The corners of Nathan’s lips turned up.
“I hear a lot about the latter from Barton. Are they together?”
“Sort of. I’m not too sure. I mean, it won’t be simple for them to work things out. It’s not a viable option for them to leave their city to be closer together. They’re stuck in place for at least three years.”
“Judith sure knows how to pick ‘em, right?”
Amanda laughed, remembering about her friend’s botched relationship with Ashton.
“I suppose not. Maybe Emmy and I should take her out to meet new guys.”
Just as she finished her sentence, Amanda felt as though a light bulb lit up above her head. She wondered if she should set up Judith and Christopher.
“That wouldn’t be a bad idea. I mean, Barton’s a nice guy. He’d wait for the right one. But if it’s not meant to be, no amount of effort will work.”
“Sad to hear. But you’re right.”
“Let’s talk about happier stuff. You and Nathan are together now, I guess?”
“You’d be correct. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.” Amanda looked at Nathan as she said that. He stood up and put an arm around her back.
“That’s great. I assume you don’t need me to return to duty, do you?”
“No. But I’d still like to see you one of these days.”
“In that case, I’ll see when I can pop in for a visit.”
“I look forward to it. Maybe we can go to the bowling alley with my friends again.”
“Sure. I’ll call you to let you know when I have time to fly up there.”
“Okay. By the way, are you working?”
“You mean, guarding someone? Not currently. But I plan to get back to work real soon.”
“The same?”
“Yes. Grayson was assigned to guard the CEO of a computer tech company.”
“That’s cool.”
There was silence for a few seconds.
“I have to go now. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon.”
“Take care, Kellan.”
“You too, Amanda. Bye.”
“Bye,” Amanda said. She hung up.
“Your bodyguard?” Nathan asked.
“Yes.”
“What were you talking about halfway? Something about people stuck in place and you laughing.”
Amanda grinned.
“We were talking about Judith. You know, she’s into Barton, but the poor guys can hardly be together. Judith hasn’t been very lucky in relationships lately.”
“Oh. And that must be why you were talking about taking her out.”
“Yes. She needs to meet new people.”
“Do you think she met someone at Nola’s?”
“I doubt it, but it would have been nice.”
***
Amanda woke up earlier than Emmy the next morning. She was starting the coffee machine before a sleepy-looking Emmy entered the kitchen.
“Morning, sleepy eyes,” Amanda said. Her friend let out a laugh.
“You better make me a cup, too.”
“I am.”
Amanda grabbed a cup from a cabinet. She poured some coffee for herself. Just before Amanda added sugar, her smartphone beeped once. She pulled it out and saw a text from Nathan.
“Change of plan,” she told Emmy. “Nathan and I are having breakfast at a café.”
“So I get your cup.”
Amanda nodded.
“Would you like to come with us?”
“No. I’ll toast myself some waffles.”
Emmy took the spoon from her and added sugar to the coffee.
“All right. See you in class.”
“Have fun,” Emmy said. Amanda grabbed her purse and a jacket from her bedroom before leaving.
A quarter hour later, Nathan and Amanda entered the café together. She took in the scent.
“Nothing like a nice cup of coffee on a morning like this,” Amanda said. Nathan nodded in agreement. She loosened her scarf, and then they walked to a table. Amanda sat down.
“What would you like?” Nathan asked.
“Do they have marble cakes here?”
Nathan looked toward the counter.
“I don’t know. I’ll ask.”
“If they have, get me one.”
Amanda waited while Nathan bought their food. She scanned the room nonchalantly. The café had lots of customers. Whenever temperatures drop, people wanted coffee or hot chocolate. And freshly-baked bread.
When Nathan got the food, Amanda stood up to help him. She got her coffee and bread and walked with him back to their table.
The two of them talked about stuff while they ate. Nathan’s attention was so fixed on Amanda that he didn’t notice how many guys’ eyes she drew. Amanda was aware, but she disregarded it.
