Chapter 12
TWELVE
Nathan closed the curtains the second we got back, causing me to raise an eyebrow.
“Do you have something against sunshine?”
He laughed and shook his head. “No, I do not. I want Preston to think we’re doing something, though.”
He plopped down next to me on the couch and slid his arm around my shoulders. “Show me something good,” he ordered.
I was thrown. “Like what?” Did he expect me to get naked or something? Was this the part where I was going to see the “real” Nathan?
He seemed to grasp what I was worried about. “Knock that off,” he warned. “I’m not making a move on you. I figured we could watch some funny videos to amuse ourselves.”
That was surprising. “Seriously?” Suspicion lingered as I gave him the side-eye. “What kind of videos?”
“Porn, of course,” he teased, shaking his head. “I like funny cat videos.”
“Do you have a cat?”
“No, but I would like one someday. I also like videos of kids who swear. I don’t have kids either, for the record.”
“But one day?” I prodded.
The question seemed to stymie him. “I think I would like a kid,” he said finally, struggling through the words. “I want to be a better father than I had. It’s not something I think on too often, though.”
“I want to be exactly like my mom.”
“Yeah, neither of us had much luck with fathers, huh?”
“It sounds like yours is still around.”
“Kind of. He actually wants to come for a visit.”
“How come you don’t sound happy about that?” I was honestly curious.
“Because he’s critical. I don’t think he actually wants to be critical or even realizes he’s doing it. He is, though, and I’ve stopped caring about trying to get him to approve of my life choices.”
“I’m sorry he’s that way. I know how that is.” I thought of Preston and scowled. “Just for the record, you seem pretty great. I heard horror stories when I first moved to Savannah—people warning me that you went through women like tissue paper—but you don’t seem so bad to me.”
His grin was impish. “I could hit on you if you want to hate me.”
“I’m fine with how things are.” I pulled out my phone. “I happen to like videos of swearing kids too. Let’s find some good ones.”
He settled in at my side. “That sounds like a plan to me.”
TWO HOURS LATER, I’D FRESHENED UP and was ready for dinner.
“What do you think he’s having catered?” Nathan asked. He was in his same khaki shorts and polo shirt from before, but he’d messed up his hair.
“What’s up with that?” I pointed.
“I want him to think somebody has been running their fingers through it.”
“Oh.” I didn’t think about it long. “You’re good at this.”
“I just have a diabolical mind. I’m serious about the food, though. He seems like the type of guy who would try to cater sushi in the woods.”
I made a face. “He loves sushi.”
“You don’t?”
“It’s raw fish. It’s not food.”
His grin told me he agreed, then he faltered. “Wait… you don’t think he would try to cater sushi out here to prove what a big man he is and make you unhappy at the same time, do you?”
“If he could get away with it, he would try. His father once yelled at him about giving people food poisoning, though.” I mimicked Preston Martin Charles II’s voice to perfection. “‘Projectile vomiting is not posh, no matter what you think.’ He never included sushi at one of his parties again.”
“Ah. For once, a douche canoe father comes in handy,” Nathan drawled.
“Right?” I agreed. “It’s far more likely that we’re looking at teeny tiny sandwiches and side salads.
No fries or anything.” I was apologetic even though it wasn’t my fault.
“He’ll also try to wedge something in like stuffed mushrooms and pastries as appetizers because he won’t be able to help himself. ”
“Will he skimp on the number of sandwiches we can have?”
“No. If you want ten of them, he might give you some side-eye. He would never say anything though.” I thought better of it the moment the words were out of my mouth. “Actually, he might comment on your appetite.”
“Oh, I’m counting on that.” Nathan’s expression turned wolfish. “I can’t wait to tell him what an appetite you stirred up in me.”
I paused with my hand on the doorknob. “Don’t you think he’ll doubt you if you lay it on too thick?”
“Nope. He won’t be able to see past his rage. He doesn’t know me. I guarantee he’s looked up my reputation.”
“And seen that you’re a dog, so he’ll assume you’re going to do the same to me.”
“Um… I’ve never given a ring to anybody else.”
I arched an eyebrow, dubious.
“It’s true. Every dog is eventually leashed. He’s going to be mad that you were the one who leashed me.”
“That is such a weird way to look at things.”
“Am I wrong, though?”
“No.” That was the truth. Nathan seemed to have a firm grasp on exactly how to irritate Preston. He was good at it too. “You’re going to push every button he has, and he won’t be able to see beyond it.”
