My cheeks heated up and instead of pulling Nathan in for a repeat of last night, I cleared my throat.
“We better go. Don’t want to be late.”
The air between us hummed with tension as we walked to his car. Our kiss still lingered between us. Unspoken, dangerous, and electric.
I tried to act normal as I sat in the passenger seat, scrolling through my phone like I wasn’t hyperaware of every breath he took or every time his hand shifted on the steering wheel. But my head was a mess. Our kiss, the warmth of his mouth, the way he felt underneath me all played in a loop.
I told myself to stop thinking about it. To focus on work. Tonotlook at his stupidly perfect jaw. Or mouth.
“You look beautiful today,” Nathan said suddenly, voice calm.
My head snapped toward him. “What?”
“You always look beautiful,” he repeated, eyes on the road. “That's one of your favorite blouses right? I remember the last time you wore it your hair was down. You parted it down the middle.”
I let out a small, surprised laugh. “You remembered that?”
“I remember everything about you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say to that, but my cheeks warmed in response.
He didn’t say anything else, but I caught the faintest curve of his lips as we came to a stoplight.
When I glanced out the window again, I realized we weren’t taking the usual route to the office.
“Um, where are we going?” I wondered.
“Thought we’d stop for breakfast first.” Nathan responded.
“Breakfast?”
“You mentioned you like the muffins from Bakery Bliss,” he said. “I figured I should see what all the fuss is about.”
My heart does something stupid in my chest. Bakery Bliss is my favorite cafe. It was bright, airy, and unapologetically pink, with the best pastries in the city. It was also miles from the sleek, steel-and-glass environments Nathan preferred.
I stared at him, unsure of how to react. “So much for remembering things about me,” I looked at him pointedly. “You should know I hate being late for work.”
“I think your boss will understand.” Nathan smirked.
“I’m not so sure about that. I’ve heard people call him a hardass.”
“Office rumors. You can’t believe any of that stuff.”
I bit down on my lip to keep from laughing. “I’m his assistant, so I can confirm those are not rumors.”
Nathan snuck a glance away from the road, his own grin on full display. “Someone is mean when they haven’t had their coffee.”
“Oh no. That would be the lack of chocolate.” I said, fighting a smile.
When we pulled up in front of Bakery Bliss, I almost laughed. The pastel-pink awning looked like something out of a rom-com, and the smell of sugar and cinnamon hit the second we stepped inside.
The place was pink and unapologeticallygirlyand Nathan—tall, suited, stoic Nathan looked wildly out of place.
I expected him to look uncomfortable, to want to torch every pink surface he could get his hands on, but he didn’t. Instead, he approached the counter like he was a regular, calm and unbothered.
A barista appeared behind the cash register. She was pretty and looked to be in her mid twenties like me. She also possessed long brown hair and pretty green eyes. Her nametag said her name was Holly.
Holly leaned slightly toward Nathan, batting her lashes like she knew the effect she had on men.
