My phone chimes. It’s probably Beth again. We’ve been texting nearly non-stop. She met a guy and is determined to keep him from her brothers. I smile and reach for my phone. When I see the name on the screen, my chest tightens.

NATE: CAN I SEE YOU?

“I wish, but I’m two thousand miles away,” I mutter to the empty room.

As I start to type back, I feel eyes on the back of my neck. As I turn slowly, I know he’s already here, standing in the doorway. “Nate?” I say his name like a question, certain it’s not him. It can’t be.

He smiles sheepishly at me. “Sorry for the lack of notice, and the total dick moves in Texas. I thought I had a little time, and then you were gone. I didn’t know until you’d left.”

I’m frozen, emotions locked up tight, and nothing spreads across my face—not happiness or hatred. I’m blank as the canvases around me.

Nate steps toward me, his eyes locked on mine. “I took a chance. I came to find you, and your Mom said you were here. I hope you don’t mind.” He’s careful, cautious.

I’m mute, lips parted, silently staring.

He continues, “You see I was in New York, and I thought I’d see if you were all right.”

“What were you doing there?” The question tumbles out.

He lowers his head and then inhales slowly, making his eyes meet mine once more. “I just received two payments—one from the fracking company that bought my land for top dollar. The other from the insurance agent who was certain my house burned to the ground because my girlfriend didn’t know how to cook.”

I snort a small laugh and look away. “Well, that’s mostly true.”

“I never thanked you for that. For protecting me, for helping me.”

“You would have done the same for me.”

He says nothing, just watches me with those sapphire eyes. He continues, “I gave the money from the oil company to an environmental fund who filed for an injunction this afternoon. Ferro can’t drill until the court hears the case.” He smirks, revealing a dimple on his left cheek. “And the rest of this, well, I was talking to my half brother, and it turns out he’s not an asshole. He’s actually a good guy.”

“Peter?”

He nods. “Yeah. He offered me a job up here.”

My heart thumps once and falls into my sneakers. I planned to go back to Texas, but he won’t be there. He’ll be up here. “Did you take it?”

“Yes.”

My eyes sting as they get glossy with tears. I blink them back and smile fakely, trying to be happy for him. “So, you’re a part of the Ferro family now? I’m glad. It sucks being alone.”

He steps forward, closer to me, but still an arm's length away. “Yeah, I thought about what you said. I'm not at all like my biological father, so it wasn’t right to assume my brothers would be like him either. We all talked—well, I talked with Peter and Jon. Sean is another story.” He laughs nervously and lifts his gaze to meet mine while wringing his hands.

The conversation dies, and the room falls silent, save the hum of the lights above. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what he wants. He’s so hard to read. Why would he come out here if he didn’t want anything to do with me? I manage, “So what now?”

He glances at my hand, then back at my face. He steps closer, closing the distance. He’s a breath away. “You tell me.”

“No,” I whisper. “If I matter to you, show me. Don’t make me guess. Don’t walk out on me and then—”

I don’t get a chance to finish my thought because his lips are on mine. The pressure is soft, and the kiss is perfect. He gently holds me, and when the kiss is over, he pulls away. “I want you, Kerry. Texas, New Jersey, or wherever you want to go. I’ll follow you. I want to know you. I want to be a part of your life if you’ll let me. I know I don’t deserve it. I was a prick. I didn’t realize why you did anything until Beth explained. I should have seen it, Kerry. I wish I did. I wish I had known you did all that crazy shit because you loved me.”

He inhales deeply and presses on. “The question is, after everything I’ve done to you, do you love me still? If you don’t, I can leave. I won’t bother you again. But if there’s a chance for us, well, I had to take it. I love you, Kerry Hill. Do you still love me?”

The moment is surreal. His voice lingers in the air like notes of music. I lean in close and press my lips softly to his and then whisper, “Yes.”

Tags: H.M. Ward Secrets & Lies Erotic
Source: readsnovelonline.net