Chapter Five
chapter five
PAIGE
“So, what’s next?”
I try to focus on Nate’s question, but it’s hard when all I can think about is the way he wrapped his arms around me while we were in the Tower Bridge and made me feel safer than I’d felt in a long time.
Safe to remember the magic. To feel it the way I’d felt it when my mom was alive.
I knew deep down that John and I were over before I even stepped off the plane, but after spending a short amount of time with another man, I know it’s for the best.
Is Nate the man of my dreams? No. We don’t live anywhere near each other. But he’s woken up my heart and reminded me what it’s like to feel.
“Paige,” Nate says with a smirk, “you look like you’re off somewhere far away.”
I laugh. “I’m here. I was thinking we could go to Chinatown. It’s a bit of a ride, but they have delicious food. I don’t know how much time you have though or if you have somewhere you need to be.”
“I have all the time in the world and no place to be but right here with you. And I’m starved. So, point the way.”
The ride to Chinatown doesn’t take too long, and we spend it getting to know each other on a surface level. Nate’s favorite color is black even though I insist black is not a color. He went to college and majored in business. He has two younger brothers, who are both married, one with kids, so he feels like the odd one out.
I tell him I can empathize since my two closest friends, Ana and Kira, are both in relationships and have adorable children.
Nate reads fiction when he has time to read, so I tell him about the book club Ana started and that he should check out some romance books since they’re the best escape.
Surprisingly, instead of him scoffing or making a comment about him being a man, he pulls out his phone and asks for my top recommendations.
“If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?” Nate asks as we walk down the street toward the Chinese restaurant I haven’t been to in over a year.
“I don’t know,” I say with a laugh. “We lived in Finland, Japan, Ireland, the UK, Rome, Türkiye, Germany, and too many states to name. My mom made it a point to explore everywhere we lived. I was young, but our trips were still memorable, and we would make a scrapbook for everywhere we went, a new page for every adventure. I guess maybe I’d want to go snowboarding. My mom hated the snow, so we never went.”
“Really? Well, it might be fate because I have a place in Aspen,” Nate says, waggling his brows.
“Too bad, after today, I’ll never see you again,” I say, bumping his shoulder playfully and making him chuckle.
“You know”—Nate slides his arm across my shoulders and pulls me into his side—“I have been told that I’m extremely irresistible. Maybe after spending time with me, you’ll have fallen so hard that you’ll be begging me for my number.”
I snort out a laugh and glance up at him. “Who told you that? Your mom? She lied to make you feel good about yourself.”
Nate barks out a laugh. “We’ll see.”
“Mmhmm.” I roll my eyes, playing it off, while, deep down, I have no doubt that Nate is telling the truth.
I’ve only spent a short time with him, and I can already tell it would be way too easy to fall for him. Which is why I’m keeping my guard up. It’s nice, spending time with someone in London as opposed to being alone to wallow in my self-pity, but after today, we’re going our separate ways, no matter how irresistible he thinks he is.
We enjoy our lunch, ordering a little bit of everything, and Nate admits it’s the best Chinese he’s ever eaten. Once we’re done, we check out Big Ben and Westminster Abbey—the royal church where Prince William and his wife were married. On the way back, we stop at several bookstores, and Nate even buys a romance novel. By the time we get back to the hotel, it’s late, and we’re both exhausted and starved—again.
“We could order room service,” he offers.
“You and me in a hotel room?” I shake my head. “Not happening.”
“Okay.” He chuckles, lifting his hands in a placating manner. “How about we eat at the bar?”
“That’s definitely the safer option.”
Since it’s after dinner hours, the bar isn’t too packed, and we’re able to find two seats at the end.
“Good evening,” the bartender says. “What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have a Maker’s Mark old-fashioned,” Nate says.
The bartender nods and then glances at me. “And for you, ma’am?”
“Hmm.” I glance up at the bottles along the shelves, and after a few seconds, I spot the one I’m looking for. “I’ll have the same, but with Kingston’s Yellow Label and extra bitter, please.”
The bartender grins. “You got it.”
“You know your liquor,” Nate notes once the bartender goes to the other end to make our drinks.
