by Jacob Chance
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Tash comes up behind me. Her voice breaks whatever spell holds us captive and I quickly do as she asked. They shake hands and she smiles wide. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Nash.”
“Really?” He seems amused.
“Natasha is the only one who knows the details of my past.” I rush to explain.
“Did you tell her how I made you a better fighter?”
“Whatever,” I sputter under my breath.
“Hey, your kicks were way too high. Tell me you see the error of your ways now that you’re older and wiser.”
Natasha giggles and I narrow my eyes in her direction.
“Can we go now? All this talking is cutting into our dinner time. I told you we’d need to be quick.”
“For God sakes, Zoe. Take a night off and enjoy yourself. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to catch up with an old friend.” She flairs her eyes at me in warning. I guess I was a little rude.
“Sorry.” I shake my head and sweep my hair across my forehead, tucking it behind my ear. “Do you want to go now?”
“That sounds like a great idea.” He steps forward, catching my hand. Every single nerve ending twitches in response when he slots my fingers between his masculine ones. “Natasha it was a pleasure meeting you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again.”
“I hope so, Nash. I really hope so.” She winks as if they’re having some secret conversation behind my back. Fuckers.
He steers me out the front door and down the three stairs to the same slate pathway I skipped along on that fateful day - the worst day of my life. I can’t help but think of how I never would have met Nash if it wasn’t for Marius Popov. I guess it’s true that even the most horrible tragedy can bring about something positive.
“Where are you taking me?” I finally cave in and break the awkward silence we’ve been cloaked in since we left my house.
He turns his head, eyes darting in my direction before the light turns green once more. “I’m taking you to a farm.”
“A farm?”
“You got it.”
“How about some details of what we’re doing at this farm?”
“How do you feel about mucking out some stalls?”
“Are you serious?”
He barks out a deep laugh. “No, we’re not cleaning up any horse shit and what we’re doing won’t put you in danger of stepping in any either.” A smile teases the right corner of his mouth.
I watch his strong hands grip the black leather steering wheel, flexing and relaxing. I’ve witnessed how capable those hands are when it comes to firing a gun and I also know how gentle they can be when soothing away my fears. But now in this moment I can’t help wondering what they would feel like on my bare skin. Would they seek out my secrets softly and teasingly? Or grip and rub forcefully until I couldn’t take another second?
“We’re here.” Nash turns into a wide driveway. Stonewalk Farm Cafe is printed in black on the white sign displayed at the edge of the property. I’ve never heard of this place and I have no idea why he chose to bring me here, but I guess I’m about to find out.
The driveway leads to a large parking lot and he steers us into an open space.
“Do you come here often?” I question as he pulls the keys from the ignition.
He grins. “I do actually. Stay put.” He points at me as he climbs out the driver’s side before closing the door. His gait is smooth as he passes in front of the truck and around to open the passenger door for me.
He holds out a hand. “Let me help you.”
My fingers glide across his palm as he clasps mine, assisting me from the seat and away from the vehicle. He shuts the door with his other hand.
“Thanks.”
“Glad to be of service. Come on.” He leads me toward the front entrance. My heart races with a combination of nerves and excitement, curious to see how this night plays out.
Once we’re inside, he directs me past the hostess with a quick wave of his hand. She smiles and waves back as if he’s a frequent patron and now I’m really confused. Does he bring all his dates here? And how often does he go out with women? He squeezes my hand as we walk down a long hallway toward the back of the restaurant.
“Where are we going? Do you need to use the bathroom?”
He chuckles. “You can’t stand not knowing what’s going on. The surprise will be revealed soon, I promise.”
“You like screwing with me any chance you get, don’t you?”
“I can’t say I dislike it.” He smirks and stops in front of a closed door, rapping on the wood with his knuckles. He doesn’t wait for a reply before he turns the knob.
“Nash,” a female voice calls out.
She rises from behind the desk and walks our way. She and Nash exchange a hug.
“Auntie June, I want you to meet Zoe.”
Auntie June? Auntie? It’s all I can do to hold in the giggle bubbling up. I can’t believe big, bad Nash calls his aunt - auntie. This is blackmail material for sure. I better file this away for when I need it and knowing Nash, that day will come.
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Zoe.”
“It’s great to meet you, also. You have a lovely restaurant.”
“Thank you. It’s our pride and joy. Well, mine really. My husband prefers the farm work to this end of the business.”
“Have you guys always owned this property?”
“Yes, my husband and I inherited it from Nash’s grandparents. It’s been in the family since the late eighteen hundreds.”
“Wow, that’s awesome. I love hearing stories about family traditions being passed down.”
“I hate to interrupt, but we have a reservation and I don’t want to throw your schedule off.”
June smiles at Nash. “It’s all set, just like you wanted.”
“Thank you.” He leans over and kisses her cheek. “Let me know when Uncle Tom needs my help replacing the barn door.”
“Will do. Enjoy your night.”
