A Town Called Valentine(66)

Emily was just finishing breakfast the next morning when her doorbell rang. Unlike her city apartment, there was no intercom for her to discover who was at the door. Wrapping her robe tighter about her waist, she ran down the stairs, opened the door into the hall, and stepped to the back door, thinking with exasperation that it was only seven thirty in the morning.

Through the door window, she saw Nate. “It’s drywall day,” he called, his voice muffled.

She smiled, feeling little prickles of pleasure warm her. Unlocking the door, she opened it, then blushed when Nate gave her a slow grin as he looked down her scantily clad body.

“Now that’s the way a man wants to be greeted.”

She hugged herself about the waist, wishing her robe reached at least to her knees. But why was she nervous? It wasn’t as if Nate was going to demand she undress for him.

Although that sounded exciting . . .

“I’m sorry I’m not ready,” she said. “I guess we never decided on a time.”

“I’m used to working by dawn—I thought I was giving you too much time.”

She cocked her head. “We’ll have to be more explicit with our schedule. You can wait in the restaurant while I shower—”

“Naw, that’s okay, I’ll come up.”

He came toward her, and she was forced to step back, or he’d have run right into her. He was carrying a bag and a paperboard container with two cups.

He paused, and his smile dimmed. “Running away from me already?” he asked quietly.

He seemed strangely solemn all of a sudden.

“Running away? I’m trying to stop myself from giving you a kiss. Thought I’d seem a little desperate since we haven’t even had a date yet—and drywalling doesn’t count.”

His white teeth flashed in a grin. “Just as long as you’re not getting skittish all of a sudden.” He leaned down, his mouth near hers, but not quite touching. “So can I kiss you?”

She answered by pressing her lips to his, letting her hand touch his chest, feeling all breathless and light-headed. They didn’t dive into the kiss with tongues and heat, but she felt like they did.

“Mmm,” he murmured, rubbing his cheek against hers, inhaling the scent of her hair. “What am I here for again?”

“Coffee?”

He chuckled and stepped away, looking cute and regretful. “Do you like coffee?” he called over his shoulder as he headed up the stairs.

“Sorry, no,” she said, closing both doors and following him up.

Nice view, she thought, watching his long legs.

“More for me, I guess.”

It was her turn to chuckle as she emerged into her apartment behind him. “No problem. I’m used to people assuming. Guess I’m a rarity.”

He walked down the hall past the bedrooms and the galley kitchen, into the living room that overlooked Main Street.

“Not as much damage up here,” he said.

“A bit,” she said, looking at the scraped wood floors and the dings in the walls. “But I’d rather take care of the big stuff downstairs first.”

“Go ahead and shower while I eat.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry I didn’t know to hurry.”

She disappeared into her bathroom and set a land speed record for showers, firmly putting aside daydreams of his joining her. She was moving way too fast, if only in her own imagination. When she emerged from her bedroom, she found Nate looking out the front window as he munched a bagel but not standing too close.

“Afraid someone will see you up here?” she asked innocently.

He glanced at her. “Not at all.”

“So I’m not a secret?”

“That we’re dating? Why would I do that?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know you all that well, do I?”

But she knew enough to like him, to trust him with some of her deepest family secrets. And that was a little scary.

“That’s why we’re dating,” he said smugly. “To get to know each other.”

“Oohh, so that’s the reason.”

“That’s one of my reasons. What are yours?” he asked, his voice lowering to a deep rumble, leaning sideways into her until their arms brushed.

Oh, she liked the sound of his voice too much.

“Because you promised to teach me to drywall, and I felt like I owed you.”