Page 30 of His To Unravel (His & Hers Duet #1)

TWENTY

olivia

I tighten the scarf around my neck as I step out of my dorm, still rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

I’m greeted by the sight of Nathaniel standing on the sidewalk, holding two coffee cups in one hand and a paper bag in the other. His smile is radiant enough to rival the warmth of the day. My heart stutters at the sight.

His sharp jawline and striking blue eyes give him the kind of allure that could leave anyone breathless, but it isn’t just his appearance that steals the air from my lungs.

He’s wearing a charcoal suit, the tailored lines impossibly sharp against the muted backdrop of late November.

A dark overcoat is slung open, framing the crisp shirt beneath.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him dressed like this—polished and devastating—and it does something to me.

He looks both powerful and elegant. Completely untouchable. And yet, the moment our gazes meet, his expression softens—like I’m the exception to whatever armor he puts on for the rest of the world.

“Good morning, Olivia,” he says as I approach, his voice warm with a tenderness that sinks straight through my defenses .

I smile up at him. “Good morning, Nate.”

He tilts his head, his grin turning playful. “Come here and give me a hug, will you? My hands are full.”

I chuckle softly, stepping into his outstretched arms without hesitation. The paper bag crinkles against my back as he holds me close, his chin resting on top of my head.

“Now, a kiss too?” he teases, his lips briefly brushing my temple.

I pull back just enough to see the mischievous gleam in his eyes. Rolling mine in mock exasperation, I stand on tiptoe and press a quick kiss to his lips. “Happy now?”

“Not quite,” he murmurs, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. as his eyes sweep over me with a look that sends a flutter straight through my chest.

“You look stunning,” he says, and it’s not casual. It lands with quiet conviction, like a verdict he’s already decided. “This outfit is not doing my self-control any favors.”

I glance down at myself, suddenly self-conscious beneath the weight of his gaze.

I’m wearing a fitted black turtleneck tucked into high-waisted gray trousers, paired with a cream wool wrap coat cinched at the waist. Polished but comfortable.

Understated, but clearly enough to earn that look from him.

His eyes linger a little a moment longer before flicking back to mine. “Everyone in that lecture hall’s going to remember every word you say, but trust me—they’ll remember how you looked while saying it too.”

My cheeks flush, but it’s not just from the cold. There’s something about the way he says it—low, earnest, a little hungry—that makes heat pool low in my belly.

I shake my head with a laugh, falling into step beside him as he leads me toward a wooden bench under a sprawling oak tree. He gestures for me to sit.

“For you,” he says, handing me one of the cups .

I take it gratefully, the warmth seeping into my hands. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

“I wanted to,” he replies simply, unpacking the paper bag to reveal two bagels. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want, so I got both a sweet one with peanut butter and jelly, and a savory one with lox and cream cheese. Your choice. Or we could share.” He grins. “Best of both worlds?”

My heart flutters at his thoughtfulness. “Sharing sounds perfect.”

His face lights up at that, and as he places the bagels with exaggerated care on napkins as if we’re dining at a five-star restaurant, I feel the warmth of his attentiveness spreading through me, seeping into the cracks of the walls I keep trying to reinforce.

While we eat in companionable silence, my mind drifts. Today is the day of our final presentation—the culmination of the project that brought us together. We’ve spent the past few days fine-tuning every aspect, making sure it’s perfect.

I can’t ignore the guilt that tugs at me during moments like this. I’ve been deliberately pulling away from him, needing space to steady myself against the tidal wave of emotion that comes with being near him. And yet, he never pushes.

Even when I turn down his offers to spend more time together, his patience never wavers. Each time I let him in, even briefly, his joy is so genuine it makes me question why I’m holding back at all.

“Are you nervous?” Nathaniel’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

I nod. “A little. After all this time, I still get nauseous before presentations.” I pause, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Although, it’s not as bad this time because I’m with you.”

His eyes soften as a smile breaks across his face, the kind that makes it impossible to look away. He slides an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer and kissing the side of my head.

“I’m glad,” he murmurs, his voice low and sincere. “That’s all I’ve been working toward—making sure you feel safe, that you know you can rely on me.”

I glance up at him, unsure how to respond, but he doesn’t seem to need an answer.

