nodded. “I will. I promise.”
Nathaniel watched as Elise threw him one last look over her shoulder. He sighed, a gust of air billowing into the ocean breeze.
Despite his good intentions he instinctively knew Elise would never be in his life the way she hoped to be. Whether it was ever said or not, he would always compare holding a woman in his arms to what it felt like to hold Rebecca. Because just before they’d been interrupted, his holding tight to Rebecca had felt like he’d won the best prize at the state fair.
When Nathaniel finally made it inside the space that would soon be his new restaurant, Rebecca and Carl were laughing heartily. It had been a good long minute since the two had last seen each other and they were enjoying their moment to catch up.
As he stood watching the two of them it felt like old times. College had brought them into each other’s lives. They’d all become fast friends and the bond had continued well after graduation despite the distance and time that had separated them over the years.
Watching Rebecca as she bantered back and forth with Carl made him smile. She’d always been quick with the one-liners. Her sense of humor had often kept them all laughing and she had one of the most infectious smiles. There was something about her that always made him feel that no matter the challenge things would be okay. She had a way of putting him at ease and he trusted her implicitly.
She laughed again, tossing her head back against her shoulders. She was truly stunning, he thought as light danced across her face and joy shimmered in her dark eyes. And she was wearing the hell out of a vibrant green, form-fitting, off-the-shoulder spandex dress that stopped midknee and flattered her chocolate-brown complexion. She wore four-inch heels that accentuated her thick calves and lengthened her long legs even more. She was the epitome of what he and the boys called thick. Her breasts were the size of small watermelons, multiple handfuls with spillage and then some. Her childbearing hips and rotund behind were wide and full, like beach balls smooshed tightly together. He thought about the fullness that had pressed comfortably against his groin, the lush cushion that had necessitated some restraint on his part. She’d been abundantly blessed and he had always admired how comfortable she was in her skin.
In college, skinnier women who were starving themselves for what they deemed perfect bodies had found her confidence intimidating. Jealousy had reared its head many times and she’d been the brunt of mean-spirited comments and jokes about her weight. Rebecca hadn’t been fazed by any of it. The former high school prom queen, cotillion debutante, choir soloist and Miss California runner-up had clapped back at her critics with a bright smile as she enjoyed every aspect of her existence, living her life to the fullest, unconcerned with what anyone else thought about her. Rebecca was his best friend and he felt immensely blessed that she still gave him the time of day.
Rebecca calling his name pulled him from the reflections he’d fallen into. He looked up to find her staring at him, her hands clutching her waistline, her hips pushed to one side. Her thick, jet-black hair hung to her midback, lush waves with the slightest hint of curl. He smiled as she tossed a few stray strands over her shoulder.
“I want it known, for the record, that Carl doesn’t like your new girlfriend.”
Carl laughed and choked at the same time. He held up an open hand. “I did not say that!”
Nathaniel shook his head. “Elise is not my girlfriend.”
“I couldn’t tell with the way she started interrogating me,” Rebecca said, her brow raised slightly.
Nathaniel’s grin was wide, a deep crevice in the center of his face highlighting his perfect white teeth and the dimples in his cheeks. “She asked you one question, Bec. You’re being a little dramatic.”
“Me? Dramatic?” Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest. “I am never dramatic!”
“I know that’s a lie,” Nathaniel quipped. He moved toward the bar and took a seat.
“Carl also said she looks like a poodle that’s been wound up too tight. That pinched face was not cute!”
The other man was still laughing heartily. He shook his head, his hands waving back and forth as he tried to catch his breath.
Nathaniel chuckled. “He did not. I know you, Bec.”
She moved to where he sat and pulled up the stool beside him. “So, really, what’s up with you and Susie Homemaker.”
“Nothing. Yet. She helped me find this place and we’ve talked about maybe hanging out together after I get the restaurant open. It’s nothing serious though.”
“You and your women never are,” Rebecca teased.
Nathaniel shrugged. “This could be different. You never now. It’s about time I thought about settling down. Right?”
Carl shook his head. “You really don’t want to do that. Trust me,” he said. “Marriage isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.”
“Says the man who is on his fourth wife!” Rebecca said with a laugh.
“Angel is my third wife, thank you very much. Lisa or Terry might be my fourth wife. Not quite sure yet.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes skyward. “You are such a man!”
“And you are seriously making us all look bad,” Nathaniel interjected.
The trio laughed, falling back into their easy way of being with each other. Despite how long it had been since they were last together it was like old times all over again. After a few minutes catching up, Nathaniel and Carl moved to take a tour of the building so that Nathaniel could point out the changes and renovations he wanted done fast and quick.
Rebecca stared after him. Everything about Nathaniel Stallion made her heart skip beats. Nathaniel had always been a man who dazzled without even knowing that he had that kind of swag. In school, he’d been the studious type, focused on his grades and his future. His twin brother Nicholas had garnered the attention on and off the football field. Nathaniel had been the serious brother, not nearly as outgoing and a little slow for the lengthy list of females enamored with his dark eyes.
He had an athletic build, his body a strong, solid mass of rock-hard muscle. Regular workouts kept him in fit shape. He was tall, with legs like solid tree trunks and a café au lait complexion that was as much coffee as it was cream. She watched as he scaled a ladder. He wore denim jeans and the view from where she sat was quite delectable. She bit down against her bottom lip to stall the quiver of heat that suddenly pierced her feminine spirit.
Wanting Nathaniel from a distance was one thing. Wanting him when he was close enough to reach out and touch was something else. For a split second Rebecca found herself questioning whether or not coming to help had been a smart decision. And then she thought about the other woman who clearly had her sights set on something happening between her and Nathaniel. He had said yet. Which meant he was actually considering the prospect of something happening with him and his new buddy Elise. The thought made Rebecca cringe with irritation and envy.
She blew a soft sigh. Nathaniel was much more than just her best friend. She couldn’t imagine her life without him and she always feared that a serious relationship
