“We should…”
Whatever else Nate said was drowned out by a loud eruption of laughter coming from some of the other customers.
“What?” Gracie practically yelled.
Scooting closer, Nate put his hand on her upper arm and leaned in more closely, talking directly next to her ear.
“I said, we should get our food and take it to my place.”
Between the gentle way his fingers were holding her arm and his lips touching her ear as he spoke, she could barely breathe, let alone speak.
The slight hint of whatever cologne he was wearing was simply icing on the delectable Nate cake.
Ignoring the electric jolt she felt from his simple touch, Gracie nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
Mid-answer, she turned her head toward Nate’s so he could hear her better. He was still leaning down, and when she made the move, their noses nearly touched.
With their eyes locked, they both froze.
The longer they stood like that, the darker the blue hue in his eyes became. For a second, she was sure he was about to kiss her. She was also certain she would let him.
Instead, Nate blinked then jerked away, bumping into the man standing behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he held a hand up to the guy to show him he meant no harm.
“Sorry.” When his eyes found hers again, he forced a smile and said, “I’m going to go check on the food.” His back was to her before she could even respond.
“What the hell was that?” Gracie mumbled to herself.
She barely knew the guy, yet she’d almost kissed him in the middle of a crowded restaurant. Worse, she’d just agreed to go back to his apartment with him. Alone.
That was like the first rule in single-woman safety one-oh-one.
Sure, he was Kole’s best friend, and it was obvious that Sarah liked him, too. Still…
Walking over to the door where it was a little less crowded, Gracie pulled her phone from her purse and hurried to type out a text to Sarah.
Chu’s is super crowded. Going to Nate’s apartment instead. Just thought I’d let u know. Love u.
She’d just hit ‘send’ when Nate’s voice hit her ear. “What’s the matter, Gracelynn? Don’t you trust me?”
Startled, Gracie jumped, nearly dropping her phone in the process. With a nervous laugh, she turned and faced him. “N-no. Of course, I trust you.”
Some of the other customers had gotten their food and were beginning to eat, so the noise level had dropped.
Speaking more softly than before, Nate smiled and said, “No, you don’t. Not completely. And really”—he shrugged— “you shouldn’t.”
Okay, now shewasstarting to worry. Her face must have given her away because he chuckled. “Relax, Gracie. I just meant that you’re about to go with a guy you don’t really know to an apartment you’ve never been to before. Alone. Texting Sarah to let her know where you’ll be? Smart. Giving her the restaurant’s name as a last known location?Reallysmart.”
Embarrassed, Gracie broke eye contact and focused on putting her phone back into her purse. She was still looking down when Nate gently tilted her chin upward with his forefinger and thumb.
“Sweetheart, look at me.” When she followed his soft-spoken order, he said, “We don’t have to go to my place. In fact, we can call this whole thing off right now, if it’s making you uncomfortable.”
Genuine concern filled his eyes as they bore into hers. Suddenly, Gracie felt the exact opposite of uncomfortable. She felt…safe.
“No,” she blurted a little too quickly. “I’m good.”
“You sure? ’Cause I can give you half of what I ordered, walk you to your car, and you can go back home if that’s what you—”
He stopped talking the instant her fingers met his bicep. “I’m sure, Nate. And I’m sorry for getting all weird about it. I guess working for the NSA has made me a bit paranoid. Or I’ve watched too many Criminal Minds episodes. Take your pick.”
