“I want you to tell me everything about you,” Nate says. “Whatever you think is important about you. I want to know.”
My cheeks turn scarlet. I’m not used to being the center of attention this way. Not many people, if any, have ever taken this much of an interest in my life.
I shrug uncomfortably.
“Oh, I don’t know. There’s not much of interest about me.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Nate says, looking deep into my eye, searing me with his gaze. “I don’t know who made you feel that way, but it’s not true. I want to know it all. I’m interested.”
I chew the inside of my cheek, feeling the heat in my cheeks spread. It’s crazy that in such a short amount of time, and with a few simple words, Nate has made me feel so incredibly safe, happy, and desirable.
What other man could have this effect on me?
“Well, I guess my one big passion has always been travel. I’ve always wanted to see the world…things get kind of quiet at home.”
“Where would you like to visit the most?” he asks, looking genuinely curious.
I sigh. “So many places. Egypt would be amazing. Peru, maybe…and then all of the big European cities. I love the history of it all. I guess what I’m saying is I really want to go everywhere. I think every place in the world has something incredible to offer…but that dream is kind of out of reach.”
“Says who?” Nate asks, confused.
I laugh.
“My bank account, first of all. I don’t have the kind of money that I’d need to go traveling to all of the places I’d like to see. I’m working a minimum wage job just to get by right now. I had to save up for three years to make this trip possible. And I didn’t go to college, so I don’t know how I’m ever going to get a good job and make enough money to eventually travel…but hey, that’s life, right?”
Nate frowns.
I guess he doesn’t really understand where I’m coming from. How can he, when he has everything? He’s got more money than he knows what to do with.
He’s living the dream that we all wish we could live. Sure, it was luck that brought him this far, after he won the lottery he was able to start his business, but some people just have the sun shining on them their whole lives.
Nate is one of those lucky ones.
“So you think that you’ll never get to go to all of those places that you’ve been dreaming of?”
I can see the sadness in Nate’s gaze when he asks the question, so I try to laugh it off.
“Oh, come on. Everyone dreams of traveling the world…and for most people, it’s just never possible. And that’s okay. I came to terms with that a long time ago. I’ll travel when I can, of course, but for people like me, the world isn’t just open for me to explore. That’s just the way of the world.”
Nate frowns at my words. It seems like my comment has really bothered him, for reasons unknown. I guess he just empathizes. He knows what it’s like to be with or without money, so I suppose he was in my shoes once.
But not anymore.
“I hate the idea of you never seeing the world the way you want to see it,” Nate says roughly, practically growling the words.
He glances up at me and says, “And I’m going to change that.”
I frown back at him. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m going to make sure you see the world, Tara. I’m going to fund your travels.”
CHAPTER SIX
Nate
“What!” Tara exclaims, staring at me in utter shock. “I don’t understand…what are you talking about?”
“It’s simple, really. I want to pay for you to travel,” I say, as a matter of fact.
This isn’t something I even have to think about. She matters to me, and I want her to be happy. I saw the way her eyes lit up when she talked about traveling. It clearly means a lot to her, and I want to be the one that makes all of her dreams come true.
But she’s already shaking her head. She’s already decided that she can’t accept this kind of offer from me, and I understand it. She doesn’t want to just take my money. But money means nothing to me, and she means everything.
I want to give her this.
“Hear me out,” I say. “I don’t need the money. I’m set for life, as I’m sure you can tell. I want to give you something special. A lifetime of experiences, but I’m not giving it for nothing in return.”
She blinks several times. “What is it that you want in return?”
“Perhaps you could let me accompany you,” I say.
She lets out a breathy laugh. “I was not expecting you to say that at all. Why…why would you want to do that?”