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Noah steps to the side and waves him in. “Mom says you’re going to help me carve my pumpkin. I’ve never carved one before, but I have an idea.”
Nate raises his eyebrows as he walks in. “Well, I’m here to help.” He winks at me as he walks past, following Noah down the hall to the kitchen.
After closing the front door, I head back to the kitchen and family room. I find Nate talking with Mom, and Noah is dragging his pumpkin from where it was sitting in front of the fireplace to the middle of the family room floor.
“Oh, it’s my pleasure to help,” Nate says to Mom. “I love carving pumpkins, and I haven’t had the chance to do it in years.”
And so our afternoon begins. Nate helps Noah carve his pumpkin just the way he wants it. This is not only a relief to me, but he also does a much better job than I ever could. Noah is ecstatic about how his jack-o’-lantern turns out, and Nate seems to enjoy himself in the process. Mom and I have fun watching and helping when we can. It’s really a fun afternoon, and it makes me happy to see Noah having such a good time, too.
I’m not sure where anything is going with Nate, but we subtly flirt off and on. The kisses we shared last night are constantly replaying in my head. Not only did we kiss on the pier but we also kissed in his car before he drove me home, and he kissed me good night on my front porch when he walked me to the door. He’s a gentleman, but by the way he kisses, I can tell he could be not so gentle, too—in a good way. However, that’s also a bit intimidating to me, considering I’ve only had sex with one person in my life, and the last time was over seven years ago.
Just as we finish cleaning up the pumpkin-carving mess, Noah looks at Nate. “You wanna come see my room and all the new toys I got for my birthday?”
Nate glances at me, then back at Noah. “Sure. I’d love to see.”
“Cool! Follow me!” Noah walks down the hall.
Nate starts to follow him but stops an inch in front of me. It’s the closest we’ve been to each other all day, as well as the first time we’ve been alone. “This was fun,” he whispers before planting a quick kiss on my lips.
Too quick.
“Nate, come on!” Noah calls from the hallway.
“I better go,” he says before leaving the room.
Well, now what? After Noah shows Nate his room, I presume Nate will leave. Why would he stay? He came over to help carve a pumpkin, and that’s done now. After spending so much time with Nate this weekend, I don’t really want him to leave. I enjoy spending time with him, and I wouldn’t mind spending more.
I also wouldn’t mind having more alone time with him. The kisses we shared last night were hot and sexy … and I’m craving more. How can I finagle spending more time with Nate?
Mom walks back into the kitchen. “Is he staying for dinner?” she asks casually.
Dinner. Why didn’t I think of that?
“Um, I don’t know. I haven’t asked.”
Mom cocks an eyebrow. “Well, are you going to?”
I shrug, still trying to make my relationship with Nate appear as if it’s no big deal. “I guess I can. Noah’s showing him his room and birthday presents right now.”
“Noah really likes him. That can be good or bad,” Mom says before walking into the family room and settling down in her recliner. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
I want to roll my eyes, but I refrain from doing so. “I know,” I reply. “Believe me, I’ve thought about this.”
And I have. Noah is the most important person in my life, and I definitely don’t want his feelings to get hurt in any way. He obviously looks up to Nate and thinks he’s pretty cool. It was just by chance that he met him. I would’ve never introduced a date to him this soon, but that’s just the way things happened.
Footsteps on the stairs and Noah’s voice tell me they’re on their way back down.
As soon as they walk into the room, Nate’s sexy smile makes the muscles in my lower belly clench.
“Mom! Can Nate stay for dinner?” Noah asks, pulling me back to reality.
“What?” I ask, surprised that he asked what Mom and I were just discussing.
“I want Nate to stay for dinner!”
“Oh.” Looking at Nate, I just want to climb him like a tree.
He cracks a smile, and those damn muscles in my belly twinge again. “I don't want to impose, but honestly, I’d love to stay,” he says.
