Page 35 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

“You taste good,” he mumbled against her mouth and eased away.

Her eyes fluttered open and she fought the urge to pull him back for more.

He smiled. “You’re still feeling good about dinner?”

She nodded.

“I’m crossing my fingers that tonight’s going to be quiet so I don’t have to cut out on you.”

“If you and I are going out on dates, I should probably get used to it.”

He grinned. “Do you like fish?”

“Yes.”

“How about we clean things up and go get something fresh off one of the boats coming in?”

She looked at the wads of paper on the ground and the lighthouse sketch she would most likely be throwing away, then at the gorgeous man who’d brightened her day. Suddenly it didn’t seem to matter that she’d wasted hours on several disastrous drawings. Her career was in the toilet, but her problems would still be here tomorrow. Right now, Nate was staring into her eyes, wanting to make her dinner. “I think that sounds like a perfect idea.”

~~~~

Nate drove toward town, purposely keeping his hands relaxed on the wheel despite the fact that he was pissed. He glanced Callie’s way while she stared out the window and remembered his surprise when he’d rounded the side of the cottage to find her dropping her head into her hands as she started crying. She’d seemed so sad, so defeated and defenseless as she sat slumped in her chair. In that moment, he would have done just about anything to make everything all right for her again.

It still boiled his blood to think of the way her phone had rung twice in less than ten minutes—as if she was at Marion West’s beck and call. He’d played it cool with Gemma, telling Marion’s assistant to fuck off in his own way, but he’d been tempted to move past subtleties and give it to her straight as he stared into Callie’s shocked, teary eyes. He’d known Callie a mere eleven days and he had no trouble seeing that beneath her calm, quiet facade, she was struggling. The pressures of her career were suffocating her. The person representing her damn well had to be able to see that too.

Callie created works of art. There was no doubt she was every bit the genius all of the newspaper and magazine articles claimed her to be, but she was a person first. Her wounded vulnerability immediately brought out his inner caveman—especially when she was fighting so hard to stay strong. Few things stuck in his craw like watching someone kicking another person while they were already down. As far as he was concerned, that was ending today. Callie was on vacation. She was going to get the time she needed to rest and take a few deep breaths. He was more than willing to beat his chest and swing his club until Callie could fend for herself again.

He looked her way and snagged her hand, determined to focus on the beautiful woman sitting next to him. “What are you thinking about over there?”

She met his gaze and smiled, her eyes far less troubled than they had been an hour ago. “About how fall’s almost here. The sun’s setting a little earlier every day.”

He winked and slid his thumb over her knuckles, loving the way her soft skin felt against his. “This morning, the forecasters were saying something about nighttime temperatures dipping into the lower fifties later on this week.”

Her smile brightened. “I love this time of year—pumpkins and mums. The smell of chimney smoke in the air.”

“It’s one of my favorites,” he said, slowing his speed as they moved into downtown traffic. “Is there anything in particular you think you might want to eat tonight?”

“I’m not sure what they have.”

“Salmon, shrimp, tuna, lobster—just about anything you can think of.”

She nibbled her lip. “All of that sounds great.”

“Thanks to my mom, I can cook pretty much any type of seafood, so we can do whatever you’d like.”

“How about you surprise me?”

“You’ve got it.” He intended to surprise her plenty over the next several weeks. Technically, he and Callie were dating. And for once, the idea didn’t scare the hell out of him. He’d waited four and a half years—feared for four and a half years that he would never find someone who felt right in his life again, but Callie did. Something about her fit for him—sort of just shifted into place. He’d recognized it the moment their eyes met that first day at his cottage. When he’d captured her lips in the backyard and his heart damn near stopped, he’d had all the confirmation he needed that Callie Davis was exactly who he wanted. Flipping on his blinker, he turned left toward the docks. “Let’s get some dinner.”

“I have to admit I’m excited.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “I’ve never had fresh-off-the-boat seafood.”

“You’re in for a treat.” He parked, and they both got out, meeting at the front bumper. He wanted to take her hand and walk with her to the water like any other couple would, but he thought of Sanderson’s spinning rumor mill and Callie’s need for privacy. He smiled at her instead. “After you.”

“Thanks.”

They made their way to the boats, where fishermen were bringing in their catches. This evening, he and Callie were going to relax. He planned on giving her a night to remember.