When Nic heard Cat crying, he almost released her to look at her face. Had he done something wrong?
But she held on, so he did too. “Shh.” He missed this woman, and now she was in his arms again, like she’d never left.
“Ohmigod,” she repeated. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I’m here.” He pulled back and wiped her tears away. “I missed you.” Her lips were warm against his. It felt like homecoming. His tongue and teeth devoured her lips and explored her mouth. He couldn’t get enough.
After he had his fill—maybe a minute, maybe an hour—he released her and offered her the chair. He sat next to her and clasped her hand above the table.
“I… how did you find me?”
Before he could answer, a water was placed before him and the waiter asked if he could get them a drink. Nic didn’t need any interruptions. “Do you happen to know what you’d like?” he asked Cat.
“Um, the eggplant parmesan please.”
He looked up at the man. “Two salads, two eggplant parms, and a bottle of Chianti Classico Riserva.”
The man smiled and, taking his cue, left them in peace.
Nic turned back to her. “Celeste. I found her through your social media. I had to make sure you didn’t get back together with your ex, or whatever. When she told me you missed me too, I knew it was safe to come.”
“Ohmigosh. I’m gonna kill her.” Her smile betrayed her harsh words.
He wanted to laugh at how precious she looked. She wore a summer dress he recognized from Saint Lucia, dangling earrings, and her bun had a live flower in it. “I like the flower.” It reminded him of their island trip.
“It was Celeste’s idea. She said that’s how my blind date,” she made air quotes, “was going to know it was me.” Cat held his gaze a moment longer, as if on the verge of saying something big.
He started instead to make sure she understood. “I’ll get right to the point. I’ve missed you. Terribly. And I want us to figure this out.” He motioned a finger between them. “I want us to find a way to make this work. Are you open to that?”
“Yes. No. God, I don’t know.”
His heart nearly stopped. “What don’t you know?” He hadn’t considered this could backfire on him.
To hell with that, he would fight for her, if necessary.
“You’re a Mr. Fixer. I was broken, but I’m not anymore. How will I keep your interest?” Her eyes pleaded with him to convince her that there was more between them. More that they could actually build a life on.
“You’re broken? Aren’t we all broken?”
She blushed. “I wasn’t adventurous—you brought that out of me.”
He cupped her hand between his. “I didn’t do that. You did that. You did only what you wanted to. And as much as I love everything we did in Saint. Lucia, I don’t need acrobatics every time I’m with you.” He leaned closer. “I love you for you.”
Her mouth gaped. “You love me?”
“Yes. I’m certain of it. I couldn’t get you out of my head.”
She lifted a hand, stroking his cheek, then she kissed his lips softly. “Well, I love you too.”
Tears welled in her gorgeous green eyes. He had no idea if he’d ever see those beautiful eyes again.
“What made you change your mind? I mean, I thought when I left Saint Lucia that was it.”
He nodded. Frankly, so had he.
“I got a promotion at work.”
She laid a hand over his. “Oh, Nicholas. Congratulations.”
The waiter quietly laid down their salads, and after uncorking the wine, poured them each a glass and left.
“As much as I thought I wanted it, I knew something was missing.” He realized his push, his competitiveness with his siblings, wasn’t worth the prize if he didn’t have the woman he loved beside him. The promotion meant nothing without Cat there to share it with.
She bit her lower lip.
He lifted his wineglass and waited for her to do the same. “What I was missing was you.” He clinked her glass and took a sip.
“So I asked myself: if you let this girl go, what do you have to show for yourself in ten or twenty years? Maybe a thriving career, but not much else.”
She shook her head. “No one to share all the highs and lows.”
“That’s right. No one to travel to the islands with. No babies.”
Her brows lifted. “Babies?”
“Yup. If you want. Otherwise, fur babies.” He grinned, and she laughed. God, he missed hearing her laugh.
Through glassy eyes, she said, “Babies are good—both kinds.” As if she were suddenly hungry, she looked down at her salad and speared a cube of cheese.
He did the same. His shoulders relaxed, and his mouth watered with the first bite.
He could have her in his life, they would find a way to work things out—suddenly Nic could breathe again. Everything felt right in the world.
They chatted over their dinner, but they didn’t linger.
“Come back to my place,” was all he needed to hear from Cat. He flipped a few large bills off his clip and laid them on the table. He didn’t want to wait for the check, and he knew he’d left more than enough to include a well-deserved tip for their waiter.
He held open the passenger car door of his rental and pulled her close. He crashed his lips to hers in a desperate, passionate kiss. He craved her lips, all of her.
Cat directed him, pointing occasionally with her free hand. Now in Austin with her, he couldn’t stop touching her in some form or fashion.
The door clicked closed once they entered her apartment and she was in his arms again. He pulled off her dress; she pulled off his shirt. He barely took in his surroundings when she unfastened his pants and pushed them to the carpet. Then she kicked off her shoes, and broke their kiss long enough to grab his hand and lead him to her bedroom. More clothes dropped to the floor.
“God, how I missed you. I couldn’t understand how I had fallen for you in such a short time.”
His hands were on her breasts, her neck, her thighs, moving without direction but trying to find everything he’d missed those last few weeks. “Me too.” He kissed and suckled her neck, making his way to her nipples, laying claim to her naked body.
“Mmm. I even looked up jobs in Orlando,” she said in a pant.
That comment stopped him in his tracks. “You did?”
She nodded. “Some seemed pretty good too.”
“You’d move to Orlando?”
“If you’ll have me.”
He grinned. “Oh baby, I’ll have you. Over and over.” He moved her to the bed.
She giggled and laid back.
His hands and lips roamed her torso, letting her sweet scent guide the way. Pushing her legs apart, he claimed her pussy, relishing the moan from her precious lips on the first swipe. His tongue toyed with her clit, laving and circling, bringing more blood to the swollen little nub.
She moaned again. She was close.
He stood and shed his briefs, climbing on top of her, his cock aligned right at her entrance.
“Nicki, please.”
“Cat, I love you. Move to Orlando, move in with me. Be a part of my life.” He pushed inside her, just as he’d done their last time together in Saint Lucia.