The Fix (The Carolina Connections, #1)(43)
I quickly moved us on to lighter subjects and we arrived at his apartment building minutes later. It was pretty dingy as a whole, with cracked sidewalks and weed-infested lawn spaces.
“I know,” Nate said as he took my hand and walked me up the stairs to his second-floor apartment. “It’s nothing to look at but it’s cheap and it’s only temporary. It was the only place I could find that would offer a month-to-month lease.”
My stomach dropped. His comment removed any doubt I had about his plans. I had the sudden urge to turn around and run home, but the feel of his warm hand in mine somehow kept me anchored there.
He unlocked the door and it opened to reveal a small kitchen, an old sixties style table, and the ugliest couch I’d ever seen.
“Nate?”
“What?”
“Roseanne called. She wants her couch back.”
“Who’s the smartass now?” He elbowed me. “I borrowed it from my parents’ basement. My real furniture is in Austin.”
“I’m relieved I won’t have to pretend to like your phenomenally bad taste.” I smiled up at him.
He held a few strands of my hair and ran his fingers down until they caressed my collarbone. A shiver ran straight through me. “Let’s reserve that thought until you taste my cooking. I hope you like spaghetti.”
At that moment I thought I’d like anything he wanted to dish up.
Chapter Fifteen
Big Head vs. Little Head
NATE
“Well, that wasn’t half bad if I do say so myself.” I leaned back in my chair and took a swig of my beer.
“I didn’t realize there was any possible doubt. And it was good.” Laney propped her elbow on the table and sipped from her wine glass.
Conversation over dinner had flowed easily. We talked about our experiences growing up in the same town and realized that we’d probably nearly met each other dozens of times throughout our youth. But with our age difference it wasn’t so surprising that we hadn’t. Then we moved on to her history with Rocco and his dad, a guy named Dominic who lived in California. The guy sounded like an assclown to me, but Laney was pretty laid back about it, so I obviously didn’t have the whole story. It did explain, however, how she was able to afford a mortgage in a decent neighborhood while sending her kid to that stuffy daycare. I was guessing her job didn’t pay enough to afford it all on her own. And I knew Gavin had only recently begun contributing.
Her relationship with her brother seemed especially complicated, as I’d noted earlier. There was obviously some tension there, but I liked the guy and by all accounts he was working his ass off and catching on really quickly at work. Regardless, the love between brother and sister was clear, and he was great with Rocco. Thinking of my relationship with Bailey and knowing the intricacies that exist between family members, though, I wasn’t going to pry into that one. If Laney wanted to share, I’d let her do it in her own time.
She sat across from me, her hair all glossy and her eyes looking smoky and sexy as hell as her finger ran absentmindedly over the rim of her wine glass. My dick stood at attention—I’d been fighting a hard-on since the moment she answered her door in a short little skirt and sleeveless V-neck blouse that pointed the way to my biggest temptation. Damn, she was the definition of a bombshell and I couldn’t wait to get her in my bed and under me.
“So, I’m guessing the home repairs are on hold in favor of treehouse construction?” she asked, taking another sip of her wine. I nodded and stood with my beer, motioning her to follow me to the hideous, but surprisingly comfortable, couch.
“Maybe so. The project has inspired me.” I set my beer on the scratched-up coffee table.
That got a grin as she sat down next to me and I put an arm across the back of the couch behind her neck.
“I may have spoken too soon about the couch,” she said. “This is actually more comfortable than mine.”
“See, I do have good taste after all.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her in closer. “About the treehouse, I’ve already drawn up some potential plans, but I won’t know specifics until I take some measurements of the tree. It’s going to be pretty amazing, though. Not to brag or anything.” I grinned.
She beamed at me, then set her glass next to my beer and snuggled right into my side. If that’s all it took to make her happy I’d build a hundred treehouses. I could see right down the front of her shirt and I didn’t even pretend not to stare.
“I can tell you Rocco is beyond excited so that is music to my ears. It’s really sweet of you to do this for him. It’s sweet of you to do all the things you’re doing for us. I feel like I don’t deserve it.” She put her hand on my thigh.
“Why would you say that? You deserve all sorts of good things.” I turned her in my arms and leaned my head down to kiss her. She tasted of wine and her own unique flavor, which was quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The intensity of our clinch ratcheted up immediately as my tongue explored her mouth wildly, like I’d never get another chance. She moaned and arched her back, and we were soon leaning down into the couch, one of her hands fisting in my hair and the other squeezing my ass. I moved on top of her and ground my erection into the heated apex of her thighs which were still covered by her damn skirt. We were moving at lightning speed and it was hot as fuck.