The loft is quiet when Nate opens the door and ushers me inside. Boo is curled in my arms, sleeping soundly. He barely stirred when we finally left the penthouse and headed back to Knox Investigations. It was all I could do to get him to pee on the patch of grass outside before his puppy eyes drifted closed again. All this moving around has really messed up his beauty-sleep schedule.
I figured Parker would crash at Nate’s again but he headed to his boat instead, promising to meet us at the private airfield where we keep the jet at seven sharp. Nate assures me one of his men is keeping close tabs on Parker, in case Mac’s boys decide to change things up by kidnapping a different West sibling.
Now I understand the conversation between Nate and my father at the WestTech offices.
Does Mac know about her?
They’d been talking about Gemma.
“So…” I set Boo down on the couch, grab the plush duck toy out of my duffle bag, and set it beside him, grinning as I watch him curl up with it. “That was heavy. New York Cheesecake heavy. Fettuccine Alfredo heavy. Double chocolate milkshake heavy.”
Nate looks at me, eyebrows raised. “You hungry?”
“No, I ate, like, four cupcakes.” My brow knits. “Why?”
“Your analogies were all food related.”
“I couldn’t think of other heavy things.”
“Seriously?” His lips twitch as he stares at me. “Bowling ball. Elephant. Bag of bricks. Stonehenge. Orca whale.” He pauses. “I could go on…”
“That’s the wrong kind of heavy, smartass.” I roll my eyes and walk toward the bed. “I meant the kind of heavy that sits in the pit of your stomach and makes you feel sort of nauseous.”
“Cheesecake makes you nauseous?” he asks, amused. “That’s funny. I seem to remember you consuming several pieces at the WestTech Christmas party last year.” He grins. “And byseveralI meanfour.”
“You know what’s odd?” I ask, spinning to face him with my hands planted on my hips. “You know what I do on Thanksgiving. You know where I take my lunch breaks. You know how I drink my coffee. You know my favorite type of seltzer.” I pause. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’ve been keeping close tabs on me for years, Nathaniel.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “And if I have?”
I reach for the zipper on the side of my dress. “I’d be obligated to tell you it’s creepy and weird.”
His lips tug up on one side. “Really?”
“Yep.” I start to slowly work the zipper down my side. His eyes darken. “It’s not normal to stalk people. Just for the record.”
“Well, add this to your record: the things I feel for you aren’t normal, little bird.”
My heart leaps in my chest. “Is that so?”
He nods and takes a step toward me as the zipper reaches the end of its tread. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready for bed,” I say innocently.
His eyes find mine. “Phoebe…”
I release the fabric and the dress slides halfway down my body, exposing my black strapless bra. “Yes?”
His stare is hot as it roams my skin. It follows my fingers as I push the dress further down my hips.
“We have to be at the airport in six hours,” he reminds me, taking another step closer.
“Plenty of time,” I breathe, as the dress pools around my ankles. I step out, so I’m standing in only my Kate Spade pumps and a lace bra and panty set. I see his chest moving up and down as he attempts to get his breathing under control.
I flick the clasp of my bra and it tumbles to the floor.
“Unless…” I trail off, lifting a hand to my mouth and faking a large yawn. “I guess if you’re too tired…”
I see a flash of his grin — dark and devilish — in the second before he launches into motion.