Page 85 of A Lot Like Forever
“I think we should actually eat this amazing lunch before we leave. I don’t want you being undernourished.”
“I’m not pregnant yet, Nate. You don’t have to worry about my eating habits.”
They both laughed.
“Is it so wrong to want you barefoot, pregnant, and under house arrest?” he joked.
“What happened to wanting me to pursue my career?” She pushed him back, but he didn’t let her escape his arms.
“I want you any which way I can have you, Faith. So long as you’re mine.” He pulled her close.
“You still want my advice on which painting to buy, don’t you?” she asked. “I mean, after all the time I took making notes and deciding . . .”
“Darlin’, we have to buysomethingtoday. Just remember that it’s going to be forourcollection, so make sure you choose wisely.”
The slow smile that spread across her face was contagious. “Ours?”
“Faith, you’re going to be my wife. Whatever we do from now on we do together.”
She stepped away from him, clasping his hand and tugging him to his seat.
“Well, let’s have lunch, buy this damn painting, and find a hotel to spend the night. I’m ready for some of this togetherness you’re talking about.”
His eyebrows shot up, and he winked as she took the silver lid off one of the dishes.
“Oh really?”
“Yes, and trust me, you’ll need all your energy to keep up with me. So eat up.”
“Allmy energy?” he quipped, taking his own lid off, not nearly as interested in the food as he was in the woman seated across from him.
“Yes,” she said, picking up her fork but never taking her eyes off his. “And then some.”
He laughed; then so did she, holding out her left hand at the same time.
“Are we really going to get married?”
“No. This was just some big scam to get you into my bed tonight.”
“Well, it worked.” She was still smiling and looking down at her ring. “It’s perfect, Nate. I couldn’t have chosen better myself.”
“You’re perfect. And the perfect girl deserves the perfect ring.”
He’d never been one for big romantic gestures, but seeing the smile on Faith’s face told him that he’d want to spoil her for the rest of her life just to see her face lit with happiness.
“To us,” he said, raising his glass.
“To us,” she murmured in reply, taking a sip and grinning at him over her glass.
Thank god he’d stopped being such an idiot and manned the hell up to his feelings. He’d been an idiot plenty in the past, but not chasing Faith and showing her what she meant to him would have been the biggest mistake of his life.
* * *
“You know, it should have scared me, the fact that you’ve been with so many women.”
Faith stretched out on the oversize bed, the final rays of sunshine falling across the covers.So much for flying out tonight. Instead they were holed up at the Waldorf Astoria, in an extravagant room filled with fresh flowers to make it feel like home, as if they were already newlyweds without a care in the world. She might like to pretend she wasn’t impressed by his wealth, but there were certain things that she was already starting to look forward to enjoying, and beautiful rooms and lazy afternoons spent in them were top of her list.
Nate stroked her face, his fingertips gentle as they caressed her skin like she was the most precious thing on the planet. “How about we don’t talk about the other women I’ve been with.”
