Paige spooned some dip onto her plate. “I’m happy to let him watch whatever he wants, although he’s partial to Jurassic Park movies and they scare me a little. Those dinosaurs in the kitchen give me the willies.”
Nate’s heart fell to his feet and then shot back up into his throat.
She’d said it herself. Little signs of love. She’d watched a movie that he liked and she didn’t. And hadn’t once complained.
Did he dare take a chance? He was tired of being a coward.
He was tired of being alone.
His feet moved forward of their own volition and before he could take a full breath he was standing in front of Paige, stripped bare of the veneer he wore like an armor. He had hope but little else.
Her smile could have lit up all of London and he felt a warm glow flow through him. Only this woman made him feel this way. “Nate, we were just talking about movie night.”
He didn’t want to talk about movie night.
“I think we should go.”
It barely even sounded like his voice but Paige must have understood his urgency because she didn’t argue, simply placing her plate on the table and making a polite excuse to Amy. Tomorrow he’d apologize to his friends, but he needed to get this woman alone as soon as humanly possible. He’d told Bethany he’d changed. He didn’t have to be someone he wasn’t to make Paige care about him. He could be himself and not be so obsessed with his career. Tonight he would tuck his ambition away and bring out the romance.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Paige had no idea what was going on. One minute they’d been having a lovely time at the party and the next Nate was practically dragging her out of there as if they were being chased by demon dogs. Since she’d become chilled during the walk home, he’d tenderly placed her in front of the fireplace, tucked a wool throw over her legs, and made hot chocolate. He was at his best when he was caring for someone.
Tension between them built as they sat on the floor, facing one another and sipping at the smooth cocoa. He didn’t say much, simply watching her closely, his gaze, soft as a caress following her every move. Unsure as to what was happening, she was beginning to feel self-conscious and when she was nervous she babbled.
“So the party was great, huh?”
Awkward.
He placed his mug on the coffee table. “It was alright.”
Help me here, Nate. I don’t know what to say or do.
“Is that why you were in a hurry to leave? You weren’t having fun?”
He took the cup from her nerveless fingers and set it aside while his large hands wrapped around her knees, his touch sending electric sparks flying through her veins. He pulled her toward him until their faces were inches apart, his warm breath teasing her flesh. She could smell the fresh tang of his skin and feel the heat from his body. His blue eyes were dark and his pupils blown wide.
He was looking at her like she was something special. Her heart shifted into high gear and her breath became shallow, her emotions a tangle of hope and fear. This couldn’t actually be happening. Could it?
Please.
“I brought you home because I finally have the answer to your question.”
She could barely move her lips to form words. They’d gone numb. “Question?”
“My happiest memory?” he prompted with a gentle smile, his fingers tightening on her knees. “I told you I needed to think about it.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded, baffled by the turn the conversation had taken. “I remember.”
“My happiest memory is the first time we kissed. It was magical.”
Wait. What? It was there.
In his eyes. What I hadn’t even dared to hope for.
Her lips curved into a smile and butterflies began to take wing in her middle. This was no time for fear or doubt. They’d been leading up to this since the moment they’d met.
“We haven’t kissed.”
Yet.
“I can fix that right now.”
Yes. A million times yes.
Paige didn’t know how she’d waited this long. She had assumed kissing Nate would be exciting and wonderful. That he would be skillful and ardent, a master of technique with all the women that threw themselves at him.
And he was. But…
It was so much more. It started out tender, sweet, and almost tentative, as if he was waiting for her to end it, push him away. One of his hands cupped the back of her head, holding her gently in place while the other traveled down her torso to her hip, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.
When his tongue swept her bottom lip she opened to his explorations eagerly. He tasted like chocolate and wine and Nate and she couldn’t get enough. His kiss deepened and became more passionate and demanding as they slid to the rug, she on her back and his body hovering above hers. His shirt had come untucked and somehow her hands had slid under it to the smooth skin of his back, drawing a ragged groan from his lips as he nibbled at her earlobe, sending a shock of arousal to her toes.
He kissed a wet trail down her neck to her collarbone, his nose nudging her sweater aside so just the curve of her breast was exposed. He nuzzled and nipped, then ran his tongue into the sensitive valley before tracing the lace top of her bra, leaving her trembling with the power of sensation that he’d evoked.
Her hips lifted and she ground herself against him, his hard length rubbing against her and she gasped at the currents that threatened to drag her under. The room spun as his lips found the spot where her pulse beat madly and he chuckled as she dug her fingers into his muscled shoulders. She was hot and ready for him and they’d barely even begun. If a kiss was this good, the lovemaking was going to be out of this world.
But as amazing as it would be, she wasn’t quite ready to do that with him. Not yet.
He must have felt her momentary withdrawal, maybe a slight stiffening of her body, and he lifted his head to look down at her. His eyes were heavy-lidded with desire, surveying all he had conquered so easily. His hand came up and his finger traced her lips slowly as a smile bloomed on his handsome face.
“See? I told you. Best first kiss ever.”
He wanted her to speak? She’d try. “It was. Amazing.”
