Page 17 of Come A Little Closer

“What?” My jaw dropped and I didn’t even try hiding it from her. “He’s a player?”

She nodded a few times. “Apparently, he loves the ladies and they love him right back.”

“No way,” I breathed, my head shaking as I stared into her eyes, but she seemed completely serious, which bowled me over. “I didn’t get that vibe from him at all.”

“No one does,” she said. “I think that’s part of his charm. He’s got that air of mystery thing going that makes it hard to get a read on him, but he’s a player, alright. He keeps it out of the office, but in some circles, he’s known as New Orleans’ most eligible bachelor. I mean, think about it, he’s filthy rich, he’s kind, he’s ridiculously good looking, and he’s got a bit of that bad boy broodiness we all know and love.”

For whatever reason, I felt on edge all of a sudden. Maybe even a little small. I had no reason to feel anything at all about the rumors circulating about him, but I really didn’t like hearing any of this.

That morning after the storm, I’d woken up before he had. I didn’t think he’d realized it because I’d pretended to still be asleep, but the reason I’d done it was because I hadn’t wanted to leave his arms. Somehow, we’d ended up wrapped around each other in our sleep, and waking up to him had been an experience I hadn’t wanted to cut short by immediately getting out of bed.

I’d felt safe in his arms. Protected. Even though the sun had risen by then and the storm had passed, it hadn’t been the ghosts or the darkness he’d made me feel safe from. I hadn’t been scared anymore and yet, at the same time, it’d been so comforting to be held by him that I’d just… stayed.

I hadn’t been with anyone since Carter, and we’d broken up two years ago. Niall was gorgeous, and I loved messing with him and pushing his buttons. There was definitely tension there. But he’s my boss. And a player, apparently.

My stomach tied itself in knots. I hadn’t taken him for just another rich playboy and it was disconcerting that he’d fooled me to the extent he had. Or maybe the rumors were just rumors. But with looks like his, it wasn’t much of a stretch that he could possibly get around.

Sayra and I ate together while she told me more about the company and the plantation itself. Then she checked her watch and her nose scrunched up. “Crap. I have to go. I’m meeting Andrew for a friend’s birthday party. I completely forgot about it until he called earlier. This was great, though. Thanks for having me over. I’m so excited to see what you come up with for the festival.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, shaking off my uncertainty about Niall for the moment and walking her to the door. “Thanks for coming. We should do this again.”

“Definitely.” She gave me a quick hug, leaving almost at a jog as she made her way back to the parking area in front of the main house.

I sighed, hugging myself after shutting the door behind her. Niall is no more than my boss. Who he chooses to have se⁠—

My thoughts were cut off by my phone ringing in the kitchen. I dashed to get it, praying that it was Cathy or one of my other friends with an invitation to go out. Or anything to distract me at this point.

But it was Niall.

I answered reluctantly but curiously, wondering why on earth he’d be calling at this hour on a Saturday night. “Hello?”

“Hey, you,” he said, the words themselves warmer than his actual tone. “I’m sending a car for you now. I just wanted to make sure you were ready?”

My eyebrows slammed together until I remembered we’d said we were going to watch scary movies together tonight. “Oh, right. Yes, I’m ready.”

As uncertain as I was about him right now, I wondered if it was okay that I felt a little flicker of excitement about spending some one-on-one time with him. Everything Sayra had said was fresh in my mind, but did it really matter if the man had a past?

I wasn’t looking to be his future or anything like that. I was simply attracted to him, and for the first time in my entire life, I was going to be watching the kind of movies I loved with a man I wanted to climb like a tree.

In that moment, I decided that it was okay to be excited about it. God, isn’t it about time that I just let myself live a little?

8

NIALL

Why am I freaking out like I’ve never been on a date before when this isn’t even a date?

Standing in front of the full-length mirror in my dressing room, I fixed my tie, loosening it a little so I didn’t look like I was on my way to a funeral.

This was ridiculous, but I was genuinely nervous for Tallulah’s arrival.

My heart had even done a little twist when I’d called to find out if she was ready. As if my entire existence had hinged on her saying yes. On the other hand, inviting a woman over to my house was out of character for me. I honestly never brought women here unless it was for a one-night-stand after picking them up in some posh club.

I didn’t do dinners or lunches, or even breakfast after the night before. I hardly ever hung out with women unless it was a business meeting, and that didn’t really count as hanging out. I’d never had a casual movie night or a hookup with a coworker, and yet, I was looking forward to doing exactly that with Tallulah. I just didn’t understand why I was doing it or why I was so nervous about it.

After turning away from the mirror, I strode out of my bedroom and headed to my in-house theater to make sure it was up to snuff. As if I hadn’t done that three times already in the last hour.

As I walked in, I leaned against the door and looked around, surveying the space once more like it was the first time I was seeing it. I wanted to look at it as if through her eyes now, attempting to figure out what she would think when she walked in here.