I snagged a basket by the door and paused to survey the store and get a lay of the land. Grocery stores were a funny thing. They all had their own sense of organization. This one was filled with colorful produce in the front and cute little signs marking staff favorites as I meandered the aisles.
“Mari, hey there.”
The moment I heard my name in Nash’s voice, a prickle of awareness ran down my spine. I didn’t know what it was about the way he said my name, but it felt special. Maybe it was the way the vowels rolled slowly off his tongue? Whatever it was, I reacted physically every time he spoke.
Turning in the direction of his voice, I found Nash approaching me. The man never seemed to be in a hurry, and now was no exception. He strolled toward me with his smooth gait. Even in the harsh fluorescent lighting of this grocery store, Nash managed to look kissed by the sun. His sandy hair glinted with gold didn’t dull. His hazel eyes stood out, crinkling at the corners with his smile when he stopped in front of me.
“Hi, Nash.” My voice came out breathy, and I felt foolish.
I wanted to think after my pride smashing experience with Brett that I would be immune to the charms of men, at least for a little while. But Nash was heavy on charm—even when he didn't seem to be trying —and nature had been exceedingly generous with him in the looks department.
“Grocery shopping?” he queried as he glanced down into my basket.
“What else would I be doing in a grocery store?” I teased in return, feeling my cheeks heat slightly.
“Excellent question,” he drawled as he lifted his eyes to mine again. “I was thinking about texting you to see if you wanted to start your tour tonight.”
“How come you didn’t?” I countered, feeling a grin tug at the corners of my mouth.
Oh my God. I was actually flirting with him.
Nash’s lips kicked up at one corner, and he cocked his head to the side. “I wanted to give you the night to settle in.”
“Good point.”
He looked back into my grocery basket and shook his head slowly. “Darling, all you have in there are bananas, hummus, and crackers.”
“What’s wrong with bananas, hummus, and crackers?”
“Not a thing, but it’s certainly not a meal. Those are all snacks. That does it. You’ve lost your privilege of a night to settle in. We’re going out to dinner,” he said firmly.
I laughed, feeling my blush deepen. Against all of my better judgment, I really wanted to go out to dinner with Nash.
“Let me get a few more things, and then you can take me to dinner. Where are you taking me?” I turned and began walking as Nash followed along leisurely. Without a word, he reached over and divested me of my grocery basket.
“I can carry that, you know?”
“Of course, I know that. But, I was raised with manners. I can actually feel my mother’s disapproval even though she’s not here.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
The only reason I didn’t push the point was I didn’t have any sense at all that Nash looked at women as wilting flowers who couldn’t take care of themselves. In his case, I sensed his chivalry was deeply instilled and almost a habit. He was also alpha as all hell.
“Tell me what kind of place you’d like to go to for dinner, and I’ll pick the perfect one.” He looped our conversation back to my question.
“Your favorite hole in the wall diner,” I said promptly.
“Oh, you are a woman after my heart. Diner food is my favorite, and I’ll make sure you have the best.”
Chapter 9
Nash
“Oh my god, this is so good,” Mari said, actually moaning with her next bite.
Sweet hell. I had genuinely wanted to take Mari out to dinner. It was also true that the food here was incredible. However, I hadn’t reckoned with getting a hard-on at just the experience of eating a meal with Mari.
She was vocal about her pleasure. My body was of the opinion she would be that vocal about other pleasures.
“How is it, dear?” Carrie asked when she stopped by our table, her round blue eyes twinkling as she looked between us.
Mari finished chewing and dabbed at her mouth before she set her napkin back in her lap. “It’s delicious. Nash told me this was the best diner in the world, and I’m here to agree.”
Carrie smiled widely, her cheeks plumping up. “Aw, that is so sweet of you. Nash spoils us and tells us our food is good all the time. Between you and me, he’s a charmer, so you never know.”
“In this case, he’s not trying to charm you—this burger is amazing,” Mari said, gesturing with her hands and holding them up as if in prayer.
Carrie cast another smile between us. “Well, that just makes my night. Do y’all need anything else?”
“I couldn’t eat another bite,” Mari said.
“I’m all set. Bring the check when you get a chance, please,” I added.
“Already got it.” Carrie slipped a receipt book out of her pocket and tore one off, setting it in the middle of the table.
Nothing was fancy here. They still handled everything by paper. Considering that amazing food was really all that mattered, I was glad they hadn’t tried to fancy this place up. Carrie hurried off with a wink, and I reached for the check just as Mari did.
“Are we gonna argue over who’s paying for dinner?” I teased, curling my hand over hers.
“We don’t need to argue,” she countered quickly. “Why don’t we just split it?”
I moved swiftly, shimmying my hand under hers and snatching the check away. “I don’t split checks, and I invited you for dinner.”
“Oh my God,” she muttered. “You are such a man.”
“Considering that I am, in fact, a man, I’m not gonna take that an insult.”
Mari rolled her eyes at that but didn’t argue the point further as I paid at the register and we walked out.
We stepped outside into the warm night, and I glanced down to Mari. “Shall we take a walk down Bourbon Street? It’s only a block over.”
“I’d love that.”
“Come on then,” I said, reflexively reaching for her hand. For just a beat, I sensed she was startled, but her fingers laced into mine, and she began walking alongside me. “We can stop and get a drink too.”
She stopped on the sidewalk and peered up at me. “Thank you,” she said simply.
“For dinner?”
“Well, yes, but more than that. For offering to show me New Orleans, for helping me out. I was looking forward to this trip, and I thought it was ruined. Now, I think it might be better than I expected to begin with.”
“I aim to please, darling.”
Mari rolled her eyes slightly as she smiled.
“Now, what’s that for?” I teased good-naturedly as we began walking again.
“You and your endearments. Actually, I don’t think it’s just you.”
“Definitely not. It’s a southern habit. Women are just as generous with endearments as men around these parts.”
Downtown New Orleans was always busy in the evenings, but it was busiest on Bourbon Street. Music spilled out from the many bars lining the street with tables filled at various outdoor patios. Mari looked around while we walked, occasionally commenting on some of the buildings and laughing at the crowds.