Page 5 of Cedarwood Manny

“I am unattached,” Nathan said. “My last boyfriend didn’t want a dog and I did. He also wasn’t fond of my job at the time, so I figured if we couldn’t compromise over a dog, then we’d never agree on anything.”

“That makes sense.” He chuckled. Kyle had begged for a dog since he’d played with one at the park. Not being home much had prevented Adrien from looking into adopting a dog. That, and he hadn’t wanted to force Kelsi to take on an animal and Kyle.

“Do you like dogs?”

“I do and my son wants one. I work too much for us to have one right now. I want the animal to lead its best life and that wouldn’t be with us right now.”

“Understandable.”

And probably a mark against him. “You’re still talking to me. Either you’re not turned off by my being a dentist or you’re being nice.”

“Turned off?” Nathan’s smile widened and he toyed with his cup. “Wow. I didn’t know there was a love connection happening.”

“Oh fuck,” Adrien muttered. “I’ve let my worries get the best of me and I’m reading more into this than I should’ve. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“I didn’t mean to assume,” Adrien said. “My ex swore my brain and mouth weren’t in sync. He wasn’t wrong. I’m usually processing my next move before I’ve made the last one.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

“How?” Adrien blurted.

“You have to multitask, don’t you? Especially at the dental office? You don’t slow down. It’s part of who you are—you’re going in fifteen directions at one time,” Nathan said. “Which would be part of the reason you don’t have a dog. You can’t concentrate on the animal.”

Well, someone finally understood. But was Nathan turned off?

“You have a son, though. Is he high functioning like you?”

“He’s four. He’s smart, but…”Shit.He’d screw things up again with his honesty. “I expect a lot from him and I forget to factor in his age.”

“Did you adopt?”

“Surrogate. My sperm, though. My ex couldn’t on account of his vasectomy.” Why was he telling Nathan so much? He usually kept his personal life quiet. “Anyway… I’m a forty-year-old dentist who has a son, no dog and has gone through a divorce. I’m nerdy and should get going. I need to go home to see Kyle. That said, I feel like I’m losing a modicum of control in my life. My nanny is leaving so she can get married and I feel like I’m at a loss.”

“That’s rough, but you’ll manage. You’re resourceful.”

He’d disclosed too much. “Uh, sure.” He frowned. The man had him so confused. Were they connecting? Not? Was Nathan fishing for information? Was he spilling his guts when he should be keeping his mouth shut? “I should go home to my son. I’m babbling and I don’t want to be late.”

“You’re fine.” Nathan drank more of his coffee. “I don’t mind.”

“You should. Sometimes I don’t know when to stop talking.”

“Do you work a lot?”

“Yes.”More than I should.

“You spend time with patients, but not other adults,” Nathan said. “It’s normal. You crave human contact from someone your age who isn’t sitting in a chair with their mouth open and waiting for you to do work.”

His jaw slackened and he tried to hide his shock. Nathan seemed to know him well, even after a few minutes. “How do you know how to say the right things? Are you trying to rob me blind? Get into my good graces and swindle me?”Or are you attracted to me?

Nathan shrugged. “It’s a gift. That and I don’t think you’re strange—at least not as strange as you think I should. You’re funny and sweet and I’ve enjoyed our conversation. Oh and no, I’m not going to rob, swindle or cheat you.”

He had no words. Even Gerry, who’d sworn to love him forever, hadn’t been so nice or understanding.

“I’ve listened to you and done all this talking, but never shared who I am.” Nathan laughed to hide his embarrassment. “I’m a manny. It’s my job to listen and pay attention. I work for the training center in town.”

“Oh.” Adrien sat back in his seat. “Do you know my nanny, Kelsi Ward?”

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