“Are you skirting around my question?”
The waitress brings our drinks and we order our food. He takes a sip of his drink before answering. “I work in an office all day.” He lifts a shoulder. “Mundane and meetings.”
My brows hike high. “Are you some important guru? Where do you work?”
His mouth contorts to the side. “Sure. I guess.”
He doesn’t seem like he wants to talk about work, so for now, I’ll drop it. “Well, how was your day then?”
“Interesting,” he replies. “Yours?”
Our conversation has taken a stiff turn since bringing up work and I don’t like the uncomfortable feeling that’s settled in around us. “It started off quiet until your friend decided to cause a little drama. Explain Cody to me. What’s going on?”
He takes another sip of his drink and rests back into his chair, steepling his two pointer fingers. He’s had to practice this because it’s hot and intense. “My dear ol’ friend believes I need a woman in my life. A relationship. I haven’t dated in a long time and for some reason he wants to change that.”
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “Our stories sound the same.”
“Is that so?”
“My two best friends, Shyla and Aimee, set me up on Insta-Dates in hopes I’d find a man. They can’t fathom that I’m absolutely fine being alone. I’m happy.”
“Any of them single? I have a friend.” Humor glints from his beautiful eyes.
“Unfortunately, no. And I think that’s the reason they’re trying to push me to be with someone. I guess because they’re happy being in love, they want me to be the same. Like a threesome.” I lift my drink to my lips before I realize what I said. “No! Wait. Not like…No.”
His laugh, his deep, rumbly, sexy as hell laugh causes heat to spread all over me. The way his jaw shifts, pulling his cheeks up and lighting his eyes, is drool worthy. I could listen to him laugh for the rest of my life.
Trying to stop the drool from slipping past my lips, I shift it back to him. “Why are you single, Nathan? What kind of skeletons do you have in your closet?”
His lips tighten as he shakes his head. “Because I’m a busy man and I won’t just settle for anyone. Am I lonely? Absolutely not. Occasionally I have fun nights. But only one woman has met my mother in the past ten years. The rest didn’t fit the bill. No skeletons in my closet. I’m not a past murderer. I’m not still reeling over a heartbreak. And no one has dirt on me.” He tips his chin. “Your turn.”
I puff a giggle. We’re back to speed dating but the awkwardness from earlier is gone. “I deserve a man who wows me and is deserving of my heart. Therefore, I won’t settle. If I don’t feel anything, I don’t waste everyone’s time. The only skeletons in my closet are from when I was ten and stole tulips from our neighbor’s yard to give to my mother. She had been sick all week, flu I think, and I missed her smile. As for heartbreak, four years ago the guy I had been dating for two years changed course in his life and we didn’t mesh anymore. We split amicably and went about our merry ways.”
A devilish grin spreads across his lips. “Did your mother smile?”
“Yes.” I grin back. “And the next day she was up and about the house. I’d like to think it was the power of her stolen flowers.”
Our stuffed salmon arrives and holy guacamole does it smell divine. The first bite sends me onto cloud nine while I experience one of the best mouthgasms in my life.
“This is the best salmon I’ve ever had,” I say around my bite.
“It’s why I chose the place. I come here a lot.”
My eyes flick up to him. “Please tell me this isn’t where you bring your ‘occasionals’?”
His gaze laughs at me. “Only Cody.”
“How long have you two been friends?”
Nathan takes a breath looking to his drink. “I can’t remember a life without the asshole.”
“Sounds like you two are close.”
“We are. He’s like a brother to me. We also work together, so I can’t really shake him.” He lifts his glass to his mouth and pauses. “How many Insta-Dates have you been on so far?”
“One,” I don’t lie.
I catch the flex in his jaw. “How’d it go?”
“He was fun.” I keep it vague.
“Will you be going out with him again?”
“When I get off work Friday. It’ll be a late dinner I guess.”
He only nods.
“Why’d it take you so long? Was it because Cody picked me too?”
Wow. Really?
He shakes his head. “No. Like I said, I’m a busy man. I had business to attend to all week, and since I wasn’t able to avoid thinking of you, I decided to contact you. I thoroughly enjoyed our quick five minutes and was left needing more of your stunning personality.”
“Stunning personality and not my pretty eyes?” I bat my lashes. “Oh, you woo me, Nathan.”
He chuckles. “One day you’ll understand.”
“How about tonight?” I suggest.
He gives his head a slight shake. “Not a conversation for tonight.”
I don’t really want to drop the subject, but since he’s resistant toward it, I do and focus on the main reason why we’re here. “So am I supposed to go on a date with Cody or not?”
He wets his lips. “That’s up to you.”
“You said it should be in a public place…” I trail it off.
He chuckles. “Cody is…well, he likes women.”
“Bro code stopped you short.” I snort and he laughs. “I’m assuming since he’s focused on you, he wouldn’t mess with me. I could be wrong. You know him better.”
“Your assumptions would be correct. But since I’ve made it clear I don’t have the time, if Cody likes what he sees, he’ll do as he pleases.” He pushes his chair back. “I need to get going. I have an early morning. Can I walk you to your car?”
Disappointment runs through me. I’m not ready for it to end. Something about him, the pull between us, I want to get to know him better. But unfortunately, the main reason why he’s single is the same reason why he’s cutting it short—work.
“I’m a block away,” I tell him.
“I’ll walk you.”
After paying, we head out and down the sidewalk.
“Are we still on for Thursday?” I ask.
His hands are in his pockets, his shoulders pulled back and head held high when he glances down at me. “If you’d like to, I’d love to.”
The response has butterflies fluttering in my stomach and I can’t help but smile widely at him. Our gazes lock for a fraction of a second and my heart slaps my chest as a giddy feeling takes over me. He blinks away quickly, looking back in front of us and stealing the staggering feeling in my stomach.
He pulls open my car door. “I had a good time tonight.”
“I did too.”
He smiles, his gaze trained on mine, and all those feelings come rushing back. The air in my lungs feels thick, and my knees feel weak as the pull between us crackles. His eyes dip to my lips and excitement zips through me at the thought of him kissing me.