Page 47 of Fierce Love
When I rise with everyone else, Nate stays seated for a beat, a pensive expression on his face. “Hollyn, can I see you in my office for a minute?”
He’s been friendly and professional with me all week, and the only time we’ve slipped beyond work colleagues is when he has picked up or dropped off Kinsley. Even then, we’re cautious with each other, as though we’re balanced on the edge of quicksand.
“Sure,” I say, smoothing down my skirt and following him out of the conference room.
Once we’re in the office, he tips his head at the door. “Close that, will you?”
I do, suddenly a bit worried. What if I’m getting fired before we even start?
Nate’s removed his perfectly tailored suit jacket, a look I’ve admired so many times in the last week. There’s something about grown-up Nate, in command, sure of himself, that causes a flame to flicker in my core.
He comes around to perch on the edge of his desk, facing me, and rolls up his sleeves to reveal his tanned forearms. His lack of eye contact is worrying, even if my brain is focused on each roll of his shirt material that bunches just beyond his elbow. Desire and nerves form a confusing concoction in my belly. I don’t sit down.
“Is it bad news?” I ask. “Or do you not want to deal with Kinsley anymore? Because I can sympathize.”
He lets out a light chuckle and shakes his head. “No, I’m just measuring my words—trying to figure out the best recipe for success.”
“You do that?”
“With you? All the time.” Our gazes lock, and my stomach flips.
It’s really unfair how attractive he is. Those eyes can sear my soul without an ounce of effort on his part. Looking at him is physically painful sometimes. We were together for such a short amount of time—one summer—but the emotions were infinite,unending, heart-wrenching. God, I loved him with my whole fucking heart. Loved every inch of him, inside and out.
That’s really the problem with being around him now—even if Nathaniel lost all his hair, gained five hundred pounds, became hideously disfigured, he’d still beNate. The fact that he’s maintained his gorgeous exterior is just karma’s way of rewarding him while laughing at me.
“You don’t have to watch how you deliver your words with me,” I say.
“Yes, I do,” he says, and his eyes light with amusement.
“Try me.”
“I want to fly you and Kinsley to New York this weekend on the family jet. Kinsley told me she’s a huge fan of Mia Malone, and I can get us tickets in a private suite in New York for Saturday.”
“Oh,” I say, rocking back on my heels.
“Yeah—see?” He gestures toward my stunned expression. “I can’t just say what I want. My wealth freaks you out sometimes. It always has.”
“Kin is a MiaMite,” I admit, still processing what he’s said. “Obsessed would be an understatement.”
“She mentioned that you’d promised her tickets months ago, but then obviously you accepted the job here… and those tickets are hard to come by, apparently.”
I can’t even imagine the strings he had to pull to get us tickets at short notice. Her tour has been sold out all over North America. Mia Malone looks similar to Ariana Grande, sings like vintage Mariah Carey, and has the star appeal of Britney Spears or Taylor Swift at the height of their fame. And Kinsleyloves her.
I’d promised the tickets knowing I’d have to land a big design contract to pull off the price, and then with Aunt Verna dying and getting the job here, the concert slipped my mind. Kinsley wouldn’t have wanted to mention it to me in case I suggested we return to New York permanently.
“You’re going to steal my sister’s heart,” I say with a half smile.
“It’s notherheart I’m aiming for,” he says without missing a beat. “What do you say? Whirlwind trip to New York? You can check in on your apartment, Kinsley can see a few of her friends, maybe you two can grab anything you might have wanted to have in Bellerive that you never thought to bring…”
Thatwould also appeal to Kinsley. Her stuffandher friends.
“Does Kinsley know?”
“Give me some credit,” Nate says with a scoff. “I knew you had to say yes first.She’snot going to say no, is she?”
“The three of us?”
“I secured four tickets, so Kin can bring a friend from here or from New York. I figured it would be more fun for her than hanging out with just us.”
