“You look like shit, too, by the way.”
“I know that. I’m just not certain it’s for the same reason.”
It was the sweetest thing she had ever heard. He was worried about her.
Before she registered the movement in her brain, her hand was brushing his cheek. She gently felt the stubble. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. It was the most intimate moment Emma had ever had with a man. He returned the gesture, cupping her face in his large hand. He opened his eyes and pinned her with his probing gaze. Then he reached up and caught her nose between the knuckles of his index and middle fingers in a steal-your-nose gesture one might play with a child. Exactly like he used to do when she was a child. For a brief moment, he looked almost sad. She pulled back and glanced up to see Caroline leaning against the balcony doorway, arms crossed and staring unabashedly.
“Emma?” Nathan pulled her attention back to him.
“I’m sorry I quit, Nathan. I had a bad, um, reaction at your apartment.“
“Emma.”
She stood and paced the balcony, and Nathan moved from his catcher’s squat to the ottoman next to her chair.
“Regardless, I shouldn’t have just walked out.”
“Emma.”
“I understand if you want to cancel the interview. I can tell Farrell.”
“Emma, stop.”
The firm command startled her out of her shell, and she stared at him.
“I’m sorry, Nathan.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” A warm smile spread across his features, and she relaxed instantly. “Now come back here.“
She stepped in front of him, and he stood and smoothed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Emma breathed him in and met his gaze, firm in the realization that this was her path.
“I’d like to continue... with this. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’d be crazy to walk away.” The equivoque was lost on no one.
Out of the corner of her eye, Emma saw Caroline give a single firm nod and disappear into the house. She returned her focus to Nathan who was scanning her face from her forehead to her chin, a dozen thoughts seemingly racing through his head. His response distilled them all down to one simple word.
“Good.” He returned to the bakery box and continued. “We’re going to eat cupcakes, we’re going to relax, and I’m going to tell you about the company in Kuwait I’m buying, and the family of ducks I rescued in college, and the time I hit back-to-back winning numbers at roulette.”
He stood before her, the box of cupcakes between them.
“That is, if you’re sure you want to keep interviewing me.”
“I do,” she said. “I really, really do.”
With his attention on the treats, he nodded.
Nathan passed her the coconut cupcake, and her face lit up. She took a very unladylike bite, then licked the frosting from her lip.
“Jesus, you’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.” It was like no one had ever said it to her before because Nathan was the only person who mattered. Setting the box aside, he took her shoulders and squared her to him.
“Don’t do that again.” Something in his grass-green eyes shattered her heart, and she nodded mutely. “Are we clear?”
She cleared her throat and nodded again.
“I need to hear you say it, Emma.”
“I won’t do that again.”
He closed his eyes briefly and sighed.
“Right. Good.”
Emma snagged a second cupcake with a devilish grin. “Suddenly, I’m starving.”
The look on his face told her she wasn’t the only one.