She huffs out a laugh as she pulls a piece of fudge from the bag. Since we’re stopped at a red light, I snag her wrist lightly. As I bring her hand to me, her eyes widen, watching my every move. I open my mouth and close my lips around the piece of fudge and her fingertips, letting them linger in my mouth momentarily as my tongue slicks over her soft skin. A small whimper hits me right in the balls as the light turns green. I pull her wrist back, but instead of letting go, I intertwine our fingers and rest our hands on the middle console as I chew the fudge. All the while wishing I had something else sweet in my mouth.
“Sheesh, that was kind of hot,” she mutters, still staring at me, desire burning bright in her eyes.
Husky laughter rolls out of me.
My gaze shifts back to the road, and I grip her hand,running my thumb over her skin. “I have a question for you.”
She squeezes my hand in response, and I feel her adjust in her seat to face me more. “That sounds ominous.”
“Not ominous.” My smile is tight when I glance over at her. “My sister invited us over to hang out and have dinner. It would be both of my sisters and their families.”
“Us?” Her voice is a little higher than usual.
“Yeah, us.”
“What, uh, did you tell them about me?” Her question drips with uncertainty.
I glance over at her to see she’s gnawing on her bottom lip. It tastes bitter on my tongue, but I omit that Ian has already told Pamela about her. “Just that you’re someone I’m working with on tour. And that we were hanging out today.”
“I don’t know, Nate…”
“I can introduce you as my friend. That way, there’s no pressure or expectations. You’re just a friend coming to dinner at my sister’s. No big deal,” I offer.
My eyes cut to her as she gives me a skeptical look. “A friend.”
This will be the last time I introduce her as a friend if I can help it.“Yep, friends. You and me. And my family. It’ll be super casual.”
She laughs. “I guess if you introduce me as a friend, that would be okay.”
Elation flips my stomach. Pulling her hand to my lips, I kiss the back of it. The sweet scent of her lotion has lust flowing through my veins.
We finish the drive in silence, and when we arrive, I kill the engine and turn toward her. I tighten my hold on her hand to get her attention. When her eyes find mine, I say, “My family can be a lot. With Pamela and Joseph and theirfour kids plus Lori and Brian…things can get loud and obnoxious. If at any point you feel like you are ready to leave, you’ll tell me, okay?”
Olive’s full lips drop into a small frown. “Nate, I’m not going to make you leave your family.”
My fingers tunnel into her soft hair and gently pull her head toward me. She leans across the console. When my lips meet hers, my heart races. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over kissing this woman. The sense of rightness that washes over me is as exhilarating as it is reassuring.
I slow our kiss and pull back so I can look into her eyes. When hers flutter open, I command, “The second you’re ready to go, you tell me.”
Her sighed breath flirts across my skin. “Fine, I’ll tell you.”
Smiling, I release her and step out. Then, rushing around the front of my truck, I open her side and capture her hand in mine. My thumb drags back and forth across her skin as we walk to the door. Here’s to hoping my sisters behave and don’t scare Olive away.
25
Olive
Isit curled up on the couch in Nate’s sister’s living room, wineglass in my hand, laughing at a story Pamela is telling me. She’s told me stories about Nate all night. I couldn’t help but laugh every time Nate’s cheeks would get the faintest hint of blush at some of the more embarrassing ones. My heart skipped a beat watching Nate interact with his family. He adores his sisters and seems to have genuine friendships with their partners. And Nate with his nieces and nephews…I’ve never wanted to have children, but watching him with them gave me a momentary pause.
Not that Nate and I are going to have kids.
I shake those thoughts from my head with a laugh.
If nothing else, this evening has reminded me that happy and functional families are possible. I even opened up to his sisters about Benny, and they were just as kind and comforting as Nate has been.
I glance across the room at Nate. He’s standing on the far side of the room with Lori’s boyfriend and Pamela’s husband. But his eyes are on me. His sexy smirk has my core clenching. Noticing they’re suddenly very dry, I lick my lips. And before I take another breath, Nate sets his beer down, says something to the men, and stalks across the living room. He cages me in with one hand on the armrest and one hand on the back of the couch.
So much for just friends.
