Page 70 of Last Summer

“Yeah, I know. But I’m controlled and cautious.” He lifts a brow, his expression teasing.

A phone rings. Nathan leans on his hip and pulls out his cell phone from his back pocket. He glances at the screen, frowns, then lifts his eyes to her. “Excuse me. I have to take this.”

He gets up from the table, answering the phone as he closes the sliding glass door behind him. “Nathan Donovan,” Ella hears him answer before the door closes, cutting him off. He faces inside the house and she can see his frown deepen to a scowl.

Ella pushes out a breath. Who’s the caller? Hopefully it’s nothing serious. Getting an invite to Alaska will be near impossible if this is bad news.

Rising from the table, she clears their empty bowls and rinses them in the sink. It doesn’t take long for Nathan to come back inside. He slams the slider behind him. Energy rolls off him. Cheeks reddened either from the cold or anger, he taps his phone against his thigh, agitated.

“What is it?” she asks.

“Come with me.”

“To Alaska?”

He nods.

“Yes. I’d love to,” she blurts, not giving him a chance to think twice. She grins. That was easy.

Nathan tosses his phone on the counter. He approaches her, brushing his thumb across his lower lip, his expression pensive. He stops close enough that Ella is forced to look up at him. She can smell the cool evening air on him. It quickens her heartbeat, deepens her breathing.

“I wasn’t planning on inviting you,” he says in a gruff tone.

“Too late. I’m tagging along. You can’t change your mind.”

“I won’t. I want you to come. I’ve been enjoying our time together. You?”

“Professionally speaking? It’s been an adventure.”

He smiles easily, the right side of his mouth pulling up a little higher than the left. “And personally?”

Warmth inches up her neck. She can imagine the blush he sees and wishes she could stop it.

“Yes,” she whispers.

He smiles, pleased. “Let’s call it a night then. We can wrap this up in Alaska.”

“My thoughts exactly,” she says, shifting back into business mode. “I have to get up early in the morning and do some shopping. I didn’t pack for Alaska.”

“I’ll join you. I have to pick up a few items at Alpine Mountaineering in town.” He touches her hair, moving aside a wisp that had fallen over her eye. “Check out of your hotel in the morning. Stay here tomorrow night.”

“With you?” Her face heats.

“Ah, no,” he says with a nervous laugh. “I have a guest room. We’re flying out of Reno first thing. It’ll save us time in the morning to drive straight there from here.”

“What flight? I’ll book my ticket.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Nathan,” she says. “This is business.Luxe Avenuewill foot my bill. I’ll give you my credit card number.”

“No way, I want the miles.” He flashes an impish grin, but Ella gives him a look. “Fine. I’ll email the bill to your editor. The magazine can reimburse me. Agreed?”

Ella relaxes a little. “Okay.”

“Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll meet up with you in town tomorrow morning.”

“Indeed.” Though she does wonder exactly what they settled.

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