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“Remember when we met up there on a Saturday to go over the municipal budget?” Of course, I remember. Nate had given us free refills of coffee, even though he doesn’t give free refills. He’d kept us supplied with chocolate biscotti as well.
“I remember.”
“Well. Keep your wits about you because he will definitely ask for your number.”
“Is he?” I ask. That’s enough sharing for one day. I’d like to keep this thing between Nate and me a secret for a little bit.
“Yep. Oh shit. I gotta go. Donna’s marching over here as we speak, and she wants an update about that unknown news site coming online soon. Let me know if you hear anything about that, okay?”
“Will do. See you tomorrow,” I tell Jessica and hang up.
“You heard every word of what she said, didn’t you?” I ask the smirking Nate.
“More or less.” He glances at me with a grin that could break any schoolgirl’s heart. He ought to be more careful with that thing…I might get jealous.
“She’s protective of me, seeing I’m still a newcomer.”
Nate squeezes my foot. I pull my feet off his lap and sit crisscross, facing him on the sofa. “Some people have lived here for years, and locals still treat them as newcomers.”
“I can handle it,” I say. “Especially now that I’ve got at least one hometown boy on my team.”
Nate pivots toward me, leans in, and cups my face. “I’m Team Meredith. One hundred percent.”
My heart pitter-patters, and I wet my lips automatically. “Oh really? So you bought the team tee shirt?” I tease.
Nate’s eyes smolder as he leans in, capturing my lips with his own. I open my mouth to his sweeping tongue, holding back a moan of pleasure. His mouth feels so good. His tongue caresses and explores, and his lips own mine with sensual, mind-melting kisses.
He pulls back and says, “Got the tee shirt, the cap, the giant foam finger.”
And now I’ll never look at foam fingers the same again.
I arch an eyebrow. “Care to try for a home run?”
He groans, a noise so sexy that moisture pools in my pajama pants all over again. “You need to rest. And I have to get back to work. But I’ll text you when I close up.”
Pouting, I ask, “You could come over after work.”
Growling, Nate rests his forehead against mine. “Rest, woman. And I’ll come by tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I say grudgingly, like a spoiled middle schooler who’s just had her phone confiscated.
I stand and follow him to the door.
“One more hug,” he says, wrapping me up in his big arms and squeezing me close against his chest. I circle my arms around his torso, and my heart gallops at the feel of his body so close—the warmth of his chest on my cheek, his tapered, muscled back. Gosh, he’s strong. He could toss me around like a sack of coffee beans.
Ugh, stop it, Meredith.
“You give great hugs,” I say, noticing how his big hands span my back.
Nate gives me one more squeeze and a kiss on the top of my head, which, at my height, is within reach for him without him having to bend down awkwardly.
Hm. Standing and kissing will be a challenge. Maybe I’ll have to jump him like a baby monkey and hold on tight.
ChapterNine
Nate
Late that night, after closing, I text Meredith.
