by M. Clarke
“What are we going to do when Isla and Josh walk through that door,” I choked, unable to stop giggling.
Nate waggled his brows, biting his lips. God he looked so damn hot when he did that. “I’ll let you in on a plan after I have my way with you.”
“What do you plan to do to me, Nathan Cross?” I asked seductively while sucking his finger. I had seized his hand idly caressing my shoulder.
“I’m going to make up for the past years we were apart,” he growled, his lips on my neck. His warm body pressed to mine felt so right, so good. My lust grew, hungry for him. Electrifying tingles shot through every nerve in my body.
“Then, I’ll let you,” I moaned.
All of me surrendered to all of Nate. He showed me how much he’d missed me. Oh, God, Nate! I drowned into him, taking in the pleasure I missed so much.
Nathan
Kissing Olie and making love to her felt like waking up from a two-year nightmare. The familiarity of her scent, her soft skin, every curve of her body flooded back to me. I was alive again.
Every inch of my body awakened from her touch. My head spun, my heart expanded, and the wall I’d guarded collapsed under her loving words, her kisses, and her tears. I understood her attempt to protect me from Troy, but at the same time, I was pissed at her for not trusting me. But I wasn’t in her shoes, and I’d promised myself that I would never judge anyone unless I had felt and experienced the same situation.
Troy angered me deeply. He had no right to do what he’d done. I didn’t care if he was one hot-shot photographer; nobody messed with my Olie. I didn’t have a plan. I wasn’t even sure how to approach the matter. Should I go straight to Matthew or face Troy head on? I would have to play out all the odds. One thing was for sure, Olie and I were not going to destroy our careers over Troy. I had to think it through thoroughly.
Olivia
The door flew open. Wind escaped into the cabin when Isla and Josh rushed in.
“Olivia,” Isla shouted. “Where are you?”
Looking over the banister midway up the stairs I said, “How could you do this to me? Nate and Kelly are here.”
“Oh, shit,” Isla murmured under her breath and slowly turned to give Josh an evil eye.
Josh’s eyebrows arched, a confused expression marking his face. “What are you talking about? There’s no Kelly. Where’s Nate?”
I sauntered down to the last step and shoved my face into the palms of my hands. “They’re fucking. It’s so loud, I can’t stand it.” I faked a sob.
“Holy shit. That can’t be possible.” Josh started pacing, rambling words I couldn’t understand. “Are you sure? There’s no Kelly here.” He opened the door to peer out and then slammed it shut. “There’s only two cars. Isla’s and mine.”
“What’s going on? Olivia? Isla?” Nate’s eyes widened in disbelief as he came down the stairs, focusing his eyes on me. “What are they doing here?” He directed the question to Josh.
He didn’t answer, instead he asked, “How did Kelly get here?” He lowered his tone. “You didn’t tell me you were inviting her. I thought you broke up with her?” Gripping a fistful of his hair, he growled. “I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t know who he was apologizing to, but his expression changed. “Wait a minute.”
Isla crossed her arms and darted her eyes at me. “You don’t look that disturbed.” She lightly smacked Josh on his arm. “We’ve been played, Josh. There’s no Kelly.” Isla narrowed her eyes at me, but she still looked confused.
Josh’s jaw dropped and arched one eyebrow. I had no idea how he did that.
“Want to hear the good news?” Nate embraced me with both of his arms. Then he kissed me deeply, passionately. It was short, but I wanted more. “Olivia and I are back together. Thanks to your prank.”
“Couple Trapping, huh?” I scoffed.
Isla covered her mouth at first to stop the excited sound escaping from her mouth, and then she hugged both Nate and me. Then Josh joined in, his front to my back.
“It’s about freakin’ time,” Josh threw in. “I was going to kill one of you, most likely it would have been Nathan.”
“You wouldn’t have had to go that far, Josh,” Nate said. “I was about to make my move once I knew there could never be a Kelly and me.” Nate kissed my forehead. “I love this woman too much. No other woman could ever take her place.”
Isla released herself from our group hug. Her eyes glistened with happy tears. “That’s so sweet, Nathan. I’m so happy for the both of you.”