“Besides,” he continues, his tone lighter, “you have nothing to worry about. You’re brilliant, Olivia. The most intelligent person I’ve ever worked with at Halford. You’re going to impress everyone, just like you always impress me.”

His words send a flush of heat to my cheeks, and I duck my head, pretending to check my watch. “We should probably head to class,” I say, my voice a little too high-pitched.

He chuckles, standing and offering me his hand. “Lead the way, darling.”

I slip my hand into his, letting him pull me to my feet. As we walk side by side, I can’t help but wonder how much longer I can hold on to the space I’ve tried to create. With Nathaniel, it feels impossible not to fall.

I clutch the edge of my folder, my fingers brushing over its smooth surface as I try to keep my breathing steady.

Around me, students whisper final adjustments to their partners or cast wary glances toward the professor.

Beside me, Nathaniel radiates his usual calm, his sharp suit and composed demeanor making it seem like he’s attending a business meeting rather than a classroom presentation.

I sneak a glance over my shoulder at Carolyn, seated a few rows back. She catches my eye, flashing me a warm smile that immediately soothes my nerves. “You got this,” she mouths, shooting me an exaggerated thumbs-up.

When our names are called, Nathaniel rises first, extending his hand to help me up. As we make our way to the front of the room, my heart pounds, but the moment I glance at him—at the steadiness in his gaze—the nerves begin to dissipate. I’m not walking into this alone.

“Ready?” he asks quietly.

I nod, offering a faint smile.

As we begin our presentation, the words I’ve rehearsed for days tumble out. I focus on keeping my voice even and my tone confident, but my mind buzzes with self-awareness—are my hands gesturing too much? Is my delivery clear enough?

Then I catch Nathaniel’s eye. He stands beside me, tall and unwavering, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that makes the rest of the room fade away.

He doesn’t look at his notes, doesn’t even so much as glance at our professor; his attention is entirely on me. A subtle nod from him pulls me back from the spiral, his gaze silently saying, you’re doing great .

When Nathaniel takes over his segment, he speaks with effortless charm and precision, fielding a few questions from our peers with practiced ease. Then he hands the reins back to me without a second thought, stepping aside in a way that isn’t performative but collaborative.

It strikes me how natural it feels to share this space with him—not competing, not second-guessing, just two people who trust one another to deliver something extraordinary.

When the final slide clicks into place, I exhale softly, a wave of relief washing over me.

“That concludes our presentation,” Nathaniel says, his voice calm but resonant. “We’re happy to take any further questions.”

For a moment, the room is silent. Then Professor Jones begins to clap, his applause sparking an echo from the rest of the class.

“Impressive,” he says, stepping forward as the applause dies down. “You two have set the bar incredibly high. Truly innovative work, and a testament to what a strong partnership can achieve. ”

Pride blooms in my chest at the praise. I glance at Nathaniel, who shoots me a small, private smile that makes my heart skip.

As we return to our seats, the flush of adrenaline still tingling in my veins, Nathaniel leans close. His breath is warm against my ear. “You did an amazing job, baby. I’m so proud of you.”

Before I can respond, he presses a kiss to my cheek, soft and tender. The contact sears against my skin, leaving my face burning and my heart a helpless mess.

I duck my head to hide my blush and my goofy grin.

As the next pair of presenters takes the stage, I settle back in my chair, my thoughts wandering. This project has been unlike anything I’ve done before—not because of its complexity, but because of Nathaniel.

He never interrupts, never belittles, never makes me feel like I have to fight for space or validation.

Instead, he asks questions, listens carefully, and genuinely seems to value my perspective. Even when we disagree—and we do—he’s respectful, always steering our conversations toward solutions rather than conflict.

In the past, group projects have always left me exhausted—either I’d end up doing all the work while my partners slacked off, or I’d have to fight tooth and nail against someone steamrolling over me.

But with Nathaniel, it isn’t like that. He treats me as an equal, pushing me to be better, to think sharper, to reach higher.

For the first time, I feel like I have a partner—not just someone I’m paired with, but someone who sees me, believes in me.

As the class wraps up, Nathaniel places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the door.

“Ms. Bennett, Mr. Caldwell,” Professor Jones calls, stopping us just before we reach the door.