There’s humor in his tone. Watching him fling himself out of the hammock, almost falling to his knees before he stands and reaches for me, I can’t help but giggle. I had imagined romantic, lazy nights like this with Nash my entire life. In many ways, the reality is even more amazing.
The moment we’re back inside, his hand finds my waist, holding our bodies flush. “Thank you for bringing me here. It was nice getting to know adult Nash.” My hands find his shoulders before my fingers sink into the soft hair at the nape of his neck. “I should get going,” I whisper, my gaze flicking to his lips before meeting his eyes again.
That same charge passes between us. His warm breath fanning over my face as if he’s struggling to exhale properly. His moan stretches and vibrates through his chest as I run my fingers through his hair, lightly scraping my nails over his scalp. I somehow never noticed how much taller Nash is than I am. Maybe because we’ve never had a chance like this to just stay in the moment, holding one another as if we’re both terrified to let go.
“It’s late. You can stay,” he whispers against my lips. “Just to sleep.”
My mouth is dry as I try to respond. My lips part, but nothing comes out. Our bodies only press closer together, Nash’s mouth slow to lower to mine. Where my body had burned with endless flames the two other times we tasted one another, it’s a low simmer tonight.
Our mouths slant, exploring each other for the first time. The passion remains between us, driving the temperature to a feverish high, but there’s no frenzy. No need to rush throughthe moment as his fingers dig into my hips and hair. “Stay,” he breathes against my mouth when he finally pulls away.
Butterflies soar through my belly. This is what I’ve always wanted. He’s right here, and he’s not running. He’s pulling me in; he’s trying.
The past reminds me I may regret this. He might back off again, but life is about taking chances. I took one to manage Miller Inn, and I can take one more on Nash. What’s the worst that could happen?
Pressing up on my toes, I place one more soft kiss on his lips. “I need pajamas.”
A growl rumbles through his chest as he grins down at me. Weaving his fingers through mine, he kisses my knuckles before leading me to a room off to the right. That cheesy grin never leaves his face as he digs through a drawer, pulling out a shirt and handing it to me. “I can grab you pants too if you want, but I doubt they’ll stay up.”
“Shirt’s fine,” I give a tight-lipped smile, raising it.
“Bathroom is through there,” he points behind me. “There’s a smaller bedroom across the hall with a pullout. I’ll be in there if you need anything.”
“You asked me to stay, but you’re going to sleep in another room?” Disappointment coats my words. I wish it didn’t. I wish I could be Cool Betty from back in the day, where nothing fazed me. But everything about Nash sends my world topsy-turvy, and I don’t know what to do about it.
He’s in front of me in seconds, running that same thumb along my cheek, before tilting my chin up so our eyes meet. “Do you want me to sleep in here with you?”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak without sounding like a squeaky mouse. The corner of his mouth quirks before he softly caresses my lips with his. His touch is gentle and searching. My lips part, waiting for more, needing more. Breathlessness seemsto hold me in place, waiting for Nash to make a move. Always waiting.
“Go change, Betty.” Turning me away, he walks me to the bathroom door and then closes it.
Clutching the shirt to my chest, I just listen. The dresser opens again, then closes. Then there’s the rustle of clothes over skin before they’re tossed aside. Then the soft slap of his bare feet across the hardwood floors as he leaves the room.
My shoulders drop knowing he still chose to sleep across the hall. Stripping out of my dress and bra, I splash water on my face and knot my hair in a messy bun on top of my head. It doesn’t matter what I look like. Nash won’t see me anyway.
Slipping on the shirt, I inhale its scent. It smells just like him—the woods and crisp fall air. The hem hits just above mid-thigh. I’m not a tall woman at five-four, but I’m all legs. With a deep breath, I exit the bathroom only to jump back into the doorframe as Nash stands in the center of the room with two glasses of water in his hands.
“Shit, you scared me,” I pant, clutching my clothing to my chest. “I thought you, um, left.”
My nerves are firing, being in Nash’s bedroom with him, wearing his shirt while he wears nothing but some low-slung gray pajama pants that leave nothing to the imagination. My gaze rakes down his chiseled abs, to the deep V at his hips, before I force my eyes to meet his again.
Don’t look, Betty. Don’t mess this up.
“I get thirsty in the middle of the night,” he says, raising the glasses. “And you’ve been drinking, so you’re gonna need this.” There go those butterflies, fluttering around in my belly at the kind gesture. “Get in the bed, Betty.”
My body is primed to obey his every demand, so I fold my dress, tucking my bra between the fabric before placing the items on the corner of the nightstand. “Which side?” I whisper,staring at the massive bed as if it would matter. Both of us could lie starfish in the bed and barely touch.
“Betty,” the bass in his voice lowers as he takes a sip from his glass. “Get. In. The. Bed.”
My swallow is loud as I shuffle to the closest side, sit, and then swing my legs up onto the mattress. Nash places a glass on the nightstand beside me and then slips into the bed on the opposite side.
The click of the lamp turning off bathes us in darkness. My hands stay folded over my chest, my muscles taut. Even my breaths seem not to want to release as if terrified to spook him out of the room. Nash remains perfectly still for several minutes before he drapes his arm over my middle and tugs me into his body. “Hey,” I yelp as he chuckles.
“You wanted me to stay. I want to hold you.”
I let him wrap me in his arms, pulling me into the heat of his bare chest. My heart somersaults, cheering on the moment.
Close your eyes, Betty. You’re finally getting everything you want.
