Chapter 23

Nate hadn’t expected to enjoy coming home to someone so much. Eloise was obviously doing her best to minimise the impact of her staying at his place by keeping everything extra neat and tidy. But as he stood, dripping in the doorway, he clocked all the tiny changes that had transformed his house into a home.

It was the kettle whistling on the stove, the beginnings of dinner arranged on two brightly coloured cutting boards he’d never seen before. His dog dozing on her bed with what looked like a new soft toy bunny—God, he’d laughed so hard when Eloise had bought that for her—tucked under her head. Voices and laughter filling the usually empty space in a way the television could never replicate properly when he turned it on, sick of the quiet. Although, The Golden Girls could talk. That’s what he should be putting on, not football and basketball.

While Eloise dipped a chicken breast in a bowl of egg wash before covering it in breadcrumbs made from yesterday’s loaf, Nate finished drying his hair, another smile tugging at his lips.

“Well, then, what’s the secret to getting your hair to look so good all the time?” Joanie snuck a piece of cut-up carrot from a bowl of vegetables.

“If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone, especially my brothers.”

Joan clapped her hands together and swallowed before speaking. “This is going to be good. I can already tell.”

Nate snuck a glance at Eloise. Even though she was pretending to be focused on pouring olive oil into a pan, her small smile gave her away. “It’s from a company called Big Sexy Hair.”

“Well, now I have to see it!” Joanie crowed. “Please, Nate. Give me something to tell the girls at book club tomorrow. We’re reading a historical recount of the gold rushes in the area because someone complained it was all getting too smutty and …” Joanie mimed falling asleep, her glasses slipping off and landing on the wooden countertop.

A small puddle was gathering at his feet. “Give me two seconds.”

“Sure you don’t want to give a lonely old lady a thrill?”

“Joanie,” Eloise warned, and that little smile of hers? It was threatening to become a grin.

Maybe it was the residual runner’s high combined with finally being warm and sort of dry. Or the way Eloise tucked her chin to her chest and shook her head at her grandmother’s gall, looking like she belonged in every corner of his home. Or maybe it was the realisation that Nate could have more, just like he’d encouraged Callum.

Whatever it was, it was a total Blanche move. Rose would’ve never done this.

Nate peeled his wet, long-sleeve running shirt off, leaving him in his running singlet and if the way Eloise’s mouth dropped open before she snapped it shut was a sign, the light blue material was mostly transparent.

Joanie fussed with her glasses. “Wait. Wait. I’m not ready. Okay. Pants next, please.”

“Joanie!” Eloise dropped the spatula she was holding.

“What? It was worth a try! You guys got any wine?”

Nate threw his head back and laughed. “We sure do. I’ll be right back.”

* * *

Joan was snoring softlyon Nate’s couch, half covered by one of Eloise’s long cardigans. Nate added another log to the fire, and when he turned around, Eloise was worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. They’d had, what he thought was, a great evening with her grandmother. There’d been lots of laughter, excited chatter about Eloise’s big adventure and a few throwaway comments from Joan that had made them both blush. But the thing that had really made it so special? All the lingering touches and heated looks they’d shared. Each time Eloise had fiddled with her braid, tapped her fingers against her lips or caught him staring, Nate had wanted to grin. To tell her how happy she made him.

“I didn’t realise how late it was,” Eloise whispered, glancing at her sleeping grandmother. A quick check of his watch confirmed it was only a smidge after ten o’clock.

“Joanie’s not supposed to drive at night, especially not in weather like this.”

“I’ll drive her home, and I can take her car back in the morning. Or she could stay here,” Nate volunteered. Eloise was sleeping in the guest room, but Nate could take the couch. Give Eloise his bed. As much as he loved Joan, there was no way she could be trusted in his room. And he really, really liked the idea of Eloise in his bed. Getting out early would also distract him from his big meeting with Garrett about what he should write next.

“I can”—a yawn interrupted Eloise’s words—“take her home.”

The sight of Eloise all relaxed, curled into the corner of his couch with Echo snuggled up next to her, filled Nate’s chest with a warmth the fire could never replicate. Overwhelmed with need and want, while still conscious that Joan was less than two metres away, Nate leant forward and did what he’d been desperate to do ever since he arrived home. Just one kiss. A little taste to tide him over until they could be alone again. Heat flaring in her eyes, Eloise shifted forward, her hand settling on his thigh.

