Page 54 of Unexpected Forever
I clench my jaw and look away. I hate the fact a part of my life I never wanted and only tolerate gives her any kind of anxiety.
Shifting in my seat, I lean close to her, lightly pinching her chin between my thumb and forefinger to make sure her eyes meet mine. “Listen to me, Charley.”
The storm of emotions swirling in her eyes awakens a primal feeling in my gut. It’s a protective streak in me I’ve never felt for a woman before.
“I don’t give two shits what the press says about this. They make up all kinds of shit anyway to sell a story. It’ll last two days and be forgotten. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“And I’m going to take care of you and little Nugget.”
She smiles. “Okay.”
We stare at each other for a moment, and I move my hand to the back of her neck, her skin soft under my palm, her silky hair brushing the back of my fingers.
I want to pull her to me and kiss the hell out of her.
But I don’t.
Instead, I kiss her forehead, allowing myself to breathe her in for just a moment. My racing heart settles down.
I release her and get out of the truck, coming around to open her door. “Ready to do this?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
I follow her to the front door, and my gaze falls to her ass in those snug jeans.
Without warning, she turns around, drawing me up short. “I—wait, are you checking out my ass?”
My eyes snap to hers.
Busted.
I grin. “What can I say? Those jeans”—I gesture up and down—“skim your curves perfectly. And can I just say they make your ass look exceptional?”
Her cheeks flush a pretty pink and she bites her lip, but one side of her mouth curves.
I want to cover her mouth with mine so bad I salivate.
“Nate, you can’t say things like that to me. Especially here.”
I huff out a laugh. “I’m well aware, Charley.”
“You know it only complicates an already complicated situation.”
I look down at the ground and rock back on my heels before meeting her gaze.
“You’re right. I’ll behave. We’re just friends.”
Friends who barely know each other and are having a baby together. Not fucked-up at all, right?
She hesitates, a shadow crossing her eyes before she nods quickly. “Right. Just friends.”
“What were you going to say? When you turned around?”
“Oh.” Her brow furrows. “I don’t remember now.”
We stare at each for a few moments, the spark between us alive and well.
