Page 65 of Trials of a One Night Stand
“That’s not the point. And the house I’m staying at is not anywhere.”
He shrugs again. “Your answer tells me whatever you have in there is nothing vital, so that means it’s immaterial. That’s the word, right?”
Now, he’s trying to sound like he’s an attorney or something. I’m too tired to play games with someone as smart as him, but one thing is clear. “I can’t trust you, Nathaniel.”
“Since you’re using my full name, you must be pissed.” Nate stands, his arms slightly in front of him and his palms facing toward me as if he’s showing me his hands are clean. “What you’re feeling has nothing to do with trust between us.”
“Seriously?”
“Hear me out. We’re on opposite sides of a court case. We’re going to keep things from each other. A good magician never lets anyone see how a trick works.”
“Looking inside my briefcase isn’t some magic trick.” I shake my head, trying to keep myself from yawning again. I need to stay alert, even if I just want to sleep. “This is a major industrial court case with lots at stake for both of us.”
“I know that, and you should know by now I’m not the kind of man who’ll jeopardize anything for you.” He rubs a hand down his face. “Despite what Lucas Matthews and Sugar Valley Drugs may have you believe, I’m actually a good guy. And let’s not forget that the case could make or break my career too. Mine and hundreds of other people’s jobs are on the line.”
As he looks at me with soft, gentle eyes, I feel myself lowering the briefcase and my walls crumbling. I can’t be swayed so easily, can I? “I—”
“Look inside your briefcase, Jayne.”
I flinch. “What?”
“Look inside, please.”
I peer inside, moving aside some files. Wait. What’s that? I remove a gift box tied with a ribbon. “This wasn’t in there before. Where did it come from?”
“Magic.”
The last thing a scientist like him would believe in is magic. I’m a lawyer, and I sure don’t. “Huh?”
“Go on. Open it,” he encourages me.
I place my briefcase on the floor, untie the ribbon, and open the lid. Inside is a lovely silver bracelet—a charm bracelet. I’m almost afraid to ask, but I need to know the truth. “I-Is this from you?”
“Yes. I thought it was a little soon to get a baby charm, but I plan to add one later.”
I remove the bracelet from the box with shaky fingers and a charm dangles from one of the loops. It’s a silver key with diamonds on it. “A key?”
He nods. “You hold the key to our future and my heart.”
Air rushes from my lungs. I plop onto the couch, unsure what to say to him. He wanted to surprise me with a gift? I mean, I don’t think I was completely unreasonable to leap to conclusions, but now I feel completely humbled. He wanted to give me something precious. Something he wants to add to.
You hold the key to our future and my heart. Oh, Nate.
I feel like shit.
I burst into tears—big, ugly tears.
He’s at my side in an instant. “Are you okay?”
I don’t think I am, but I don’t dare try to voice the words. I might just fall apart. Why would he even want to be with someone like me? Colton has made me suspicious. I assume the worst of men. Granted, most of the time, I’ve been right.
“Jayne?” he asks.
I take a much-needed breath. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help as much as I hoped it would. “You weren’t trying to peek at any of my documents.”
I don’t know why I say this, but I feel like I need to say something.
He brushes the tears from my face. “No. I wanted to surprise you with the bracelet.”
