Page 103 of Time Stops With You

We discuss the PLP project while Nardi zones out on her phone.

After I drop Josiah off at school, Nardi continues to look at her phone, completely ignoring me.

I notice she hasn’t touched my food either. “Aren’t you hungry?” I ask, nodding to the bag.

“No.”

Her stomach growls.

I smirk. “I made the food myself. I didn’t poison it. If you’d like, I can take a bite. You can decide if you want to eat it after you see that it doesn’t kill me.”

“I’m not talking to you.” She shifts away.

“Then I guess you won’t want to hear what I thought about your rice and beans.”

She swivels back around so fast the seatbelt groans.

I arch a brow. “I thought you didn’t want to talk to me?”

“I’m not. I’m… taking a customer survey.”

I smile because she’s a freaking delight. “The meal was amazing. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I was hoping to pay you off with it.”

“Then you made a tactical mistake.” I lick my lips. “One taste wasn’t nearly enough.”

She swallows audibly. Her hand darts up to the base of her throat and I desperately wish I could replace her hand with my own.

“If you’re going to talk like that then… just let me out now.”

“I was talking about your food.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“Don’t accuse me becauseyouhave a dirty mind, Nardi.”

Her mouth twists and untwists as she struggles to come up with something to say. “You’re… impossible. I’m not talking to you.”

“You tried that already, princess. And yet, here we are. Talking.”

She tilts her head back. “Remember when we just met and you barely said one word to me? Where did that guy go? Why are you so chatty now?”

“When we just met, I asked you to marry me. I don’t know why you’re insinuating that I’m any different with you now than before. I’d say I’ve been pretty consistent.”

She twists back to the passenger window.

“Have you thought about what I said last night?” I ask her seriously.

Nardi’s shoulders hike to her ears. She grumbles to the window, “Last night wasn’t funny, Cullen. Do I look like a joke to you?”

“No.” I slow down in front of a red light and allow my eyes to slide over her pretty face, damp hair and simple T-shirt and jeans combo. “You look beautiful.” I reach out and slide my fingertips over the ends of her hair. “But were you in a rush? Your hair is wet. Did you try to wash it with one hand?”

“No.” She pauses. “Yes.”

“Not a good idea, Nardi.” I pull the vehicle into the parking lot of the apartment.

“Thanks. Noted.” Nardi pops her door open and stomps away.

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