Chapter 28 #2
Nathan keeps saying things that feel like music to my ears.
“So whatever you want, I’ll do, but what we are going to do is enjoy the night as much as we possibly can because I’m going to be verbally teased at every opportunity by my brothers and mom.
You’ll have to dance with me to escape. And when you’re on that floor with me everyone will know who you are to me.
The only thing I’ll be thinking the entire time is how soon we can leave so I can take you home and get you out of that pretty little dress.
Something I’m dying to do, but not tonight, because I’m a gentleman and I want to show you that our connection goes beyond physical attraction and desire. ”
I feel disappointed by his confession but at the same time I love this side of him he’s letting me see. He’s considerate and patient, which makes me like him even more.
And he’s not willing to put an exact label on us, which is refreshing.
Fun. That’s not all we are, I know we’re not.
Steady as a rock, he continues, “Instead, I’ll donate money tonight, then I’m going to take you home and kiss you goodnight on your doorstep then tell you how beautiful you are and how I was the envy of every man in the room.”
I reach up and cup his face. “You’re amazingly sweet when you want to be.”
“You look stunning.” He leans into my touch and kisses my wrist right over my pulse point that’s beating faster than a marching drum.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I might be sick.” A gruff voice from one of his brothers breaks our tender moment; Cole, I think.
“You’re going to make Eli sick.” Max fakes a gagging noise, and I love how much they screw with each other daily. Their love for one another is tangible.
I say a quick hello and smile nervously. Nathan has me all flustered with how intense he is being tonight. I both love it and want to run from it all in equal amounts. It’s overwhelming.
“Did you fall and bump your head or something?” Eli asks as he takes a seat opposite us, and Nathan covers his hand with mine then lays them on his lap.
Nathan replies without flinching, “I didn’t bump my head.”
“But you’re definitely falling.” Max sounds serious.
Max is clearly implying Nathan is falling for me, it’s obvious Max can see what I feel.
“I think I need a drink,” I say out loud, not meaning too.
“We all do.” Eli signals to a waiter and the brothers continue talking amongst themselves again.
“Does me falling for you, scare you?” Nathan leans forward and whispers in my ear with strong determination. It feels like there is no one else in the room but us.
As if I’m a statue, I feel like I can’t move or breathe. Nathan’s words and confession are breathing new life into every cellular level of my body, lighting up my soul in ways I never knew were possible.
“Yes.” Because I might be falling too and think it’s naturally been happening like a snowball rolling down a hill.
It’s gained momentum, much bigger now, and it has been gaining speed and grown in size since the first night we met.
“I’m petrified,” I admit. “Working together complicates things.” It messes with my original reason for joining Hart Law.
I’ve made zero progress in my hunt to uncover the truth about my family’s death.
Now I’ve made the decision to leave it alone for the time being, I feel guilty because here I am, sitting cozy and falling for the man who I have loathed from afar because of his father.
It seems my judgment was unjust because the entire Hart family are nothing like how I imagined. My grudge sits with his father, not Nathan or his brothers, and I have to keep reminding myself of that.
It’s him I want.
“We’ll make it work, Arianna, and I don’t give a shit what anyone at work thinks because?—”
I don’t let him finish. “I’m the best secretary you’ve ever had.”
He moves closer to me, his lips twitching as if trying to hide his smile. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
I drop my voice, almost afraid of what his reply will be, but I ask anyway, “What were you going to say?”
“I was going to say”—he takes a second to consider his next words—“I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks because for the first time in my life I’m putting myself before work.” I get the impression he’s stopping himself from saying more as he gives me a hard stare. “I care about you, Arianna.”
“Those are some big words you’re using tonight, Mr. Hart,” I stutter, suddenly feeling hot all over in my thin silk dress.
Closing the small space between us, we move toward each other at the same time, and the air grows thick with anticipation, the sizzle of energy between us strong enough to set off a chemical reaction; his confession is potent enough to make me want to tear my dress off right here in front of everyone and ride him like a stallion until sunrise.
In harmony, we slant our heads, and our lips lock instantly. It’s a soft kiss, but the way it makes my heart beat faster and heat burn in my core it feels like he’s touching every part of me, reaching places I never knew existed.
Squeezing my hand, he brings an end to our kiss, then rests his forehead against mine.
“I’m not a sentimental man, Arianna, but when I’m with you, you do something to me.” He uses the same words he did when he came looking for me in the records room.
“You do something to me, too.” I hope he was joking about dropping me off later, because all I want is to feel the connection again that I’ve only ever felt with him.
When we slept together the first time, we were hotter than the sun, and we barely knew each other.
Imagine what sex will be like together with emotion combined with the sexual tension that’s been building for the last few weeks between us.
It’ll be scorching and we’ll need the fire department to put us out.
A voice bursts our happy bubble. “If we have to put up with these two sickening love birds all night then I’ll need something stronger than champagne to get me through.”
“Cole, if I give you a hundred bucks, will you shut the fuck up?” Nathan snaps, finally unlocking his eyes from mine.
The shift happening between us is profound and powerful.
“Make it two hundred and you have a deal,” Cole counters, completely unfazed by Nathan’s outburst.
“You get fuck all for trying to negotiate with me,” Nathan bites back, and the table bursts into laughter. It’s only then I notice another three women have joined us. Cole’s, Max’s and Eli’s dates, I assume.
Nathan makes himself comfortable in his seat and throws his arm around the back of mine. Lifting his champagne glass, he points to my flute. “Cheers.”
I pick mine up and clink my glass against his. “To fun,” I toast, my lips twitching as I fight to hide the entertainment I get from playing along with his ruse.
“To fun.” He winks, smiling wickedly against the lip of his glass before running his hand over the silk covering my thigh.
Fuck fun, we are so much more than that and he just gave himself away.
Which is what I should do too and tell him who I am.
The angel within wants so much to do that… Hey, Nathan, I’m Arianna Donovan. Your father defended the man who killed my family and I’ve been working for Hart Law to seek justice for them and uncover your father as a corrupt lawyer.
Yup, that’s never going to come out in a way that doesn’t make me sound like a devious bitch.
So I’ll park that temporarily to come back to another time.
Fun?
Now, that I can do.
Fun without falling for him completely?
Shit, I’m in way too deep.