She licked her lips again. “Pretty sure no one ever died of anticipation.”
He toyed with her hair, smoothing it behind her ear. “The two of us might just find out,” he murmured.
She tossed her head back on a bright burst of laughter. All he could think about was discovering the taste of her, right where her pulse fluttered at the base of her throat. At her car, she pressed up on her toes and gave him a kiss. Simple and chaste, it set him ablaze all over again.
“For the record, I have a commitment tomorrow night,” she said. “Not a date. But I am really looking forward to meeting you at the fire pit. Do you want me to bring anything?”
He shook his head, words were a struggle when all he wanted to do was hang on to her. One more kiss. One more laugh. One more minute.
This immediate, intense connection was unlike anything he’d experienced. “Does everyone get attached to you so quickly?” To hell with restraint. He couldn’t manage it.
“Not really, no.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Most people underestimate me. My fault for not correcting them, I guess.” Her fingertips trailed along his jaw. “Thank you for dinner, Trent. Have a good night.”
“You, too.” The rest of his night was trashed now. He opened her car door, leaned in as she situated herself behind the wheel. “For the record, I won’t be sleeping tonight.”
She paused, a gleam in her eyes. “Because of your work?”
“We can go with that.” He suspected any attempt on his part to explain the visions currently running through his head would overwhelm them both. “Text me when you get home?”
Her eyebrows arched. “Sure.”
He closed her door and stepped back, barely resisting the urge to follow her just to reassure himself that she was safe. Digging deep, he found a remnant of willpower and drove back over to the Hideaway instead.
And once there, he did pour all his restless energy into the work. She’d given him new names to consider. It probably wouldn’t matter, but he couldn’t stop searching for the break this case desperately needed.
CHAPTER 8
Natalie’s sisters had ambushed her the moment she’d walked in last night, demanding full details about her date with Trent. It had been more lovely than annoying, her happiness impervious after the incredible kiss left her starry-eyed. It was a wonder she hadn’t gotten lost on her way home.
But she’d kept that admission to herself as the three of them chatted about romance-inducing Lowcountry sunsets.
She’d dreamed about him. It would’ve been weird if she hadn’t. Her dreams had been filled with more tantalizing kisses leading to more of everything. Instead of waking restless, hungry for a man she wouldn’t see soon enough, she’d woken up feeling wonderfully inspired.
After brewing a pot of coffee, she went out to the screened porch with her sketch pad. Celeste must’ve asked her about food at some point, because her sister delivered a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, and fresh fruit and refilled her coffee cup.
Absently, Natalie ate breakfast, her mind on her work, until the rushing flow of new ideas slowed to a trickle. When she looked up, Celeste was sitting nearby, quietly doing her own thing with a laptop and a notebook.
Finance ledger, Natalie realized, remembering the color-coding her sister used.
“Thanks for breakfast.” Gathering her dishes, her sketch pad tucked under her arm, she headed for the kitchen.
“You can interrupt me,” Celeste said.
Nat paused. “But you’re doing math.”
“And you can still interrupt me.” She smiled. “Did you land a new commission?”
There were times when her oldest sister’s smile reminded her so much of their mom it made Nat’s heart stutter. “Nothing new. Just woke up with a flood of inspiration this morning.” She could stop there, but why? “Including some ideas for curriculum options that benefit schools, private and public.”
Her sister’s eyebrows lifted. “Sounds intriguing,” Celeste said. “I really admire you. I don’t think any of us tell you that nearly enough.”
On a wave of emotion, Natalie’s lower lip trembled and her stomach, so content after that awesome breakfast, twisted hard. “What do you mean? That’s silly,” she deferred. “You and Roni give me plenty of support. Good grief, I have a place to live, my rent’s dirt cheap, and I barely need the income from my artwork. We probably don’t thankyouenough for ensuring our financial security.”
She escaped to the kitchen, not the least bit surprised when Celeste followed her.
“Celeste, you’re hovering.” Natalie gentled the accusation with a smile. “I’m fine. I’m the one who played all day and had a great date last night.”
“Exactly. That’s a prime example,” Celeste pounced on the intended diversion, pointing at Nat’s face. “I can see through that carefree expression and tone. It’s your shield. But you don’t have to hide anything from us. We love you as is. Always have.”
