Giving herself a mental smack on the head, she reminded herself this was nota date. She and Nate were meeting to discuss the plans for her sister’s and Kole’s party. Period.
Then, why does the thought of seeing him again make your heart race?
Ignoring that annoying little voice, Gracie grabbed her purse and keys from the coffee table and gave herself a once-over in the small mirror hanging next to her front door. Since thiswasn’ta date, she’d gone with her favorite jeans, a white V-neck, and her high-top Converse.
The white was a bit risky, since they’d be eating. She’d just have to be extra careful, especially since it was going to be Chinese.
Fluffing her hair with her fingertips one last time, Gracie opened the door and left. On the way to her car, she used her phone to pull up directions to the restaurant where they’d be meeting. The GPS told her it was an eleven-minute drive from her place.
Ten minutes and thirty-two seconds later, Gracie pulled into the establishment’s parking lot. Creeping across the pavement, she carefully avoided the multitude of potholes and loose asphalt, finally finding a solid place to park at the far-end near a large dumpster. He was right when he said the place wasn’t fancy.
Double-checking her doors to make sure they were locked, Gracie made her way across the lot and around the side of the brick building. She spotted Nate immediately through the business’s large glass window facing the street.
He was at the end of the long counter where people were placing their orders. His head was bowed, and he was leaning on his elbows, casually scrolling through something on his phone.
When she walked in, a tiny bell above her jingled to alert the employees another customer had arrived. Hearing this, Nate’s head swiveled in her direction, his eyes locking with hers.
Gracie’s lungs seized inside her chest.Lord, have mercy, he’s gorgeous.
Ignoring her heart’s overactive imagination, she began looking for the best path to take to get to him. It wouldn’t be easy since the place was packed. As in, shoulder-to-shoulder, standing-room-only packed.
Thankfully, Nate pushed himself off the counter and began squeezing his way over to her. She waited, watching as he politely asked someone to move before smiling back at her.
Damn.
Last night, he’d looked sexy as sin in his ball cap and sunglasses. Tonight, though…tonight he was positively panty-dropping.
Standing right at six feet, he was well above her five-feet, five-inch frame. The pale blue of his eyes reminded her of the beach her parents took her to as a little girl. The water was so crystal clear she could see the tiny fish swimming near the shallow bottom.
Gracie continued to study Nate as he slowly made his way toward her. His hair was a little darker than what she would consider light brown, but when the light shone down on it just right, hints of auburn peeked through.
With those mesmerizing eyes and a strong jaw, Nate’s face was a perfect combination of chiseled features and boyish charm. And when Nathan Carter smiled, his entire face lit up.
Doesn’t matter.
The tiny voice was right. None of that mattered. He was Kole’s best friend and, most importantly, a co-worker at her new job.
Of course, Jake had told her during her phone interview that the guys are only at the office a couple times a week, if that. Still, it would probably be in bad form for her to start something up with one of them.
At least she’d have something good to look at on the days he was there.Just think of it as another perk of the job.
“Hey,” Nate’s deep voice rose over the noise of the crowd.
“Hi,” Gracie responded loudly. She looked around at the swarm of people. “Is this place always this busy?”
“Not at all. A bus full of tourists pulled up about two minutes after I got here and took all the tables.
Dang. Eating Chinese food while standing would be a bit challenging. Her white shirt would be on the losing end of that, for sure.
Gracie still was trying to think of another alternative when Nate began talking again.
“I hope it’s okay, but I went ahead and ordered for us both so ours would get done before theirs.” He tipped his head toward the crowd.
She leaned in a little closer so he’d hear her better. “That’s fine. I’m not picky.”
Nate glanced around the room, then back to her. “It’s going to be impossible to get anything done here.”
“I agree.”
