Page 237 of Boyfriend of the Hour

Nathan frowned. “It’s a simple question. I realized I don’t know, other than your dad’s interest in Billy Joel.” He tapped on the car’s audio interface. “Just picking some driving music. Unless you’d prefer silence, in which case I’ll listen to an audiobook on my headphones. I don’t want to fall asleep at the wheel.”

For some reason, I could barely speak. “I—you want to know what kind of music I like?”

Nathan peered at me curiously. “What’s that look?”

I swallowed my shock. “I—it’s surprise. A weird, unexpected type of surprise.”

“You’re surprised I care about your musical taste?” He frowned again. God, he was cute when he did that. “Isn’t that something a good boyfriend should do?”

My surprise faded. And eventually, I found myself smiling again. So hard my cheeks hurt, and my chest hurt, and I could barely think, I was so happy. So, instead of speaking, I undid my seatbelt and crawled over the console into his lap, eager to convey with kisses what I couldn’t quite put into words.

“Yes,” I told him after I finished sucking on his bottom lip hard enough to make him groan. “It’s what averygood boyfriend should do. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at all, since you are the best.”

That dimple appeared again. I licked it, just because I could. And then lost my breath when Nathan kissed me again.

When he was finished, he looked up at me, his question still in his deep brown eyes. “Well? What do you want to hear?”

I bit my lip. “I don’t know. What would you pick?”

Was this what it felt like to want to please someone more than yourself?

Nathan shrugged. “Like I said, probably an audiobook for a drive like this. When I’m in surgery, I have a classic rock playlist. I like Fleetwood Mac. Some Steely Dan.”

I cringed. I couldn’t help it. “I…I mean, those are all right, I guess. It’s probably more stuff my dad would have listened to. I would guess, anyway. My brother says he liked some hip hop too, but?—”

“Joni,” Nathan interrupted as gently as I could.

I stopped babbling, cheeks heated. “Sorry.”

He cupped my face and smiled. “It’s all right. You can tell me more about your dad if you want, but I want to get on the road. So…music or not?”

I tipped my head. “Everyone likes Adele.”

Nathan’s chuckle warmed my very soul. “But doyou?”

Just the way I was. It was in everything he said. Even now.

“Not really,” I admitted as I slid off his lap and into my seat. “I’m more of a Rihanna fan, honestly, but I don’t really feel like a power ballad right now. How about Drake?”

Nathan shook my head. “Not my favorite. Kendrick Lamar?”

At that, I grinned all over again. Compromise. Of course. “Now we’re talking. I have a playlist you’re going to love.”

He started the car while I connected my phone to the stereo. But before he backed out, Nathan turned to me once again. “Before we leave, I do have another question to ask you. A more serious one.”

“What’s that?”

“When I buy the new house in Westchester, will you be my roommate there too? Actually, will you still be my girlfriend who lives with me? For real, this time? Not fake?”

I turned, wondering if he was actually serious.

But the twitch in his mouth told me different.

A joke.

Nathan Hunt was telling me another joke.

And my God, it made me love him even more.