Torrid Affair(19)

Before I had a chance to ask what he meant, he stopped the Jeep and shoved it in park. It was then that I took in my surroundings. We had pulled in to a park surrounded by trees that still bore their red and orange leaves. The grass wasn’t as green, but the crisp waters of a pond glistened as tiny ripples danced across the surface in the distance. With each pass of the wind, the red bled from the trees. Its reflection was mesmerizing.

“This place is beautiful.”

“I come here to get away.”

Unable to pull my gaze away from the vibrant fall colors, I failed to notice that Nate had rounded the car and opened the door for me.

“Come on.” He extended his hand.

We walked side by side toward the water. It was rare that I had the chance to appreciate true fall foliage like the scene before me.

“You know, she’s not that bad,” Nate said, kicking the pinecone at his feet. I looked up at him with my eyebrows furrowed. “My mother. She’s overbearing at times, and she talks a lot, but she loves Julian and me. I think this is the first time we both have both brought someone home at the same time. To her, it feels like Christmas morning having you girls there.”

“No, it’s not that. I think Louisa is very sweet.”

Nate chuckled and stopped walking to look at me. “You ran across that deck like the house was on fire.”

Nervously, I massaged my scalp. “I’m not used to the whole loving family thing.” I shook my head. “It felt consuming and I didn’t want to let her down. You know?”

“I get it.” He squatted and picked up a rock. He twirled it around in his hand a few times before he spoke again. “She’ll only be this crazy today. Tomorrow morning, she’ll have us go to the soup kitchen and serve dinner. Then her mother-in-law comes with Warren’s side of the family and she mellows out a bit.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” Nate walked over to the edge of the pond and flicked the rock across the water. It skipped three times before it sank to the bottom.

“I never learned how to skip rocks.”

Nate dropped his gaze and picked up another rock. “Hold it sideways between your pointer and thumb and then throw it.”

I did exactly as Nate suggested, and when the rock met with the water, it sank to the bottom. “Yeah, not that easy.”

Nate laughed, and the sound that escaped his mouth made me shiver. There was something about him. I had no idea what it was, but it pulled me toward him like a moth to a flame.

“You cold?”

Before I could answer, Nate pulled his jacket off his body and settled it over my shoulders. “I should have told you to grab a sweater before we left.” He ran his hands up my arms to warm me. Little did he know that my body was overheating from his touch. My heart sped in my chest; his scent was laced around my body, making it impossible to breathe, let alone form coherent thought.

“I—I’m okay.” Nate didn’t move. His emerald green eyes were locked on mine. His tongue slid across his lips and I swallowed back any words that tried to escape. He was mere inches from me. The last time we stood this close he half-kissed me goodbye.

“Brielle.” He whispered my name but I heard it. His hand rose up from my arm and grabbed a curl that had fallen to my cheek. Gently, he twirled his finger around it and let it bounce. My eyes closed as I anticipated what he was about to do. I desperately wanted him to kiss me. At that very moment, I needed it more than I needed to breathe. His half-kiss had haunted me for the past three months.

“Plea—” I began to say but was cut short when his phone rang. Nate dropped his hand from my face and I lowered my gaze to the ground. What the hell were we doing?

“Yeah?” he answered his cell. “No, I had to run to the store. She’s with me. We’re on our way back now.” He didn’t say good-bye before he shoved his phone back in his pocket. I went to move back but he stopped me, his hand grasping my elbow. I looked back up at him and his eyes were dark. An expression of need flashed through them.

“We should go,” I managed to whispered.

Nate tugged on me and pulled me closer to him, his arms draped over my body and holding me flush against his chest. I fit perfectly in his arms, like a puzzle piece meeting its match, every edge lined up.

We didn’t speak. Instead, I buried my head in his chest and welcomed his warm body. I could feel his heart racing in his chest. This was affecting him, too. Whatever this was, he felt it.

Nate held me for seventy-six seconds. I knew because I counted. I Mississippi counted every second I was in his arms. Before he pulled away, he kissed the top of my head and then, in one swift motion, he let me go and we headed back to the car. I was left breathless and more confused than ever before. A few seconds in Nate’s arms and I couldn’t think. I felt high.