“I work for Kingston, so naturally, I’m loyal.”
It’s a response I’ve given a million times without thought, but one I shouldn’t have given to Nate since it was my idea not to scratch below the surface, and where we work is definitely deeper than surface level.
My hope of him not catching what I said flies out the window when he says, “And what is it you do for Kingston…since you brought it up?” He smirks, knowing he’s got me.
“I work in marketing, but that’s all you’re getting out of me. And before you try to reciprocate with where you work, don’t even think about it. My response was an accident.”
“Fine,” Nate says as the bartender sets our drinks on the bar top in front of us. “I won’t tell you that I work?—”
Before he can finish his sentence, I reach over and cover his mouth with my hand. “Don’t even think about it.”
I’m so focused on making sure he doesn’t give any clues that will allow me to chase after him once our little… whatever the hell this is …is over that I don’t realize my hand is pressed against his lips. I feel his smirk beneath my hand, but before I can put two and two together, his tongue darts out and licks up the center of my palm, making me jump back.
“Seriously?”
Nate laughs. “Next time, I’ll bite your hand.” He playfully snaps his teeth together as if taking a bite out of the air, and I can’t help but laugh as well.
I take a sip of my drink, and it’s perfect.
“Taste it and tell me Kingston’s isn’t more flavorful than the crap you’re drinking,” I say, sliding my drink toward Nate so he can try it.
Nate glances from the drink to my mouth and then leans in. “Okay, but only if I can taste it off your lips.”
Wait, what?
“You want to…” I breathe, the air in the room suddenly thick with sexual tension.
“Taste you,” he finishes, his mouth only a whisper away from mine. “Say yes,” he murmurs.
And because there’s no other answer I want to give, I do just that.
I haven’t even finished saying the three-letter word before Nate’s fingers are wrapping around the back of my neck and he’s pulling my face toward his to do exactly what he said—taste me.
His tongue traces the seam of my lips, and when I exhale, it slips into my mouth, stroking, teasing, caressing.
“Mmm,” he murmurs against my mouth. “Delicious.”
And then he breaks the kiss, leaving me wanting more.
“You’re right,” he says, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth. “Your liquor tastes way better. It’s almost…addictive.”
Holy shit. This man is sex personified.
I lift my glass and down my drink in one go, welcoming the warmth from the whiskey. Then, I stand, needing to escape before I do something I might regret.
“What about dinner?” Nate asks, standing as well.
“I’m exhausted,” I tell him since it’s not a lie. “It’s been a long day and…” I glance from his eyes to his mouth, remembering the way his lips felt against mine—soft yet strong. “I can’t believe I only just arrived in London this morning. It feels like I’ve been here for a week.”
Nate chuckles and nods in understanding.
“So, tomorrow…” he says, trailing his words and leaving the ball in my court to either pick them up or leave them hanging.
When we were on our way back to the hotel, I mentioned there was still so much to see, and he offered to join me tomorrow. The smart choice would be to walk away now, but the thought of never seeing him again has me thinking like an idiot.
“How about we meet down here at nine o’clock?” I suggest.
“Sounds good. ”
Nate insists on paying for the drinks, and once he’s signed the check, we head over to the elevators. He presses the button for the one I’m getting on since different elevators are for different floors, and once it arrives, he says, “If you need anything, my number is?—”
I’m shaking my head before he can finish, but then he clarifies, “My room number is 1714,” and I release a breath of relief.
“I mean it, Paige, if you need anything”—he steps closer and lifts my chin so our eyes meet—“call me.”
Then, he leans in and presses a soft kiss on my forehead, and those damn butterflies make another appearance.
“Good night,” he murmurs. “Sweet dreams.”
With his words lingering, I step onto the elevator and press my floor number while wondering how the hell I’m going to get any sleep after that damn kiss that still has my body vibrating.
When I get to my room, I spot the large Jacuzzi tub I forgot about, and an idea forms. Nothing helps a woman fall asleep quicker than an orgasm. Nate might be physically off-limits for my own well-being, but that doesn’t mean I can’t think about him.
And, holy shit, do I think about him…twice.