Dream Date (42 page)

Amanda closed her eyes, her expression becoming one of sadness. She looked at Kellan.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You used me, Amanda. I don’t take kindly to being used to make other guys jealous.”

“I’m sorry, Kellan. I wasn’t thinking straight. Seeing Nathan short-circuited my head. It won’t happen again.”

“I hope so. Next time you kiss me—or anyone—make sure there’s meaning to it.”

Amanda nodded, missing the meaning behind his words. Kellan smiled at her to make Amanda feel better.

“I can always take you out for a fun night if you need to get your spirits up,” he suggested.

“Maybe. I’m too busy right now.”

“None of that. You want to have fun, just tell me. I’ll have the car ready.”

“Thank you. You’re too kind.”

“I meant it when I said I care about you. I don’t want to see you hurt, or to see you act unlike you when you’re blinded by hurt.”

Amanda nodded, and then continued to walk the way she’d been going. Kellan followed her.

To get to Amanda without being spotted, Nathan did what he’d done before to find out where she was staying: follow her. He knew that Judith and Emmy were busy in the library due to the approaching final exams.

After reaching the apartment building, Nathan got out of his car. He took the elevator up to Amanda’s floor, stepping out as soon as the doors opened.

Just as Nathan walked up to Amanda’s door, he heard noises on the other side. He realized that she was about to step out.

The door opened, and Amanda found herself face-to-face with Nathan. He looked at her. She was stunning in a black-and-pink sweater, black pants, Ugg boots, and a pink hat and scarf.

“Going somewhere?” Nathan asked. Amanda looked like he’d knocked the breath out of her.

“What are you doing here?” Amanda replied, unable to come up with better words.

“I want to talk to you.”

“We have nothing to talk about.”

Amanda started to close the door behind her. Nathan reached with an arm to prevent her from doing so.

“Did you think kissing your bodyguard would make me go away? If so, you were mistaken.”

“You can’t reproach me when you go and trick me into seeing you with your girlfriend.”

“About that,” Nathan said, looking to the hallway. “It was a misunderstanding. You must let me explain.”

“No. Go away.”

“Kayla?” Nathan called. Kayla appeared from the top of the stairs, walking towards them. Amanda looked to and from the both of them, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m busy, Nathan. You have nothing to explain.”

“Please listen, Amanda. Kayla, tell her everything.”

Kayla caught up to them.

“Can we go inside?” she asked Amanda, who sighed and then let them in.

“Shoot,” Amanda said.

“First, I want to apologize for what I did,” Kayla said. “It wasn’t right of me to trick you like that.”

“Trick me? It’s Nathan who did.”

“No. I’m a writer, and I’ve known Nathan for long. I was able to forge his handwriting. The note you received was really from me.”

Amanda looked at Kayla with widened eyes, and then looked at Nathan.

“I also sent an anonymous note to him, hoping he would think it was from you.”

“I would never have asked Nathan to meet me at a hotel,” Amanda said. “At least, not at that point.”

“The note said ‘let’s give us a chance,’ so I hoped it might be from you,” Nathan admitted.

“I orchestrated the whole thing so you would see us and run away, leaving me free to be with Nathan.”

“That was cunning of you.”

“I’m sorry. But I wouldn’t have come up with such a sneaky scheme by myself, despite what I am. I had help.”

“Who?” Nathan asked, curious. Amanda realized he hadn’t heard that part.

“A guy approached me at school. He told me that he was in love with you,” Kayla said, looking at Amanda. “He wanted me to stay with Nathan so that he could have you.”

“What’s his name?”

“He never told me. He’s tall, white, and has got long, blonde hair and brown eyes.”

“I know no such guy,” said Amanda, thinking. Her eyes widened as if something had dawned on her. She decided not to speak her thoughts.

“You never told me about him,” Nathan said.

“I waited to tell both of you,” said Kayla. “Amanda, I’ve also come to ask you to give Nathan a chance. I know how you both feel about each other.”

Amanda looked at Nathan, trying not to blush.

“He’s a great guy, Amanda. I’ve been with him long enough, and I can tell how much he cares about you. If I were you, I wouldn’t let him go.”

