Read Online Wish You Were Here by Lani Diane Rich - Free Book Online

stupid or honorable. You’re not stupid.”
    “ Well, that’s a matter of opinion.” Nate rested his head on the back of the couch as well, looking at her, and the air between them seemed to heat up. Her eyes were soft from the vodka and seemed to twinkle in the low light. She was so beautiful, so close that he’d just have to move the tiniest bit and he’d be kissing her, and she smelled like heaven. All he had to do was put that damn glass down and give in, let himself have what he wanted, just this once...
    “ Don’t feel bad about screwing up my deal, okay?” she said softly. “You did the right thing, and I’m gonna be okay.”
    “ I know.”
    She raised her head, looking surprised. “What?”
    “ I know you’ll be fine,” he said. “You’re a strong woman, Freya, anyone who sees you knows that. You seem like the type of person who can bounce back from anything.”
    She sat up. “I do? Even after... all the tears and burning the omelet and my total failure to swing what should have been the biggest cake deal of my career?” Her chin trembled slightly and she pushed up from the couch, walked over to the door, and grabbed her purse. Nate set his glass on the coffee table and followed her.
    “ Did I say something wrong?” he asked.
    She shook a few Tic- Tacs into her hand and popped them in her mouth, her back to him. “No. I just need a moment.” She took a few deep breaths, then turned to face him, her eyes dry as they locked on his. “Thank you.”
    He reached up and touched her cheek. She stepped closer and angled her face up toward his and she was so close, all he had to do was—
    “ I should go,” he said softly.
    She blinked. “What?”
    He swallowed, unable to think. “It’s... it’s getting late.”
    “ It’s six o’clock,” she said, but then threw her hands up in the air. “Okay. You know what? I’m not going to get shot down by the same guy twice in one day. Even my ego doesn’t have that kind of fortitude.” She scooted around him, putting her hand on the doorknob. “Forget it. Bye.”
    “ Freya—” he began, but she cut him off.
    “ Don’t worry,” she said. “It’s nothing a little Idaho potato vodka and some snowman poop won’t cure. What the hell is in that stuff, anyway?”
    “ Freya—”
    “ Run along.” She pulled the door open.
    He shut it.
    “Stop playing games,” he said. “It’s unattractive.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I’m playing games? Nice. I’m not the one giving the sexy eye and then running out the door.”
    “ I have a kid,” he said. “And... sexy eye? That’s a thing?”
    “ I know you have a kid.” She made a face. “And you know what I mean.”
    “ All right,” he said. “Forget the sexy eye. My point is, I have a kid. It complicates things. Her mother abandoned her when she was really small. I’ve let her meet exactly three women in the past ten years and she got attached to each one, only to have her heart broken when it didn’t work out.”
    “ I understand that. It’s just...” She let out a heavy sigh. “It’s been a crap day, for both of us. We’re both... itchy.” She raised her eyes to his, and one side of her mouth twitched up in the sexiest smile he’d ever seen. “It might be nice to... scratch. That’s all.”
    One arm went toward her, almost out of his control. The idea of scratchin g with this woman seemed like... damn. A really good idea.
    Except it wasn ’t. He pulled his arm back.
    “ Look. Piper... she already likes you. If I stay here long enough to... scratch... Piper’ll know. The kid always knows everything. And she’ll start building castles in her head and—” He sighed, focused his thoughts on his daughter, and achieved a certain level of peace with what he was giving up for her. “Look, you and me, we can do this and walk away unharmed, but I’ve got a kid. What I do affects her, and I won’t hurt her if I can help it.”
    Freya watched him, her eyes softening.