The Billionaire's Best Friend(10)

In all honesty, it had been a less-than-epic occasion for both of them. He’d been all thumbs trying to get the condom on, and neither had really known what they were doing. Afterward, he’d been embarrassed by his performance or lack thereof, but she had not complained. Instead, she curled up next to him for the rest of the afternoon.

From that point on they talked about their future together as if it were a sure thing. But after his acceptance into the Naval Academy, he started to have doubts. Military families made unimaginable sacrifices every day, and deep down he’d known he couldn’t ask her to do that. At the same time though, he’d known he had to go. The academy and the Marines would give him a chance to accomplish something significant, to make a difference. So, right before he left for Annapolis he’d ended things with her. From that day forward, the image of her face remained etched in his mind, despite all the time that had passed and all he’d seen as a Marine.

Nate rubbed a hand across his face in the attempt to dislodge the image of Lauren that summer day. Crossing to the bedroom, he dropped his bag on the bed and turned on his heel. Remembering the past accomplished nothing. All he could do was focus on the future, and thanks to Mrs. McDonald’s retirement party earlier, he had begun working toward his goal and number one reason for requesting the Boston field office: winning Lauren back. A task perhaps more complicated than he expected.

He’d watched her and Kevin for the remainder of the evening. Yet he saw no conclusive evidence that her date was a significant part of her life. While Kevin kissed her once, he only did so when he caught Nate watching Lauren, almost as a way of marking his territory. And she never displayed any affection toward him. Whatever hope that gave Nate, though, got canceled by the fact she hadn’t asked to see him again either. All she’d given him was a, “Maybe I’ll see you around again.” He wanted more than that from her. Then again, would she have said more with her date standing next to him?

Nate’s reasoning squashed down the fear that he’d come back too late and reestablished his resolve. He’d been an idiot once and let Lauren go. Since that day, he’d never stopped regretting it. Now, with the change in his military status, he planned to do everything in his power to rectify that mistake.





Chapter 2



“I almost died when I saw Nate walk in the other night,” Kelly said.

Join the club. Lauren reached out and accepted the curtain rod her sister held. “At first I thought I was seeing things.”

“Well, if you have to see things, he wouldn’t be a bad vision to have.”

Lauren rolled her eyes. “And what are you doing noticing that, Kel?”

“I’m married, Lauren, not dead. Besides, it’d be hard not to notice him. Still, he had some nerve showing up.”

She agreed with Kelly one hundred percent on that one. “It would’ve been nice to know he was coming. Mom should have told me she invited him.” Lauren stepped off the stool and moved it over to the other bedroom window.

“Maybe she wanted to surprise you.”

“Mission accomplished if she did.” She’d nearly had a heart attack when she saw Nate walk in.

“So, what did he say to you? I saw him talking to you and Kevin.”

Lauren remembered every single word from their brief conversation, but rather than rehash it all she said, “Just hi and that maybe he’d see me around.”

“That’s it? I don’t believe you.”

Lauren’s shoulders slumped. Her sister knew her too well. Most of the time that was a good thing, but every once in a while it really sucked.

“Every time I saw him his eyes were locked on you. I think there’s something you’re not telling me, Lauren.”

Lauren sighed. “You’re right.” An image of Nate that night formed in her mind. “When I said maybe I’d see him around, he told me to plan on it.” A shiver went through her body, although whether from anticipation or unease she wasn’t sure.

Kelly’s hand stilled, only half of the pastel yellow curtain on the rod. “Interesting.”

It took some self-control, but Lauren held back a groan. She recognized her sister’s tone. Kelly was formulating some crazy plan or idea.

“He might be back for you, although I hope not. He’s the last person you need back in your life.”

“Please. I haven’t heard from Nate in fifteen years. If he’s moved back to Massachusetts it’s not because of me, Kelly. “ Lauren climbed up on the stool and waited.

“But what if it is?” Kelly handed her the curtain rod. “It’s possible. I saw an article on the Internet about a couple who reconnected after thirty years apart.”