I throw my pen at him, laughing. “You’re so cocky.”
He shrugs and replies, “You can’t keep your eyes off me. Just admit it.” He’s right. My eyes sweep over his body once more. I can’t help it. He’s sexy as hell. “Keep looking at me like that, Mads, and I’ll have you bent over the desk in one second flat.”
I point at him, becoming serious. “Don’t you dare. I need to finish studying, and I wanted to ask your opinion on—” My sentence is cut short when the chime of my email distracts me.
It’s from Jordan, one of the owners of CityScapes Architecture Firm, the man I interviewed with two weeks ago.
“What is it, what’s wrong?” Nate asks, already leaning over my shoulder to see.
“I hope I got it,” I whisper, heart thudding as I click open the message for us to read it together.
Madeline,
I hope this letter finds you well. On behalf of everyone at CityScapes, I am delighted to offer you a summer internship position with our firm.
The team greatly enjoyed meeting and interviewing you a few weeks ago. Thank you for flying in on such short notice. We were impressed by your passion for design and your keen interest in sustainable urban development.
Your portfolio and application stood out, and we’re excited about the energy and perspective you’ll bring to our team.
The internship will run from June 1st through August 15, and you’ll be working closely with our design and planning teams on several exciting projects currently underway.
I read the rest out loud.
“Please let us know by April twenty-sixth if you accept this offer. Once confirmed, we will send you the onboarding materials and internship schedule.”
“Yes! I accept! I accept!”
Nate wraps his arms around me from behind, nuzzling into my neck. I inhale his scent, sweet cherry and something distinctly him.
“I’m so proud of you,” he murmurs. “I knew you’d get it.”
“Oh!” I twist to face him. “I totally forgot to tell you. Jordan knew you.”
His expression tightens. “Knew me how?”
I shrug, trying to recall the details. “He asked if I was your girlfriend, which was weird at first. But then he said he’s done work with the Davenport family for years. Knew your dad.”When his expression doesn’t change, I rush out, “I obviously didn’t tell him you have no relationship with them. But he seemed friendly enough, and he asked me about you. Wondering where you’ll be working once you graduate. Things like that.”
“So, while conducting your interview foryourinternship, my name and family name were brought up?”
“Yup. Small world.”
Nate’s face falls. He tries to cover it, but I don’t miss it. “What’s wrong?”
He stands in a rush. “Nothing.”
“Nate?”
He runs his hands through his hair, the motion tight with frustration. “Sorry,” he says absently, then kisses my forehead.
“Sorry about what?” I step in front of him. “What’s going on?”
“Did that guy say anything else?” His tone is sharper now.
“I…I don’t think so?” I try to remember. Honestly, I’d been so nervous I’d blanked out half the conversation. “Oh. He did ask if we were serious enough that I’d be staying with you. I figured he was making sure I had stable housing. Didn’t want me to flake or something.”
Nate takes a deep breath and nods. “Yeah. That’s probably it.”
I study his face a moment longer. I’m not convinced.
