“Eye contact,” he laughs, making me feel slightly better as I sit opposite him. I guess it doesn’t matter where I’m seated. Nathanos makes everything feel so intimate I could be at the very end of the table and it would still be like practically sitting in his lap. “This is a lovely spread, Amabella,” he says and I bathe in his praise. I shimmer and sparkle and glow.
Dad waves dismissively with his hand. “She’s a decent cook. I sent her to take cooking lessons in the village to make sure she wouldn’t poison me and Bryce.”
I scowl, feeling a little bit insulted considering I wrapped up an entire meal with steak in a red wine sauce. I really gave it my best and I try ignoring the hurt.
“This tastes more than decent to me,” Nathanos purrs and I give him a grateful smile before carefully digging in. I’m usually not that concerned about my table manners but then I’ve never had someone like Nathanos at the table.
“Bryce tells me you’re head of the Imperial Society of Chemistry,” dad says and his eyes sparkle. “That must be incredibly exciting.”
I think so too. I don’t think it sounds dull anymore because everything about Nathanos is exciting. From the way he carries himself, to the way his eyes flash with cleverness whenever he talks to someone.
“It is,” Bryce says and I’m annoyed he replied instead of Nathanos because I dislike missing out on any chance to hear his voice. “And he’s promised to make me a prefect. Imagine that dad.”
Dad raises a toast in pride and I feel a cut in my heart at how pleased he is about Bryce but then Nathanos and I lock eyes. They shine and they shine straight at me and I stop slumping, immediately feeling better.
“What’s your area, Nathanos?” dad asks and Nathanos tells him its physical chemistry. I raise a brow because that definitely sounds interesting. Especially the physical part. Musing to himself dad adds, “I’m pretty passionate about chemistry myself. Not that I’m in the exact same field but almost.”
Nathanos nods to keep the conversation going. “What field is that?”
“Botany,” dad says, now sounding almost ashamed but Nathanos gives him a calming smile that could pacify a serial killer.
“Thought your name sounded familiar,” he murmurs and I gawk. No way. There’s just no way he could’ve heard about dad but dad is so thrilled he’s practically wetting himself.
“You’re into botany too?” dad salivates, looking at Nathanos like he’s the best thing that’s happened to civilization since penicillin. “What’s your favorite flower?”
For a second Nathanos looks taken off guard, like he didn’t expect any follow up questions but then he replies, “Mallow.”
Bryce and dad burst out in laughter and even I snigger because he sure is witty.
“Good answer, Nathanos,” dad grins and he actuallyfist bumpsthe man. “Good answer.”
Brushing off the praise, Nathanos pleads, “Please, call me Nate. I don’t see a need for us to be uptight when we’ll be living on top of each other.”
Nate. I do like that because I did think that Nathanos sounded a little...evil. And it doesn’t suit him with his polite smiles and mild eyes.
“Your name does have a highborn ring to it though,” dad blinks, “don’t tell me you’re a blueblood.”
Nate shrugs, his eyes roaming around the room. “You have a beautiful house, Mr. Mallow.”
“Call me Dean,” dad blurts, “and thank you. Any man who appreciates my house is a good man in my eyes.”
“We got it practically for free,” I say, automatically leaning over the table to be closer to Nate. “It’s not like this was in our budget and I’m sure you can tell we’re living beyond our means,” I say with a snigger but then I frown. Not sure why I had to confess that but it feels like I could tell any uncomfortable truth to Nate and he won’t judge me for it.
“Wouldn’t exactly say we got it for free,” dad says with a nervous laughter. “But the man who sold it to us was old and wanted to get rid of it. Before him this place was used by a fancy schmancy Lord and Lady as a holiday home. Can you imagine?” Dad lets out a raspy laugh. “They must’ve been damn filthy rich.”
“Animal lovers too,” I say. “At least I think.” I point at the window. “See that doghouse over there? It’s not ours; it was there when we bought it. I’ve been nagging dad to let me buy a dog but it’s always just been empty.”
“No dogs in the house,” dad grunts, “isn’t that right, Bryce.” Bryce nods because he always agrees with dad and I sigh.
“He wouldn’t have to be in the house. We could have kept him in the yard.”
Nate stops eating, slowly looking up at me. “You’d keep him chained outside?”
His voice sounds tense and I flood with sudden confusion. “N...no...,” I stutter, feeling like I just did something incredibly wrong and I don’t even know what it was and I drop my utensils.
“Didn’t think so,” Nate says, his voice now soft. “You don’t seem like the kind who would.”
I flush because it feels like he’s praising me, stroking me over my head and I squirm in my seat. We finish up with dinner and I get a never-ending amount of compliments from Nate that make me feel like I’ve been sprinkled with fairy dust and am now flying. Since it’s too early to go to bed, we decide to take tea and dessert in the living room.