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I glanced at the door and stopped in my tracks. Nathan was a sight to behold. Even though he was dressed down in a soft-looking cream sweater and jeans, my heart fluttered at the sight of him. He leaned against the front counter, checking something on his phone with his eyebrows pulled together. His biceps bulged beneath the sweater, and his backside—rounded, as if he spent hours at the gym—perfectly filled out the cut of his jeans. He held his coat in the crook of his arm, but when he looked up and saw me and Estelle, he took hold of it and stood straight immediately.
“Hey,” he said. “Figured it was easier to stop by than to call to see if you were ready.
“Hi,” he said, extending a hand toward Estelle. “I’m Nathan Hemingway; it’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, I know who you are,” she said, taking his proffered hand. “Nice to meet you in person. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He grimaced. “From all the talk of the town, I’m sure.”
“From Ciara,” she clarified.
I blushed and then shot a glare at Estelle. She did not look remorseful in the slightest.
Nathan’s gaze fell on me, and he smiled, tilting his head. “Yeah?”
“She’s exaggerating,” I said, feeling my face heat up even more. “I just mentioned to her that we are…dating.”
His smile morphed into a smirk, a little cockiness shining through. “I’d say it was more serious than dating,” he said.
“Yes, he’s your boyfriend, is he not?” Daniella rounded the corner, a polite smile pasted on her face. Underneath, I could see her fangs. I stiffened.
“Boyfriend?”Estelle hissed to me. “Girl, you’ve got some explaining to do.”
“Okay, time to go,” I said hurriedly, reaching for Nathan’s arm. When we made contact, I had to stop myself from smoothing my hands over his arms and down his broad chest.Man, this sweater is cozy,I thought. “See you in the morning, Daniella. Estelle.”
“Not so fast,” Daniella trilled. “Remember that you have inventory to do this week. It’ll take you several days, so make sure to show up here early. Seven a.m. sharp.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I mumbled, more out of the habit of being polite than anything else. Though she was only ten years older than me, meanness aged her.
I hustled Nathan out of the store, waving to a flustered Daniella and shocked Estelle. When we finally reached the outside, I let out a long exhale.
Turning to Nathan, I grimaced. “Sorry for the weirdness back there,” I said, gesturing to the bookstore. “I haven’t really told anyone we’re getting married. Not sure how to broach the subject, really.”
Nathan smiled down at me, a crooked tilt to his lips. I blinked rapidly, feeling like I was being pulled in by the warmth in his eyes and the gentle jokingness in his stance.
“Really?” he asked. “You mean, you didn’t blast it all over the internet, scream it from the rooftops? You bagged Hemingway’s most eligible bachelor; you should be proud. You now have fodder for the rumor mill.”
I frowned, not particularly enjoying the notion that I would use his reputation for my own gain, but not wanting to confront him about it. That would be considered making waves, and I didn’t even know Nathan well enough to broach the topic. “Sure,” I said instead. “So, froyo?”
Nathan indicated his head toward the parking lot. “Yes. Are you okay if we take your car? I walked here from Town Hall.”
I bit my lip, trying to remember what state my little beat-up Honda Civic was in. “Um, sure? I apologize in advance for the mess.”
“No worries; I won’t hold it against you.” When I looked up, he smiled. “We just met; it’s just more information about you, which I welcome.”
“Of course.” I blushed. “Let’s walk back toward the Cafe; I parked over there.”
We walked in silence, me using the time to quietly freak out. When we reached my car, I casually glanced through the windows, breathing a small sigh of relief when I remembered that I had cleaned out my car the night before. I unlocked it and gestured to the passenger side. “Hop on in.”
Nathan grinned. “With pleasure.”
As he fit his tall, broad-shouldered body into my tiny car, I fiddled with my rearview mirror, moving it this way and that, out of nervousness rather than necessity. Then, without thinking, I plugged my phone into the AUX cable, turned on the car…
…And we were blasted by the song,Bring Me to Lifeby Evanescence.
I squeezed my eyes shut.Oh, God, could this get any more embarrassing?
Nathan seemed refined, classy. He probably listened to R&B and smooth jazz or lo-fi hip-hop. And here, I was listening to Amy Lee talking about how she’s been living a lie.
