Not the true feel-in-your-gut-and-never-want-to-let-go kind of attachment that grew so fast it not only scared him, but would terrify Natalie if the words escaped.
She stepped out of his arms much quicker than he wanted.
“I’m sure my family will have questions,” she said. “Not overly personal. At least I hope not. You should know that I haven’t brought a man to a family dinner in a long time.”
“Oh really?” he said. Maybe they should have had this conversation before he met the family so he could have been more prepared.
Or not felt as jealous.
Not an emotion he could recall often in his mind, but there it was, the ugly head of the monster wanting to know who the hell he had to outshine to prove to everyone he was the one who deserved her.
“You should see your face.”
There was no use putting a mask on. She saw through everything that no one else other than his grandmother could.
“What do you see?”
“Someone who might have a touch of green creeping in.”
He laughed. His hands spreading out arms’ length. Might as well be honest since he wasn’t hiding it well. “Tell me about the last guy to meet your family.”
“Nothing big or important,” she said. “Someone I was seeing on the island a few years ago. We’d been dating around Thanksgiving and he came.”
“What happened to this nameless man?”
“His name was Thomas,” she said, poking her finger into his arm. He flexed it. You know, just in case she needed a reminder of what he had to offer.
She rolled her eyes. Saw right through that move too.
He never claimed to be smooth.
“And what happened to Thomas?”
“He fizzled. Had moved to the island for a job, thought it’d be a great place to live, but I knew deep down it wasn’t what he wanted or cared for. He wasn’t happy and talked about transferring back to Boston.”
“And hoped you’d go with him?”
“He found out quickly it wasn’t happening. This island is in my blood. I can’t explain it.”
“You don’t need to. Just like it’s hard for me to explain why I move around so much.”
She frowned, her head moving side to side. “You’re searching,” she said. “For that one place to call your own. I’ve found it. More like always had it. I understand the need to seek until you can claim it as yours.”
“That’s it,” he said. “Maybe I’ll never find it.”
Lie. He found it. Or found her.
In his mind, if he had love, he didn’t give a shit where he laid his pillow at night.
Having his wealth made it an easier decision, sure. But even if he hadn’t had it, he knew he’d find a way to make it work.
“Some people never do,” she said quietly, dipping her head some and moving away from him.
He didn’t want her to feel as if he could pick up at a moment’s notice.
Trying to play it cool might have just backfired.
“Hey. I want to find it. Not that I’m forcing it, but doesn’t that count for something?”
