This gives me the perfect occasion to show Nadine I don’t give up.
***
The next night, I arrive at Alice’s half an hour too late. My family’s not in the main section of the restaurant, but that’s not a surprise; there’s a smaller section adjacent to this one, and Alice closes it when we have a family dinner. As I give my jacket to the coat check attendant, Nadine arrives, flushed and panting.
“Hello, stranger,” I tell her.
“Logan.” She smiles brightly. “Long time no see. Space hunting with Alex took forever.”
I stiffen. I’d forgotten all about Alex. “How did it go?”
Her smile falters. “Not too great. I have appointments to see locations the entire week, so fingers crossed.”
I help her take her coat off and damn. She’s wearing a black strapless dress. I run my fingers over her shoulders and down her arms as I remove the jacket. Goosebumps form on her skin under my hands, and I linger with my fingers a beat longer than necessary, enjoying her softness. The second the attendant hangs our coats, I gesture for him to leave. He’s gone the next second. I’ll give him a fat tip later. Nadine’s back is still turned to me.
“You look great tonight, Nadine,” I whisper in her ear from behind.
She draws in a shaky breath. “Thank you.”
Her neck is bared to me, and I’m so tempted to kiss her there, and watch her reaction to it. No one can see us here, but hungry as I am for her, I don’t want to scare her off. So I step back and ask, “Did Alex behave?”
“Oh, nothing more than a few kisses.” Swirling around to face me, Nadine laughs, tilting her head to one side. My wrath must register on my face, because she immediately adds, “I was joking, Logan.”
“Not funny.”
“That was very funny. You got all caveman for a second.”
“You have no idea how much of a caveman I can be.” I step closer to her, leaning forward until our faces are inches apart. She licks her lips, avoiding my eyes. “Did you think about what I said last time?”
“A little,” she answers.
“Logan, Nadine, there you are,” Alice interrupts. “Come on, or Pippa’ll eat the entire tiramisu before you even get a chance to taste it.”
“I’ve never been a fan of Tiramisu, sister,” I say, not looking away from Nadine. “Pippa and Nadine can have all of it.”
Finally, I step away. Like the gentleman I am, I let Nadine walk in front of me. That way, I have a perfect view of her sinful curves and deliciously round ass.
As we walk into the room, I drop my voice, so only Nadine can hear me. “You can do a lot more thinking over the tiramisu.”
***
Nadine
Logan offers to take me home after dinner is over. I shiver when we step out in the cool evening air. I grin as we walk to the
car.
Once inside the car, I tell Logan, “Your family is hilarious.”
I loved spending time with them. It felt like I’ve known them forever. Their warmth and friendship are so much more than I’ve hoped for.
“My family likes you,” Logan says. “I like you.”
Though still maintaining a playful tone, Logan’s voice has dropped an octave. The way the words roll off his tongue makes my entire body sizzle. Get a grip on yourself, Nadine. I can’t lose my head. There’s one thing I must concentrate on: my shop. I have to make it work.
Suddenly, I’m aware that we’re alone in this space. Resisting him in the restaurant was easy. All I had to do was remember people surrounded us. Inside his car, though, things have changed. Succumbing to his charms seems inevitable.
I’m saved by the radio announcer saying it’s midnight, as we arrive at my place.