Page 78 of Wild Abandon

When the dishes are cleaned and put away, I look over at my phone and notice it is really late. “Thank you for dinner.” I grab my bag off the table.

“You’re leaving?” Nate swings around from his spot at the counter. He’s about to open a second bottle of wine.

“I have a forty-minute drive ahead of me. Any more wine, and I’ll be passing out on your couch. I have to pack to leave for Tahoe tomorrow.” I take a breath and try not to misinterpret the look of disappointment on his face.

He puts the bottle and corkscrew down and nods his head in agreement. “Yeah. We wouldn’t want that. I’ll walk you out. Come on, Willie.” He puts a leash on Willie Mays, and the two walk me downstairs.

“You’ll stop by the bar?” he asks as I’m unlocking my car.

“I don’t have any dates lined up this week.” I haven’t been on a date, aside from Brent, in three weeks.

“The Barge Poppers will be playing. I’d like to see you play with them again. Or you can just come by to say hi.”

“I’ll do that. I’ll swing by when I’m back from Tahoe.” I open my door and am about to get in.

“Have you ever been to San Francisco?” he asks quickly, making me to turn around and do a double take.

“Why? You inviting me?” I kid.

“Yes.”

His answer surprises me.

“Oh. Well, I’d love to go. We’ll plan it when I get back—”

He puts his hand on the space in between me and the door. He’s so close. With his body cornering me into the doorframe, I have no choice but to turn into him and see his beautiful face and those damn mesmerizing eyes boring into me, so hard and determined yet frightened at the same time.

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

He takes his thumb and gently pulls my bottom lip from between my teeth. I have to do everything I can not to reach out, grab his face, and put my lips where I really want them to go.

He either really wants to take me to San Francisco, or he just doesn’t want me to go to Tahoe with Brent.

Either way, I’m a fool and an idiot and everything in between because I breathe, “Okay.”

Nate backs away from me and opens the door all the way, letting me in.

When I’m buckled, he leans down, and I lower the window. “I’ll pick you up at noon.”

I nod and swallow. Then, I drive away more excited than I’ve been in a long time, yet I’m also absolutely frightened at what this trip could mean for my heart.

chapter SIXTEEN

“More food? Where do you put it, woman?” Nate is being pulled by me toward a food vendor at Fisherman’s Wharf.

So far, I’ve had a chowder bread bowl from Guardino’s, a seafood cocktail from the Crab Station, and crab from Sabella. Right now, I am eyeing up a lobster roll from Nick’s Lighthouse.

When I was getting ready this morning, I realized I had no idea what to expect.

He said we were going to San Francisco this weekend, but did he mean overnight? Where would we be sleeping? What should I pack? Would I look presumptuous if I packed a bag?

So, I started to pack an overnight bag just in case. As I was staring at it, trying to decide if I forgot anything, Naomi walked in and threw a box of condoms on top of it.

“What are those for?”