Chapter 15
15
Nikki
N ikki lost count of how many times she’d pinched herself. She was actually going on a date with the Mateo Palmer. This was either going to blow up in her face or be the best night of her life. She glanced at Mateo out of the corner of her eye as she sat in the passenger seat of his truck for the second time within a week.
He hadn’t told her where they were going. She figured they’d be getting dinner and then doing something more. Honestly, she wasn’t going to be picky. As long as she was going to spend time with Mateo, she was going to be happy.
Every few minutes, he glanced at her. It was like they’d gone back in time and the two of them were in high school again. The tension hung so thick in the air that it was difficult to breathe right. Something needed to give so they could just get back to being comfortable in each other’s company.
Nikki wrung her hands in her lap, trying to come up with the words to apologize for acting so weird, but there was no way to say it without making her sound like a simpering fool. They were not teenagers. He wasn’t the popular jock, and she wasn’t the shy wallflower. They were adults who had grown up and were very capable of chasing after something more with whomever they wanted.
Somehow, Mateo found her hand and slipped his fingers between hers. He squeezed tight and flashed her a smile that had her legs going weak and her heart fluttering wildly. If they didn’t get more than just this night together, she’d be grateful for the chance.
Tonight, she’d make a promise to herself. There would be no chasing after something that wasn’t meant to be, so she’d simply enjoy his company.
Nikki glanced out her window just as the country club came into view. Her eyes cut to Mateo with confusion. “Why are we here again?”
One side of his mouth lifted into a grin. “The last time we were here, I didn’t get nearly enough time with you in my arms. I fully intend on monopolizing all your time and holding you every last second.”
Her first instinct was to laugh him off. But his eyes and his voice were so serious that she couldn’t bring herself to utter a single sound. Not a single degree of mirth or teasing was evident.
Was it possible that he’d been telling the truth this whole time?
Nikki swallowed hard and smiled right back. “Well, if you’re game, then I am.”
She didn’t think it was possible, but her words had his smile widening further. It made the swirling, twirling emotions within her go into overdrive.
It was fine. This was totally fine. Eventually, the thrill of this night would fade away and she’d get back to feeling normal again. Until that time, she’d give in and enjoy the evening. She reached for the door handle, but Mateo’s sharp voice startled her enough that she yanked her hand from it.
“No.”
She turned wide eyes toward him. “Why? Are we going somewhere else first?”
He shook his head. “You’re my date, and as such, you’ll be treated like it. I’m opening that door for you, so don’t you even think about getting it for yourself.”
Nikki rolled her eyes with a smirk but did as she was told. She watched him walk around the truck to her door. He pulled it open and held out his hand for her to take. She eyed his offering and placed her hand into his before he helped pull her to her feet and into his arms.
She gasped as his face came within inches of hers. For a second, she expected him to steal a kiss, but his lips came within millimeters of her ear. His breath grazed the sensitive skin there when he whispered, “If our date ended right now, it would still be the best one I’ve ever had.”
“Why’s that?” she rasped.
“Because you said yes.” He withdrew from her, his eyes blazing with the honesty of his words.
“You really shouldn’t say stuff like that to me,” she said under her breath.
“Why not?” he ground out, surprising her with the ferocity that laced his words.
Nikki gaped at him.
His expression softened as he reached out to caress her face again. “I’m going to tell you something right now, and I expect you to believe me and drop whatever this hesitancy thing is you’ve got.” He didn’t wait long enough for her to retort. “I asked you out because I wanted to spend time with you. I get that this might seem strange because of our past, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is where we ended up. So, we’re going to go into that building, eat until we can’t take another bite, then dance the night away.”
Nothing sounded better than what he’d just described. And she berated herself for allowing those doubts to once again creep into her mind. Mateo wasn’t her ex. He was nothing like any of the men she’d spent time with.
She took in a deep breath and nodded.
After they enjoyed a steak dinner, Mateo didn’t waste any time taking her through the building toward the dance floor. There were no pretenses, no dancing around the fact that he wanted her close.
