“Is Mr. Maurice okay?”
“Of course.”
Blair bites her lip. Mr. Maurice was the one thing she’s been feeling guilty about all week staying with Tori. She knew she couldn’t bring him along, though. He’d be miserable around all of Tori’s animals, especially her three dogs.
“I’m going to call him back.”
Everyone watches as Blair puts her phone to her ear. She waits while it rings then hears Nathan’s deep voice, “Blair, finally!”
“I just got your message. Is Mr. Maurice okay?”
“Didn’t mean to alarm you. He’s okay, except . . .” Nathan pauses and his voice goes soft. “Think he misses you.”
“Mr. Maurice misses me?”
Fiona lets out a laugh as she picks up a tortilla chip. “That cat couldn’t care less she’s gone. Mr. Maurice clearly prefers men.”
Lindsay and Natalie are both cracking up while Tori is watching Blair with concern. “I’m sure Mr. Maurice does miss her,” she tells the others.
Blair walks into the dining room with her phone so Nathan can’t hear them all talking.
“Trust me,” Fiona says, dipping her chip into the homemade salsa. “It’s not the cat who misses Blair.”
“Think you need to come home,” Nathan is telling her in earnest. “It’d be best all around. Especially for Mr. Maurice.”
“Mr. Maurice wants me to come home?” She feels torn. “I don’t know. Fiona says he’s fine.”
“Fiona? You going to listen to Fiona about this instead of me?”
“I guess I could come by and see him for myself.”
“Good idea. Why don’t you come over right now?”
“Right now? No, I can’t drive. I’ve been drinking a little.”
“That’s okay,” he says quickly. “I’ll come get you.”
“You will?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
Nathan tells her he’ll be over in a half hour. They hang up, and Blair doesn’t know what to think. “He’ll be here shortly,” she tells the others, walking back over to the couch. “I’m going to go check on my cat.”
Everybody is giving her a knowing look.
“He obviously wants to see you,” Lindsay says. “That’s what’s really going on.”
“I think she’s right,” Natalie agrees.
“Of course that’s it.” Fiona laughs. “That cat hasn’t even noticed Blair’s gone!”
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Tori shoots Fiona a quelling look. “But I agree with everyone. It sounds like my brother is making this whole thing up.”
Blair considers this. “You really think so?”
They all nod.
Blair changes into a green sundress that comes to right above the knees and a cream-colored cardigan sweater. She’s wearing her hair loose and long. Everyone agrees she should wear flip-flops and not sandals.
“You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard,” Lindsay says.
“But the dress is perfect.” Fiona nods in agreement. “Men love skirts.” Everyone looks at her, but Fiona only shrugs. “Like I said, I used to date men.”
All the women are seated casually in a circle when Nathan arrives. He follows Tori into the living room after she answers the door.
“Hello.” He nods to the group, and they all murmur their greetings in return. He looks over at Blair. “Are you ready to go?”
She’s sitting on the couch, trying to appear nonchalant, though the sight of Nathan nearly makes her heart stop. He’s wearing his usual jeans with a fitted T-shirt and, as always, wears them extremely well. She can see part of the brass buckle on his leather belt. Those red and black sneakers. Blond hair tucked behind his ears.
When their eyes meet, Blair can’t stop the smile on her face. She just can’t help it. It’s so good to see him. He smiles when he sees her, too, his eyes roaming over her almost greedily.
Blair gets up and grabs her purse. Everyone is saying they hope Mr. Maurice is all right, though she can hear the humor in their voices. She hopes Nathan doesn’t hear it. Lindsay and Natalie make no bones about thoroughly checking him out as he stands there waiting for her.
“We’ll see you later,” she says as everyone watches them leave. They all wave goodbye with more knowing looks.
The Mustang is parked at the end of Tori’s driveway, right behind Lindsay’s red Mini Cooper, and the sight of it makes her happy.
“I’ve really missed Isadora,” Blair says, buckling herself into the passenger seat. She smiles at the car’s familiar red interior. It’s early evening and though it was sunny today, some clouds have moved in, and Blair wonders if she should have worn pants instead of a dress. Although, Nathan’s eyes keep lingering on her legs.
“I was surprised when you didn’t take her with you to Tori’s,” he says, climbing in beside her.
Blair doesn’t reply. She’s not sure why she didn’t take Isadora. Probably because Isadora belongs to Nathan. He made that quite clear.
“So, what the hell was that back there anyway?” he asks, starting the engine. “Some kind of meeting?”
“No, we’re having a girls’ night.”
“Really? Felt more like a witches’ coven to me,” he mutters, backing out of the driveway.
Blair laughs. “You were being thoroughly dissected.”
“Yeah.” Nathan smirks. “I noticed that.”
They start driving toward Seattle, and they’re being overly polite with each other. Neither of them comments about the fight they had or Blair moving out. She asks how things are going with both his book and blog. Nathan tells her how he’s been helping out at Brody’s during the day and working on everything else at night.
“You’re at the garage all day? When do you sleep?”
He snorts. “Never. I have insomnia.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, had it since I was a kid.”
