Page 68 of For the Love of Art

“Yeah. I’m feeling better.”

“Good.”

Nathan squeezed my leg before settling back in his seat to watch his movie. I turned back to the window, looking at pillowy clouds again, my heart fluttering.

After what felt like an eternity on the plane, we finally landed in San Francisco. We immediately went to the hotel, where Nathan checked us in, and then I groggily followed him to the elevator. He led me down a hallway to a door where he inserted a card. When the door opened, I was immediately taken aback by the room.

Stark white walls and coffered ceilings made the dark wood floor stand out. A small love seat faced a set of small grey chairs with an elegant looking coffee table between topped with a vase of fresh peonies. I looked to the right to see the bed was in its own bedroom and looked extravagant and comfortable even with the one million pillows the hotel threw on it.

“This room work for you?” Nathan asked, setting the key down on the coffee table.

“Yes, it–” I realized something. “There’s only one bed. Nathan, I think there’s been a mistake. We can’t–”

Nathan chuckled and shook his head. “I have my own room.”

My cheeks flushed. I guess I’d been so enamored by the art in the lobby of the hotel I hadn’t paid attention to the sleeping arrangements.

“This feels like a lot,” I said.

Nathan waved it off. “It’s a business expense. Don’t worry about it.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Nathan clapped his hands. “Alright, you get settled in here, and I’ll meet you in the lobby in thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes? What are we going to do? The expo isn’t until tomorrow.”

“I know. That’s why today we should have some fun.” He winked as he grabbed the handle of his suitcase. “Thirty minutes.”

The door to the suite closed behind him.

I didn’t spend the thirty minutes doing anything too productive unless freshening my makeup, applying fresh deodorant, and changing into a sundress counted as productive.

When I reached the lobby, Nathan’s back was turned to me as he examined a painting on the wall. I tilted my head and bit my lip as I studied him. Even from behind, he was gorgeous, and I liked seeing him like this. He looked so casual in his t-shirt and shorts. It dawned on me that this trip was my first time seeing him out of a suit.

I tapped his shoulder lightly. He startled and turned but immediately smiled when he saw it was me. He scanned my body, and I felt flustered, hoping he didn’t look too deeply into my changing outfits. Or maybe I did want him to.

“You ready?” he asked.

I nodded.

He casually put his hands in his pocket, then held out his elbow to me. I linked my arm through and let him lead me outside. Waiting out front was a familiar car.

“Did you bring this from New York?” I teased.

He laughed. “They have town cars in San Francisco, too.’

He opened the door for me, and I slid in. He got in next to me, and the car pulled out as soon as the door closed.

“You have a secret language with Californian drivers, too,” I said with a giggle.

Nathan shrugged.

I looked out the window. “This city is beautiful.”

“It is,” Nathan agreed.

I looked at him. His eyes were set on me, and a grin danced on his lips. My cheeks heated, and I looked down.