His mother’s hand began to knead again, furiously working the dough.
Suspicion rose inside of him. “Mom. Do you know something?”
She didn’t answer.
“Is there a reason Austin has gone AWOL?” he pressed.
She finally met his gaze, her chest rising as she drew in a troubled breath. “Your brother and I had a falling out the last time he came home.”
Nate narrowed his eyes. “About what?”
“Nothing important.” She pushed on before he could object to the vague reply. “He just needs some time to sort it all out, honey. He’ll come home when he’s ready.”
Fuck, this really was a day for shocks, wasn’t it? First he found out his mom knew that he’d lied about his breakup with Charlotte, then he learned his father was screwing Charlotte’s mother, and now he heard that Della and Austin had had some mysterious argument that nobody else in the family seemed to be aware of.
He let out a sigh, suddenly wondering what other fun secrets he would discover today.
“I love your house,” Charlotte announced as she followed Nate onto the giant deck that overlooked his sprawling backyard.
And she wasn’t just being nice. From the moment she’d walked into Nate’s A-frame home, she’d been at a loss for words. Two-stories high and made of dark logs, the place resembled a ski chalet, complete with a stone fireplace, a second-story deck and polished hardwood floors. She’d seen Della’s decorating touches throughout the house, in the form of thick burgundy rugs, comfortable leather easy chairs and pretty red drapes at every window. Nate’s masculine presence was emphasized by a fifty-inch plasma TV mounted to the living room wall, and the stacks of Sports Illustrated magazines on the long wood coffee table.
In the kitchen, she’d been surprised to find pots steaming on the stove and an abandoned cutting board sitting next to an impressive-looking salad bowl.
“And I can’t believe you learned how to cook,” she added, flopping down in one of the wrought-iron chairs ringing the large glass table outside.
“I had to when I moved out,” he said with a shrug, sitting on the chair opposite hers. “I couldn’t keep coming home and making Mom cook for me.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t have minded.”
A lump lodged in her throat. Della Bishop had always seemed like the perfect mother to her. It was clear to anyone who saw her with her kids that she absolutely adored her boys. She doted on them, helped them with homework, cheered at all of their football games. In all honesty, Charlotte had been wildly jealous of Nate back then. When her own mother wasn’t taking her clothes off for sleazy men, she was screwing them with Charlotte in the other room.
“Probably not.” Nate paused. “I saw her earlier today and she asked me to tell you to drop by. She’s eager to see you.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow,” Charlotte promised instantly.
Nate grew serious. “How long are you in town for, anyway?”
“I booked the room at the B&B until the end of the week.”
“And then you’re heading back to New York.”
“That’s the plan.”
She thought she saw a flicker of disappointment in his gorgeous gray eyes, but then he stood up and smiled. “The steaks should be done broiling.” When she stood up, he gestured for her to stay put and added, “I’ll bring everything out. It’s not every day I get to serve dinner to a beautiful woman.”
The offhand comment gave her pause. She got the feeling he was saying something more, telling her something important. Had he shied away from relationships over the years too? She couldn’t imagine a man as virile and sinfully sexy as Nate not having a woman in his life, yet the thought brought a spark of joy to her belly.
Nate returned a few moments later and placed a plate loaded with food in front of her. He’d made steak, roasted potatoes and mashed carrots, and after the first bite, Charlotte moaned in delight. “This is great, Nate.”
“Thanks.” His eyes went heavy-lidded for a moment. “Though I’m pretty sure it’s not as delicious as how you look right now.”
She laughed. “How is it that getting you to talk about private matters is like pulling teeth, but when it comes to sex, you’re always able to say exactly what’s on your mind?”
He chewed slowly, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I don’t know. I don’t like revealing personal shit.” He hesitated. “I could always do it with you, though.”
They fell silent, quietly eating their supper while Nate’s revelation floated through her mind. When they’d been dating, they used to talk for hours upon hours, which had been just as out of character for Charlotte as it had been for Nate. She’d told him everything—her anger at her mom, her dreams to be a singer, how she hated the way the kids at school treated her. And he’d reciprocated, confessing how much he loved this small town, despite the frequent drawbacks. They’d talked and kissed and laughed. They’d spent every waking moment together.