Traffic stretched my forty-minute drive into over an hour, causing tension to bunch in my shoulders. I abhorred running late. After parking beside Nate's building, I hurried toward the elevator and then his fifth-floor loft.

The door swung open within seconds of my knock and Nate stood there holding a dish towel and smiling. His emerald gaze traveled over me and I tried to appear relaxed, but his scrutiny replaced my tension with something else, something that before Nate was so foreign, I'd only recently put a name to it—need.

I'd liked men before, enjoyed, wanted, but never needed. The realization was terrifying. Tingling warmth covered the back of my neck and crawled down my spine.

"Stop looking so grumpy." Reaching out, Nate took my hand and tugged me into the apartment with a soft laugh. "You're only a little late, and you can't help traffic."

I chuckled at how well he knew me. "It's still aggravating." Grinning, I pulled him toward me. "That was thirty minutes I could've been here with you."

Nate stepped closer, backing me toward the wall until I stood pressed against it with his arm resting beside my head. "At least you have your priorities in order."

I nodded as his lips brushed over mine, and said, "I'd pick you over traffic anytime."

His deep chuckle rumbled against my chest a second before he nipped at me, catching my bottom lip between his perfect teeth. I gasped, letting his tongue slip inside. It moved against mine, playing, inviting, sending heat through me as I melted into our kiss.

The world fell away until there was nothing but him. His firm body pressed against mine. His fingers gripping the hair at my nape. The scent of his woodsy cologne. My pulse raced as I tightened my hold on his waist.

Persistent beeping from the kitchen brought me crashing back to reality as Nate leaned away with a groan. His all-consuming kiss left my knees weak, and I was grateful for the wall holding me up.

"You taste like candy." The observation I wouldn't normally voice escaped without thought and my cheeks warmed, but he only smirked.

"I made caramel apple bread pudding."

"And you ate it without me?" I covered my heart with my palm as though I'd been wounded and followed him down the hall to the wide-open space that included the kitchen.

"Just a taste. Quality control, ya know?" He winked at me over his shoulder before pulling a pan from the oven. "First, we have roast chicken and vegetables."

I inhaled the aroma of herbs and lemon and my stomach grumbled. "It smells amazing."

Nate grinned at the compliment and pointed at the table, which was already set. "Sit. I'll bring everything over."

Watching him happily gather things, I hated to dampen his mood, but I wanted him to know he could talk to me. "Have you decided what to do about the woman your mother picked out for you?"

"That's all taken care of, and I think it'll be the last time they set me up on a date." False cheer filled his voice, setting off alarm bells in my head.

"What did you tell them?" I asked as he sat across from me.

"The same thing I always say. I'm gay. No, thanks on the women. And I'm not a practicing Jew."

Reaching over the table, I took his hand. "I'm sorry. It has to be difficult telling them the same thing repeatedly, knowing they won't listen."

"Well, I didn't give them the chance to ignore me this time." He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. "I texted the woman first and told her the same thing, and that I was sorry for the misunderstanding."

My mouth fell open. "And now she'll tell everyone at their synagogue."

"Yep. Problem solved." His smile was shaky, and my heart ached for him.

"Do they know you did that?"

"It was a few days ago, and they've stopped returning my calls, so I'd say yes."

"Oh, Nate." I stood and rounded the table, pulling him up for a hug. Squeezing him against my chest, I said, "I'm sorry they're treating you this way. You're such a good man." I held his face and pressed my lips to his cheek. "They should be proud of you."

He leaned into me for another minute before sniffing and stepping back. "Thank you." He pressed a soft kiss to my lips before sitting. "Let's talk about something happier."

"Okay." I smiled and filled the next few minutes with unimportant chatter to distract him. As we discussed our work days, my phone trilled, notifying me of a text.

I sighed and Nate cringed, asking, "Miss. Foster?"

"I hope not." I pulled my cell from my pocket and smiled at my sister's name on the screen. "Nope. It's Liv." Opening the message, I read out loud, "Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?" I told her yes and brought my attention back to the table.

"It's great that you guys are seeing so much of each other now." Nate took a sip of his wine. "I know Liv's excited about it."

A sense of contentment filled me. "I'm glad to hear that."

Nate seemed truly happy for us and his mood brightened. For the next few minutes, we ate in comfortable silence while music played softly from the television in the other room.

Unlike Nate's parents, Liv and my family were supportive of our relationship. Still, I was glad the only nearby relative was Liv, and occasional phone calls were enough to handle everyone else.

Except for Granny, who called several times a month and always lifted my spirits. It was as though she knew when work was getting too stressful and I needed a break. Her chipper voice was always welcome, and I knew Nate also enjoyed frequent calls from her.

Now more than ever, I was grateful that he and Granny had formed their own special friendship. Nate's family might not be good enough for him at the moment, but he'd always have Granny checking on him and reminding him to wear a jacket when the temperature dipped below sixty.

As I studied Nate's wavy dark hair and the careful way he cut his vegetables, I realized no one before this sweet, beautiful man had ever cared for me as a person. No one concerned themselves with my life or family outside of the way it affected them. But Nate did, and I loved that.

"Ready for dessert?" Nate asked.

"Definitely." I stood and collected our dishes. "I'll take these to the sink."

"Just let them soak for now." He went to the cabinet and collected two dessert plates before scooping large portions of the apple pie bread pudding onto them.

As I watched, I thought about all the different bread puddings he'd made over the last few months just because he knew I loved it. That alone was more effort than I'd ever seen from anyone else, and I wanted more of that.

I wanted someone to think about me when I wasn't with them, the way Nate was always in the back of my mind. I wanted to give him everything. Take him places. Buy him things. I needed to be the one to make him laugh and get to see that perfect smile forever.

But as long as I didn't want to ruin my career, dates at his place, and day trips far from town and everyone I knew were the best I could do. Wishing things could be different didn't change reality. If I wanted to be with Nate, then I needed to keep this quiet, no matter what I'd promised him.

After carrying our plates to the table, Nate sat and looked up at me. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, of course." Things were more than alright, and I didn't want to lose him. Even if we couldn't advertise it, I wanted to be Nate's... what? Boyfriend? Significant other? Partner?

I'd only ever labeled the men I dated in the past for my family and they were called girlfriends. The idea of getting to brand what Nate and I had with something true brought a smile to my face.

"You're grinning." Nate tilted his head. "What are you thinking about?"

"You."

He hummed. "Yeah? Anything specific?"

"Just how perfect you are and how happy you make me."

The traces of humor left his face as his expression softened. "That's sweet." He took my hand. "You make me happy too, Joby."

Encouraged, I said, "What do you think of me calling you my partner?"

His mouth pulled to the side as though something tasted bad. "I think that's okay, but it kinda sounds like we're going into business together. How about boyfriend?"

My chest warmed from the word. "I like that."

"Me too."

I moved to stand behind him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. Trailing kisses down his neck, I slid my palm over the ridges of his stomach, then slipped under his shirt, enjoying the feel of his soft, warm skin. The sound of appreciation that came from his throat made me smile.

"Maybe dessert can wait a while?" I whispered.

His fingers threaded into my hair, tugging my mouth to his in a hard kiss. "Maybe it can be breakfast." Taking my hand, Nate stood and led me to the bedroom. "All I need tonight is my boyfriend."

Thanks for reading! 💜