Page 58 of If It Can't Be Us

As I slide into the Uber and put my seatbelt on, Nick surprises me with a soft kiss on my lips. “Hey, how was your day?” he says sweetly, laying a hand on my thigh. A smile slowly spreads across my face.

I could get used to this.

“It was great,” I say, placing my hand on top of his and interlocking our fingers. “Busy, but great. How was yours?”

“A shitshow,” he laughs, “but it’s better now.”

“Were you in the Naperville area today?” I ask.

“Do you mean—did I swing by the Marionis’ to see how it’s coming along?” He grins.

I laugh. “Yeah… that’s exactly what I meant. So, did you?”

He nods. “I did. It’s going great. I think you’d be pleased with the progress from last week.”

We catch up on work stuff as we drive. There is an ease and comfort with Nick. I’m naturally a little flirtatious. Sarah once told me that I flirted with all men, including her husband, Ryan. She wasn’tmad about it; she was simply pointing out that my communication language with men is flirtatious and that I should hone in on it for the dating world. Nick and I don’t have the same playful banter that Leo and I share, but that’s okay. We have our own thing going on.

We arrive and head up to the thirteenth floor, and holy shit, this place is cool. Nick looks at me and grins. He gets it. A good architectural space is like foreplay for me—it turns me on, and this place is making me all sorts of horny.

“Oh my God, Nick, this place is amazing.”

He just laughs and gives his name to the hostess. As we follow her to our table, I am in awe of the design. The room is under a glass atrium, with one wall entirely made of windows and the opposite featuring one of the longest bars I have ever seen, stretching along the entire length of the room. Lights string across the glass ceiling, casting a warm glow that creates a cozy patio vibe. The design features elegant mid-century modern elements, with clean lines, organic curves, and a mix of wood and metal accents that add a touch of 1950s sophistication.

Once we’re seated and have a chance to look at the menu, we order a charcuterie board because, well, I love a charcuterie. I stick with water since it’s a weekday, and Nick orders an IPA on tap.

“Are you going to the company Christmas party?” Nick asks, his fingers idly tracing patterns on the edge of his glass. The casual question carries an undercurrent of curiosity that makes me pause.

“I’m not,” I say, realizing that I’m actually bummed about it. It would have been fun to go with Nick. “I’ll be in Utah. But I’ll probably go to the work party there. Dang, I really wish we could have gone together. That would have been fun.” I make a sad face.

“Oh, that does suck that you won’t be here. The Walker Homes Christmas parties here are always a blast, and they do not skimp…”

“Oh, I know! I used to help plan them in Utah. Seth would give me the biggest budget, and I’d go all out. I freaking love him; he’s so generous.”

Our drinks arrive, and Nick has the most confused look onhis face.

“Wait, you actually know Seth Walker? Like the owner of Walker Homes, Seth Walker? And you know him well enough that you love him?” His eyebrow raises higher and higher with each question.

“Oh my gosh, not like that!” I say, laughing. “He’s my father-in-law—well, to my late husband. Did you not know that?” I ask, surprised, adjusting my napkin on my lap. “You do know my last name is Walker, right?”

He lets out a laugh. “Oh my hell. I did know that, but I never put two and two together. I guess I just thought it was a coincidence.” We laugh together. “Geez, he must be rich as hell.”

My eyes go big as I nod. “Oh yeah. He’s very wealthy, but again, he’s also a good man, and I love working for this company, knowing that. I’ve known him since I was fifteen.” A soft smile of nostalgia creeps across my face.

Nick leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, and stares intently at me. “Ben must have been an incredible guy, Vivian, if what you say about his dad is true.” His words are so sincere, so genuine, that I notice I’m not uncomfortable talking about Ben. I’ve always shifted the conversation on dates, not wanting to bring Ben up, but with Nick, it feels safe.

“He really was,” I say, my voice soft. “Thank you for saying that, Nick.”

Our charcuterie board arrives, and we order our entrées. I can’t wait to dig in. Cheese might be the way to my heart… and coffee. I shift the conversation, as I don’t want to dive into my life with Ben any more than we have.

* * * * ** * * * *

We wrap up dinner and call an Uber. As we slide into the back seat, the city lights flicker through the windows, casting a soft glow over us. The driver greets us briefly before focusing on the road ahead, leaving Nick and me in our private bubble.

Nick turns to me, his eyes searching mine with a playful intensity. Without a word, he leans in, his lips meeting mine in a tender kiss. Thewarmth of his mouth sends a thrill through my body, and I instinctively press closer to him. His hand finds its way to my thigh, grazing it gently and igniting a spark of excitement.

Despite the driver’s presence just a few feet away, I can’t help but lose myself in the moment. The thrill of being kissed so passionately in such a confined space makes my heart race. I am nervous, but that nervousness only heightens the exhilaration I feel.

Nick deepens the kiss, his hand moving in slow, deliberate circles on my thigh. I feel the heat of his touch as his fingers graze the hem of my dress, and I melt into him, savoring every second. His other hand cups my face, holding me close as if I might slip away.

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