When Amanda had eaten the last bite of her cake, a guy walked up to the table. Both she and a bemused Nathan looked up at him. The guy seemed to be around the same age as Nathan. He was holding a rolled magazine in his hand.
“Hi. You’re Amanda Tilley, right?”
Bless my life. I came to Ithaca for privacy, and people are already realizing who I am.
“Yes,” she replied, pasting on a smile.
“Cool! Can you sign this?”
The guy handed Amanda the magazine. It was a copy of the February issue of InStyle. Amanda modeled winter fashion. There was also a short interview. Due to Valentine’s Day, some of the questions focused on love and relationships. Amanda revealed she wasn’t single, but didn’t give any details.
Amanda pulled out a Sharpie pen from her purse. She was ready for such situations. Amanda wrote a short note plus her signature on the cover. She then handed the magazine back to the guy.
“Here it is.”
“Thanks,” the guy replied. “It was an honor meeting you, Amanda.”
“You’re sweet. Have a good day.”
The guy nodded, and then walked away. Amanda turned back to Nathan. He didn’t look happy.
“Someone’s jealous now,” Amanda said with a grin.
“Can’t help it, sweetheart.”
“You knew what you were signing up for when you pursued a relationship with me.”
“I’m not complaining. It’s just…I was Mr. Invisible the whole time. You may as well have been sitting alone.”
Amanda laughed.
“Did you want some of the attention? I’d be more than glad to share it with you.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Girls come up to me too, you know.”
“As if that would tempt me. You’re the only girl I have eyes for.”
Amanda reached forward and took Nathan’s hand.
“You’re adorable when you’re jealous.”
Nathan narrowed his eyes.
“Unspoken rule: never refer to a man as ‘adorable’. It feels like being seen driving a pink car.”
Amanda’s eyes widened. She raised her hands, palms facing Nathan.
“Okay, Hugh Jackman. I got it.”
The two laughed together.
“Hugh Jackman?” Nathan asked when he and Amanda walked back to his car. She nodded.
“Is there a manlier man?”
Nathan opened Amanda’s door for her.
“I’ll show you manly when I take you to my place this afternoon.”
Amanda stifled giggling. She was anticipating what Nathan planned for her.
While he was at a store that sold Valentine’s gifts an hour later, Nathan’s phone rang. He walked to a corner and pulled the phone from his pocket. There was a text from Marissa, asking if he was still in class. She wanted to talk. Nathan replied, letting her know that he didn’t have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It was the same way he’d scheduled his classes last semester.
A few seconds later, Marissa called.
“Hi, Marissa,” Nathan answered.
“Hi, friend! How are you?”
“I’m fabulous. What’s up?”
There was a noise that
sounded like exhaling. Nathan could almost picture Marissa smiling.
“I’ve got news about the surprise you’re preparing for you-know-who.”
“Great! What is it?”
“The singer that I commissioned is still working on perfecting the song. It’s coming out awesome!”
“That’s great news. Will you send me a sample?”
“It’s being e-mailed to you as we speak. You listen to it and then tell me if we’re on the right track.”
“Sure. I’ll check it out. And Marissa? Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Nathan. I’m glad you involved me in this. Your surprise is swoon-worthy! I wish my boyfriend would have thought of it.”
Nathan laughed.
“Are you and Jonathan together?”
“Not officially, yet. But we’re getting there.”
“That’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. I need to hang up now, friend. My next class starts in a few minutes.”
“Okay. Have a good day, Marissa. And thanks again.”
“Thank you. Bye!”
Marissa hung up. Nathan put his phone back in his pocket. He was going to check his e-mail as soon as he got back to his apartment.
Amanda walked up the stairs to the floor where her apartment was. When she got there, Amanda noticed Jonathan waiting outside the door. He smiled when he saw her approaching.
“Hi, Jonathan!” Amanda said. “How long have you been waiting for me there?”
