Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
A little awkwardly, she turned down the bedspread and climbed into bed.
Nate followed, and then, sitting up, they turned to look at each other. “You know,” he said, “this has been quite a week.”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, last Friday we were at Lucas’s launch party.”
Tamara gave him a wry smile, knowing what that meant.
Nate continued, “Then Married in Malibu got the new wedding account with Zach and Yuriko, and then you threw that great birthday party for Kate, and then we ended up down here at another wedding!”
“You’re right. I didn’t think about it like that. It was a busy week. I guess we should try and get some sleep tonight as I imagine the rest of the weekend is going to be action-packed.”
“Yeah, for sure,” Nate agreed. “Although, if there’s time before the wedding tomorrow, I’d like to take a walk with you down the beach.”
Tamara smiled. That sounded like bliss.
As she lay down, Tamara managed to disguise her attraction to Nate, but inside she was fighting the urge to reach out for him as he turned out the light. Now that they were in the dark, knowing that he was just a few inches away was near torture. It would be so easy to roll over and close the gap.
“Good night, Tamara,” Nate said. “Sleep well.”
“You too,” she replied. “Good night, Nate.”
But it was anything but a good night. Tamara couldn’t get to sleep. She couldn’t even begin to relax, knowing that Nate was beside her in his cute, dorky pj’s. It was driving her crazy. She just wanted to kiss him. She couldn’t get comfortable, and every time she started to drift off, thoughts of Nate, his family, Nate again, the wedding, and then Nate again dragged her back to wakefulness.
He seemed to be having just as much trouble getting to sleep. Tamara could tell by his breathing that he was still awake. If he also couldn’t sleep… maybe it was a sign. Maybe they should be more than friends. Everything she’d seen of him today made her realize that he truly was an exceptional person—kind, thoughtful, funny, and smart. On top of that, he also knew his own mind. There was no way he was going to leave Married in Malibu to work with Tim. Meeting his family certainly hadn’t changed her mind about Nate being a good guy. If anything, it had only shown her what a warm bunch they were and how well they all fit in with one another. Being part of his family would be so easy. It would also be so easy to roll over and kiss him right now. She was tempted to start something that wouldn’t have to stop.
Tamara could feel her heart begin to pound, whether with nerves or excitement or both, she couldn’t tell.
“Nate?” she whispered in the dark. “Nate. You know how we kissed at Lucas’s party? You know how we both said it was a mistake? Well, what if it wasn’t?”
There was no answer.
“Nate?” Tamara whispered again.
Still no answer.
Nate, it seemed, had managed to find the sleep that was still eluding her. In that moment, Tamara felt as foolish as she ever had. Of course Nate had no problem sleeping like this in the same bed with her. It simply meant he was tired, and this “thing” between them didn’t mean as much to him. After all, it was easy to fall asleep beside someone who was just a friend.
The only good part about this was that he was asleep. Otherwise, he would have heard her confess everything she felt, and that would have caused problems.
At least this way, she still had her secret.
Chapter Eleven
Nate slept like the dead that night. Between the drive and burning the midnight oil on Zach’s project, he was so exhausted he could have slept anywhere. Let alone in his brother’s insanely comfortable beach house, next to the one person in the world he felt safest around. With Tamara there, it was as if nothing else mattered. As he lay in bed, slowly waking up, he remembered how somewhere on the edge of sleep last night, he thought he’d heard sounds—Tamara talking, then, much later, the sound of the shower, and the rustle of a bag being unpacked.
Nate opened his eyes. Tamara was just finishing getting dressed. His next thought was that she looked stunning. She was wearing a long flowy yellow dress, not quite wedding wear, but it was bright and perfect for brunch and the beach. Somehow, it was different from her usual casual look. It suited her, but then, if there was anyone who was going to look great getting ready for the beach, it was Tamara. Nate pinched himself, realizing that seeing Tamara first thing in the morning was not a dream.
“Good morning,” Nate said, smiling. “Sleep well?”