Page 25 of Believing in You

He plated their sandwiches, and his intense eyes bore into hers. He really was a sexy man, and she was still trying to get used to seeing him without his glasses.

His large hand cupped her cheek as he brushed the pad of his thumb over her skin, and Nyla damn near purred. Her flesh prickled at the tenderness of his touch. For a big, grumpy guy, he had a calm, soothing presence about him, and in this moment, she felt cherished.

Harrison lowered his head and kissed her sweetly. “It’s time for me to start living again, and when I picture how that’ll look, I see you as part of that vision.”

Stunned, Nyla didn’t know how to respond. He spoke with such conviction that she believed every word, but they didn’t know each other. Not really. All they had going for them was a serious attraction that made her want to be reckless. Something she couldn’t afford to be.

However, when had she ever let that stop her?

Chapter Thirteen

Good food.

Good company.

One of the best nights he’d had in a long time, and Harrison wanted more. Mainly he wanted more of Nyla and not just sexually. She was a breath of fresh air and sunshine on a cloudy day combined. He loved her energy, her vibe, and inviting her over had been one of the best decisions he’d made in a long time.

Harrison also loved how she hadn’t given him a hard time about not being in the office during her last days at Telecom. He had explained that staying home to work was in the best interest of everyone. He hadn’t been in the right headspace after memories of his past came crashing back to the forefront of his mind. That, along with his strong feelings for Nyla, he’d needed time to process it all. Nyla said she understood, and she reiterated that, if he ever wanted to talk, she was there for him.

Part of Harrison’s reason for inviting her over was to do just that, talk, and to formally apologize. Nyla suggested they focus on relaxing and enjoying each other’s company, and if he wanted to discuss his past, fine. If not, she wasn’t going to pressure him.

He glanced at the remains of their meal and smiled. They’d eaten dinner in the living room, picnic style in front of the fireplace with the lights dimmed. They were sitting on the floor where they’d put the sofa cushions, and they used the cocktail table to hold their food and drinks.

Such a simple idea was making for a perfect way to wind down. The only thing that had given Harrison pause was when Nyla suggested they play twenty questions. Something he’d never done, but according to her, it was a way to get to know each other better.

Wasn’t that why he’d asked her over? So he could finally share some of his background with her? So they could get to know each other better?

“City living or suburban living?” she asked as she sipped from her wine glass.

“City,” he said, though he had grown up in the suburbs. In college and while playing at various nightclubs, he had fallen in love with the city of Chicago’s energy. “You?”

“Definitely the city.” She gave him a smile that pierced his heart.

Having her sitting next to him like this didn’t seem real. He had envisioned what their first date would be like. Dinner at an expensive restaurant, maybe some dancing or a night at the theater, but this was much better. Relaxing. Fun. Romantic.

Harrison marveled at how different she was from other women he’d dated, not that they were dating, but he couldn’t help comparing. Nyla was easy to be with, and she outshined them all. Even the woman he’d planned to marry and spend the rest of his life with.

“Chicago style pizza or New York style?” he asked.

“Neither. I prefer Detroit style pizza. Not too flat, not too thick, but just right with the perfect amount of caramelized cheese around the edges.” She moaned as if tasting what she hadjust described, and Harrison felt the erotic sound to the depths of his soul.

Damn. If all it took was a moan from her to make his body stir, then he was further gone than he originally thought.

Okay, maybe playing twenty questions wasn’t so bad. In the last thirty minutes, he had learned she was a middle child out of five. Her parents used to work in corporate America, but they left their jobs to open a bed and breakfast. He was familiar with the B & B because the building it was housed in was one of the most beautiful structures in his neighborhood. And now he knew he needed to get her some Detroit style pizza to get her to moan like that again.

“What about you?” she asked.

“Without a doubt, Chicago style. No way I can call myself a Chicagoan and not love all things Chicago, especially the pizza.”

They both laughed, and he grabbed his water bottle.

Nyla waved him off. “Yeah, I guess you have a point. Okay, what’s your favorite sexual position, missionary or doggie style?”

Harrison sputtered, coughed, and pounded on his chest. He’d just taken a swig of water that went down wrong.

“What?” he croaked, still coughing.

Nyla, grinning, rubbed his back. “Didn’t mean to get you all choked up there, Mr. Grant. You okay?”

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