“Thanks. I love you,” I mouthed to Isla.
“I love you, too,” she mouthed back.
“You can get off Olivia, Josh.” Nate’s arms were still around me.
“You two should be the next sexiest couple,” Josh said.
“Get off Olivia, Josh,” Nate growled.
Josh backed away with his hand raised to surrender and chuckled. “So possessive. You should learn to share.”
Nate grinned. “I don’t share. All mine.”
Josh winked at Isla and kissed her cheek. “We did good, partner. Let’s not stand by the doorway. Want to help me make some tea?”
“Sure.” Isla shifted her attention to Nate and me. “Want some tea?”
Nate and I exchanged glances and agreed.
“What?”
Everyone froze from my simple word.
“Josh said he thought you broke up with Kelly?” I flashed my eyes at Isla, assuming the worst. “You knew all this time Nathan and Kelly broke up but you didn’t tell me?” I lightly socked her arm.
She gave me a challenging stare back and then dropped her shoulders sheepishly. “Sorry. First I wasn’t sure what was going on with you and Troy. Second, I had so much fun planning the couple trap with Josh that it might have slipped my mind. Besides, I thought it would be more effective if Nathan told you.” She shrugged. “And I was right.”
I couldn’t get mad at her. Like Nathan had said, we would have eventually worked it out. Somehow, the unexpected turned out for the best.
Chapter 15
Nathan
“So, how does it feel to be the sexiest man alive?” Isla asked, sipping her tea.
I eased back into the brown leather sofa and draped my arm around Olie. “I feel the same.”
“The issue comes out this week. Your social media sites will fly through the roof, if they haven’t already,” Josh commented, tapping his shoe on the thick rug. “Speaking of which, I should get on it more often.”
Isla crossed her leg and casually leaned into Josh. “I heard it helps.” The two seemed very cozy, sitting opposite us.
“Probably. But there’s nothing to post.” Josh shrugged. “Speaking of which, we need to vote for the Sexiest Couple Alive.” He pointed at us.
Olivia stopped her mug halfway to her lips and shook her head. “I’m not asking people to vote for me.”
Isla pulled out her cell from her jeans and took a selfie with Josh, and then she took a picture of Olie and me. “People will vote for you two now.” She smirked.
“Isla!” Olie shrieked. “What are you doing?”
“Getting you both back for giving us a heart attack. I thought you were being...well, let’s just say I had crazy thoughts running through my mind. I was freaking out, and Josh was too.”
“I don’t know how many times I called and texted,” Josh said in a scolding tone, his brows pulled back. “Did you even check your phone? Wait. Never mind. You were probably catching up.”
Olie and I exchanged glances with a smile. God I loved her smile. The fire caught her eyes, causing her warm brown eyes to sparkle, highlighting her hair in a golden glow. Lustful heat ignited, and I wanted to take her upstairs and do the things my dirty mind urged.
“You don’t want to know.” I waggled my brows, admiring the window taking up the large portion of the wall. Snow glided through the air like light rain.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I really don’t want to know,” Josh stressed. “So...w
e don’t actually have food, so we’re going to have to go out in the cold.”
“Sounds good to me.” I puckered my lips, gesturing to Olie I wanted a sip of her tea. I had opted not to have one, but when she sighed and her chest rose and fell with a slow breath, I wanted a taste.
Olie carefully lifted her mug near my mouth. Reaching forward, I cupped her hands holding the mug, and my lips covered the rim. Keeping my eyes on Olie, I slowly took a sip and then ran my tongue across my bottom lip sensually. Olie let out a soft gasp, and her cheeks turned pink. It would have been hardly audible, but in the dead silence, I knew Josh and Isla kept their eyes rooted to me with closed lips. And sure enough, I craned my neck sideways to see them with wide eyes.
“That’s how you drink tea.” I winked.
“Okay?” Isla squeaked like a mouse.
“I’m not watching your foreplay moves. Let’s go to dinner,” Josh spat playfully.
I took the mug from Olie and set it down on the wooden rectangular table. “Before dinner, we should have a snowball fight. The loser pays for dinner.”
