Page 101 of At First Catch

I glance toward Hadley, who’s laughing hard enough that tears gather at the corners of her eyes, and suddenly, I don’t care about the nickname anymore.

God, I’d do almost anything to keep hearing that sound.

The hostess wisely departs before the emotional tension becomes visible from space, leaving Hadley and me standing too close together in soft candlelight.

“You okay?” she asks gently.

No. Not even remotely, because I think I’m actively falling in love with you in the middle of a seafood restaurant lobby.

Instead, I say, “You’re beautiful when you laugh.”

“Nolan,” she whispers.

She leans closer, and for one reckless second, I almost meet her halfway. Instead, I settle back in my chair.

“Hmm?” I let out a soft, rumbling chuckle.

“I don’t want us pretending.”

She blinks.

“I keep thinking...”

She looks down.

“If we do this...”

My eyes meet hers.

“I want it to be because we’re done pretending last night didn’t happen.”

I push out of my chair before I can think better of it.

Hadley’s eyes follow me as I close the small distance between us, then a server carrying oysters walks directly between us, yelling, “Hot pan!”

Reality crashes back, and Hadley gasps while I close my eyes briefly.

“This town is obsessed with interrupting me.”

“That’s because the universe knows you’re dangerous.”

The tenderness in her eyes as she speaks those words nearly undoes me. God help me, this woman is becoming my favorite thing.

Somewhere between the bookstore kiss and her laughing at me in the restaurant lobby, my feelings crossed directly into uncharted territory without asking permission first.

The hostess seats us on the outer deck overlooking Back Bay where soft lanterns glow against the railings and waves move dark and slow beneath the moonlight.

Hadley looks entirely too good sitting across from me in lantern light.

Thankfully, the server appears before I can do anything stupid, and we order.

The second he leaves, Hadley leans forward across the table.

“You really remembered this place.”

I shrug carefully even though the truth is I’ve been paying terrifyingly close attention to everything she says for months now.

“You mentioned it once.”