Amanda and Nathan both looked awed.

“I’ve said all that I had to tell you, so I’ll leave you in privacy to talk,” Kayla told them. She looked at Nathan and then turned, leaving the room.

Nathan took a deep breath, preparing himself. This was it. The battle for Amanda’s heart.

Amanda walked to her sofa and sat down, looking at the floor and then closing her eyes. Nathan walked towards her.

“You can’t deny that you have feelings for me.”

Amanda acted as though she hadn’t heard.

“You definitely do, or you wouldn’t have tried to make me jealous.”

“That’s not what I was trying to do,” Amanda said, though she didn’t sound convinced.

“Have you forgotten those kisses we shared? I think not. I bet you’ve even dreamed about them.”

Amanda looked up at Nathan, her expression torn.

“I’ve told you. We can’t be together. I come from a different world. That makes us incompatible.”

“Bullshit. I know the true reason you think we can’t be together.”

Amanda’s pupils dilated.

“I know all about Liam,” Nathan revealed, making Amanda gasp.

“Who told you?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters now is that I don’t care. I can show you that it’s possible to love again.”

Amanda looked at Nathan. Unbeknownst to him, he had helped heal her heart over the time they’d known each other.

She looked away, focusing on a random spot. And then she remembered something.

“Nathan, I must ask you. Was it you who sent a private investigator to investigate Hilbert?”

“I didn’t. It was Marissa. She told me about it.”

Amanda frowned in confusion.

“Marissa? Mr. Hayden—the investigator—told me that he was sent by the NYPD.”

“Her brother is a policeman.”

Amanda’s look turned to understanding.

“Why did you send Mr. Hayden, anyway? Hilbert told me he would never hurt me. I don’t trust him, but that’s one of the few things I believe of him.”

“Marissa spoke to your bodyguard. They believe that there may be someone else besides Hilbert who intends to hurt you. Remember the thugs I saved you from?”

Amanda nodded, smiling at the memory.

“We’re concerned for your safety, Amanda. I don’t want anyone to hurt you.”

“There can be no us,” she said. “Hilbert wants me for himself. I think he’s capable of doing anything to make sure I stay single. I don’t want to risk your safety.”

“No one said love was easy, sweetheart,” Nathan said, kneeling down in front of her and taking both of her hands in his. She blushed. “I love you.”

Amanda looked into Nathan’s eyes, seeing that he spoke the truth.

I’m falling in love with you, too.

“I remember the first day that I saw you. I was at a pep rally for the football team in the school basketball gym. When I looked to the side, I saw someone entering. She was stunningly attractive. I was enchanted with your golden hair, and those amazing green eyes. You didn’t sit far from where I was. I couldn’t take my eyes off you, though you didn’t notice.”

“I vaguely remember that day,” Amanda said, her eyes reminiscent. “This was in my sophomore year?”

“Yes.”

“Then that must have been the first time I was at a pep rally. I’d looked forward to seeing one.”

“You never became a cheerleader, did you?”

“No.”

 “Maybe that was a good thing. You’re so beautiful. If you’d been one, the players would have had a hard time concentrating on the game.”

Amanda laughed.

“You really are so lovesick.”

Nathan let out a soft breath.

“You’re the most beautiful woman in the world to me,” he said, leaning closer to her. “Because I love you. That’s what true love does: it magnifies the good traits of the beloved, especially beauty. Both inner and outer.”

“Do you truly love me?” Amanda asked, her heartbeat picking up speed.

“More than I could possibly love anyone else,” Nathan replied. “You’re the woman of my life, my dream date,” he added, closing the distance to touch her lips with his. Amanda hesitated at first, gasping slightly. Then she accepted him, accepted the kiss.

That third kiss was their most passionate yet. Nathan was so euphoric to finally win Amanda’s heart. He marveled in the feeling of her amazing, soft lips. Nathan then moved down to kiss along her jaw as his hands removed her scarf. Amanda closed her eyes, letting herself feel. She looked like an angel.

Nathan grabbed Amanda’s arms and pushed her down on the sofa. He straddled her and opened the buttons of her jacket. She raised her arms to let Nathan take it off and put it on the top of the sofa. Amanda then removed both her sweater and the blouse underneath at the same time, leaving only her bra.

