Page 30 of Mine This Time

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Nash

A few months later, Mari looked at me from across the table in my kitchen. “Seriously?”

At my nod, uncertainty flickered in her eyes, and she looked out the window. I reached over and caught her free hand in mine where it rested on the table. “Hey, I’m just trying to let you know that I heard you when you said you didn’t want to rush things.”

After she looked back in my direction, a slow smile stretched across her face. “You’re a good man, Nash Reynolds.”

“I try.”

Although we’d been spending almost every other night together, Mari was staying in the staff condo for now.

I had tried to skip right past that step, but she’d insisted she needed time to settle into New Orleans.

Although I wanted to push that, time was something I had. I was going to get this right.

“I have a request, though,” I added.

“What’s that?”

“I want you to consider working with me.”

Mari cocked her head to the side, looking puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Your piece on the inns around New Orleans was excellent.”

She cut in. “It was no big deal, just a fluff piece.

I squeezed her hand. “Do you have to knock yourself? It was really good. I ran into one of the owners at a business chamber lunch the other day. She mentioned to me that you’ve definitely sent some business in their direction.

Although I’ve got a solid business here, getting it up and running has been by the seat of my pants.

I’ve never taken the time to have someone actually plan with me regarding our website and promotional materials. I think you’d be great for that.”

Mari stared at me for a long moment before another slow smile unfurled. “I might like that. As long as I’m in charge of myself. I do like to work independently.”

I held my hands up. “All yours. Now, I need to get into the office.”

Mari left with me, although she took her own car.

She’d flown back to San Francisco and driven her car out here just last month.

With Mari staying in the staff condo, we bounced between her place and my house.

Part of me thought it was silly, and nothing more than an illusion to live apart.

But, I knew after what she’d gone through with Brett that this was important to her.

I also had enough sense to know we were still in the baby stages of our relationship.

My impatience stemmed from the fact I knew, absolutely knew, I wanted to be with her completely.

Hours later, I took the elevator upstairs to her place. When she opened the door and I saw her with her hair up in a messy bun and glasses perched on her nose, I was through the door in a hot second, pressing her against it for a kiss. When I came up for air, she said, “This is stupid.”

“What’s stupid?” I countered, thinking kisses with Mari were anything but stupid.

“Pretending I need to stay here. I wanted to just come out to your place tonight. However, there are perks to having you up here for lunch,” she murmured against my lips as I rested my forehead against hers with a sigh of relief.