His expression softened as he ran his fingers through her hair, tugging lightly on the ends.
“Don’t overthink this. I’m not pushing for anything more tonight. I want to do this right. Woo you, court you the way you deserve. Romance for a romance writer.” He pressed his erection into her hip. “But don’t think that I don’t want you, because I do. This isn’t about desire or attraction—this is about wanting more than a shag. For once I want to do the right thing.”
Slowly she exhaled, partly in relief and partly in disappointment. She wasn’t ready to sleep with him tonight but if he’d pushed a little she would have given in. Without a doubt it would have been spectacular.
He rolled them onto their sides, his hand taking up a stroking motion from just below her breast to her knee, sending bolts of pleasure straight to her extremities.
“I want to,” Paige admitted through the knot in her throat. “It’s just that…”
Jesus, this was hard. Honestly, she’d thought this part of her life had ended. When she was widowed she assumed that she was done with sex and romance.
Nate seemed to know what she was going to say. “You haven’t since…?”
She nodded, relief flooding her body. He got her trepidation. This wasn’t about him. He was wonderful.
“And even before. He was sick a long time so it’s been years.”
She hoped she didn’t sound pathetic.
He pressed his lips to hers briefly but with a mountain of emotion that he didn’t bother to mask. “I can’t tell you how it makes me feel that you trust me like this. When the time comes I promise we’ll take it as slow as you need to.”
She quirked up an eyebrow and smiled, her insides jangling with excitement. The thought of being with him as close as two people could get was heady. “What if
I don’t want slow?”
She could feel his chuckle rumble in his chest, masculine and deep. “Then we’ll go as fast as you like.”
Like it? She was going to love it. Then hopefully do it again. Nice and slow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Things were going surprisingly well. On the day after the first kiss, Nate brought Paige flowers. The next day he came home after his run with cinnamon buns from a local bakery. Each passing day brought another sweet and thoughtful gesture. Every night they had dinner together and talked about their childhoods, books, movies, and even politics. They agreed on many things and vehemently disagreed on some others but were able to respect each other’s opinions.
Nate was intelligent, charming, and incredibly nurturing. Nothing made him happier than for her to need him to do something, whether it was to bring coffee to her in the morning or rub her shoulders after she’d written all day. He liked to run a bubble bath for her and pour her a glass of wine. He was even working on rearranging his office so they could both have their own workspace.
He was making room for her in his life.
So of course when the relationship was moving forward rather smoothly it was time to test it. Paige had been invited to do a Q&A and a signing afterward at a book convention and Nate was going along. The press would be in attendance and it would be their first “official” outing together, although they’d been photographed several times since the airport. The idea was to introduce them as a couple at a low-key event that didn’t involve paparazzi and a red carpet.
Garrett and Helen also thought it would be more fun to keep her identity a secret for a little while so she was currently being referred to as “the mystery blonde” which always made her laugh. She was about as far away from mysterious as a human being could get. After the book convention, she would be a mystery no more.
“Darling, I need to discuss something with you.”
His usually smooth as melted chocolate voice didn’t sound as calm as usual. Agitated. But what did he have to be upset about? She was the one sitting in a chair having her hair and makeup done by a professional. The only thing that would have made the day worse was high heels, which she had immediately vetoed when Helen suggested it. Instead she’d chosen Prada red leather boots paired with a winter white wool dress that she’d fallen in love with when Julie pulled it off the rack.
“Shoot, handsome. I’m listening even if I don’t look like it.”
The makeup artist was currently lining Paige’s eyes, requiring her to stay absolutely still.
“It’s Max, actually.”
“How is Max?”
Nate’s words came out in a rush. “Funny you should ask that. What is the saying you Americans have? Up shit creek without a paddle? He needs our help – well, really your help, love. I told him I would speak with you about it.”
She couldn’t imagine what Max needed from her but she had to admit her curiosity was piqued.
“I’m still listening.”
The makeup artist had moved on to mascara and that was plain scary to have someone wielding a wand covered in black gunk right next to her eyeball.
“It turns out Max’s mother is a huge fan of yours. When he mentioned that he had met you she went into a fangirl tizzy. Max said the last time he saw her that excited was when he got his first big part. So he just couldn’t say no and that’s the problem he needs your help with.”
That was sweet. Paige made a mental note to sign some books for Max’s mother and give them to Nate to send over.
“A man who can’t say no. That’s not usually an issue. How can I help?”
Stalling. Hemming. Hawing. “It’s just…well…Max found himself promising to get his mother a ticket to the book convention today. She wants to see your Q&A and meet you.”
She wasn’t sure why this was a problem. Paige had been given a welcomed reprieve. She was supposed to meet Nate’s mother today but Elaine was sick. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to meet Elaine Mason…she did. She just didn’t think it needed to be so soon.
“Nate, it’s fine. Your mother was going to join us and now she can’t because she has that nasty cold. We have an extra VIP pass. Problem solved.”
Maybe Nate had an issue with math.
More silence. Jebus on a cracker.
