Page 110 of Never With You
Slowly, a smile spreads across Nate’s lips.
“What’s with your expression?”
“I just find it funny.”
“What?”
“You’re telling me if I hadn’t been so dang charming on day one, we would’ve gotten along just fine?”
“Not really.” I fight the urge to smile. “You were still way too handsome for your own good and for mine. You were the exact type of guy I always fall for, who ends up breaking my heart.”
I know it’s dangerous to admit all this to the enemy, to flirt like this, but I can’t help myself.
“Not every charming, handsome guy wants to break your heart.”
“Not in my experience.”
“Let’s just say, for the sake of arguing, that I’m the one charming guy who wouldn’t break your heart. And so you know, I had to be charming because you completely took my breath away when you walked in the office.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It’s true. I meant what I said to my mom. I thought you were beautiful and intimidating, and I just wanted to impress you so you’d like me.”
I’m flattered—more thanflattered if the banging in my chest means anything.
“I believe you said to your mom, and I quote, ‘Then Carly spoke, and I realized what a pain in the butt she is.’”
“That’s true too.” Nate laughs good-naturedly. “You were prickly, so despite being beautiful, I didn’t like you much. But fighting with you started to feel a lot like falling for you, so I didn’t mind our arguments. I thought they were kind of fun.”
His eyes hold mine, beating me down with their honest sincerity. I keep looking for an adorable glint or a teasing undercurrent, but it’s distinctly absent.
Nate Farnsworth is telling the truth.
I can’t look away from his brown eyes, even as every alarm starts ringing in my head. DANGER. DANGER. DANGER.
“Your Thai Pad,” the waiter says, setting a steaming plate of vegetables and noodles in front of me.
I’m grateful for the interruption because, without it, who knows what I would’ve admitted to feeling for him?
* * *
That night,when we return to the villa, I’m nervous about the sleeping arrangements. Nate and I can’t share a bed again, not after how things ended up last night, and especially not after all the honest things he said to me today.
I’m relieved when he announces, “I’ll sleep on the floor. I’m not sick anymore, and”—his smile tips up flirtatiously, sending my stomach into hysteria—“I don’t trust myself to keep my hands off you.”
That visual has me tossing and turning for hours all night long.
Today’s activitycrosses off a long-time bucket list item.
I scoop up another handful of mud and slap it on the side of the enormous elephant, rubbing it over the animal’s skin as if it were a clay mask.
There are things about the elephants I didn’t expect, like how their skin is covered with coarse hair that tickles my fingers, or even the smell, but I’m having the time of my life, so nothing else matters.
The elephant sucks up the muddy water, lifts her nose, and sprays the water on her back—but mostly on me and Nate.
I yelp as muddy droplets splash all over my hair, face, and swimsuit.
He turns to me, laughing. “I think you got the worst of that one.”
