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I want to smack myself on the forehead. I can’t believe I have been sitting here most of the night with a member of the Orso family and didn’t even realize it. He said it was his family’s club, and I hadn’t put two and two together. I’m a total idiot.
“Something wrong?” Nate asks.
Pull yourself together!
“No, not at all!” I smile. “I just can’t even imagine what that would be like!”
“Noisy,” Nate says, and we both laugh. “So how are you liking our little town here?”
I’m glad for the topic change.
“Well, it’s different,” I say. “I spent my whole life in one place, so it’s probably about time I see the world and all that.”
“Would you like to see the world?” His tone darkens somewhat, and I wonder what he’s thinking.
I clear my throat a little. With all the money his family must have, he’s probably been everywhere, and I’ve barely ever left the state of Maryland before a week ago.
“Maybe someday,” I finally reply. “I have some things to get done here first.”
“Such as finding your birth parents?”
“And finding that job I mentioned before I run out of funds.” She chuckles.
“Are you staying with friends here?”
“No.” Though it’s hard to look away from his eyes, I don’t want to admit that I don’t have any friends here.
“Where, then?”
I don’t look back at him. It could be the alcohol, but I feel like if I look back at him, I’ll find myself in his bed before the night is through, and I don’t want to do that. I can hear Aunt Ginny’s voice in the back of my head telling me that I shouldn’t give into a smooth-talking, rich boy.
“Nate,” I glance at him, but only briefly, “you’re being very kind and all, but we just met. I think if tonight has taught me anything, it’s taught me to be a little more cautious.”
“Afraid I might start stalking you?”
“Yes.” I reply far too bluntly and regret it immediately.
“Good call, I suppose.” He grins at me, and I’m glad he didn’t take offense. “I have to admit, it’s a little tempting.”
My head is starting to spin a little. I’ve had far too much to drink, and if I don’t leave now, I’m going to let him take me home.
“And on that note,” I say, “it’s probably about time for me to head home.”
I glance at the clock above the bar, shocked to find it’s a little after one thirty in the morning. Where did the time go?
“It is late,” Nate says. “Since I’m fairly certain you won’t let me drive you home, please let me get a cab for you.”
In my current condition, I’m not sure I could manage to use the Uber app, so I agree to let him call me a cab but not to take me home himself. He beckons Jude over to call for a ride.
“You should let me pay for at least some of these drinks,” I say as I pull out my wallet.
“Not a chance.” He leans over, tilts his head, and winks at me. “I own the club, remember? Drinks are on the house.”
I want to melt into those eyes.
I giggle like a schoolgirl and shake my head at him but put my wallet away. I have no idea how many drinks I’ve had at this point or what they would have cost me.
Nate pulls out his phone and reaches for one of the bar napkins and a pen. After he quickly scribbles down some numbers, he hands the napkin to me.
