Page 111 of Unwritten Rules

“You know that if something is within my power to give to you, it’s yours, baby. Don’t you know by now, Mila DeMarco? You own me.”

* * *

My eyes flutter open as the morning sun shines across the lake and into the Lake House. My body is curled tightly beside Nate’s, my head resting on his warm chest, and I take a moment to appreciate everything I have right here, right now.

After he’d agreed to keep us a secret, for now, he’d fed me various tinned fruits and ran his fingers through my hair, drying it by the fire until I’d drifted off to sleep.

I drop a kiss on his naked chest as he begins to stir. “Morning, my Westley.”

He chuckles, finding my eyes with his sleep-heavy ones. “What is it you’re after now, Hellcat?”

Sitting up, my eyes blow wide in fake indignation. “Whatever could you mean?”

He barks a laugh, folding his arms behind his head to smile up at me with twinkling brown eyes.

“If you’re pulling out a Princess Bride reference at this hour, you must be after something.”

I blink owlishly, feigning ignorance.

“As you wish then, Hellcat. Let’s feed you before you turn all Venom on my ass.”

I can’t hold it in any longer, so I burst out laughing, swatting his chest playfully. “You know me too damn well, Hawthorne.”

He stands, pulling me from the floor to stand beside him. “Let’s head back. Monique will have made fresh croissants.”

We both laugh when my stomach rumbles loudly in response.

Walking side by side to the door, we stop short when we find a small suitcase containing clothes belonging to both of us, and two picnic baskets brimming with food. A small handwritten note rests inside the smaller of the two.

It simply reads:

Nathaniel,

The world can wait.

W

Nate smiles down at me, and I return it idiotically, delighted to find that at least Wetherby is in our corner.

Once we’ve brought everything inside, I quickly go about freshening myself up, opting to wear a little green and white paisley sundress that stops around mid-thigh.

When I’m ready, Nate has cleaned himself up and is also dressed for our stolen day. He’s wearing casual beige boardshorts and a white V-neck t-shirt that looks moulded to his body.

The larger picnic basket contents are spread across the small round dining table.

Freshly baked pain au chocolat, steaming croissants, several different types of preserves, any number of pastries, mugs of hot coffee, and champagne flutes filled with orange juice fill my field of vision.

Nate delivers a flute into my hand with a flourish. “Mimosa for my love.” And then tugs a chair out, smiling sincerely into my eyes. “Breakfast is served.”

I roll my eyes flippantly, but the grin on my face softens the gesture. “No Venom for you today, then. You’re well lucky.”

CHAPTER 32

NATE

“Read to me?”

After breakfast, Mila and I wash up the dishes side by side. The level of sheer contentment that flows through my body is otherworldly, and I can’t keep the wide smile off my face for longer than half a heartbeat.