“I’m scared shitless of needles. Natalie had to get me stinking drunk in college just to get my ears pierced. So if you prefer girls with body art, I’m not your girl.”
He chuckles and kisses my forehead. “You’re my kind of girl, with or without body art.”
“Yours are beautiful.” I murmur.
“Thank you. Do you want me to turn the light out so you can sleep?”
“I like having the lights on so I can look at you,” I whisper shyly.
“Go to sleep, honey.” He hugs me close and I close my eyes and drift.
***
I can’t sleep. It’s two a.m. and I’m wide awake. Nate is sleeping peacefully on his side, facing me. The sidelight is still on, and I can’t help but stare at him. His face is relaxed, his dark eyelashes laying against his cheeks. He’s just so handsome.
And I’m restless.
I slip from the bed, out of the room and down to the spare bedroom where my suitcase and purse still are. I pull on some pajamas, grab my iPad and iPhone out of my purse and go into the kitchen.
Chocolate.
I help myself to a slice of the decadent chocolate cheesecake and check my iPhone. No messages. Good. I fire up the iPad and perch on a stool, nibbling on the second most delicious thing in the world, ranking just below the very sexy Nate.
Suddenly my phone chirps with a text. It’s from Natalie. At two a.m.?
Can’t sleep. So uncomfortable! Are you awake?
I smile and call her. I’ve missed her so much since she moved out of our house and into Luke’s house just up the street from me. I don’t get to see her as often as I used to.
“So, you are awake?” she asks dryly when she answers.
“Yes, can’t sleep. You?” I take another bite of cake.
“I’m so damn uncomfortable. This baby has something against letting me breathe these days. And she thinks my bladder is a trampoline.” I can hear the joy in her voice and I grin.
“I can’t wait to meet her, Nat.”
“Me either. Only a few weeks left, can you believe it?”
“No, it’s gone so fast. Are you excited for the shower next weekend?” I ask.
“I’m excited to see the family, but you know I hate it when you guys spend money on me, Jules. We don’t need anyone to give us gifts, you know that.”
I roll my eyes. I am never going to win this argument with her. She makes me crazy. “We love you, Luke and that precious baby girl. We want to spoil her. So shut up and be grateful.”
“Don’t be a bitch,” she responds, making me laugh. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. But I have a confession.” I have to tell her. She’s my best friend.
“What?”
“I’m at Nate’s apartment.”
“What?” she squeals.
I explain about his email this afternoon and dinner in his office and how I ended up here. There is just silence on the phone and I think I’ve lost her.
“Nat?”
“I’m here. Fuck, Jules, do you know what you’re doing?”
“I know that I like him, Nat. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but frankly I’m so tired of pretending that I’m not attracted to him. It’ll work out.” I bite my lip and push my cake away from me.
“I hope it works out the way you want it to, sweetie. Just be very careful. This could have disaster written all over it.”
“Trust me,” I respond sarcastically, “I’m aware.”
I hear Luke’s deep voice in the background and Natalie’s response. “I’m fine, my love, just can’t sleep. Jules, I’ll call you this weekend. Luke’s awake now.”
“Good, I do not want to hear you two go at it over the phone.” I roll my eyes again and exhale. “I love you, girl.”
“Love you too. Goodnight.”
I put my phone down and rest my head in my hands. I told her the truth, I am tired of pretending. I’m not a great actress. But I’m going to have to continue to act at work like there is nothing going on between us. Can I do that?
Do I have a choice?
“Julianne! Fuck, Julianne!”
Chapter Five
My heart slams into my throat as I twirl at the panicked shouts of Nate in his bedroom. I hear him lunge off the bed and his feet are hitting the ground hard as he runs into the great room. He comes to an abrupt stop when he sees me across the room on the stool, his eyes are raw, feral, and he’s panting, standing there in all his naked glory.
He plants his hands on his naked hips and takes a deep breath.
“I thought you left,” he murmurs.
Holy shit.
“I’m here, I just couldn’t sleep.” I cross to him and wrap my arms around his waist, linking my fingers at the small of his back and lean my cheek on his chest. “I didn’t think it was really that big a deal if I got up for a while.”