Josh jolted from his seat. “You’re on.”
“Bombs away!” Josh shouted.
Olie and I huddled together as I shielded her with my body. We grabbed the snowballs we’d pre-made and threw as many as we could. Josh and Isla had the upper hand since they hid behind Josh’s car.
“Surrender!” Isla hollered, throwing snowballs one after another.
“Never!” Olie giggled.
Olie and I missed our targets more than we intended, but we couldn’t stop laughing. Biting her lip and with her eyes focused, she threw a snowball like a professional pitcher.
“Ouch! You hit my head.” Josh stood up, still hiding behind the car, looking stunned. “I was trying to only hit Nathan, but Olivia, you’re my target now.”
Olie screamed, throwing the snowballs I made for her. My nose stung and I trembled from the cold, but we were having an amazing stress-free time. No worries about Troy, our jobs, and just life in general. The four of us acted like teenagers just having fun.
“Man up and suck it,” I teased. My snowball smacked Isla on her chest when she stood up to throw one. I didn’t mean to hit her. My arm jerked sideways when Olie practically jumped on me. Falling backward on the plush snow, Olie fell on top of me.
“I’m so sorry, Nate. I slipped.” She snorted.
I froze in place with my arms around her, taking in her stung, rosy cheeks. Mist escaped her mouth when she breathed, and I swallowed each and every puff as I gazed into her eyes. Our lips were inches away, and though I’d kissed those lips many times before, getting back together after years had gone by felt like the first time I’d ever touched her lips.
“Are you sure you didn’t do it on purpose so you could get on top of me?”
She looked so sexy in her black puffy ski jacket and tight ski pants, my mind had wandered to a naughtier place in my room.
Olie drew back her face and gave me a wicked smile. “You already know I—”
I didn’t give her the chance to finish her words. My perverted thoughts and hands did whatever the hell they wanted to do. Her lips on mine, warm and tantalizing, melted me deeper and deeper into the snow. Olie moaned, pulled her lips away from mine, leaving my mouth cold again, and then straddled me.
Olie tugged my jacket, trying to pull me up. “You’re sinking into the snow.”
“Well, well, well. Look at the losers trying to bury themselves in the snow.” Josh folded his arms, narrowing his eyes at us.
“Yeah.” Isla agreed with a bitter tone. “This is so wrong.” Her frown disappeared, and then her lips curled. “But so right.”
“You suck at snowball fights,” Josh grumbled.
I rolled over to my side and got up when Olie plopped her butt on the snow. Giving her my hand, I yanked her up, colliding our bodies together. Locking her eyes with mine, I murmured, “I’m good at other things.” I winked.
Olie smirked. “You are, Nathan Cross, the sexiest man alive.”
“You mean the suckiest man alive.” Josh slid his arm around Isla’s waist, chuckling. “Snowball fight was Nathan’s idea. Now it’s my turn. Everyone get in the car. I’m starving.” Josh took out his keys from his jacket pocket and unlocked the door.
“Someone is cranky?” Isla hopped in the front.
Josh stopped in his tracks. “I’m only cranky for two reasons, when I’m hungry or tired. And I’m both.”
I opened the door and helped Olie slide in the back seat.
Chapter 16
Olivia
“I’m so happy for you,” Isla squealed, rubbing her hands together.
I shivered at the warmth engulfing me after stepping out of the icy wind. Josh and Nate headed for the restroom after we ordered our meal.
“Thank you.” I changed the subject. “So, what’s going on with Josh?”
Isla eased back into her seat and shrugged. “Nothing. We’re just friends.”
“Doesn’t look like that way to me.”
“Seriously.” Isla folded her napkin. “He’s never asked me out.”
I crossed my legs and leaned forward. “His arm was around your waist. You two looked cozy to me.”
Isla rested her elbow on the table and brushed her hand down her face. “He’s always been the touchy type. I told you, we’re good friends. I don’t think he wants more.”
I brought my tone down. “But you do, right?”
“Maybe.”
Her “maybe” sounded more like a “yes” to me.
