Page 65 of Tamed to Be Messy

“Thank you, Hannah.” Cecilia holds my forearms and air kisses each of my cheeks as well. “Please call me CC. All my friends do.” She links her arm with Nick’s father. “Mayor Stringer is looking for you, Tom.”

She faces us. “Please excuse us, won’t you?” As they’re about to walk away, Mrs. Lawless—CC—glances over her shoulder. “Be sure to enjoy yourselves.”

I glance at Nick. His jaw pulses on the side. I can tell he’s not thrilled to be here.

“Well, you heard your mother, let’s go enjoy ourselves.”

He gestures toward the array of mingling people dressed in formal attire, holding drinks, and nibbling food from the small platters carted around the room by servers wearing black pants and white tops. I’m so out of my league I’m not even sure what country I’m in anymore.

His other hand presses on my lower back, but when I glance down in that direction, he drops it to his side.

I grab his hand and place it back on my lower back. Because one, I’m feeling like the lamb about to enter the lion’s den. And two, because I enjoy the way it makes me feel—protected and cherished.

One side of Nick’s mouth tips up, which seems to turn up the warmth in his eyes. I don’t know what I just started, but I have no regrets.

“Don’t you dare let go.” Maybe it’s the festive atmosphere or being so far out of my comfort zone, but I guess I’m throwing caution out the door.

He tips his head closer to my ear, caressing my skin with his breath. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He leads me through the awaiting throng. Several heads turn our way in curiosity. But instead of joining the mingling crowdof people, Nick takes a detour down a wide hallway lined with paintings that appear to be original art. He opens the door to an elegant sitting area with bookshelves and an oversized fireplace. Bet that baby doesn’t get much use in Florida.

After scanning the room, he tugs me inside. When he reaches past me to shut the door, his spicy scent fills my nose and sets my senses on full alert. I lift my face to his, causing him to slow down and linger. He’s so close I can feel his breath on my ear.

“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” His voice is a husky whisper that sends an ache through me—to be closer to him.

“I’m perfectly fine,” I whisper back. And then I do what I’ve longed to do for so long. I brush my lips over his jaw, just below his mouth. So what if my brothers lock me in my apartment for the rest of my life? Who cares if Nick and I wind up like Romeo and Juliet? I want my kiss, and I’m tired of waiting for him to decide if he should risk it.

I can handle my brothers. They may tend to push themselves into my business at times, but if I make it clear that I want to date Nick, they’ll back off.

He searches my face with eyes that unmistakably tell me he wants to finish what I just started, but he’s at war with himself. “Hannah, are you sure about this?”

Does he really have to ask? I lift my chin. “Yes.”

Something sparks in his eyes, setting off a whole new level of heat. He backs me up against the door, still consuming me with his smoldering gaze. And then his head dips.

My eyes flutter shut in anticipation of the moment I’ve imagined since I was eighteen years old.

And then total chaos erupts.

CHAPTER 24

Nick

Icatch Hannah as the door opens, throwing her into my arms.

My father blinks at us, then grins. “Sorry. Did I interrupt something?”

Hannah holds a hand to her chest, appearing flustered, which I don’t think is entirely due to this unexpected interruption. And I can only imagine what my father thinks he interrupted, and he wouldn’t be too far off.

As much as I wish he had better timing, his unexpected entry may have saved us from rushing into anything before I have a chance to talk to Graham. Something I have to do soon because I’m finding it nearly impossible to resist her.

“Not at all, Dad. I wanted to give Hannah a tour of the house.”

He gives me a look that says he’s not buying it. Just what I need. Now he’ll think I’m still living my life on the wild side, as he calls it. Only interested in having fun and not building a future for myself. No matter how many times I try to explain how much I love what I do, they still see it as a dead end job.

My father walks past us and pulls a book off a shelf. “I came in to grab this for the mayor.” He stops as he’s about to leave. “Be sure to show Hannah the boathouse. We just purchased a newboat. Your mother and I would love for you two to join us on an outing one weekend.”

I give him a sheepish nod. “Sure thing.”

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