Page 63 of Just One Silver Fox

“That means hours of driving for you, here and back.” Sonia was firm. He was already doing enough for her. “No, you need to just come to my place again. Come Friday and stay over.”

“You’re really going to startle your neighbors.”

“Maybe they’ll get used to it.”

“You have to promise me that you’re not getting romantic ideas,” he warned.

“Absolutely,” she said immediately, wanting to reassure him.

Instead there was a moment of silence.

“It’s the end of a fling, not the start of a thing,” he cautioned.

“I’m in total agreement,” she agreed, just wanting to close the deal. “Nine?”

“Nine.” His voice was a low rumble of intent, one that made her shiver to her toes.

Sonia couldn’t keep the pleasure from her voice. “Thank you, Nate.”

When she ended the call, Sonia did a triumphant happy-dance around her apartment.

Nate was coming back on Friday.

And Sonia couldn’t wait to see him again.

She had to make sure that everything was perfect.

* * *

Goingto Manhattan on a Friday night booty call with Sonia had to make the top five list of dumbest things Nate had ever done.

Yet turning back to Boston was out of the question.

Maybe he was self-destructive.

Definitely he was in love.

The key was to ensure Sonia never found out.

He’d been a goner from the start. The Sonia Effect should have warned him. Being conflicted wasn’t typical of Nate. He’d always been decisive—but he wasn’t when he was with Sonia. Being in love meant there was no way he could keep himself from agreeing to do anything she asked of him. She was his kryptonite. Sonia needed him so he’d do this. It was that simple. He’d give her what she wanted. He’d help her to heal.

But this time had to be the last time.

Forever.

Nate had a lot of time on the drive to New York to give himself advice and hope he could remember it. She’d make that sound, a couple of times with any luck. Even the memory of it was killing him. The point was helping her move past her history so that the handsome prince would have less work when he finally showed. And then Nate would drive away, his secret safe. They’d be friends without benefits then.

He’d probably never hear from her again.

All the more reason to dive right in and enjoy this last time.

But he had to make sure Sonia had no clue that he’d already fallen. Sharing the truth could only lead to pity sex.

Never again.

He had this.

Nate drove with verve, wanting to get there ASAP, and completely forgot to listen to his playlist, never mind sing alone. He pulled into a spot at the curb in front of her building at ten to nine. He idled the engine for a minute, reminded himself that this would be it, then got out of the car and headed for the brownstone. He’d brought flowers and wine, even though it might give her the wrong impression, because Sonia was elegant and Nate couldn’t bring himself to make it look crass.

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