“Here they come.” Isla tossed her hair back and shifted her body to face Josh.
“Miss me?” Nate kissed my cheek, snaked his arm around my waist, and tugged at my pants.
“Of course,” I answered.
“Sexiest couple alive, I tell you.” Josh smirked. “Had I known you two were the mushy type, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to get you back together.”
“Don’t be jealous, Josh,” I sang. “You can be mushy with Isla.”
Isla threw me a dirty expression and kicked my feet under the table. I jerked and returned a mischievous smile.
Josh, being a playful one, lightly threw himself on Isla and started to tickle her. Isla slid to the wall, slapping Josh’s hand.
“Knock it off, Josh.” She snorted.
“The most immature couple alive,” Nathan muttered.
Thankfully the waitress brought our food, and we stopped acting like teenagers.
“Oh,” Isla said out of the blue. “Olie and I have a project in New York. Maybe if you’re not busy, you could come visit.” The question was directed toward Josh.
“I’ll have to check my schedule,” Josh said.
Nate squinted and took a bite of his steak. “When?”
I shoved the fork through the lettuce. “In a week. I’m going back to New York.” The last time I’d told him I was leaving for New York, we had broken up. Talking about it brought back awful memories.
“I don’t have anything lined up.” Nate’s lips became a thin line. “Troy lives in New York. I should be there.”
“What about Troy?” Josh asked with a mouthful of mashed potato.
Isla nudged Josh on the rib with her elbow. “Troy McIntosh,” she stressed as if he should have known.
“Crazy Troy.” Josh nodded in recognition.
I played with my straw, wondering how much Isla had shared with him.
Josh took a gulp of his soda. “Don’t worry, Olivia. We’ll stand behind you. He’ll have to go through us.”
Again, I wanted to know how much he knew, but I didn’t want to ask. I trusted Isla. Whatever I asked her to keep secret, she would.
“Thanks, Josh, but I don’t want anything to happen to your career. This is between Troy and me. I’m not afraid of him.” My friends didn’t seem convinced judging by their worried expressions.
Josh cut through a piece of his steak and offered Isla a piece. After she snapped it with her teeth, she shifted her
eyes at me with a guilty expression. There was more between them than she had let on.
“And if you’re busy,” I continued, gazing at Nate, “you don’t have to come. I can take care of myself.” I tried to sound sensitive to the topic. My tone was soft, but stern.
Nate wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin from his lap. “I was thinking afterward we could visit my family. It’s time they meet you. They knew we were dating, which you already knew, but they also knew we broke up.”
“Really?” I smiled, feeling elated. “That would be great.”
Josh’s draw dropped. “You’ve never met Nathan’s parents? How long did you date again?”
“A year,” we said at the same time.
“My parents live in Texas, and our schedules were off. Time flew,” Nate explained. “It happens.”
Josh pointed his fork in the air. “True. When I was going out—” He lowered his head and then peered up. “Anyway, I want to meet your parents too, Nathan. Am I not important enough?”
We laughed at his humor, but his sudden change in conversation left me wondering what he wanted to say. Every time I thought he was going to share about his past, he changed the subject. What was he hiding?
“Awww, that’s so sweet,” Nate cooed playfully. “But sorry. You’re not as pretty as Olivia.”
He cocked one brow, giving us that goofy grin as he chewed on beans. “I’m almost.”
“Almost doesn’t cut it,” Nate rebutted. “I have a better idea. Why don’t we meet your parents?”
Josh’s wide grin became melancholic. “Let’s meet your parents first. Did you meet Olivia’s mother at least?”
Nate set his loving eyes on me. “I did.”
“They’re going to be so happy for us.”
“They?” Isla questioned, sipping her wine.
“My mom and her best friend, Charlene.”
Nate chuckled. “Charlene cracks me up. I’m going to tell her we took her advice.”
“Nate?” My tone rose a bit louder than I had intended. I might have sounded like I disagreed, but the truth was, I couldn’t wait to see the looks on my mother’s and Charlene’s faces. Letting out a giggle, I pictured Mom’s disturbed face and Charlene’s way-to-go expression in my mind.