Page 45 of Deadline for Love

“Wait, I’ll get it. You stay here.”

I sat back down on the bed in amazement as he headed for the door. But before he left the room, he turned around and gave me another glance, nodding at the shirt I was wearing. “It suits you even better than my dreams.”

My cheeks, which were already red, started to burn! The butterflies in my stomach were buzzing annoyingly around, and I couldn’t help but nervously play with the hem of the shirt and look away.

Nathan was so beautiful in his own right, shirtless with his mussed hair.

I thought he couldn’t make me any fussier, but he managed it with just one sentence.

“Did you just admit you were dreaming about me?”

He leaned against the doorframe and nodded. “Yes… and it was one hell of a dream.”

I had to swallow hard, and when he finally left the room, I let myself fall backward on the bed, touching my lips. This man broke through my wall seemingly effortlessly, it left me speechless, but…it was a beautiful feeling.

After I calmed down and freshened up, I joined Nathan, who had prepared a small breakfast. Once I finished eating, he drove me to my apartment, where I changed and packed a few clothes, books, and small items into a bag.

Then I stuffed my bag in the trunk of Nathan’s car and settled into the passenger seat.

“Are you working in the field today?” he asked, driving off.

“No, I’ll probably be working in the office so I can get these articles wrapped up. What I did yesterday was basically a first draft.”

Nathan nodded and then took my hand. “I’ll be working from home today, so when you’re done, call me and I can pick you up.”

“Oh, you really don’t have to.”

“I do. You’ll be my wife soon,” he interrupted me, and I fell silent.

“It’s best if you take a day off next week so we can get everything done,” he said, kissing my hand.

Swallowing hard, I stared at his lips, which reminded me of our kiss. The thought of making out with him in the car crept into my head. The feeling I had when we kissed was almost addictive.

“Bella?”

“Kiss— I mean sorry, yeah.” The first word had slipped out, and I wanted to punch myself in the face.

“Kiss?” he asked, “Does it bother you if I kiss your hand? I don’t want to push you.” Nathan let go of my hand, and I wished the ground would really open up at that moment and pull me under.

“No-no, it doesn’t bother me. I was just wondering why you were doing that,” I lied to change the topic in another direction.

“We’re gonna have to make it look like we’re actually together, so I’m just getting a head start on that.”

Okay, that’s enough. I was enchanted. The man was bewitching me.

“Bella, I don’t want to pressure you in any way, so if I’m doing something wrong, please tell me. Aside from our arrangement, I am still interested in you.”

Following his words, I closed my eyes and breathed in and out slowly to calm my heart—I was about to break every rule I had set for myself. There really wasn’t much left, and I would be the one who couldn’t hold back anymore.

Oh, my God, my own thoughts shocked me even more! Was it because I hadn’t been in a relationship for so long that I behaved like this?

“We’re here. I’ll see you later, okay?” All I could do was nod as I got out of the car. The lights in the building were already on, and it seemed like some of the staff from the other departments were already there. We from content creation were always the first, but everyone seemed to be there this time. Maybe James had warned everyone, not just Nia and me.

Sighing, I opened the office door and was greeted by the beautiful smell of peppermint tea. Aicha was standing next to my desk in her orange jumpsuit and matching hijab, holding a cup in one hand and a few sheets of paper in the other.

“Good morning. First one in again today?” I greeted and entered, then put my bag on my desk and smiled at her.

“Morning, sweetie! James called me yesterday about the new column and wanted it done today. He asked me to include a poem from the sender as well.”

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