Blair takes this in, surprised to discover something about him she didn’t know.
“It’s what got me into writing in the first place,” he tells her. “I kept a journal and used to write in it at night when I couldn’t sleep.”
They keep driving, but he’s not headed toward her place and is going west instead.
“What are you doing? I thought you were taking me home to see Mr. Maurice.”
“In a little while. Figured we’d go to the park and walk around first. Hang out and talk.” He looks over at her. “That okay?”
“I guess. I’m worried about my cat, though. Tell me the truth, how is he?” She’s watching Nathan’s profile.
“Told you, Mr. Maurice misses you.”
Blair wonders if everyone was right and Nathan is making this whole thing up just to see her. She wants it to be true too much to trust it, though.
“Don’t worry. Other than that, he’s fine,” he continues talking. “Just gave him some tuna right before I left to come get you, so he’s fat and happy right now.”
Nathan drives them to Gasworks Park and finds a corner spot in the parking lot near the large gasworks structure. It’s a little breezy outside, and Blair buttons up her sweater, grateful she wore it. They head over to one of the walking paths that leads toward the water.
“So, how’s it going at Tori’s?” he asks as they leave the parking lot.
“It’s fine.”
Neither of them says anything more as they walk, though Blair senses something is on Nathan’s mind. It’s nearly dark out and the city is lit up like a box of jewels. This is one of her favorite vantage points to see Seattle.
Nathan suddenly breaks the silence. “Tori said you were out with some guy last night. Was it the dipshit?”
Blair nearly chokes on her own spit. “I . . . I’d rather not talk about it.” Thanks a lot, Tori.
“Have you started seeing him again? Is that what this is all about?”
“What do you mean?”
“You moving out. Is it because of him?”
“No, of course not.�
� The wind is blowing her skirt around and she tries to tame it.
“Then what?” He stops walking and faces her, his expression intent. “Tell me.”
“It’s hard to put into words exactly.”
“Tell me anyway.”
Blair doesn’t know what to say.
“You still pissed off at me? Is that it?” Nathan lets out his breath. “Look, I’m sorry I got so angry about Isadora’s title. Just took me by surprise, is all.”
“No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I shouldn’t have gone through your stuff. That was wrong of me.”
“So, what the hell is happening here?”
“I don’t know.” Blair looks out at the view of the city. “I guess I just needed a break from things.”
He’s still watching her, and she can sense he’s bothered. When he speaks, there’s an odd note in his voice. “From me? That what you needed a break from?”
Blair turns back to him and is surprised to see the hurt in his eyes.
“Because I thought we were exploring something here,” he continues, his laser focus turned on, drilling into her. “Has that changed?”
“No, it hasn’t changed. I still want that.” Her breath catches. “I still want you.” Blair is amazed at her own words. I can’t believe I said it! The closest she’s ever come to admitting the truth to him.
“You do?” The hurt clears, and a grin pulls on his mouth as he reaches down for her hand. “I want you, too.”
His touch feels so good, Blair almost closes her eyes. Joy surges through her at his words. She hopes they mean the same thing hers do.
It’s fully dark outside and starting to sprinkle rain, so they head back to the car, holding hands. Once inside, though, Nathan doesn’t start the engine and instead leans back in his seat, grinning at her.
“What is it?” she asks.
“This night is going my way so far.”
She laughs. “Is it?”
“Definitely.” He looks around outside the window at the deserted parking lot then back at her with a sly expression, licks his bottom lip. “Come here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, come here and sit on my lap.”
Blair is looking around outside the window now, too. It’s dark and they’re parked in the corner of the lot near some trees. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Course it’s a good idea.” He reaches down and adjusts his seat, so it’s pushed all the way back creating more legroom. “It’s a great idea.” He puts his arm out for her.
She watches him steadily. “I’ve never made out in Isadora before.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Have you ever?”
He chuckles. “Best if I don’t answer that on the grounds it might incriminate me.”
“Don’t ask, don’t tell?”
“Come on, Blair.” He lowers his voice. “Just let me kiss you a little. Touch you.”
God. Pleasure from his words washes through her so strong she can barely breathe.
Without thinking further, she gets off her seat and starts climbing over the cup holders to get to him. Nathan helps orient her so she can straddle his lap without the steering wheel digging into her back. “This is kind of awkward because I’m wearing a dress,” she murmurs.
“Trust me babe, this is perfect because you’re wearing a dress.” His hands are already sliding up each leg as she finally sits down and brings her arms to rest on his shoulders. As always, his smoky scent surrounds her. She closes her eyes and breathes him in, listening to the patter of rain against the convertible roof. Cozy and dark. Their own little cocoon.
“So, what kind of naughty things did you used to do in my beautiful car?” she asks softly.
His hands are still sliding down her bare legs, trailing his fingers. “So she’s your car now, huh?”
“Answer the question.”
He smirks. “I was sixteen when my uncle gave me Isadora. Use your imagination.”
“I don’t want to use my imagination.” I’m sick of using my imagination. Blair puts her hand on Nathan’s jaw, slides it to grip the back of his neck. “I want you to show me.”
