Page 7 of Tempting the Player
What have I got myself into here? A night with Nathan Harris - I hope I can handle it.
I’m nervous as we walk around to his place, the girls are holding hands and chattering away happily, which leaves me alone with Nathan.
He walks alongside me, swinging Lucia’s school bag, seeming relaxed. I hate that he’s relaxed and I'm on edge. I try not to fidget and be as cool as I can. I try to walk normally, but then I become so conscious of walking normally that I can't remember what normal walking feels like - I feel as though I'm walking like a robot.
“So...” He starts, “is there a man that was expecting you to be with him tonight, or are you single?
Wow, dive straight in there, Nathan.
“Why do you want to know that?”
He shrugs, “Just wanting to get a lay of the land, suss out the competition.” He's grinning - so I’m not sure if he's serious or not.
“No, I'm single. Patrick and I separated when Jess was a toddler, so it’s just the two of us, and that’s how I like it. How about you?”
Don’t go getting any ideas, mister.
“Pretty much the same. I've calmed down a lot from my twenties,” he shoots me an embarrassed glance, “I like to concentrate on Lucia.”
Yeah, right, I bet.
“We're here.” He says, pointing towards a big detached house. Wow, he’s done well. Running his own joinery businessmust pay well. It has a garage attached and a well-kept garden, which must take hours of upkeep.
“This is nice – you like gardening, huh?”
He laughs, “No way - I don’t have the time or the patience. My dad does it while I'm at work, he’s retired - gardening is a hobby of his – the back garden is something else.”
I smile as he takes out his keys and opens the door. He hesitates and grimaces, turning to me.
“It may be a mess. I didn’t think I was going to have company. I have a cleaner who comes in once a week on a Monday, but it's Friday today, so it's probably best to expect a mess.”
I smile at him warmly. “We have kids, our houses are always a mess!”
He laughs. My belly does somersaults when he laughs. I made him laugh – I feel like the queen of the world. What are you doing, Kate? I should not be happy about making him happy. I havegotto keep my distance from him. He was a bastard ten years ago, so I'm sure he’ll be a bastard now. Because he seems to be a good dad, it doesn’t mean he's changed – men like him never change.
His house isn’t that much of a mess, it just looks like a four-year-old lives there.
Lucia shouts, “Daddy, can I show Jess my room?” She’s already on her way up the stairs with Jess behind her.
He answers, “Yeah, that’s fine, but ten minutes and then we’ve got to go.”
I follow Nate, and he leads me into the kitchen.
He glances back at me and raises his eyebrows, “Do you fancy a quick coffee?”
He moves towards a coffee machine - I can’t help but check out his bum in work jeans, very nice indeed.
“Wow!” I can’t hide my appreciation as I check out the room. What a kitchen! Everything is built in, it has a centre island for preparing food with pans hanging. In the corner is one of those old-style big breakfast benches. It’s homely.
“This is stunning, Nathan - do you cook?”
He shrugs, “I can hold my own. Had to learn how to cook to feed Lucia - she doesn’t complain, so I must be doing alright.”
He continues to look at me, “How do you like it?”
My head shoots up. What? “How do I like what?”
There’s laughter in his voice, “Your coffee, honey.” He leans back onto the counter, crossing his ankles, folding his arms, and stares at me. I stare back at him, hot under the collar. Did he just call me honey? I’m so bloody weak. Why did it make my belly go funny?