Paige held up her hand to the makeup artist who was selecting a shade of lip gloss. “Can you stop for just a minute? Give me one minute.” She turned to Nate, rapidly losing patience. Public appearances were extremely nerve-wracking for her and here she was dealing with this shit when she should be deep breathing and meditating. “Spill it, handsome. What’s going on here?”
Nate’s cheeks were pink and he was staring at his shoes. Not the ugly gray ones he’d originally had on. She’d taken one look at them and sent him back upstairs to change. These were a lovely black leather and looked perfect with the blue suit he was wearing.
“We need three VIP passes,” he finally blurted. “One for Max’s mother, one for his father…”
“And?” Paige prompted.
“One for Max. His parents want him to go as well.”
Fuck. Shit.
“It’s not nice to tease a woman who is nervous as hell, Nate. I’m on the edge of hysteria here and I still have two hours to go before my Q&A.”
“I’m not kidding. Love, I am so sorry. Max is sorry too. I swear.”
Rubbing her temples, Paige pointed to her phone on the coffee table. “Please hand that to me and I’ll see what I can do. That little SOB is going to owe me one if I can pull this off. What was he thinking?”
It only took two calls but Paige managed to secure the extra passes. Nate was practically on his knees in gratitude and she couldn’t stay angry when he looked that cute and grateful. He was promising back rubs and chocolate and weekend getaways to Paris.
“You don’t owe me anything. Max owes me a trip to Paris so let him know. I expect a five-star hotel.”
Nate leaned in, his lips next to her ear. “You’re amazing. I’d kiss you but I think your makeup lady would punch me.”
Paige tapped him on the chin where a goatee was taking shape. She’d made an offhand remark about how much she loved his facial hair in Ice Blue Lovers. “As soon as I’m done today I want lots of kisses.”
With that business out of the way and her hair and makeup done, they climbed into the limo. Nate was trying to be helpful and relax her but his constant talking was beginning to take its toll on her nerves. Normally she had Carrie here to deal with all the extraneous people and noise around her but the assistant was stuck in the States with her fiancé who had broken his leg.
Paige was on her own.
“I find when I’m nervous that imaging helps,” Nate went on, although she hadn’t heard the first part. “Picture yourself doing it perfectly, no issues. Picture yourself being calm and in control and–”
“Nate,” she broke in, placing her hand on his and squeezing his fingers. “I appreciate all you’re trying to do for me today. But honest to God, if you don’t shut up I’m going to kick you from the car and it’s going pretty fast so I think you might get seriously injured. I’m just getting more tense hearing from you about how not to be tense, if you know what I mean.”
He looked a little shamefaced. “Of course, love. I’m sorry. I think I might be as nervous as you are. This is our debut and I want the whole day to go well.”
“It will. Have faith.”
Traffic wasn’t too bad and soon they found themselves at the back door of the venue being ushered to the green room by two burly security guards. Once safely behind closed doors, Paige knew what she had to do.
“Nate, I’ll be fine.”
He looked a little startled, his brow wrinkled. “Of course you will, darling. Perfectly fine.”
“What I mean is you can go to your seat. The Q&A starts in fifteen minutes and I need some quiet time to get psyched up. Besides, you should check that Max and his parents found their way. Their seats are s
upposed to be right next to yours.”
Nate opened his mouth as if to protest but then seemed to think better of it. “Good luck, darling. I know you’ll be wonderful. We’ll celebrate tonight.”
“In Paris. Max’s treat.”
One of the guards escorted Nate from the room and Paige walked over to a small couch and sat down, concentrating on her breathing. In. Out. In. Out. Eyes closed. Images of fluffy bunnies and cute puppies running through her head. Everything was rainbows and freakin’ unicorns.
* * *
“I’ve never been so nervous in my life. I think I’ve sweated straight through this Armani suit. Is it hot in here or is it just me?”
Nate fanned himself with the paper program he’d been given when they’d seated him. It was like a sauna in here.
“It’s just you,” Max intoned. “In fact, it’s rather drafty. Are you nervous about being photographed today?”
Max didn’t understand at all. “I’m nervous for Paige. She hates being the center of attention and being in front of a crowd. I feel so terribly for her—this much be the worst torture imaginable for her.”
Max’s features softened and a smile came to his face. “You’re quite smitten, aren’t you, mate? I take it everything is going well.”
“It’s bloody fantastic,” Nate declared, thinking about the last week. “Paige is the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. That reminds me, you owe her a trip to Paris for getting these tickets. I offered to take her but she said you should foot the bill, old chap. Can’t say that I disagree.”
Barking with laughter, Max nodded. “She’s saved my arse today so she can demand whatever she likes.”
Max’s mother Karen waved toward the ushers who were closing the doors. “It’s starting. I’m so excited.”
“You’ll get to meet her after,” Nate said. “She’s a real sweetheart and loves talking to her readers.”
He didn’t have time to say anymore as the announcer came out to introduce Paige. The crowd went wild as she stepped onto the stage looking every inch the gorgeous and successful woman she was.
A Kiss For The Cameras (The Hollywood Showmance Chronicles Book 1) Page 13