His lips were almost on hers when Joan stirred, mumbled something in her sleep about “two sex on the beaches, please”.

Eloise stifled a laugh, her breath skating over his skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind it.

Right. They needed privacy. And they needed it now.

Nate held out his hand, and Eloise let him pull her up, leaning into him as she slipped her feet into her Ugg boots. He led her to the walk-in pantry and closed the door with his foot.

“Thanks for being so sweet with Joanie,” she murmured.

“Always, but can you do me a favour, please?” He backed her up against the wall, caging her in with his hands. “No more talk about your grandmother. I need a little something.”

Eloise reached for him, one hand wrapping around the back of his neck while the other landed on his hip, her finger slipping inside the waist of his tracksuit pants.

“What do you need?” she asked.

The short answer was her, always her, but Nate didn’t want to give the game away when they were supposed to be taking this slow.

“A little dessert, please.”

Eloise’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. “Am I dessert?”

“Uh-huh.”

“We’ll have to be quiet …” She jerked her head towards the closed door, her eyes never leaving his. A thrill ran through Nate, waking up every part of his body because he’d half expected her to immediately shoot down the idea. He adjusted his pants, promising himself that soon he’d feel her hands on his body. But not tonight. Not with her grandmother sleeping in the lounge room.

“Just a few kisses. No funny business. Clothes stay on.”

“Our clothes stayed on the last time, too.” The disappointment in Eloise’s tone was exactly what Nate needed to push forward, ducking down so he could pick her up. She acquiesced immediately, her hands gripping his shoulders, legs wrapping around Nate’s waist as he pressed her into the wall.

Eloise met him halfway, tilting her face towards his, eyelashes fluttering. She was so damn pretty. “But next time, maybe our clothes could come off? Deal?”

“Deal.” The second his mouth touched hers, she opened for him, inviting him to take what he needed. Nate didn’t hesitate, rolling his hips, torturing himself. In no time at all, they were moving against each other.

The sweetest sigh fell from Eloise’s lips when he pulled away, and Nate dimly recognised another sound through the closed door: clapping.

Shit.

He watched as Eloise realised what was happening. The haze of arousal disappearing as her eyes narrowed and the corners of her mouth tipped down.

“Shall I see myself out?” Joan cackled, her voice holding no trace of sleepiness. Eloise groaned, tipping her head back, and Nate told himself not to kiss her exposed neck.

“Use a condom! Actually, don’t. I want great-grandbabies, please!”

It was just a joke. Logically, Nate knew this, but it didn’t stop him from freezing, his insides icing over like he was standing outside in a snowstorm. And it wasn’t like this was new information. He’d gone into this with his eyes wide open, knowing Eloise would never be his long-term. Not when she found out his secret. Swallowing past the bitterness in his mouth, Nate stepped away from Eloise and scrubbed his hands down his face.

“Joanie, do you think you could maybe be a little less Joanie-like right now, please?” Eloise asked, her voice higher and thinner than normal.

The older woman’s tsk came through loud and clear. “I can’t switch my awesomeness on and off, darling. Just letting you know I’m leaving. Mary will be wondering where I am.”

“I’ll be right out. Wait, please.” Eloise shifted her gaze away from the door to the pantry and back to Nate. “Don’t change your mind,” she whispered.

“What?”

“You heard me. Please don’t change your mind. I want this. You. Us. To keep exploring each other. Don’t you still want that too?”

The way Eloise’s voice wavered at the end broke and healed Nate all at once. Who was he kidding anyway? Now that he’d had a taste of her, there was no way that he’d stop what was happening between them. At least, not until he had to.

The honesty that had come so easily earlier in the evening returned. “I want that too.”

“Great. I’ll take Joanie home quickly, and then we can continue this.” Eloise smoothed her hair before reaching for his hands.

“I’ll take her home,” Nate said as she pulled him into a hug. A few minutes to re-centre and catch his breath would be good. “Why don’t you have a bath? Properly relax?”

“I think I need you to properly relax,” she mumbled.

One moment at a time,he reminded himself.

“Save that thought for later.” He left her with a soft kiss, his steps lighter than he would’ve thought possible only a few minutes ago.