“Mmm. Well, that got put on hold for a while. Not sure when I’ll get back to that.” He didn’t know if he’d ever get back to that. But he wasn’t about to say that. Krissa squeezed his hand, and he felt taller. Stronger.
“If you’re still interested in doing a book, you should meet Blake Remata. He works for Zenith Publishing. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Nate and Krissa followed Greg to another group of people where he performed more introductions. Meeting another publisher was great, except Nate still had no idea if he was ever going to be able to photograph again. Although…his eyes roamed around the room. It wasn’t exceptionally bright in there, but nor was it dark. His eyes felt surprisingly good without the glasses.
They mingled and chatted, drank more wine.
“You have such a sense of composition,” one woman told him.
“I love the minimalism,” another guest said. “It’s almost Zen-like. Beautiful balance. Harmony.”
Nate absorbed all the compliments and praise for his work. His ego had been battered lately and all the adulation helped build him up. And having Krissa at his side made it all that much better. She squeezed his hand or his arm at every accolade, and the look of pride on her face was worth more than every word of praise from someone else.
He loved having her at his side. Some warm emotion washed over him and he pulled her away from the crowd, off to the side. He took her wineglass and set it on a table along with his, then curved his hands around her hips and pulled her up against him. She rested her hands on his chest and smiled up at him. “What?”
He lifted a hand to stroke her hair, push it behind one bare shoulder. She looked so beautiful tonight, glowing and proud and sexy. He couldn’t wait to get her back to the hotel room and fuck her mindless. His dick leaped at the thought. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
He bent his head but stopped with his mouth a breath apart from hers. “You’re gorgeous, Krissa. Thank you for coming with me.”
Her eyelids drifted closed as she waited for his mouth to touch hers, and then, over her shoulder Nate saw a group of people he knew walk into the gallery. People he knew very well.
He lifted his head.
“Nate!” His mother spotted him, put out her arms and made a beeline across the room to him. “Oh, Nate!”
Oh, Christ.
Krissa opened her eyes and turned in his arms. Nate’s first impulse was to push her away from him. But it was too late for that. His entire family trailed along behind his mother and had already seen him in the heated clinch with Krissa. Jesus.
He gently stepped apart from her, and moved her to his side. She tossed a questioning glance at him, and he gave her a crooked smile, then turned to his mother as she threw herself into his arms.
He’d forgotten what a little thing she was. He’d been bigger than her since he was twelve. Something twisted inside him and he hugged his mother, whom he hadn’t seen for over two years. He looked over her head as his father and two brothers, along with their escorts, approached.
His dad smiled, but his eyes were wary and he appeared to be fighting his emotions. Both his brothers looked—annoyed.
He greeted them all with hugs and back slaps, a big family reunion he hadn’t planned on having here at Gallery 228.
“Nate, this is my girlfriend, Tara,” his brother Bryan introduced them. His other brother, Rich, presented his girlfriend Helen and Nate then introduce Krissa to everyone. His parents eyed her with interest, their gaze dropping to Nate and Krissa’s clasped hands as they stood there. Then Nate’s mom spotted the ring on Krissa’s left hand.
“Oh my God!” She reached for Krissa’s hand. “Nate, did you get married? And not tell us?”
Chapter 25
Nate’s stomach rolled. “Uh…no. No, Mom.”
Still holding Krissa’s hand, his mother looked up at him. “But…oh.” She slowly released Krissa. “Oh.”
Hot color swept up into Krissa’s face. “I’m married to Nate’s friend Derek. Derek Hallson.”
“Oh, of course, I remember Derek! What a charming smooth talker that boy was. Still is, probably.” Mrs. Cowan chatted brightly apparently trying to cover her blunder.
“Yes, he is. Krissa glanced at Nate.
“I’ve been staying with them for the last month or so,” Nate told his mom.
Her brows slanted down. “Oh. You’ve been home for a whole month? And never came to see us?”
