Page 79 of Everything She Wanted

“No.” I shake my head. “Why?”

“I’m going to Symphony at Sunset. My friend plays bass in the orchestra and I promised him I would come watch.” He takes my hands. “Come with me.”

Spending time together during the workday is one thing, but to go out with him on a Friday evening? I can’t do that, can I? My mind is telling me to turn him down and go home, but my body is already sizzling with the anticipation of being near him, even after the club bathroom fiasco.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

He gazes out the window behind me.

“I heard you loud and clear at the coffee shop, so you don’t have to worry about anything like that,” he says sincerely as he meets my eyes. “Think of it like a team-building event.” He shoots me his dazzling fucking smile, and all my reservations melt away. “And I’ll take you home right away if it’s not your vibe.”

I need to escape everything with Eshaan—even if it’s just for tonight—and I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself.

I nod.

Just for tonight.

I’m sitting on the blanket Nick’s laid out for us, with a glass of white wine in a tumbler he brought along, standing out in my black tank and blazer that I paired with jeans for work today. At my request, we’re in a secluded area away from the crowd.

He lounges next to me, propped on one elbow, one leg sprawled in front of him, and the other drawn up as he rests his hand on it. A GQ model photoshoot pose, and I appreciate the sight of him. The arch of his brows, the fading sunlight glinting off his perfectly coiffed hair. His dress shirt and pants outlining his trim silhouette.

I take another sip of wine and let myself relax. My phone is on silent and location tracking off, even though Shaan would be enraged if he found out.

I will worry about that later. For now, I push the fear and discomfort down.

“Are you comfortable?” Nick looks over at me, his eyes glittering like the ocean next to us.

I nod. “Want some?”

“Sure.”

I hand him his wine tumbler and watch his throat as he takes a sip.

The soft notes of Bach drift through the crowd and I savour their power, emotion, and beauty.

He pours more wine into the tumbler and then hands it to me, our fingers softly touching. I take another sip, letting the cool, crisp notes of rose, ginger, and lychee linger on my tongue.

The sun dips below the horizon as we sit next to each other, sharing the wine and soft touches. Even doing nothing with him feels like something. As it gets darker, he lies down and I lie next to him, and we stare at the stars.

He rolls onto his side and I do the same.

He plays with my hair absentmindedly and strokes my face, like he did back in the office.

“I hated seeing you that upset.”

I look away and then back at him

His body goes tense and his eyes tight. “Is it him? Did he do something to hurt you?”

I don’t want to lie to him, so I say nothing.

He knows and I know, but I can’t say it and he knows that too.

“Nick?”

“Yeah?”

I don’t know what I want anymore, but there’s one thing I know for sure. “I didn’t mean what I said before. I don’t want you to stay away from me.”