His fingers stop trailing her legs. “Show you what?”
“Everything you’ve ever done in this car.”
Nathan’s body stills as his eyes go hot. She can see it even in the darkness. Hears his breath change. Both his hands slide up her dress to grip her hips, pulling her in. “Forbidden fruit,” he murmurs.
“What?”
“That’s what girls like you always were.”
“Girls like me?” She remembers him mentioning this before, but didn’t know what he meant.
“You know, good girls.”
She takes a deep breath. “I’m not so good.” Trust me.
A smile plays around his mouth. “Course you are. Don’t even bother trying to deny it.”
They’re both quiet, the only sound the rain pattering against the top of the car.
“Even so,” Blair leans in close, “I still want you to show me.”
He licks his lips. “That what you really want?”
She tries to answer, but can’t because his mouth has come down hard on hers. Kissing her hungrily, kissing her like he’s starved, making up for not having kissed her for days.
Her heart pounds. He tastes delicious. So good, desire is careening through her, reckless and wild. She pulls him close, whimpering and grabbing him as they continue to kiss.
Nathan starts tugging at the buttons on the front of her sweater. When they finally break apart, she watches the way his hands shake a little as they work each one.
“We’re fogging up the glass,” Blair breathes, glancing around at the windows.
“Yeah.”
He doesn’t look around, though. His laser focus is turned on and completely directed at her. Once the buttons are undone, he yanks her sweater off. Immediately, he reaches around for the zipper in the back of her dress, yanking that down, too.
“Maybe I should keep it on,” she whispers. “In case we need to make a quick getaway.”
“No,” his voice rough and desperate, “I have to touch you.”
That desperation is all Blair needs to hear. She helps him pull the front of her dress lower, slipping her arms out. His hands unclasp her bra next, and then before she knows it, she’s naked to the waist.
Nathan immediately presses his face to her breasts, his hands molding them together, then sliding to her back. “Goddamn,” he mutters into her skin, holding her tight. “I missed you, Blair.”
Her breath stops at his words. A flood of emotion rages through her as she hugs him fiercely. “I missed you, too.”
His mouth comes back up to tangle with hers. More reckless kisses. Enough of them to make her crazy. One of his hands slips beneath her dress as he fingers his way into her panties. She moans when he touches her.
“I have a condom,” he breathes.
“You do?” Blair pulls back, amazed. “You bought some?”
“Yeah, I did. Put one in my wallet.”
She tries to catch her breath as his fingers are still working magic.
“Do you want me to use it?” he asks.
“Yes.” God. “Of course, I do.”
He grins, with what looks like relief. “Good.”
Nathan pulls his hand out of her panties and shifts position, lifting his body a little. “It’s in my back pocket.”
She rises up, the steering wheel pushing into her bottom as she tries to give him some room to maneuver. The whole thing is an awkward struggle.
Finally, he has the wallet in hand and pulls out the condom.
Blair sits down and pushes his shirt up, then reaches to undo his belt, the column of his hard-on pressing into his jeans. She tries to unzip him, but that’s awkward, too, and she can’t quite manage it.
“Let me do it,” he says. “Be easier.”
She lifts again, laughing as Nathan now struggles to work his pan
ts down.
“Jesus Christ.” He laughs, too. “Maybe I’m getting too old for this shit.”
Eventually, his erection is free. She stays lifted, though, watching him as he slips the condom on.
When he’s done, he eyes her, both hands traveling beneath her skirt to grasp her hips.
Blair looks down with a wry smile. “We’ve been here once before, haven’t we?”
Nathan takes this in and seems to reflect on her words. “No,” he finally says. “Not like this. This is different.”
Blair nods slowly, trying to keep her emotions in check.
“Come here.” He pulls her closer. “Lower yourself onto me.”
“But I’m still wearing panties.”
“We’ll push them aside.
Blair lowers her body. Nathan’s breath is unsteady as he helps position himself, his fingers pushing her underwear over.
“That’s right,” he murmurs as Blair sinks down, taking him in.
She goes slowly, the sensation so exquisite, her eyes fall shut. And while Nathan’s breath is getting more erratic, Blair discovers she can barely breathe at all.
“Open your eyes.”
At his voice, Blair does as he asks and discovers Nathan watching her intently. She meets his gaze, so intimate in the confines of Isadora.
His hands are on her hips and when he pushes upward, she gasps. Passion spiraling through her, Nathan grips her harder. He’s still watching her as they start to move with each other. Blair is overwhelmed with sensation now, gasping and moaning, stripped down to nothing but pure pleasure and raw emotion.
It suddenly occurs to her Nathan will witness everything—her true feelings for him. She tries to hold back, but it’s impossible. This had never even occurred to her before.
What am I going to do?
Her only option, she decides, is not to come.
Because otherwise, how will I hide it?
After a short while, Nathan slows things down, leans in and kisses her deeply.
“Blair,” he whispers.
He tugs on her hair and his mouth goes to her throat, licking and biting. She moans. His fingers slip to where they’re joined and he starts to play with her.
“Don’t do that.” She pushes his hand away.
Return of the Jerk (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 2) Page 26
