Page 39 of Bound By Words

“I need to get back to work before the rain starts again.” His voice was soft, and his fingers flexed on my hip as he hesitated. “It’s really good to see you, Kelly. I’ve thought about you a lot over the last few months.”

A jerky nod was all I could manage as he stepped back, his eyes trailing down my body as he retreated to the other side of the island. I looked down, breaking eye contact as he turned around and headed toward the front door.

“Can I come to check on you later?” he asked quietly as he stopped in the entryway.

I nodded, my face still half-hidden behind the coffee mug clenched between my hands.

Nathan smiled in response as he pulled the door open, looking back at me briefly as he stepped outside.

“Wait,” I called as the door started to close, quickly setting my mug down on the counter and taking a few steps in his direction. He stopped, pushing the door back open with a soft smile.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to eat dinner with me?”

He hesitated, and my stomach dropped. Of course, it was a stupid idea.

“Never mind.” I waved him away with my hand. “I’m sure you’ve got other things you need to be doing, and I don’t even know where you’re staying. It might be out of the way for you to come back here.”

“Can I answer your question now?” he chuckled as he leaned against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest.

Nodding, I gripped the countertop edge, trying to keep myself from running away, suddenly terrified at the thought he might reject my offer.

“What time do you want me back here?” He smiled, and I felt myself relax.

“Whenever is good for you. I’m not going to cook. I wouldn’t subject you to that,” I laughed nervously. “Evan has a whole bunch of pre-assembled meals in the freezer. Surely I can’t screw up reheating one for each of us. I haven’t had a chance to drive into town to grocery shop. I don’t have much to drink or anything, but if you’d like to join me, I’d appreciate the company.”

“Breathe, sunshine,” he chuckled from the doorway.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I let out a little growl at his teasing. I was acting like a nervous wreck this morning, but with our history, he gave me the jitters.

“Fine, whatever. I’ll eat by myself.”

“I didn’t say that,” he laughed. “Although this display of nerves from you is fucking adorable. But I’ll be here around eight if that works for you? I might need to drive back to my property to shower after I’m done working. The sun is supposed to start going down around seven, so I’d like to get as much done as possible in case the rain moves back in.”

“You can use me,” I blurted. Fuck. “I mean the shower here.”

Nathan’s smirk faltered, a loud laugh escaping his mouth. “I don’t want to inconvenience you. It’s not a problem to use the utility shower in my barn.”

Running my hands down my face, hating that I could tell how red my cheeks were from the heat coming off them, I nodded. “Okay. Whatever you want to do. But there’s two here, so you don’t even need to use me—I mean mine. Evan has a big walk-in shower in the main bathroom you can use. You’re bigger. I mean, it’s bigger than mine.”

Nathan was unsuccessfully trying to smother his laughter by biting his lip. I needed to get my shit together if he would be here the entire time I was. A girl could only embarrass herself so many times in front of a guy.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll knock around seven once I get my things together from the trailer. I appreciate the offer.”

“What trailer?” I frowned, glancing toward the windows that overlooked the driveway.

“It’s in the garage.” He jerked his head back toward the building outside. “It’s where I’m staying while I’m working.”

“Is that comfortable? We can fit you in here somewhere if you want to come inside.”

He laughed again, his mind clearly going into the gutter mine had been residing in throughout half this encounter.

“You know what I meant!” I shot back, trying to hold in my laughter.

“Not sure I did, sunshine. Where exactly would you be fitting me?” he challenged, one eyebrow rising into his forehead. “You know I’d love to come inside.”

“Fuck off,” I growled, shaking my head as I walked toward the door. He already knew I said ridiculous things when I was nervous. Lord knows the crazy things I’d said during that weekend in the hotel room. I didn’t know I could do half the things I said and did with him.

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