Stay?
Zara wondered if she had misheard. Nathaniel couldn't possibly be asking her to stay. He had always hated being interrupted at work.
'Maybe the alcohol is still affecting him,' she thought.
Last night, she could have sworn she heard him call her sweetheart. And now, here he was asking her to stay? Shouldn't he be telling her to leave instead?
"You must be busy," she said quickly, prying his hand off her arm. "I should leave."
But before she could move, he tugged her into his embrace. Zara stilled in his arms.
"Don't avoid me," he murmured against her hair. "Stay. Let's have lunch together."
Her thoughts spun. She hadn't imagined it.
He actually wanted her there.
She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, disbelief flickering across her face. "But… won't I disturb your work?"
"No," he replied with a soft smile. "You came. I'm glad."
"Really?" Zara blinked, stunned. In the past, he had despised her presence here, yet now he claimed to be happy.