“Just a few minutes. Emmy told me that you wouldn’t be long.”
“Oh.”
“Get ready. We’re starting our workout.”
Amanda unlocked her door. She and Jonathan walked inside.
“Where’s Emmy?”
“She stepped out. If she gets back when we’re ready, she can work out with us.”
“Thanks. I’ll go get changed.”
Jonathan prepared the living room while Amanda went to her bedroom. Emmy arrived just as Amanda was dressing. Shortly after, the two returned to the living room. Jonathan waited for them to take their positions. They began with warm-up stretches.
“I’m going to show you a couple of new exercises. We’ll replace one of the sets you’ve been doing so far. This one exercises more muscles, but it’s not too difficult.”
At the word ‘difficult’, Emmy surreptitiously checked out Amanda’s body. Her friend had light muscle tone. In contrast, Emmy was wirier.
An hour later, the workout ended. The girls thanked Jonathan again.
“I’ll be back on Friday,” he told Amanda. “Same time.”
“Okay. Take care.”
“See you,” Jonathan said. He left the apartment.
“Whew. This is hard stuff. How are you not as winded as I am?”
“I’m used to it. Just be thankful you’re not a guy, or Jonathan would leave us feeling beat-up.”
“I feel beat-up,” Emmy said. She massaged her biceps with a hand. Amanda giggled.
“Do you mind if I take a quick shower first?”
“No, go ahead.”
Emmy sat on the sofa and grabbed the remote while Amanda went to the bathroom.
Not finding something she wanted to see, Emmy stood up. She went to her bedroom, where she had a full-length mirror on the closet door. Standing in a sports bra and shorts, Emmy checked herself out at various angles.
I wish I was prettier. Then maybe Brad would give me the time of day.
Emmy turned to her side. She thought she was too thin. Not anorexic-looking, but not full enough.
There was a knock at the door. A fully-dressed Amanda peered in.
“The shower’s ready,” she said. Emmy nodded.
“What’s wrong?”
Amanda walked in. Emmy was frowning at her figure in the mirror.
“I’m not pretty enough.”
“Emmy, don’t be silly. You’re beautiful. Look at your toned body!”
Emmy scoffed.
“I’m thinner than you are, that’s why my muscles stand out more. I should fatten up a bit.”
“Do it if you want to, but you’re pretty, friend.”
“Not enough. You’re not as curvy as Grecia, but at least your body’s curvier than mine.”
Amanda shook her head.
“Nonsense. What brought this up?”
Emmy walked to her bed and sat at the front. She looked at her intertwined hands resting on her lap.
“Let me guess. Romantic troubles?” Amanda said, sitting next to Emmy. The latter turned her head.
“I just wish I got more attention from guys, is all.”
Amanda put an arm around her friend’s back.
“Guys in general, or one specific guy?”
Emmy laughed and stood up.
“I haven’t found the right one yet. That’s why I’m looking for him.”
“Then quit moping. You’re an attractive, strong-willed woman. Work on your self-confidence and you’ll have guys lining up in no time.”
“It’s so easy for you.”
“I may have been born with beauty, but not with confidence. That’s learned, and you can learn it.”
Amanda stood up.
“I’ll be in the living room, in case anyone stops by.”
Emmy nodded.
“I’ll go take my shower now.”
Nathan stopped by Amanda’s early in the evening. She heard her doorbell and answered the door.
“Hi!” she said, letting Nathan inside. Then she closed the door.
“Hi, love,” Nathan replied. He kissed Amanda when she turned back to him.
“Wow,” Amanda said when he broke the kiss. She took a breath. “You do know how to charm the knickers off a girl.”
“Would you expect less from me?”
“No.”
Nathan and Amanda sat on her sofa.
“Is Emmy here?”
“She’s over at Judith’s.”
Nathan nodded, thinking about something.
“Would you like something to drink?” Amanda asked. “There’s a pot of hot chocolate I made earlier.”
