His entire body snapped to attention. The only thing he wanted wrapped around her body right then was him. “Think about it tomorrow.” He ripped the menu from her hand and tossed it over his shoulder. “Where have you been hiding this?” He raked his eyes up and down her toned body.
“I picked it up when I went shopping on Monday. Do you like it?” Her voice held the tiniest bit of uncertainty.
She really needed to ask? “I’ll show you just how much I like it, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear before picking her up and carrying her to the king-sized bed.
He kissed a trail down her neck toward the strip of lace over her shoulder. Sliding one finger under the lace he tugged it down, his lips following the path his finger took. Once the strap passed her shoulder, he moved lower and pulled the material away from her breast. When he traced the exposed nipple with his tongue, she moaned and dug her fingernails into his back.
Before doing the same thing to her other breast, he looked up. Lauren’s eyes were closed, and her cheeks were flush. The sight of her like that amped up his own desire. “I love you,” he whispered, before pulling down the fabric hiding her other breast from him.
Chapter 12
Nate tapped into every ounce of energy he had left and sprinted the last two hundred yards back toward the hotel. After Lauren headed off to her appointment at the spa, he’d hit the wooded trail on the resort grounds. The hotel directory claimed it was almost ten miles. He thought the run would not only use some of the time while he waited for Lauren’s return, but also take the edge off his nerves. That morning when he’d woken up with her body snuggled close and a leg thrown over his, he’d almost popped the question. In his heart and mind they’d always belonged together. Now he wanted the rest of the world to know it, too. Even with his eagerness to ask her, he’d managed to hold back. Women loved things to be romantic. Or at least according to the movies they did, so that was what he’d give her. Tonight over a nice candlelit dinner in a restaurant that charged more for one glass of wine than an entire case cost, he’d ask her.
Breathing heavily, he walked to the far corner of the building’s exterior. Even after the run, he felt as if he’d finished a whole pot of coffee on an otherwise empty stomach. So far the exercise had done nothing but cover him in mud and make him sweaty.
Why the hell am I worried? She’s going to say yes. Why wouldn’t she? He tried to ignore the answers his brain immediately made to that question. Still, they kept popping back up. They’d only been back together for a month. After fifteen years apart, a month was nothing. Whose fault was that anyway? No one’s but his. What if she preferred to just live together more or less like they were now? Not everyone wanted the whole marriage-and-two-kids thing. Just because she wanted it in high school didn’t mean she envisioned it for herself now.
Nate retraced his steps toward the front entrance. Get your head out of your ass, Callahan. She’s going to say yes. End of story. He crossed the front foyer to the elevators. With each step, he banished his insecurities, locking them behind the barriers in his mind where he stored everything he didn’t want to think about. Then he focused on the words he should use tonight. He hated poetry. He didn’t know the difference between a sonnet and a haiku, but just this once he wished he knew how to string together the perfect words. Words that would express how he truly felt. He didn’t, though, so he’d do what he did best, adapt and conquer.
***
“If this place were closer, I’d visit that spa once a month.”
He watched the candlelight dance across her face. She’d arranged her hair in some kind of intricate braid leaving her slender neck and shoulders exposed. He didn’t know where she picked up the dress she had on, but it fit her to a T, and he suspected it cost more than he made in a month.
“I cannot believe you came up here and went for a run.” She shook her head, an expression of mock outrage on her face. “You should have come with me. There were two men in the waiting room.”
Nate raised an eyebrow at her. “Seriously, you can picture me in a spa? Before this weekend that word wasn’t even in my vocabulary.”
A true smile lit up her face, and his heart doubled in size. Lord, he loved to see her smile.
“No, I can’t, but I feel bad. I spent the day enjoying myself and getting pampered while you went for a run.” She reached out for his hand. “I want you to enjoy yourself, too.”
“Trust me, I enjoyed myself last night and this morning.” He squeezed her hand. “And I plan on enjoying myself tonight.”