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I could stay there, but she’s a lot tempting herself. I move just inside the villa, and since she hasn’t said anything, I throw out, “Or we can watch a movie?”

Crossing her arms over her chest, she says, “You sure are forgiving considering I invaded your villa.”

“We’re in the meantime, so is this even happening?”

She giggles. “Good point.” Her chest rises and falls with a deep inhale and huff of an exhale. Standing up straight, she adds, “I should probably be up front with you?—”

“About?”

Disappointment filters through her fine features. “I can’t sleep with you.”

Smirking, I reply, “I wasn’t going to bed, so no worries.”

“You know what I mean.”

“You told me not to get any ideas the moment you walked in and mentioned no dating or sex, so I figured that included tonight as well.”

“Very perceptive.” When she turns to the patio, her hair swings through the air. As she walks back outside, she adds, “I’m on a love embargo, so even if I wanted to have sex with you, Nick, I can’t.”

Completely fascinated, I return to the terrace to do some invading of her personal space. “What you’re saying is that you want to, but can’t?”

She plucks the front of her shirt. “It’s hot.”

“It sure is.”Damn, is she ever.

I could spend the rest of the night analyzing her reaction. I’m going into law for a reason. It’s concrete, set, but flexible when approached from the right angle. Psychology isn’t an arena that suits me or my analytical mind. Though I still find myself wanting to impress her, which is crazy considering we live on opposite sides of the country.

There’s no future for us. And there’s no tonight either due to her love embargo, which is another Natalie curiosity. Yet I can’t resist flirting with her.Wanting her.

Unlike her cute, drunken comments earlier that she does want me, finds me sexy, and even called me her dream man, she’s changing as she sobers. Still gorgeous. But less assertive.

And that’s when I realize what makes her different from other women I’ve dated and why I’m so intrigued by the woman in front of me. “I can’t read you, Natalie.”

Sitting on the chaise, she leans back and kicks her feet up. Closing her eyes, she soaks in the last of the sun’s rays, and says, “I’m an open book, Nick. If you can’t read me, you can ask me anything.”

I sit on the chair beside her. “Where do we begin?”

6

Nick

I never found fries sexy. . .until I met Natalie.

If the sight of her lips wrapped around the thick cuts of potatoes didn’t do the trick, then hearing her moan in pleasure did. I’ve been uncomfortably hard ever since.

The scent of burgers still lingers in the air, but I’m over the food, wanting to be under Natalie. Imagining her on top of me, riding me with that confidence she carries like a chip on her shoulder—potato pun intended—has me wishing for more time than we’ll get tonight. So far, we’ve had just over an hour of banter, good food, and laughter.When was the last time I just hung with a girl and enjoyed myself so thoroughly?I have no idea, but it’s been a while.

She slips out from the chair, leaving me sitting at the table. “Do you mind if I use the bathroom?”

“Of course not. Let me show you where it is.”

As I enter the bedroom, a million thoughts race through my mind of what I’m supposed to do while she’s in the bathroom.

Do I wait awkwardly on the bed or divert to the chair in the corner?

Do I turn on the TV or grab a book?

Do I return to the living room and wait out there?