Free The Boyfriend List by Jeannie Moon Page B

away.
    “Fine. I’ll bring dinner. I’ll help you.”
    “Nate, you don’t have to . . .”
    There was no more arguing because Nate kissed her again and didn’t stop until he was holding her up against a tree. Like really holding her up. Her knees had stopped working.
    “I want to skip my golf game and take you to bed.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “Jesus, Jenna. Why did you blow me off? I’ve been wondering what the hell I did wrong.”
    “Nothing.” Her hand came to his face. “It was me, not you. And I know how stupid that sounds, but believe it. This is my problem. You’d be wise to run, not walk, away from me.”
    “Not a chance.”
    “I’m not worth it, Nate. You can do better.”
    Pressing her head into his chest, he dropped a kiss on top of her head. “Don’t say that. Give us a chance, okay?”
    “I—” Jenna was swamped by the emotions. Her mind was racing and her heart was out of control. “Please. Just say you’ll give it a shot.”
    He was so damned irresistible. Everything about him made Jenna think about the future and what it could be like if Nate was a part of it. “Okay. I’ll try.”
    “Good.” Then he held her. Just held her tight and after a while, she melted into the moment and stopped questioning the rightness of it. “I have to go,” he said quietly.
    “Don’t want to miss your tee time?”
    “No, I don’t want those idiots to come out here and embarrass you.”
    Or he didn’t want to be seen with her.
    “Stop it,” he said, his voice dropping.
    “Stop what?”
    “I don’t care who knows about us. I do care that those knuckleheads have the maturity level of eleven-year-old boys and will make every attempt to embarrass me and you.”
    “Did you hear me think that or something? Wow.”
    “What you’re thinking is generally all over your face.”
    “I guess I’ll never be a mysterious temptress, then.”
    “No, but it will be real between us, and trust me, you don’t need to be mysterious to tempt me.” He grinned and kissed her nose before stepping back. “I’ll come by about seven. Anything in particular you like? Or don’t like?”
    “Um, I love Thai food.”
    He chuckled. “You’d get along with Molly, Jason and Meg’s oldest. The first time I met her was about a year before they adopted her. We were at his house for a dinner meeting and were eating Thai. She jumped in like there was no tomorrow.”
    “How old was she?” Little kids and Thai food didn’t always mix.
    “Six, maybe?”
    Jenna loved the story and loved how the friends were all a part of each other’s lives. Even the teasing was endearing, because it showed Jenna they cared enough to notice. She hoped Nate realized how lucky he was. But thinking about that, knowing he was a man who didn’t take the people around him for granted, there was no doubt about it.
    ***
    Once Jenna was safely on her way, Nate went to find his friends who’d made their way back to the house. Kevin handed him a beer, but it was Harper who was giving him a look that was part curious, part ready to pounce. He pulled deeply on the bottle, letting the cold brew trickle down his throat. “What?”
    “That was some kiss you gave her.”
    “That is none of your business.”
    “My house, my tree, my temporary nanny. That makes it my business.”
    “Leave it alone, Harper.” Jason’s warning got her attention. “You know it never goes well when you butt in. We get mad, you get all pissy, and that’s never a good thing.”
    “I don’t get pissy.” Folding her arms, she plopped next to her husband on the plush settee on their deck. “Do I get pissy?”
    “Are you kidding? You’re the definition of pissy, and you’re pregnant. Let them handle it.”
    Never needing a reason to make a point, Harper rose and grabbed her daughter. To say she stormed off would be an understatement. But she slammed the door for good measure, just in case they didn’t notice she was mad.
    “Whoa,” Nate said.