Page 19 of Cedarwood Manny

“Kelsi kept me in the loop,” Nathan said.

“Smart girl.” He ate another two bites. “This is delicious.”

“Thanks.” Nathan rested his elbows on the bar and leaned forward. “I hoped you’d like it.”

“I do,” he said between bites. “Just promise me you’re not trying to poison me.” And again, he’d said something ridiculous.

“Me?” Nathan laughed. “No poison. I might be trying to worm my way into your heart, though. I do want you to keep me on.”

This time, Adrien chuckled. “I’m not letting you go.” He froze. He kept saying things that sure sounded as though they were a couple—but they weren’t. He liked Nathan, though, and was in over his head. But every time he looked at Nathan, he wondered if the man tasted good.

“You’re thinking too hard. Want to unburden? I’m not only a great cook, but a fine listener, too.” Nathan crooked his eyebrows. “You don’t have to.”

“It’s okay.” He continued eating and formulated what he wanted to say. “Kyle’s asleep?”

Nathan nodded.

He paused. A thousand reasons came to mind as to why he shouldn’t open up to Nathan, but he couldn’t stop. “I wanted to kiss you.”

“I know.”

What an odd thing to say. Adrien bristled. Maybe he’d made the wrong decision by speaking. “Oh.” Nathan’s response stung and he lost his train of thought.

“I know because I wanted to kiss you, too.” Nathan signed and flexed his fingers. “I know the rules. I’m a professional guy. Kissing my boss isn’t in my plans.”

“Right.” He finished his supper and a wave of nausea swept over him. Not because of the food, but out of emotional distress. “It’s against the rules.” The same rules he wanted to smash.

“I’ve never been attracted to my bosses in the past. I knew my boundaries.”

“Right.” He couldn’t contain the embarrassment much longer. “Never mind.”

“But those people weren’t you,” Nathan said.

He put the fork down and processed what Nathan had just said. “Are you attracted to me?” he blurted. He’d been blunt.Great.He wanted to take the words back.

“Yes.” Nathan’s blush deepened. “Ever since we met at the coffee shop, I wanted to kiss you.”

“At least it wasn’t one-sided.” Adrien sighed. “We have a problem.”

“We do.”

“I don’t know how to handle it. Kelsi’s been my only other nanny and I wasn’t attracted to her.” He massaged her forehead. “Every cell in my body screams to kiss you, but common sense dictates I keep space between us.”

“What’s your gut say?” Nathan crept around the bar. “Does it give you the green light? Or throw up a red flag?”

His mouth ran dry. He flattened his palms on his thighs and measured his breaths. The closer Nathan got, the more Adrien wanted him.To hell with caution.He hooked his fingers in Nathan’s front pockets and yanked him close. The warmth of Nathan’s body enticed him. He noticed the flecks of amber in Nathan’s blue eyes and the fullness of his lashes. The scruff he’d liked on Nathan’s cheeks wasn’t there. He’d shaved.

Nathan cupped Adrien’s jaw and brushed his mouth over Adrien’s. “I’ve been dying for a taste of you.” He kissed Adrien again. The simple gesture went from sweet and tender to devouring in a heartbeat. When Adrien opened to him, Nathan sucked on his tongue.

The craving ran bone-deep. Warmth seeped through Adrien to his core. He removed his fingers from Nathan’s pockets, then caressed Nathan’s ribs beneath his shirt. He wondered what it would feel like to have Nathan’s nude body against his. He moaned into the kiss. He needed more and the desire was stronger than he could fight off.

Nathan broke the connection, but remained close. “Yum.”

He nodded. No matter how hard he tried, his words were gone. “I want more,” he managed.

“I’m not pulling away,” Nathan said. “I’m risking being fired, but it’s worth the trouble.You’reworth it.”

Maybe…“I won’t fire you.” He doubted he’d be able to replace him and besides, he liked Nathan. Why get rid of the guy he liked?

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