t help breathing in some of his scent. “I’ve never had such a hot friend,” he whispered into her hair.

Jessica laughed. “I definitely have. Loads of them in fact,” she teased.

“You should have no trouble keeping your hands off me, then.”

“No trouble at all.” They held eye contact for a shade too long before Jessica broke away.

“So now that I know about Claire, do you want to talk about her? It might help,” she asked, hoping to change the subject from the two of them.

“Maybe another time,” Nathan said, his face clouding.

“OK, I’m always available if you need to chat.”

“That’s good to know.”

“I think I might have an early night,” she said. “It’s been an eventful evening.”

“It certainly has. See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Nathan gave her a tiny kiss on her forehead. “I’ll let the dogs out and then I’ll join you,” he said, then quickly backtracked, “In having an early night, I mean, not actually joining you.”

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