Page 19 of The Story of Us
“Wait here,” Charlie said to Nate and Eloise.
“I liked the beef.” Eloise’s eyelids drooped, her thumb hitching itself through one of the belt loops on Nate’s jeans as she snuggled into his side.
Shit.He never should have let this happen.
“How much have you had to drink?” he asked her.
“Enough to give me the courage to do what I’ve always wanted to. Not enough that you need to worry about taking advantage. Relax.”
Those were dangerous words; so was the lust flaring in her eyes.
“Where’s your mum?” Nate asked, changing the subject. Eloise ducked her head.
“Left hours ago,” Charlie said, reappearing. “Just spoke to Dad. Joanie wasn’t feeling well, so Mum and Lulu took her home.” His words were still heavy with suspicion.
“Maybe it was the rabbit.” Eloise tucked her head under Nate’s chin sleepily like she’d done it a thousand times before.
“Rabbit?”
“Long story,” she murmured, her breath seeping through his T-shirt, warming his chest.
When he looked up, Charlie was frowning. “You planning on telling me about this any time soon?”
Nate scrubbed a hand down his face. What a total clusterfuck. “Mate, it’s not what you think.”
“Mind your own business, big brother,” Eloise murmured.
“Baby?” Sera moaned as she slumped onto one of the bar stools opposite them. “I need to …”
Charlie darted to her side. “Okay. Time to go, ladies. Get your shit. Can you keep your hands to yourself long enough to get my sister and her friends home safely?”
So, just for future reference, Charlie was really,reallynot on board with Nate lusting after Eloise.
“Mate, I didn’t … this isn’t…”
“I’ve seen the way you look at her, but I thought my best man would’ve had the balls to be honest with me.”
Nate lifted a hand to rub his face, but Eloise tightened her grip on him.
“Baby …” Sera yanked Charlie’s arm, and he dropped to his knee, listening to his fiancée, Nate and Eloise momentarily forgotten.
“Guess what?” Eloise slipped her hand underneath the back of his shirt, and Nate sucked in a breath.
“What?”
“Bianca’s not all bad.”
He snorted. “We’ll have to agree to disagree.”
Eloise laughed, a soft, tinkly sound and rubbed her eyes, smearing the dark make-up around them. Rumpled and tired Eloise was more dangerous than he’d expected.
“She gave us all presents. Boom, boom presents.”
“Boom, boom presents?” His voice sounded like he’d been in the desert for days.
“You know, presents that make you go …”
A red flush bloomed above her cleavage, the hint of lace between her breasts taunting him.
