Chapter 12: Late Nights Together
1184 Words
The drive back from the cabin was quieter than Harper expected. Nathan kept his hands firmly on the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead, while Harper stared out the window, lost in her thoughts. Their weekend away had shifted something between them, and despite their mutual agreement to “try,” the weight of the secrets between them still loomed.
The city skyline came into view, a stark contrast to the peaceful retreat they had just left behind. Harper knew that once they were back in their daily routine, reality would come crashing down—work, public appearances, and the unrelenting pressure of their fabricated engagement.
Nathan finally broke the silence. “Are you free for dinner tonight?”
Harper turned to him, surprised. “Dinner? After spending the whole weekend together, you’re not sick of me yet?”
He smirked. “Not even close. I figured we could go over some of the upcoming events on our schedule. Plus, I still owe you a proper date.”
A real date. The idea sent a strange warmth through her. “Okay,” she said, trying to keep her tone casual. “What time?”
“I’ll pick you up at eight,” Nathan replied, glancing at her with that unreadable expression he always wore when he was deep in thought. “Wear something nice.”
Harper arched a brow. “Fancy?”
“Very.”
Her stomach did a small flip, but she pushed the feeling aside. This wasn’t a real relationship—it was just another performance for the world to see. Still, she couldn’t deny the growing anticipation as she stepped out of the car and into her apartment, wondering what the night had in store.
---
By the time eight o’clock rolled around, Harper was standing in front of her mirror, smoothing down the silky fabric of her navy-blue dress. It hugged her curves in all the right places, elegant yet understated. She had opted for soft waves in her hair and minimal makeup—just enough to enhance her features without looking overdone.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Nathan.
I’m outside.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her clutch and headed downstairs. The moment she stepped onto the sidewalk, she spotted Nathan leaning casually against his sleek black car, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. The city lights reflected off his crisp white shirt, making him look like he had just stepped out of a magazine.
His eyes traveled over her, appreciation flickering in them before he opened the passenger door for her. “You look stunning.”
Harper felt a blush creep up her neck. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
As he slid into the driver’s seat, he glanced at her with a smirk. “I will try.”
The restaurant he took her to was one of the most exclusive in the city, the kind of place with a months-long waiting list. Harper shouldn’t have been surprised—Nathan Blackwood had the kind of influence that could open any door.
A waiter led them to a private table near a large window overlooking the city. The dim lighting and soft music made the atmosphere intimate, and Harper couldn’t help but feel like this was more than just another one of their staged outings.
Over dinner, they talked about work, their favorite travel destinations, and their shared love for late-night coffee runs. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and for a brief moment, Harper forgot that their relationship wasn’t real.
When dessert arrived, Nathan leaned in slightly, his expression turning more serious. “Harper, I meant what I said earlier. I want to try.”
She swallowed, her pulse quickening. “I know.”
“But I also know you have doubts,” he continued. “And I don’t blame you. This arrangement started as something completely different, and now… things are changing.”
Harper looked down at her plate, trying to find the right words. “It’s just… I don’t want to get caught up in something that’s not real.”
Nathan’s hand reached across the table, covering hers. “But what if it is?”
Her breath hitched, and she looked up, meeting his intense gaze. She had never seen him this vulnerable before.
Before she could respond, a flash of light caught her attention, followed by another. She turned her head toward the entrance of the restaurant, where a group of paparazzi stood just outside the glass doors, cameras clicking rapidly.
Nathan sighed, pulling his hand away. “Looks like they found us.”
Harper’s heart sank. The moment was gone, replaced by the harsh reality of their public image.
---
Later that night, after their dinner had been cut short by the growing crowd of reporters, Nathan drove her back to his penthouse instead of her apartment.
“Stay for a little while,” he said as they stepped into the elevator. “We can have a drink, unwind.”
Harper hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Okay.”
The penthouse was quiet, the city lights twinkling through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Nathan poured them each a glass of whiskey before they settled onto the couch, the tension from earlier still lingering in the air.
Harper took a sip, letting the warmth of the liquor soothe her nerves. “Have you ever gotten used to it?”
Nathan glanced at her. “The attention?”
She nodded.
“Yes and no,” he admitted. “It comes with the territory, but sometimes it feels like I don’t have a life outside of what the public sees.”
Harper studied him, seeing past the confident CEO to the man who longed for something real. “That must be exhausting.”
He let out a small chuckle. “It is. But lately, I don’t mind as much.”
There was something in the way he said it that made her chest tighten.
She looked down at her glass, swirling the amber liquid. “I don’t know how you do it—pretending all the time.”
Nathan exhaled, setting his glass down. “It’s different with you.”
Harper’s heart skipped a beat. “How so?”
“Because with you, I don’t feel like I have to pretend.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words.
Harper set her glass on the coffee table and turned to face him. “Nathan…”
Before she could say anything else, he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was gentle, lingering just a second longer than necessary.
Her breath caught as his fingers brushed her jawline. “I meant what I said, Harper.”
She swallowed hard, the intensity in his eyes making it impossible to look away.
Her mind screamed at her to keep her distance, to remind herself that this was all temporary. But her heart… her heart was telling a different story.
Slowly, as if giving her the chance to pull away, Nathan leaned in.
And this time, Harper didn’t stop him.
- Writer