Nash leads us out of her office and continues along the hallway toward a back exit. He opens the door, steering me out onto a wide deck filled with tables and chairs and a few couples enjoying dinner. He keeps moving, escorting me down some stairs and next thing I know, we’re walking across the lawn.
“Nash, where are we going?”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” He looks over at me, his lips tipped up in a smile.
I don’t reply, and we continue along the path worn in the grass. The moon provides the only light to guide our way.
“We’re almost there,” he informs me, and I catch sight of a white gazebo as we come up over a small hill. Nash directs me up the stairs in front of him and when I reach the top, I gasp with a combination of surprise and excitement. A dark colored blanket has been spread out on the floor and clear mini lights have been strung around the edge of the ceiling, providing the only light. On top of the blanket is a large basket, an opened bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Have a seat.” He releases my hand for the first time since I stepped out of the car. It feels strange to no longer be touching and I miss the pleasurable buzz thrumming between us.
Sinking down, I sit with my legs crossed in front of me and glance around one more time. The setting is extremely romantic and he’s gone through a lot of effort to make sure tonight’s special for me.
I’m beginning to realize this isn’t some catch up dinner to Nash.
This is a date.
Chapter Seventeen
Nash
“Everything okay?” I question, as I watch Zoe. She looks panicked as if she swallowed something and it got stuck on the way down.
Forcing her tight lips to lift, she smiles, stiffly. “I’m a little surprised is all.”
A little?
Judging from the expression on her face, I’d say she’s nervous as hell. She’s been in denial all day about this dinner, convincing herself it was only to catch up. Now that she sees the
trouble I’ve gone through, she must know I mean business.
I grin - I can’t help it. I’m inordinately pleased at her discomfort. Nothing like getting smacked across the face with a strong dose of reality. Her denial has been slapped the fuck away and she’s off balance. I’m not gonna lie...I like it. I’ll take whatever advantage I can get, even if it’s only catching her off guard.
“Do you think it’s funny that I’m surprised?” She scowls, deeply and puckers her sexy pink pout into a frown.
Oh shit. “No, I think you’re unbelievably cute when you’re flabbergasted. I can’t wait until I can surprise you again.”
“Hmm, well just so you know, I’m not a fan of surprises, but I think that goes with the territory when you work for the FBI.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You need to learn how to enjoy surprises because there’s no such thing as a plan that goes off without a hitch. There are always speed bumps or potholes in the road to slow us down. How we get around them is what matters.”
“So how do I get around sitting down to this romantic dinner with you? A dinner that I might remind you, was supposed to be about us catching up.”
“We still can, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a special night, does it? Do you have something against good food and ambience? Tell me now and we can go eat in the barn.”
She snorts, and I take it as a positive sign. “All of this,” I hold my arms wide, “is also so we can talk privately. I didn’t think you’d be comfortable coming to my house and I didn’t want to be seated in a crowded restaurant and risk being overheard.”
“Oh.” She looks thoughtful.
“Yep, didn’t expect to hear that did ya? I’m not saying I don’t want this to be a date, because I absolutely do, and I’ve been completely up front about that. But I also want you to feel perfectly comfortable working with me and right now that takes precedence.”
If only my dick could remember this.
“I appreciate the effort you’ve put into arranging all this.” She waves her hand in a circle. “Now can we eat? I’m famished.” She smiles.
I chuckle and hand her the bottle of wine and glasses. “You pour, and I’ll set our dinner out.”
We focus on our tasks and then settle into enjoying the casual meal my aunt prepared. The turkey clubs and fresh baked chips hit the spot. The atmosphere now seems cordial and relaxed as we eat in companionable silence. The occasional crunch of a chip and the chirp of crickets are the only sounds around us.
Zoe pushes the final bite between her lips and sucks the crumbs from her index finger with a pop. I grimace and hold back a groan. I know what I’d like to see her plump lips wrapped around and it’s not her finger.
She falls back to her elbows on the blanket with a contented sigh. Rubbing her stomach with her palm, she groans. “That was delicious. I’m ready for a nap.”
“Auntie June can make anything taste good.” I clean up the empty plates, placing them in the basket. “Do you want a chocolate chip cookie? She made some for us.”
“I can’t eat another bite, but if you think I’m going home without taking at least one with me, then you’re crazy.”
“Good thing she gave us a dozen then.” Grinning, I hold up two zipped plastic baggies. “Six for you and six for me. Maybe we can negotiate and make that nine for me, three for you since you’re half my size.”
“Don’t even think about it.” She glares at me before cracking a smile. “Your aunt seems like a wonderful person.”
“She’s great. Uncle Tom is a lot of fun too.”
“Who’s related to them, your mom or dad?”
“Auntie June is my mom’s sister. They’re twins and look almost identical.”
“I take it you look like your dad?”
“Yeah, I look a lot like he did at my age. He’s still in great shape though.”
“You don’t look your age,” she mentions.
“Do you know how old I am?”
