Page 34 of A Little More

A little bit of jealousy did make her feel wanted. Although Nash had made it perfectly clear that he wanted her.

“I thought we could see a movie this weekend if you’re available. There’s a new documentary on the migration of the Canadian Goose. It has excellent reviews.” He smiled, full of white, straight teeth. Had he always been this boring or had she never realized what having fun was like? Everything in the world looked brighter when she visited Nash.

Nash texted again.

I’m pretty good at rescuing damsels in distress.

After a brief pause, he texted.

If you want me.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Charlie sat forward, but Lexi pulled her cell phone closer. “Are you interested in the movie?”

She’d never hurt his feelings on purpose. Charlie really was a sweet guy, the type of guy she’d always assumed she should be with, but while she had the option, it was hard not to choose Nash. At least for a little while. Then it was over.

“It’s nothing. Did you make all your tax deadlines for your clients?”

He tented his fingers together. Great. No doubt she’d be well into her burger before he finished explaining the uninteresting nuances of the tax code. She glanced around the restaurant at other happy, smiling faces. Hard to tell what was sadder. The fact she’d chosen to go on a date with a man who considered this interesting, or the fact that she, tragically, knew what the hell he was talking about.

Her finger tapped on the screen of her phone, keeping it from going to sleep and reading Nash’s offer of assistance, again and again, each time she glanced into her lap.If she wanted him.

Man, she liked to torture herself.

Yes. Cafe Baguette. Downtown.

Nash’s jackedup truck turned more than a few heads on the narrow Atlanta city streets. He took up the entire lane of traffic, line-to-line, relying on the others to get out of the way and move over. The tiny wind-up looking cars the Atlanta drivers drove were going to have to share a little more of the road than they were used to doing.

He might miss the convenience of living in a big city, but he didn’t miss the traffic. Or the feeling of claustrophobia. If it wasn’t near noon, the buildings would block the sunlight. How people could spend every day without seeing the sunrise or sunset because of brick and concrete astounded him. It was jail.

Another light turned red. “What the hell?” His forehead rested on the steering wheel, trying to keep his patience intact. He couldn’t get to Lexi quick enough. His fingers itched to touch her again and find out if she’d decided about their relationship. After locating Cafe Baguette, he drove past a parking deck, his truck too tall to fit comfortably. A car pulled away from a spot right in front of the restaurant. Lucky day, although he didn’t suspect he’d stay long. Grab the girl and leave.

She’d asked him to help. That was a miracle. There wasn’t anything he didn’t think Lexi could handle if she wanted to, but for her to ask him meant something in his book. It gave him a sense of pride for taking care of a woman he’d not had in a long, long time.

He parked the truck flawlessly, an important detail since most of the pedestrians stopped to watch him. His truck was over-sized, heavy-duty, and lifted. Loud. Big and red. He glanced at his audience, his eyes landing on Lexi sitting at a table that looked like something a little girl would play tea parties on. Cute rather than functional.

She picked up a hand, not really waving. More like she had a question but didn’t want the anyone see her raise her hand. Uncertain.

Then there was Charlie, still talking to Lexi whose gaze hadn’t wavered from his truck.

Nash climbed down and located a narrow opening in the black fence around the seating area. The food on the tables he passed confirmed that he’d never enjoy a place like this. It didn’t matter how many soups and salads they served him, he would need to eat again fifteen minutes after nibbling on that rabbit food. A salad was great, right before a big steak dinner.

“Nash?” Lexi’s tone of voice sounded shocked and excited, a little breathless. The glint in her eyes twisted his gut into knots. Damn it. He wanted her to look at him that way every time he showed up. “Do you remember Nash, Charlie? I think you two met a couple times now. I didn’t expect to see you in Atlanta.”

He’d already run over what he’d say as a cover story. “The same as last time. I had to come to Atlanta to pick up a part for the tractor. I can’t seem to let the old thing die yet. I passed by, saw you sittin’ here, and wanted to stop and say ‘hi.’” He set his hands on the back of the chair next to her, leaning forward. “I think it was fate.” A small dimple formed near the corner of her lips. With her hair tied up, he had a full view of the long line of her throat. It made his pulse scatter. He knew how smooth that skin felt under his fingertips.

“Nice to see you, Nash.” Charlie stood up and held out his hand. “And it’s not fate. It’s our lunch date.”

He couldn’t get over Charlie. Was that the type of man she liked? A weak handshake and what seemed like a boring personality. She was lively. Not like a woman that would enjoy any man who ate salads for lunch with pink salad dressing.

Good Lord. Then there was Lexi’s plate.

“You ordered a burger?” Nash pulled out the chair. His boot kicked the bottom curly-Q of the table leg when he shifted to sit down. The water glasses sloshed close to the edge. “Sorry about that. I’m not used to sitting at tiny, tea party tables.” He snagged a French fry. “Was it good?” The small table didn’t leave any room between them, and Nash resembled an overgrown giant.

“Yes.”

“Better than the double cheeseburger I bought you?”

Charlie sat down, but Nash ignored him. So, did Lexi. “Nothing can beat Ms. Iris’s burger. You’re welcome to the other half of this, though. It was so big, there’s no way I could finish it.”

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