“They weren’t.” I said it too harshly but didn’t apologize. “You gotta stop assuming I’m only after another night. I told you weeks ago…I don’t chase girls. I don’t do second nights. But with you? I never want the night to fucking end.”
“Nate—”
“I wanna wake up with you, take you again, and spend the day with you so you don’t run away and leave my bed empty.”
“We...really should get the coffee out to them. Lindsey’s upset.”
I blocked her path with an outstretched arm and edged her into the corner of the counters. She trapped herself willingly, but she didn’t look at me.
“You don’t believe me?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No, I believe you.”
“Then why do you shut down when I say our nights together were special? That I want more. That I’m chasing you because I’m goddamned crazy about you?”
“Are you?”
“I can’t get you out of my head. All I think about every minute of every day is the next time I’ll get to see you, hold you. And don’t pretend you aren’t thinking of me either.”
Her voice softened. “I am. A lot.”
“You know where I live. You have my number. You say the word, and I’m there.”
“It’s more than sex, Nate.”
“Yeah. It’s you.” I leaned close, surprised when she immediately kissed me. “I’ve never wanted someone as bad as I want you. You gotta tell me why.”
Her eyes timidly met mine, so dark and expressive. They went wide with surprise and…fear?
“Why what?” she asked.
“Why the only thing I can think about is kissing these lips. Or taking you under the stars. Or talking with you, no secrets, nothing hidden. I want you to trust me.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you.” She rested her hands over my arms, tightening her fingers in my shirt. “I asked you once to give me space until the wedding.”
“Do you still want space?”
“No. But I need it.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m falling for you, Nate. And the only way I’ll catch myself is if—”
“You don’t have to catch yourself. I’ll grab you. I’ll keep you safe.” I edged closer to her. “Give me the chance.”
“I can’t…” Her palms flattened on my chest. She didn’t push me away. “Things are going to get crazy.”
“Why?”
“Because now that Great Aunt Mildred died, the family has to come in for the funeral.” She shrugged. “We have two hundred and fifty on the wedding guest list, third quarters of them are our family. They’re all from out of town.”
I didn’t get it, but Mandy had a bad habit of thinking a couple steps ahead of where her feet were hitting. She glanced at me.
“They’re all coming now. For the funeral this weekend,” she said. “They’re not able to take time off again in three weeks to come back for the wedding. We’ve lost over a hundred people from the guest list already.”
Shit. Now I understood. No wonder Lindsey was bawling in the other room.
“I mean, we have Bryce’s family.” She shrugged. “But God, I don’t want to know what happens if we put Mom in a room with Mr. Washington. And I know—you and Dad said not to worry, but…”
She wanted to edge away. I didn’t let her. Her hands warmed my chest so perfectly. How was this woman so soft and gentle in everything she did?
Mandy frowned. “I need space. I can’t manage my family and figure this out at the same time.”
“Why not? Let me help.”
Her voice wavered. She looked at me, her eyes a beautiful honey sweetness that glistened as she gnawed her kissable lip.
“We need to talk. Really talk, about a lot of things.”
I wasn’t going anywhere. “Then let’s talk.”
“Not here.”
“Yes, here.” I bumped my forehead against hers. “I’m serious, Mandy. If you think you’re walking out of this kitchen without agreeing to come home with me tonight…”
“Nate, what I have to say is important. And it’s not something we can just…it’s going to change everything. Especially how you feel about me.”
If she feared I’d bolt because she said she had feelings for me, she was wrong.
I never expected I’d find someone who tempted me to stick around, to talk, to get involved. I’d figured every other man who trapped himself was following convention, damned to a life of responsibilities and emotional servitude to a woman who’d control his life.