Damn, photos are no comparison to the real thing
, Nathan thought, taking his time to admire Amanda.
I want my lips to explore every inch of her skin.

Nathan’s fingers traced one edge of Amanda’s lightly toned abs. In his opinion, they made her look even more dazzling. His hand then moved to caress the curve of her waist, stopping shortly above her ribcage.

Amanda then watched Nathan as he took off his jacket and then his shirt. He bent down to kiss Amanda’s chest.

“Your skin is flawless. And soft,” Nathan said to her as he caressed her arms, just below her shoulders. She then moved up to kiss Nathan on the lips again, grabbing the hair at the back of his head and pulling softly.

Amanda’s smartphone rang. She looked at her purse, which she’d placed on top of the coffee table.

“That must be one of my friends.”

“Don’t answer,” Nathan said, looking at her. “This moment is ours.”

Amanda reached for her purse and pulled out her phone just to turn it off. Then she put it away and then placed her arms around Nathan again, pulling him on top of her. They kissed once more.

Nathan ran his hands down Amanda’s back, caressing it. He then kissed one of her shoulders, as his hands simultaneously brushed the bra clasp on Amanda’s back. He undid the clasp, and then placed his lips on the middle of her chest. She seemed to relish the touch. Amanda removed her bra completely and threw it aside. Nathan moved back to take in the view. He suddenly forgot how to breathe. Nathan had imagined that moment so many times. Amanda seemed too lovely to be real.

“You’re…
perfect
,” Nathan said, watching Amanda smile up at him. “I love you.”

The words affected Amanda in a positive way. She closed her eyes while Nathan continued kissing her skin. He started from her abdomen and worked up. As he trailed kisses, Amanda arched her back involuntarily.

Wow. She tastes so much better than I imagined
.

Nathan looked at her, moving up to kiss her lips.

I’m yours,
Amanda thought to herself. She stroked Nathan’s abs, which she’d been secretly itching to do.

“I can see now there was never a way I could live without you,” Nathan said as he caressed Amanda’s body. “No woman could hope to replace you.”

Amanda gasped when Nathan moved down and laid feather kisses on her thigh. She closed her eyes, wondering why the hell she had made him work so hard to win her heart.

Amanda opened her eyes. She stretched her muscles, letting out a yawn. Her vision cleared and she realized she was in her bed…wearing nothing.

What have I done?

A millisecond later, the memory returned to her. And when it did, an overwhelming feeling of joy overcame her.

Nathan. We were together. We
are
finally together.

Amanda rose into a sitting position and ran a hand through her head, trying to fix her hair. She looked at the side of the bed, where Nathan must have slept. Amanda then looked at the door.

Amanda got out of the bed, and saw her black pants on the floor. She tilted her head.

Oh, right. We moved to the bed because the sofa just didn’t have enough space.

On the way out of her bedroom, Amanda tried to fix her hair with her hands. She emerged into the living room. No one was there, but her bra was on the floor close to the sofa. Amanda picked it up and put it on. Just then, the scent of bacon and eggs reached her nose. She sniffed the air.

Amanda followed the scent to the kitchen, where she found Nathan working on the stove. He was wearing only his trousers and a muscle shirt. Nathan wasn’t deeply toned, but he had ogle-worthy muscles.

Nathan turned when he sensed Amanda behind him. He took a look at her and gasped. His eyes raked her body.

“Wow. I could easily get used to seeing you like that every morning,” Nathan said. Amanda went bright red. “But I might just combust.”

“My hair must be a mess.”

Nathan studied her, tilting his head.

“Nah, you still look cover-worthy. I gotta say it, though. You look so sexy with unkempt hair.”

Amanda laughed.

“You’re fixing breakfast?”

“Yep, for both of us. I don’t have school today, but I know you do.”

Amanda looked at the clock on the wall. She had to be at school in little more than an hour.

“Yikes, we woke up late.”

“
You
did, sleepy head. I woke up an hour ago and saw you next to me in bed. I contemplated you for a moment. You look like an angel when you sleep.”

Amanda blushed even more at that compliment.