“That would be perfect.”
Amanda walked to the kitchen. Nathan lingered in the living room for a bit. The room was mostly as he remembered it to be. The flower decoration on the center of the coffee table was new. A small, square glass table occupied the space at the corner of the sofas. A stainless-steel Eiffel Tower model sat on top of that table. In front of it were a couple of framed photos.
Nathan followed after Amanda. He stood in the doorway while she went to a cabinet to grab two cups. Amanda then grabbed a pot from on top of the stove.
“I haven’t got bread, but there are cinnamon cookies,” Amanda said when she turned. She set the two cups of chocolate on the table. “Would you like some?”
“Sure.”
Amanda and Nathan sat at the table after she pulled out the cookies from the pantry.
“Hey, I have an idea,” Nathan said.
“What is it?”
Nathan smiled playfully.
“Why don’t you do a little photo shoot for me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yes. You pose for me and I take photos.”
Amanda thought about it. She drank more chocolate.
“You’d have to ask Stanley,” she replied with a poker face. Nathan’s eyebrows furrowed, puzzled. After a few seconds, he smiled.
“Funny girl.”
Amanda giggled.
“Where would you like to do it? There really aren’t that many options.”
“The living room suffices. It’s cold outside.”
“Okay. What do I wear?”
“Anything casual would be fine. Forget fashion for now. I’m aiming for an everyday theme.”
Amanda nodded.
After eating, Amanda brushed her teeth before meeting Nathan in the living room. He was using his smartphone.
“You’re using that camera?” she asked.
“Yes. F
orget about pro equipment and the whole shebang. This will be fun.”
Amanda laughed. She walked in front of the sofa.
“Do I stand here?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Now smile. I want to see those lips curve, or I’ll have to crack a joke.”
At that, Amanda chuckled. Nathan aimed his phone camera at her and began to snap photos. Amanda remained standing up at first. She then switched to sitting down on the sofa and lying on it.
“This is fun. How come we haven’t done it yet?”
Amanda didn’t reply. She turned her back to Nathan for a pose and looked back at him, touching her hair.
“Have you ever thought of being a photographer?” Amanda asked at one point.
“No. Most of what I know about it is just pointing and shooting.”
“You’re not much of a creative type anyway, right? Laws and left-brain stuff are more your thing.”
Nathan nodded. He deactivated the phone’s camera to look through the photos he took. Amanda stood up to check them out as well.
“You’re stunning,” Nathan told her. He enlarged one of the photos. “That’s a cute expression.”
“No, it’s not!” Amanda said. “It’s just your lovesick mind that thinks so.”
“Yeah. That doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
When Amanda turned back to the sofa, Nathan re-engaged the camera. As soon as Amanda looked back at him, Nathan snapped a photo. She blinked in surprise.
“I couldn’t not get that one.”
Amanda put her hands on her hips, pouting. Nathan snapped that photo, too.
“You see, it’s moments like this one that shock me. I still can’t believe you’re my girl.”
Amanda’s expression turned serious. She placed both of her hands on Nathan’s shoulders. He looked up at her, and she smiled. Nathan put his phone away.
“I’ll always be with you,” she said. “Forever and ever.”
Nathan moved toward Amanda, kissing her. He pushed her onto the sofa, straddling her. Amanda placed her arms around him as their lips met again. Nathan’s hands settled on her waist.
After what seemed like ages, Nathan leaned back. He grabbed his phone and aimed the camera lens at Amanda.
“Why is messed-up hair so sexy?”
Amanda laughed.
“I can be sexy.”
“Is that so? I wouldn’t have known,” Nathan teased. He watched Amanda pull off her sweater and the blouse underneath at the same time.
Amanda’s eyes looked into Nathan’s. His gaze traveled up and down her body. He pocketed his phone and then planted kisses on her abdomen, moving upward.
Devoted to Her (Dream Date Book 2) Page 6
