Down Too Deep (Dirty Deeds, #4)(85)

“I know you don’t mind. That’s not the point.” Nathan moved around the kitchen. “I’m not great at this. I can cook three things really well and spaghetti is one of them. That’s why I suggested we have spaghetti.” He stopped in front of the cutting board, admiring the prep I’d completed. “Jenna…”

“What?” I giggled at his solemn expression.

“I’m trying to show off a little here,” he said, lifting his gaze. “How am I supposed to do that if you dice the onion better than me?”

Every muscle in my body tightened in delight. “I didn’t know you were trying to show off.”

“For you? When am I not?”

Nathan studied me for a moment like I was insane to think anything different than what he’d just shared, then gathered the cut-up veggies and walked over to the stove, dumping them in the sauce.

I looked down at my lap and bit my lower lip. I couldn’t stop smiling. He was trying to impress me. How could I not feel so happy I could burst?

No one had made an effort like this for me before. No one had come close.

Earlier, I had been terrified to share what had been on my mind, not only in that moment, but recently, for at least the past few weeks. I had no idea how Nathan would react to hearing me say I wished it would’ve been him and not Derek nine years ago. I knew exactly how that admission sounded and the implications it would lead to. Revealing that was a huge risk. Even worse, I’d gone on trying to explain myself and had failed miserably in my clarification.

I should’ve felt embarrassed, and for long, uncomfortable seconds, I did. I wanted to take it all back. Way to show your inexperience with relationships, Jenna. I’d said too much. I was moving us too fast. Nathan would pull back and slow us down. His apprehension would be obvious. I waited for it.

He kissed me instead. And the way we came together after, the look in Nathan’s eyes and every moaned word he spoke, his desperate grip on my body…I’d never felt so sure of my feelings for someone before. Any worry I’d had, any regret that I had misspoken and overstepped, it slipped away.

Falling in love was overwhelmingly scary. It was also becoming the easiest thing I had ever done.

The girls giggled from the family room, getting my attention off my lap. I leaned over to peer at them around the table.

Olivia was on her hands and knees, stacking dominoes behind the couch in a slithering snake pattern. Marley sat beside her, watching closely while clutching the bucket of tiles in her lap.

I stood, heading for the stairs. I’d left my phone on Nathan’s nightstand, forgetting to grab it after we hastily dressed.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his back to me. “I swear to God, Jenna, if you touch that garlic bread…”

I laughed loudly, and hearing me, Nathan looked over his shoulder and grinned.

“I’m just getting my phone,” I told him, pausing at the corner of the island. “The girls look so sweet. I want to take a picture of them before they move.”

“Here.” Nathan kept stirring the sauce with one hand and with the other, dug his phone out of his pocket. He stretched his arm out and held it above the counter. “Take pictures with mine. By the time you come back down, they’ll be doing something else.”

He was right about that.

“Thanks.” I hurried over, reaching across the island, and took Nathan’s phone.

“The password is 0502.”

I blushed, meeting his eyes.

“Surprised I told you that?” he asked.

“No…”

“You sure? You look surprised.” Nathan turned back to the sauce.

Surprised wasn’t the word I’d use for what I was feeling. I was happy. This was another first for me. I’d never been serious enough with anyone to be in the “sharing passwords” stage. Mm. I really liked this stage.

“Mine is 1387,” I announced as I moved out of the kitchen. When I glanced back at Nathan, our eyes met.

He’d already been looking at me. And he was looking at me in a way that told me he liked this stage as much as I did.

In that moment, another piece of my heart became his.

I stopped in the family room a few feet away from the girls and clicked the home button. Several notifications appeared on the screen.

Nathan had two missed calls now, both from his parents’ house. His ringer must’ve been off, because the last call was made two minutes ago. There was also an unread text from his dad.

Checking in. Call me please.



“Hey, did you know your parents called you again?” I asked, peering behind me. Nathan was carrying the large pot over to the sink. Steam wafted into the air as he dumped the water and noodles into a strainer. “Your dad texted you too. He says to call him. Do you want to do it now?”

“No. I’ll call them after dinner. I’m sure they just want to talk to Marley. They haven’t in a few days.”

“Okay.” I entered the passcode and pulled up the camera mode, turning the phone sideways to get the shot. “Girls, smile!”

Olivia and Marley whipped their heads around. Both of them grinned. “Cheese!” they said in unison.

I took three quick photos, catching the two of them as their heads drifted closer together. “So cute!” I crooned.