The next evening, Emily stood in front of her mirror, smoothing down the fabric of her navy blue dress. She couldn’t help but feel a little nervous despite the warmth that lingered from their last encounter. It had been so long since she’d allowed herself to feel this way about someone—hopeful, curious, vulnerable.
A message from Nathan.
Nathan: Almost there. I can’t wait to see you. The restaurant Nathan had picked was a cozy little Italian place tucked away on a quiet street. As she stepped inside, the soft glow of candlelight and the gentle hum of conversation wrapped around her like a comforting embrace. Nathan was already at a corner table, looking effortlessly handsome in a crisp white shirt and dark jeans.
His face lit up when he saw her
“Thank you,” Emily replied, cheeks warming as she settled into her seat.
They ordered pasta and shared a bottle of wine, the conversation flowing effortlessly. Nathan shared stories from his recent projects—his passion for architecture evident in every word. Emily found herself hanging on to every detail, fascinated not just by his stories but by the way his face lit up when he talked about his work.
When the food arrived, they laughed over the way Nathan struggled with his spaghetti, teasing each other about their questionable table manners. The evening felt like a dream—comfortable and thrilling all at once.
After dinner they down the quiet street, hand in hand, lost in the peaceful night. Just as they reached the small plaza at the end of the road, Nathan stopped, pulling her close. His thumb brushed over her cheek, his eyes soft and intent.
“Being with you feels… right,” He leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, tender kiss that made her toes curl. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them wrapped up in the.
But just as they pulled apart, Emily’s phone buzzed insistently. Apologizing, she glanced at the screen. It was her boss.
“Of course,” Nathan replied, giving her space.
The call was abrupt and demanding apparently one of the major clients had last-minute changes to the reports Emily had prepared. They needed her too early to fix everything before the big presentation. Frustration bubbled up, but she forced herself to respond professionally before hanging up.
Nathan must have seen the tension in her shoulders because he immediately stepped closer. “Everything okay?”
She gave a weary smile. “Just work. Sometimes it feels like I’m carrying the whole project on my shoulders.”
He gently squeezed her hand. “You’re strong. I can see that. His words hit deeper than he probably realized, and she fought back the sudden swell of emotion. “I know… I just forget sometimes.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and she let herself lean into him, grateful for his warmth and support. When they finally parted for the night, he kissed her forehead softly.
“I will.”
Back in her apartment, exhaustion hit her full force. As she prepared for bed, her phone chimed with a message from Nathan.
Nathan: Hope you’re home safe. Tonight was amazing.
Emily: Just got in. It was. You made everything feel lighter.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling with a contented sigh. Yet, doubts began to creep in. Her job was demanding and relentless—would there ever be room in her life for something as precious as what she was beginning to build with Nathan?
The following days were a blur of meetings and deadlines. Emily found herself missing him more than she expected, and she wondered if he felt the same way. Finally, on Friday evening, just as she was finishing up some reports, her phone rang.
“Hey,” Nathan greeted, his voice warm and soothing. “How’s your week been?”
“Crazy,” Emily admitted. He chuckled softly. “I was hoping you’d say that. Listen, how about a getaway? Just for the weekend. There’s this cabin by the lake my friend owns. Peace, quiet, and no phone calls.”
Surprise flickered through her. “That sounds… incredible.”
“Then it’s a plan. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
As they hung up, excitement tinged with nerves settled in Emily’s stomach. A getaway with Nathan felt like stepping deeper into something real—and that both thrilled and terrified her. Yet, she couldn’t deny how much she wanted to be with him, to see where this unexpected journey would lead.
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