Page 65 of Secrets in Love
“Minor details?!” I yelled, then clapped my hand over my mouth, remembering that one detail was in the shower just down the hall. “Jocie, he is Finn’s best friend, and he lives on the other side of the world. What about that is insignificant?”
I was dismissed with a wave of her hand. “I didn’t say insignificant. I said minor. And yes, I believe if you really have feelings for Nate, the distance is a minor detail in the grand scheme of things.” The bedroom door shut next door, and the distinct sounds of man-grunting echoed through the walls. “Sounds like someone is out of the shower. Why don’t you take one and get dressed? We can talk about this later.” Jocelyn stood and made her way to the door. “Don’t think yourself out of love, Evie. Trust me, a lifetime is a long time to harbor a regret of that size.”
“Right. I’ve messaged Finn, and he’s on his way.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea? Finn isn’t the most spontaneous of men. You do know this much unscheduled activity could end him.” My laughter stopped when Nate pulled me against him. “But enough about your brother. You look unbelievable, Gidge. I knew that dress was perfect for you.”
Normally, such attention would be rebuffed, but for once, I felt like I looked amazing and accepted the compliment with nothing but a modest blush.
A night intended to surprise Finn had been hijacked by Nate’s thoughtfulness. Earlier, a Michael Kors garment bag laid in waiting on my bed after I showered. At first, I thought it would be a gift from my aunt, who loved a designer boutique as much as Carrie Bradshaw. But when I opened the zipper and cautiously removed the gorgeous black dress, a small card decorated with daisies fell to the ground. My heart stopped as I pictured his tattoo.
For my Irish Warrior Princess.
Love, your idiot.
It fit like a dream. Just as my hand did in Nate’s for the brief second I’d indulged him while walking the banks of the Hudson. Our table hadn’t been ready when we first arrived at the restaurant, M.I.X., so we grabbed hot chocolates and checked out the views along Pier 45. Things had been awkward since the whole friend-zone spiel at the beach, so I felt the time was helpful to find some kind of normality between us before facing Finn.
Clearly Nate didn’t feel the same and decided to send us right back to awkwardness. First with the hand holding and then with… “So, Gidge. There’s been one question I need to ask, just for my own sanity, despite the fact that your answer may kill rather than assure me.”
Oh my God. He knows. He knows I am a virgin freak.“I don’t like the sound of this, Nate.” He ignored me and kept going.
“Have you been serious about anyone since you’ve been here? Like fuck-face Christian? Were you really into him?”
It wasn’t the question I was worried about, but still one I didn’t want to answer. “Oh, look at the time!” I said, stupidly staring at the spot on my blank wrist. “We should be getting to the restaurant. It’ll be freezing soon, and you still don’t have a good jacket.”
Nate let his cup slip from his hands and braced my shoulders. “Stop fussing over me and avoiding the question. Have you had a boyfriend since you’ve been here? A fuck-buddy. Friend with nauseating benefits—”
“No. Don’t be silly. Of course I haven’t.”
“Don’t be silly? Why would it be silly for you to have a boy- or bed-friend?”
“Because, well, because I’m busy, and a homebody, and grumpy, and…me. Guys don’t want or even see girls like me.”
Nate jolted back like I’d slapped him. “What do you mean, ‘girls like me’?”
“You know, shorter, squattier, homely types. They want Amazonian goddesses like Scarlett.”
“What?! Are you crazy?” He ran his hands down his face a few times, shaking his head and laughing. “Look, I still don’t know who this Scarlett is, so I can’t say anything about her, but Evie, you arenotsquatty and homely. You’re pretty. Beautiful, in fact. Cute as all hell and sexy as fuck. Any guy would want you, and I’m pretty sure you know you drivemecrazy.”
“Snort. You have to say that ‘cause you’re my friend.”
Biting his lip, Nate smiled, ducked down to my level, and began playing with my hair. “No, I shouldn’t say or think that because I’m your and your brother’s friend. But first and foremost, I am a guy, and when I think of you, I definitely don’t think of squatty and homely.”
Gulp.
“Oh yeah, well, what do you think?”
A cool breeze whipping off the water blew between us, and a lock of my hair swept across my face. Nate caught it between his thumb and index finger, then began to twist. “I think of the softest curls I’ve ever seen. Bright, beautiful, blue eyes, rose-colored lips I can’t help but watch and want to kiss whenever you speak, and to be honest…” I turned to mush as my hair was released, then tucked away behind my ear. His free fingers soon busied themselves, tracing the lines of my neck and across my collarbone, releasing the most intense shiver right down to my toes. “…the most fucking lovely breasts and sexy round ass that looks magnificent in a wetsuit but would look even better between my teeth.”
I stared at my feet to hide my incandescent blush. What the hell was I supposed to say to that?
“Oh.”Genius.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.Saved by the bell. “That’ll be our table,” I said without looking.
Nate crushed me into his body. “Let them wait. Please? We haven’t finished talking.”
With my head squished into his chest, I inhaled deeply, taking in every drop of his delicious scent before I replied, “No, we have finished. For your sake as well as mine, I think we’ve said all we have to say.” I pushed off his chest like it was a solid brick wall and began to walk away. “C’mon. Let’s go see your best friend.”
