Page 5 of The Story of Us
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As someonewho had played sport his whole life, including on one of the world’s biggest stages, Nate was used to formidable opponents. But it had been a while since he’d had to be on his game so much. He’d missed Bianca’s last name when Charlie introduced them, but it must’ve been ‘Handsy-McHandserson’ or ‘Gets-What-She-Wants-erton’. Because, shit, apex predators would fear this woman.
And, seriously, more power to her. Women who went after what they wanted were a special kind of sexy. Show him a man who didn’t want to be bossed around a little bit and he’d show you five who did.
But other things Nate found hot?
Listening. Consent. Call him old fashioned, but when someone has gently …politely …removed your hand from their thigh seventy-five times, maybe read the room.
Clearly, Bianca wasn’t a big reader.
“Are you cold?” Eloise asked, and Nate tilted his gaze down to where she stood next to him wearing his coat.
He’d insisted she put it on when he’d noticed her shivering after the chaos of the fire had died down.
And now he was busy not thinking about how good she looked in his jacket. How it swallowed her body and what that meant for how well she’d fit in his arms. “You keep it.”
Movement across the pergola caught his eye, and Bianca stalked towards him. With her slicked-back short hair and tight, sparkly minidress, she reminded him of a panther.
“Jesus,” he muttered.
“She’s very pretty,” Eloise murmured.
“Hmmm.” A noncommittal sound was all Nate could manage.
“Can’t blame the girl for going after what she wants.”
Nate’s head whipped towards Eloise so quickly that his neck muscles spasmed. “What?”
Eloise fiddled with the cuffs of his jacket. “Nothing. I didn’t say anything.”
“You did. You said?—”
The sound of someone clapping pulled his attention away from her.
“Right, let’s go and see the stars from Charlie and Eloise’s old lookout while we reset for dessert.” Michael brushed an errant glob of fire extinguisher foam from his sleeve. “Might even see a koala or two. Lazy things are most active at night. Then Mary’s whipped up a real Aussie treat for dessert: pavlova.”
When Nate turned back around, Eloise had shifted away and was whispering to her mother. “You guys go,” he heard her say. “It’s my mess.”
He clocked movement in his peripheral vision, and Bianca sidled up next to him, her talon-like nails sinking into his forearm. “I know who I want to have for dessert,” she purred in a strange accent that was a mixture of American and Australian courtesy of—as she’d explained—her time spent bouncing between the two countries as a child.
That line might’ve worked on him in college before he met Cobie. It definitely would’ve worked on him in high school, but now?Hard. Pass.
The soft ‘ew’ that slipped from Eloise’s lips made Nate smile.
Bianca beamed, perhaps assuming his sudden grin was for her. Well, this was awkward. They’d be seeing plenty of each other over the next six weeks at all the various functions leading up to the wedding, so he needed to tread carefully, make sure he didn’t do anything to cause offence. Or worse, end up in the article she was writing about the wedding forCelebritymagazine.
“I’m going to stay and help Eloise.”
“Who?”
Eloise waved, and Nate wanted to tip his head back, laugh at this ludicrous situation and pull her close but he kept his hands to himself. Like he always did. Eloise’s arm flopped back to her side under the weight of Bianca’s glare.
“I’ve got it under control.” Eloise’s smile was the politest one he’d ever seen on her face. He hated how she looked nothing like herself. How her hands were clasped together so tightly her knuckles were white.
Stepping away from Bianca, Nate reached for the empty fire extinguisher on the table. “I’m going to help.”
“My editor wants to do a profile on what your life’s like now. I thought we could discuss it under the stars, maybe lose the group. I like to get up close and personal with all my interview subjects …” Bianca raised her eyebrows suggestively.
