Page 75 of For the Love of Art

He handed the woman some cash before coming back to me. He pointed to a bench, and we sat down. He ran his arm along the back of the bench. The warmth of his body being so close to mine felt both amazing and incredibly depressing.

“You okay?” Nathan’s head was slightly tilted.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I knotted my fingers.

“Last night was pretty intense,” he said.

The woman called out our order. Nathan went to get it, returning with two foiled packages. I opened mine, and my stomach churned despite my love of hot dogs. Nathan took a bite of his hot dog, so I forced myself to do the same. It was not satisfying the way a hot dog should be.

“Look,” Nathan said once he had swallowed his mouthful. “I don’t want last night to get in the way of our professional relationship.”

I nodded. “Me either.”

“I meant every word I said, Isla.”

“Even the stuff about Don?”

One corner of Nathan’s mouth turned up into a half smile. “Especially the stuff about Don. You don’t want to do the one-night thing, and last night would’ve felt like that to you.”

“I see.” I took another bite of the hot dog.

“I don’t want to do the one-night thing with you,” he said firmly.

I nodded.

“Come on.” Nathan stood up. “We better get back in there and schmooze some more.”

“Right. But–” I held up my hot dog.

“Bring it with you. What are they going to say? You’re with Nathan Manning, and everyone wants to be with Nathan Manning.”

He didn’t know how right he was.

I did my seatbelt up and leaned back in my seat. I looked out the window at the workers scurrying around the tarmac as they finished preparations for our flight.

After our conversation yesterday, I felt confused. In the moment, I had thought Nathan was what I wanted, but now I wondered why I answered the call. I knew it was Don. I could’ve ignored it and just gone back to bed with Nathan, but I answered.

“Oh. You’re back,” a snide voice said from the aisle.

Nathan and I looked to see the same petite blonde from our first flight.

Elizabeth leaned in. “Just a reminder, the bathrooms are single occupancy.”

“You got it… Liz,” Nathan said coldly.

Elizabeth glared at Nathan, and then I noticed her hand ever so lightly brush his. I shook my head. I guess even people who couldn’t stand the man couldn’t resist his charm.

“Hey.” I tapped Nathan’s shoulder. “Thanks for bringing me.”

“You’re welcome,” Nathan said as he reached for the newspaper in the pocket in front of him.

“And, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry about the other night.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. “ He turned his attention to his newspaper.

The plane lurched and began its taxi. My heart sank as I realized I was counting the hours until nothing would be forcing us together. We would go back to New York, and sure, I worked for him, but he had two galleries. He didn’t have to be in Lower Manhattan.

I wasn’t sure I was okay with not seeing him.