Page 215 of The Havenport Collection

Luke

I felt pretty proud of myself for coaxing Nora back into the restaurant. I was seeing red after the way that jackass had treated her. I wanted to follow him into the parking lot and kick his ass, but Sarai wisely suggested I go check on Nora instead.

It wasn’t surprising that they hit it off immediately.

“So what was that?” Sarai asked Nora.

“A blind date set up by my mother,” Nora explained. “She caught me at a weak moment.” Nora held my gaze, and I realized she was talking about me. Had I hurt her?

Sarai grasped her hand. “You poor thing. Luke heard what he said to you, and I thought he was going to punch the window.” She threw me an elbow. “He clearly cares about you.”

I studied my napkin, avoiding any eye contact. I could feel my face flush.

Nora laughed. “Sure he does. Cares enough about me to crash my date with a supermodel.”

“Oh honey, I am no model. Lucas and I are just old friends, and this is no date.”

I tentatively looked up at Nora’s intense stare. “Sarai’s a senior VP at X-Chrome Capital. She’s usually based in New York,” I explained.

“Yes, but this semester I’m teaching a course at Harvard Business School, and since I don’t know anyone in the area, I was thrilled to meet up with an old friend.” She raised her eyebrows at Luke. “He insisted I meet him tonight. I can’t imagine why.”

I returned to folding and refolding my napkin. Introducing Nora to Sarai was a mistake— they would team up and tear me apart.

Taking pity on me, Sarai thankfully changed the subject. “So. I’d say real drinks are called for. What do you think, Nora?” She flagged the waiter over and leaned back in her chair. “Three vodka tonics please, top shelf. And keep them coming.”

She then picked up her menu. “I’m starving. Nora, what’s good here?” She studied it for a few minutes before exclaiming, “Fuck it. Let’s order one of everything and share. See if this place is really as good as Lucas says it is.”

“You’re amazing,” Nora said, smiling at Sarai.

“I think we’re going to be friends,” she replied, smiling back.

I sat back and let them chat. First about shitty dates—Sarai was in the midst of a divorce, so she had plenty of rage to contribute—and then about their careers.

“I own a clothing store here in town,” Nora said nonchalantly. I hated that she continually downplayed her achievements.

“Not quite,” I said. “Nora is the owner of Jeanious Bar, a really successful and innovative retail concept. She started as a store here in Havenport but has built quite the online empire.”

“Tell me more,” Sarai said, draining her drink and gesturing for another.

They started to speak in earnest about retail, women’s clothing, and the challenges of online shopping. I was blown away by Nora’s business acumen and her market research. And I clearly wasn’t the only one.

“I think you should come pitch to me and my partners,” Sarai said, handing Nora a business card. “We are a women owned and operated VC firm, and unlike the douchebags you’ve been talking to, we actually know what to do with a business like this.”

Nora’s face lit up. “That would be incredible.”

“Let’s have lunch next week. We can go through your pitch deck and I can give you some feedback. And then we can refine your presentation. I want to learn more.”

After several hours of shop talk, I walked into my house feeling satisfied. Not only had I spent the evening with Nora, but I also got to watch her shine with Sarai. I hoped they could work together. Between the two of them I’m pretty sure they could take over the world.

I unbuttoned my cuffs and began to think about Nora on the other side of the wall. I was overcome with the need to see her, say good night, and tell her never to go out with another guy again.

Impulsively, I walked outside and right to her back door.

After a minute of my knocking, she answered. She had changed from a distractingly sexy cocktail dress into a pair of shorts and an old T-shirt. Her feet were bare, and her hair was pulled back. She looked beautiful, and my heart began to race.

“Luke,” she said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

I stepped into her kitchen and pulled her into my arms, kissing her. She softened into me, letting her hands roam over my chest before pulling away.

“If you’re lonely,” I said, catching my breath, “tell me.”

“What?”

“I want to be the one to take you out.”

“Why?”

I threw my hands up in frustration. “Why? Because of this!” I gestured between us. “Because this is something I can’t understand or quantify, and I need it, Nora. I need you.”

She took a step back from me and crossed her arms over her chest. I wanted her closer to me, not farther away. But I knew that kissing the life out of her wouldn’t achieve that. I had to suck it up and tell her how I felt.

I paced around her kitchen, trying to find the right words.

“I know you don’t need me to open doors for you or pump gas for you or do anything fucking helpful, ever.

I get it. You are an alpha wolf, Nora. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want you.

I want to be right beside you as you’re kicking ass and taking names.

You may not need me. But I need you. I need your warmth, your sass, your secretly big heart.

So take pity on me and please don’t let your mom fix you up with anyone else. Because I don’t think I can handle it.”

