Chapter 46
SADIE
Day one of winning my husband— who is now my ex-husband —back, and we’re off to a good start.
A knock at the door has me flying down the spiral staircase to answer it. Shades cover the windows from the morning sun, but there’s enough light coming through the cracks that I can answer the door without breaking my ankle.
“Room service.” The woman holds a tray up beside her.
“Yes, come in. You can put it on the table right there.”
After setting the food down, she turns to me expectantly, and that’s when I remember I forgot the tip.
I spin, crashing into Nash’s very hard, very bare chest.
My gaze crawls from his pecs to his neck, to his Adam’s apple, then his jaw, until they meet his green eyes. It’s semi-dark but not so dark that I can’t see exactly what I’m dealing with here. And what I’m dealing with is a very attractive man.
“I got it.” He steps to the side, moving his chest away from my palms, and grabs his wallet to tip the woman.
The whole tipping scene unfolds before me as I check out Nash’s sleep attire, which basically consists of briefs, and that’s it. I’ve seen him dressed like this before when the barn door to the bathroom was cracked open. I said it then, and I’ll say it again: he has a very nice male physique. I remember admiring him back then, but now I’m feelin’ it more than ever.
The woman nods in appreciation over Nash’s tip—maybe also his six-pack—and then leaves.
He turns around, and I’m awestruck by his mussed hair and lazy smile. How did I not feel this before? It’s pretty intense.
“What’s all this?” His eyes drop to the tray of food.
“Uh…breakfast.” I start lifting lids. “I don’t know— er, remember —what you like, so I ordered an assortment.”
His lips lift. “I like it all.”
“No, really. I want to know what you eat in the morning so I don’t have to keep guessing every day.”
“Pastries.” He grabs a croissant filled with chocolate and somehow manages an adorable smile as he takes a huge bite.
“I don’t believe that one bit. Someone who looks like this”—I wave my finger in front of his abs—“doesn’t eat pastries every morning. Probably protein shakes and kale.”
Laughter bursts out of him, shooting a piece of half-chewed pastry from his mouth into my hair. And now we’re both laughing.
“Charming.” I hold up the strand caked with his food and flick it away from me. “Real charming.”
“That was an accident.” He wipes at his mouth with his wrist, and even that action is so cute.
“So what are we doing today?” I pick up a square of cheese and pop it into my mouth.
“ We ?” His brows hike up.
“Yeah, did you think I would let you keep our Switzerland itinerary to yourself?”
He puffs out a laugh that’s more nervous than humorous. “I don’t know what I thought would happen today.”
“What do you want to happen?” I infuse my words with a bit of flirtiness, just laying the foundation.
Nash lifts his arm, scratching the back of his head, and a Christmas chorus goes off in my mind, celebrating his triceps and lats. This man is just doing it for me right now on every level. Like, get a grip, Sadie.
He drops his arm, glancing at me. “Do you really think it’s a good idea for us to spend so much time together? I mean, I want to,” he sighs, “but we’re not together anymore, and spending time just complicates things, you know?”
I want to scoop him in my arms and reassure him that my feelings are a sure thing he won’t lose again, but even I don’t know that for certain.
“Yes, hanging out complicates things. But when I saw you on that train yesterday, something came alive inside me. I can’t explain it; I just know it’s different from before. Different than last year.”
“And what happens if you wake up tomorrow or the next day and decide you’re not feeling it anymore? Do we just continue on our separate ways again ?”
“Nash, I know that you’ve gotten the short end of the stick on all of this, and now I’m asking you to risk your heart again when I can’t guarantee everything will work out. But what if it does?”
His lips lift into a solemn smile. “I thought the same thing yesterday. What if it does work out this time?”
“We’d regret it the rest of our lives if we didn’t try.”
He nods, really thinking it over.
“We can take things slow,” I offer.
“Slow?”
“Yeah, just, like, date each other and see what happens.”
“See what happens?”
I scrunch my nose at him. “Why are you repeating everything I say?”
“I’m just trying to wrap my head around all this.”
“I don’t know why you’re so reluctant.” I shoot him a charming smile. “Aside from the memory loss and the fact that I shattered your heart once before, I’m the whole package.”
His head tilts, and his amused gaze travels over me. “I know you’re the whole package. I’ve always known that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is, I’ve never stopped loving you. I can’t just take things slow, casually see where things lead.”
He steps to me, fingers combing through my hair as his hand grabs the side of my face.
Oh, the hand grab. I’ve missed that so much.
There’s a desperation behind the action that equally melts me while driving me mad with desire. My breathing halts—there’s nothing left in my chest besides my pounding heart. His green eyes tunnel through me to my soul.
“Sadie, you’re it for me. If you open this door, I’m all in. There’s no way I can’t be.”
I place my hands on his hips, feeling the warmth of his smooth skin. He shudders under my touch, just as affected as me.
My chin lifts. “Then be all in.”
“And if you’re not?”
“Give me a chance, Nash. Let my heart and my feelings catch up to yours.”
The gap might not be as broad as he thinks.
His eyes slowly drift across my face, stopping on my lips. I hold his waist tighter, thinking he might kiss me, hoping for it.
“Fine, we’ll take things slow.” He steps back, dropping his hand from my cheek.
“Slow it is.” I nod.
“I mean, slow ,” he reiterates.
“Got it.”
“I guess we better get dressed, then. I have a full day planned for us.”
I salute him. “Yes, sir.”
But as I run upstairs to change, I can’t help but feel excited.
Nash is putting his heart on the line for me one last time.