“That’s exactly what I’m going for.”
I grinned. “I’m kind of excited to see you work tonight.”
“Oh, it’s going to be glorious,” he agreed. “Just you wait.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I WAS RIGHT ABOUT DINNER. PRESTON had seven different types of sandwiches, three different types of pasta salad, and eight different types of warm appetizers. None of it alone was a full meal. All put together, however, it was pretty good.
“Do you like roast beef?” Nathan asked, his knee pressed snuggly against mine as we sat at a picnic table with Brody, Bree, and Hayley.
I nodded. “Why?”
“Just checking.” Nathan shoved a small roast beef sandwich into my mouth.
I took a huge bite out of reflex.
“How do you like my beef?” he demanded in a voice that carried two tables over, to where Preston was seated with a number of women, including Daisy Freeman, who appeared to be a bit twitterpated with my ex.
I methodically chewed and swallowed. “It’s good,” I replied. “I like it better than ham.” The statement was pointed, but he only grinned wider.
“You like the ham too.” He shoved the rest of the roast beef sandwich into his mouth and purposely focused on Preston for the first time since we’d sat down almost thirty minutes before.
He’d gone out of his way to talk to everybody but Preston until this point.
A shiver went down my spine when I saw the spark of intent in his eyes.
“So, Preston, how did you get involved in book promotions?” he asked, sounding curious rather than diabolical. “That’s pretty niche. Bella said you were a real estate agent. That’s quite the crossover.”
I looked down at my plate, fast, and refused to raise my chin.
There was nothing wrong with being a real estate agent, of course.
It was a nice, solid profession. Preston preferred calling himself a real estate developer, however.
He could never settle for the mundane explanation when there was something bigger to claim.
“I’m a real estate developer,” Preston immediately corrected, causing me to bite the inside of my cheek. I’d seen that coming.
“Is there a difference?” Nathan’s brow furrowed. “Do you not facilitate the sale of real estate?”
“I have a hand in the development too.”
“Oh.” Nathan bobbed his head in amiable fashion.
He really was a master at unhinging people. I had to wonder if he’d honed his skills on his father. That was my best guess.
“What buildings have you developed? I’ve done some research on Boston architecture—that’s always been a hobby of mine—and I would love to know which buildings you had a hand in.”
I was flabbergasted. He’d done research on Boston architecture? That had to be a lie. He was trying to irritate Preston. It was the only explanation.
“Oh, well, I don’t actually develop them,” Preston hedged. “I tell other developers how they can develop them.”
“That’s still cool,” Nathan assured him. “Which buildings did you give the inspiration for?”
Preston blinked. Then he blinked again. There was nothing he hated more than being backed into a corner after being a blowhard. Rather than answer, he turned his eyes to me. “So, how did you two meet?”
“At one of the early meetings for the author events,” I replied, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. It wasn’t a lie. How could I tell him that we’d only met the day he’d come back into my life, though? That would be a dead giveaway that we were up to something.
“Oh, nice.” Preston acted as if he were happy for us. “Was it love at first sight?”
“For me,” Nathan replied before I could. “I took one look at her and channeled a Warner Brothers cartoon character. Steam came out of my ears and hearts popped out of my eyes. I’d never had a reaction like that before.”
Several of the female authors at Preston’s table pressed their hands to their hearts. Heck, if what he’d just said about hearts popping out of eyes was a real thing, that’s what they would be doing now.
“That’s interesting,” Preston replied, his voice silky. He thought he was about to get one over on Nathan. I could tell. “Given your reputation—you’re quite the ladies’ man, by the way—I would think that you were above all that.”
Nathan pursed his lips. “I’m not going to lie.
” Sincerity was practically dripping from his lips.
“I wasn’t looking for anybody when Bella and I first met.
Sometimes you can’t control that stuff, though.
I mentioned to Brody that I felt something for her right away and that I thought it was odd. He told me to go for it.
“He’s been rather schmaltzy since falling in love with Bree,” he continued, not missing a beat. “He said when it’s right, it’s right. Something inside of you recognizes that spark in another person. It matches their spark.”
Brody’s eyes were the size of saucers, and I had to duck my head to keep from laughing.
Obviously, this conversation was a complete fabrication.
No wonder Nathan was so good when it came to writing the emotions of his characters.
He could tap into a sentimental vein that most everybody else had to work hard to find. He just got it somehow.