She sits up straight, brushing her hair back from her face. “Yeah, I remember you’re ten years older than me. You harped on our age difference enough. How could I forget?”
“Zoe, you were only eighteen. I had to keep reminding you and myself how young you were. I didn’t want to take advantage of your vulnerability and the situation we were in.”
“I know, and I appreciate that about you, but at the time it hurt my feelings. A lot.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you, but I think it would’ve been much worse if we had gone further than we already did.”
“You’re probably right,” she admits, surprising me. “I was a wreck after you got shot. If we had been involved more than we were, it would’ve been devastating not to see you again. More devastating,” she adds to clarify.
I know that she was hurt from the abrupt way we parted. There was no closure, no way of saying goodbye. At the time, I was in the hospital and had no way of contacting her. I thought the clean break we were forced to endure was the best option in the long run, but now I’m not so sure.
My hand cups her chin, raising her face. Our eyes lock and I can see the glimmer of the small lights strung about the ceiling reflected in her blue irises.
“I thought about you often when I was in the hospital and after I got out.”
“I was so lonely without you, Nash. We might not have been involved in the typical sense, but that doesn’t mean my heart wasn’t invested in you.”
I turn my hand over, caressing her cheek with the back of my fingers. “I know. I felt the same. I didn’t contact you because I wanted you to move on with your life. You deserved to be like any other college girl, going to parties and having boyfriends.”
“I’d rather have had you.”
“I convinced myself the way it played out worked in your favor. I wanted you to start college with no reminders of those months in the safe house.”
“Nash, what makes you think there were no reminders? All I had to do was think about you to bring it all back.”
“You have no idea how hard it was for me to stay away from you. I wanted to reach out to you and see how everything was and I had to talk myself out of it daily for a long time. After the first year, I’d convinced myself you’d probably moved on. Did you have a lot of boyfriends?” I inquire, annoyed with myself for asking.
She shakes her head. “Max was the only serious one.”
Her words anger me, and I have no right to feel this way. Everything happens for a reason and we both travelled the paths we were meant to. That we’re both here together proves this fact. I need to leave the past where it belongs and focus on this moment.
Zoe looks more beautiful than any woman has a right to. Her luminous eyes shine up at me. The back of my hand skims under the curve of her jaw and along the elegant column of her neck, before flipping over to clasp the front of her throat. I squeeze gently, barely restraining myself from pressing her to the ground. Fuck that. No matter how much I justify our time apart, I should’ve been her first and only boyfriend. What would our lives be like now if we had always been together? Would we be married? Maybe have a child? My chest tightens at the thought of sharing those things with her.
Guiding her toward the floor with the hand holding her neck, I catch the back of her head, cradling it in my palm and come down on top of her. My mouth captures hers without hesitation, my tongue hungrily dipping between the fullness of her tempting lips to rub and twist with hers.
She gasps in surprise and then moans into my mouth, caught between lust and trepidation, she wants to pull me closer and push me away. Fuck. I’ve never had a kiss like this.
I press my hard cock dead center between her thighs. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be for the first time in my life. The sense of rightness I feel having her in my arms is beyond words.
My hand slides from her neck to a pert breast, squeezing the fullness. Her taut nipple teases my palm through her clothing and her hips buck as she rocks her clit into my hard on. Gliding my fingertips down
over the curve of her hip, I slip underneath her ass, gripping a cheek and pulling her into my dick. Mindlessly, I grind into her softness. She grips my shoulders, fingernails digging into my flesh and my dick feels like it’s going to explode. I tear my lips from hers and stare down at her as we both pant.
“Everything about you is incredible, but I’m not going to rush this. I want to take you out again soon. Does that work for you?”
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but yes, I’d like that.”
Chapter Eighteen
Zoe
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to come home with me?” Nash questions as we stand outside on my front stoop.
Leaning back against the door, I stare up at him and shake my head. “Didn’t you just say we were going to take things slow?”
“We can spend the night together and just sleep.”
My head tips as I aim a skeptical glance his way.
“Okay, we could kiss a little and sleep.” He winks, playfully. “I feel like I just got you back and now I don’t want to let you go.”
“Nash,” I whisper. “I know what you mean. I really do.”
“I want to cram as many moments together as we can into each day to make up for all the time we missed. But you’re right. I need to remind myself we’re no longer apart. Sometimes it seems too good to be true. You’re the first thing on my mind when I wake up and I find myself lying there thinking of whether this is all a dream.” He cups my cheeks in his hands. “Because you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I can’t believe you’re here and we’re getting the chance we never had before.” He lowers his head, brushing his lips softly across mine. His arms slip around my waist, tugging me into his solid physique.
Rising on my toes, my fingers bury in his thick, dark strands as I press my lips urgently to his. Our tongues meet, twisting and rubbing together and I know I can’t walk away from this second chance we’ve been gifted. Our lips part and he presses our foreheads together. “This is scary as hell for me, but I’ve never let go of my feelings for you no matter how hard I’ve tried. Nash, I’m crazy about you.”