“Then I realized you had classes and took the liberty to make you some breakfast.”

“Thank you,” she said, her eyes shining. Amanda walked towards the table and sat down.

“It’s almost ready. Give me a sec,” Nathan said, going over to the toaster. He removed two pieces of toast and put them on a small plate, which already had other two. Then he turned off the fire on the stove and divided the contents of the pan onto two bigger plates. He added two pieces of bread to each and turned.

“Ladies first,” Nathan said, handing Amanda her plate. She took it.

“Wow. I could easily get used to you making breakfast for me,” she said, grabbing a piece of toast.

“My pleasure,” Nathan replied, sitting down. They ate their food in silence, glancing at each other every now and then. Amanda couldn’t shake off her smile.

After finishing, Nathan picked up both of their plates and put them on the dishwasher. He turned on the water to begin washing them, but Amanda put a hand on his shoulder.

“Let me do it,” she said, smiling.

“I don’t mind doing this.”

“I know, but I want to do it, okay? As thanks for making me breakfast.”

Nathan nodded, and stood aside. Amanda grabbed the dish soap, squirted a liberal amount onto the dishes, and then took a sponge from next to the faucet. Amanda began washing the plates, scrubbing them with the sponge. Nathan, meanwhile, placed the bacon, carton of eggs and the loaf of bread back where they’d been.

Amanda turned off the water when she finished. She turned around and saw Nathan watching her, leaning against the kitchen table.

“You’re so beautiful it hurts.”

Amanda couldn’t help rolling her eyes at the comment, the corners of her lips turning upward.

“I need to shower before going to school.”

“I’d be more than glad to do that with you,” Nathan said as Amanda walked towards the exit that led to the living room. She turned around, her eyes widened.

“You
what
?”

“Come on! Don’t deny you were thinking of it, too.”

Amanda laughed as she turned around. Nathan followed her to her bedroom, picking up his clothes on the way. She grabbed a fresh change of clothes and then went to the bathroom. Amanda took off her underwear while Nathan turned on the shower water.

Twenty minutes—and lots of fun—later, the two emerged out of the bathroom. Amanda returned to her bedroom to grab her messenger bag.

“You were so confident you’d get your way, right?”

Nathan’s eyebrows furrowed, confused.

“What?”

“Yeah, you knew we’d be together. That’s why you moved next door from me.”

“Oh, right. I did. Hey, you’re my dream date. Losing was never an option.”

Amanda finished grabbing all the stuff she needed to take, and walked to the living room.

“Okay, I’ll go. Thanks for everything, again,” Amanda said, planting a short kiss on Nathan’s lips. She then turned around and marched to the front door.

“Hey, let me take you,” Nathan said. Amanda looked at him.

“Don’t worry. Kellan is waiting for me outside. You still need a change of clothes,” Amanda said, smiling.

“Are you sure?”

Amanda resisted laughing.

“Yes. Cornell is practically next block.”

Nathan nodded, and Amanda walked out. He took one look at the place, marveling.

Yesterday, I’d have been crazy if I thought I would be here right now.

Nathan walked out of the apartment, locking the door behind him. He stopped by his own place to change into fresh clothes. Nathan had almost forgotten that he had to go to work.

Once he was ready, Nathan walked down to the parking lot. He entered his car and revved the engine, driving forward.

Amanda watched Nathan’s car drive away. She was looking through the front window of her car. She stared ahead with an air of defiance, refusing to look at the person seated on the driver’s seat next to her.

A goon had snuck up on Amanda just as she was heading to the driver’s side of her car. He grabbed her and led her around to the other side of the car, ushering her inside. Then Hilbert drove just far enough away so Nathan wouldn’t notice that the car was still there.

Kellan was, unfortunately, subdued. They’d shot him with a tranquilizer dart and dumped him on the back seat, where the thug stood watch.

Hilbert turned his head to look at Amanda.

“We meet again,” he said, looking pissed.

Amanda said nothing. She knew it would be futile to try to escape. Hilbert would catch her before she got any far. And besides, she had nowhere to go.

“You’re not leaving until we talk,” Hilbert warned, guessing her intentions.

“What do you want?” Amanda asked, a tear running down the side of her face.