Immediately, his arm reached around her back, and he pulled her so tightly against him that she had no chance of escape. His eyes poured over her features before returning to her eyes. She couldn’t think of a single time when he hadn’t been smiling while they were together.
It wasn’t lost on her that they’d gotten their share of looks. This town might not be tiny, but it was small enough for people to know who Mateo was. She wouldn’t have been surprised to find out that he’d dated every single woman who gave her the side-eye.
But Mateo didn’t seem to notice. He only had eyes for her, and it thrilled her to no end.
They swayed and danced to the music, allowing her to abandon any notion that Mateo wasn’t being anything but honest. With each passing song, she started to believe it herself.
When they were both out of breath and needing some fresh air, they exited the building and took a walk out on the balcony. Mateo held her hand, his thumb tracing over the back of it as they found a place away from prying eyes.
She leaned up against the building, letting her gaze roam up his body to his face that hovered inches from her own. He moved in closer, resting his forearm against the brick above her as he stared right back at her.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?”
A smile tugged at her lips, and she looked away, but she couldn’t resist his gaze and looked at him once again.
“I mean it. I don’t know if you’ve been told enough because clearly you don’t agree with that sentiment.”
Her mouth fell open, and a slice of indignation raced through her. “I don’t think I’m ugly,” she snapped without thinking. “I’m very happy with the body that God has sought fit to bless me with.”
His smile only widened, which spurred her to continue.
“But I’m also not an idiot. I know what society deems beautiful and what you—” She snapped her mouth shut and her eyes widened as the full weight of what she’d nearly admitted came crashing down on her.
He arched a brow, his lips turning down slightly. “What I… what, Nikki?”
She shook her head and attempted to move out from beneath his stare, but he boxed her in.
“No, none of that,” he said, his voice drilling deeper into her soul with each syllable. “You keep saying stuff like that, and I want you to tell me exactly what you think it is I’m feeling.”
Nikki pressed her lips together. He wasn’t going to let her go without an explanation, but this wasn’t supposed to be the moment she told him that he’d been shallow his whole life so he couldn’t possibly find her attractive.
Heat burned beneath her flesh, and in a moment of desperation, she reached up with both hands and framed his face between them.
Mateo stiffened only briefly at her touch, but then he allowed her to pull him closer. Her lips claimed his, tasting his sweet essence and tender affection. He slipped an arm around her waist to pull her even closer to him. The arm that had been above her head had lowered as well, and he placed his hand behind her neck.
This kiss was nothing like the ones she’d experienced before in her lifetime. It was passionate and all-consuming. It spoke of a desire that neither one of them seemed capable of sating. She melted into him, giving her entire soul to this kiss and wishing for it to never end. The way Mateo reacted to her touch said it all.
He wanted this as much as she did. And she’d been silly to assume he was anything like the men in society who refused to date women with real curves.
Their kiss ended the second someone exited the building and moved in their direction. Nikki was breathing harder than before, her heart stumbling over itself as she found Mateo’s piercing gaze.
He had a bit of a smug told-you-so look on his face, but she found she didn’t care. As far as she was concerned, they’d both won something tonight.
She stifled a laugh and fell back against the brick as she dragged a hand through her hair. But in the next second, he dipped his face closer to hers once more. His lips grazed hers, just a whisper of a kiss before he trailed his touch along her jaw and toward her ear.
“You’re something else,” he said against it.
Nikki shivered, the chills rippling through her body in the most pleasurable way possible. She let out a shaky breath as he pulled back and stared down at her like she was a treasure worth hiding away from the whole world. Placing a hand to his cheek, she let out a sigh. “And you’re everything I never expected.”
They stared at one another for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he wove his fingers in between hers and jerked his chin toward the dance room. “What do you say we get in a few more songs before we head home? I’m not ready to give you up just yet.”
She tightened her hold on him and nodded. “I’m all yours.”
Mateo brought her hand to his lips for what felt like the millionth time that night, and yet it still made her stomach churn with anticipation of what all of this meant. Then he winked at her. “Promise?”
His question gave her pause, but only for a moment. “Promise,” she whispered.