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I guess he’d have to tell me. As much as I’d like to play it cool, I was all in.
An urgent knock sounded at my door. I brushed away a lone tear and jumped up to answer it.
Nathan stood in the doorway regarding me with apologetic eyes.
“I’msosorry,” he said, stepping into my apartment and reaching for me.
I flinched instinctively, the shame and frustration still burning within me.
His face fell at my reaction. “I left as soon as I could. She wouldn’t shut up about her stupid marketing plan.”
“It’s fine,” I answered hollowly, turning and moving back to my couch.
He followed and sat down, his arm splayed behind my shoulders, hovering just above them so he wasn’t touching me.
“I thought you might wait for me, but when I finally managed to extract myself, I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
I scoffed. “I didn’t exactly feel like sticking around by myself after that.”
His brows knit in confusion. “Are you mad? I thought you might be disappointed, but you seem upset.”
“I mean, I’m not thrilled.” I crossed my arms and examined a bald spot on my rug.
“What did you expect me to do? I couldn’t have her thinking something was going on between us. It’d be office gossip by Monday.”
Sighing, I looked up to meet his desperate gaze. To his credit, he did look panicked.
“It hurt, being dismissed like that by you. I know we can’t openly date, but did you have to be quite so cold about it?”
He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “I only tried to treat you like any other employee.”
“That’s the part that stung.” I took in a breath, thinking about how to articulate my thoughts. “Look, I understand where you’re coming from, but it’s starting to feel a little icky sneaking around like this. I don’t want to be a dirty little secret.” I paused debating how best to bring up my pending resignation. Maybe we could cool off now and start again later.
“Charlie, you can’t do this.” Nathan’s gaze turned intense. “I know I’m not the best at communicating my feelings, and I’msorry for that. But what I feel for you—it’s a lot. More than I’ve ever felt for anyone. I can’t lose you. You can’t end this. Please.”
“I was just—”
He cut me off by reaching up and twisting his fingers in my hair, pulling me toward him and kissing me frantically. His mouth moved over mine hungrily, and the weight that sat on my heart started to lift.
Did I really want to give this up? Even temporarily?
He released my mouth but kept his forehead pressed to mine.
“I know this is new, but I’m falling for you, Charlie.”
Butterflies exploded in my stomach at his admission. “I’m falling for you too,” I whispered.
“Then let’s forget about what just happened, and we’ll figure out the rest. The circumstances might be less than ideal, but this is worth it. Just don’t give up on me.”
“Okay,” I said, wanting to believe him.
He kissed me again, and I let myself get lost in him.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
NATHAN
“And through the sitting area,you’ll find your formal dining room that opens up to a large kitchen and family room.”
