Seven Night Stand Read Free Page B

than built, more tailored than casually mussed. Bored and aloof more than easygoing and funny. More needy and whiny than confident and casual.
    Kansas’s appeal kept growing.
    When his eyes met hers, there it was again. That warm wave of irredeemable lust. He crossed to her, full lips curving upward and softening the hard lines of his cheekbones.
    “Vivvy.”
    God, she already loved the way he said her name. Every time low, intimate, as though he was savoring each v.
    “Nate.”
    “This place is even worse inside.”
    She tried to laugh it off. “No kidding. It’ll do for a few nights. Better than a tent in the woods.” Maybe.
    “I know it’s none of my business, but you might not want to stay here. The guy behind the desk? Jason. Total wack job.”
    “Great.” Wack job Jason had checked her in and knew her room number. “I don’t suppose there’s anywhere else to stay in Demo?”
    “No. There’s a decent hotel in Addington, but it’s a forty-five-minute drive.”
    Vivvy sighed. The tent was looking better and better. “I’ll risk it for one night, and if it really is that bad, I suppose I’ll go to Addington tomorrow.”
    “We can postpone if—”
    She shook her head. “No need to postpone. I need a very large glass of wine before I do anything.”
    “It’s a nice night and the restaurant is just down the street. I thought we could walk.” His eyes traveled to her heels, though they took their sweet time. “Unless you’d rather drive.”
    “I’ve walked a lot farther than that in higher heels than these.”
    He extended his arm, and she linked hers with his. It was an innocent touch as touches went, but the proximity was enough to make her heartbeat pick up.
    “So, tell me about all these places you’ve been that are worse than Demo. Worse than Ivy Vines.”
    They walked down the main drag, which had a certain small-town charm to it. Window fronts, an excess of antiques stores, uneven sidewalks, and aging brick. It was still light outside, though the sun had disappeared behind the stout buildings to the west. Vivvy noticed that the moon was visible overhead, and she had the foolish thought to look out for the first star to wish on.
    Instead, she thought back on the past few years and the strange situations her job had put her in. “Ponton, Vermont. The family I was going to interview recommended this bed-and-breakfast. Vegan food only. No Wi-Fi. Every time I left my room they tried to convince me to do yoga with them. Naked, I might add.”
    Vivvy smiled at his sidelong look. Ponton wasn’t the worst place she’d ever stayed, though it was one of the strangest. She’d just told the story hoping he would picture her naked.
    “Naked?”
    Ah, it worked. “Yes. It wasn’t a pretty sight.” But, naked yoga with Nate? That was an idea she could get behind.
    He led her into a small restaurant in one of the brick buildings.
    The young hostess smiled broadly at Nate. “Hi, Nate.”
    “Evening, Sandy. Table for two.”
    The young woman eyed Vivvy and didn’t look too pleased. Still, young Sandy led them to a booth in the back, away from the few other patrons.
    The restaurant was nicer than Vivvy had expected. Sure, it would be laughed at in LA as hokey, but there was something kind of nice about the simplicity of it when compared to the pretentious, avant-garde restaurants she usually went to. The menu was small and very American. The decor could use some updating, but it was clean. After her brief hour at Ivy Vines, cleanliness seemed like a miracle. Even the wine list wasn’t horrendous. Subpar, but not horrendous. Vivvy decided on a decent red, debated ordering a whole bottle.
    “You grew up here?” she asked.
    “Born and raised.”
    “Did you always want to be part of Harrington?” She scanned the menu even though she’d much rather be scanning Nate.
    “Is this a business dinner, Vivvy?”
    “No.” Vivvy looked up from the menu. “But if we discuss business, I can charge it to