Meredith laughed. “No promises, but I’ll keep him in line.”
Evan gave me a mock-serious nod. “I’ll make sure your sister behaves herself.”
Will grinned, shaking his head. “If anything, you’re the one who needs babysitting.”
Meredith rolled her eyes at them both. “All right, we’re out. See you tomorrow, Nat!”
The car ride back to my house was quiet, the kind of comfortable silence that didn’t need filling. Will’s hand rested lightly on my knee, his thumb tracing small, absent-minded circles that sent warmth through me.
When we pulled into my driveway, he turned to me with a small smile. “You know,” he said, his voice laced with humor, “Sarah and Todd might be my favorite people right now.”
I tilted my head, confused. “Why’s that?”
“They’re playing house tonight,” he said. “All four of my kids are over there, and I’m pretty sure Todd is regretting every decision he’s made that led to this moment.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Sounds like they’re getting a crash course in parenting.”
Will grinned. “Yeah, and meanwhile, I’ve got the night off.” His voice softened as he looked at me.
My heart fluttered, but I couldn’t resist teasing him. “So, does this mean you want to sleep over?”
“Absolutely,” he said, his tone steady and certain.
I smiled, my cheeks warming as we pulled in the driveway. Will came around to open my door, offering his hand as he helped me out of the passenger seat. He followed me to the front steps as I unlocked the front door. Outside, the night was quiet, the air cool and crisp, but inside, there was only the steady hum of something that felt like possibility.
CHAPTER 38
MINTY FRESH
NATALIE
The house was still as I closed the door behind us, the quiet hum of the evening settling in. Will rested his hand lightly on my lower back as I turned to face him, his blue eyes holding mine with a look that sent heat rushing through me. His presence filled the space, warm and grounding, yet electric with anticipation.
“That was a big night,” he said softly, his voice steady but laced with something undeniably intimate.
“It really was,” I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips. “For the restaurant and the whole team behind The City Center.”
“For us,” he added, his words deliberate, his gaze unwavering. “Our first date.”
The corners of my mouth lifted as his hand slid down my back, pulling me a fraction closer. The faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air between us, spicy and warm. “You’re really counting tonight as our first real night out?” I teased.
“I am,” he said, his voice dropping, the tension between us thickening. “But it wasn’t just any night out. It was us, together. You and me. Like it should be. No hiding and sneaking around. The real deal.”
My heart stuttered at his words, and the way his thumb brushed against the side of my waist sent a shiver coursing through me. The world outside seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet pulse of our breathing and the weight of what was unspoken between us.
“You’re so sure,” I murmured.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” he said, his lips grazing the edge of my jaw, his breath warm against my skin.
The moment stretched, charged with a heady mix of anticipation and inevitability. Then suddenly, it snapped. His lips captured mine, fierce and consuming, and I sank into him, letting his hands and his touch pull me under.
Without breaking the kiss, he lifted me effortlessly, his arms cradling me as he carried me upstairs to my bedroom. The sound of my heartbeat thundered in my ears, each step he took feeling like an unspoken promise. The weight of the night, the applause, the conversation, it all melted away until there was nothing but us.
We stood next to the bed, his lips exploring the curve of my neck as his hands roamed over me, igniting a slow burn that spread through me like fire. Our connection only deepened as clothes slipped away, until there was nothing left between us but need.
The cool air against my skin sent a thrill through me as the fabric of my dress fell away. I felt his gaze on me, heated and reverent, as if I were the only thing that existed in the world.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” he murmured, his voice thick with reverence, and I felt a flush rise across my cheeks.