She smiled a sexy smile, and I exhaled.

I took a step toward her. “I have been going crazy this week. And last night, Astrid told me about your date, and I completely lost my mind.”

She bit her bottom lip and her eyes twinkled. “Really?”

“Yes. I was ranting to Josh about how I was going to crash your date and then he had the brilliant idea of showing up at the same time.”

“Thank him for me. Meeting Sarai was the highlight of my year.” Then her face fell. “Speaking of…did you guys?”

I nodded. “Yes. We dated years ago.”

“And?” She looked jealous, and I liked it.

“And it wasn’t serious and then she moved to New York. I went to her wedding. We’re friends now, nothing more. Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me, Luke. I would happily have sex with her; she’s a goddess.”

I chuckled.

“But,” she said sternly, “you should not have interrupted my date. I’m not your pity charity case. You don’t have to save me or rescue me.”

“But I want to, Nora. I want to be with you. Astrid mentioned last night you were going out with some random guy, and I have been out of my fucking mind since. I called up Sarai and made her come to Havenport with me. I had to agree to come do a guest lecture for one of her classes next semester.”

“So you were going to humiliate me and make me jealous?” she hissed. I was fucking this up. Didn’t she get it? I was crazy about her.

“I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m not rational when it comes to you, Nora.”

She studied me for a minute before dropping her arms. She looked scared and defeated, and I wanted to gather her up in my arms and tell her everything would be okay.

“What do you want from me, Luke?” she whispered.

“Whatever you will give me, Nora.”

She held up her hand. “Stop. I am not interested in being your fuck buddy. I’ve been down that road. It only hurts my self-esteem.”

“What makes you think that’s what I want?”

“We hooked up and then you did nothing and said nothing.” She looked down at her bare feet, and I was thrown by her vulnerability.

I took a breath. I chose my next words very carefully. “I was scared and totally overwhelmed with my feelings for you.”

She looked up at me, her eyes full of hurt. “Because a guy like you does not date a girl like me. You fuck me. And you enjoy it. But then you move on to someone acceptable. Either some dumb, beautiful model, or a genius perfect human like Sarai.”

“You are dead wrong. I want you.”

“No, you don’t. I’m too curvy, too loud, and too opinionated. I’m not wealthy or successful. I’m just a scrappy small businesswoman trying to make her way in the world.”

She took her hair out of its knot, and I watched mesmerized as it spilled over her shoulders. “You are Luke Kim. You are one of the perfect people. Smart and handsome and rich and annoyingly decent. You can have anyone.”

I took a step closer, feeling the pull of her body like a magnet. “I don’t want anyone. I want you.”

“No, you don’t.”

I pulled her close to me, gently tucking her hair behind her ear. “I know you have a pathological need to be right all the time, woman. But listen to me. I want you. Only you. I’ve wanted you for years, Nora. I’ve stared at you and watched you and pined for you.”

She looked up at me, eyes pooling with tears.

“You want to know why I brought so many women into your store? Because I wanted to see you. I wanted an excuse to check up on you and see you in your element. I think about you all the goddamn time. Do you have any idea what it’s like to know you’re on the other side of that wall?

I want to kick the door in and take you to my bed where I can keep you forever. ”

She pushed against me. “Stop saying this shit, Luke. You’re fucking with my head, and it’s not fair.”

“You are the most stubborn fucking woman I’ve ever met in my life. And I need you to shut up and listen.” I took her face in my hands and looked deeply into her eyes.

“You are a fucking goddess. I am obsessed with you. Every part of your body and mind. I have spent years watching you, studying you, and wanting you.”

I wiped a single tear with my thumb as it rolled down her cheek. How could I make her understand what I was feeling?

“I’m sorry I disappeared on you. What happened last week was so intense.

It was so much more than I could ever have expected.

I am a logic guy. I write code and analyze data.

But this? The chemistry between us? The feel of you in my arms?

The absolute perfection of your body? How could I possibly be prepared for that? ”

I leaned down and kissed her gently.

“I panicked. I was a coward. And I’m sorry.”

She pulled me down and kissed me back, gently and tentatively. I savored the taste of her, the feel of her in my arms. This was exactly what I wanted.

I pulled her close, and she rested her head on my chest. “I don’t want you going on any dates, Nora.”

She pulled back and glared at me. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“I can if you’re mine.”

“Who said I was yours? I belong to no man.” Her sassy tone was back, and I loved it.

“Okay, fine. You don’t belong to anyone, but what about me? Maybe I could belong to you?”

“Why would you want to do that?” she asked incredulously.

“Because I’m absolutely crazy about you, and I want you more than I want my sanity. So I’m willing to make that trade.”