Angel (NSC Industries) by D H Sidebottom Read Free Book Online Page B

surveyed mine. Time seemed
to stop as we stood intently looking at each other.
     
    “Liv”
he breathed, as his hand reached towards me and then dropped back down to his
side, as though he wanted to touch me but changed his mind.
    “Nate”
I croaked, my mouth suddenly seriously dry.
    He
shook his head slightly as though to clear his mind. “Jesus, Liv. I… I...” he
murmured, “I… Wow, you look great” he finally said as a smile grew on his face
and his gaze roamed over me.
    “You
too” I managed.
     
    The
man stood beside Nate coughed and raised his eyebrows at him as he looked back
and forth between us.
    Nate
cleared his throat and grinned mischievously at me again. “I should’ve
recognised you when your head was in my lap” he smirked mischievously.
    Laughing,
I shook my head at him. “You should recognise every contour of the back of my
head, Nate” I shot back with a grin of my own.
    I
heard Peterson snort and Nate’s sidekick chuckle, “but, seriously, it’s good to
see you” I continued.
     
    He
looked reallygood. He was wearing an Armani dark grey suit with
a crisp white shirt and pale blue tie. The suit fitted his frame as though it
had been specifically made for him.
    He
still had the same head full of blonde curls and his chin was still square, but
was now peppered with a dusting of stubble. His beautiful eyes were now
partnered with a few laughter lines and his body still had the same hardness,
the same muscled physique I had loved all those years ago.
    He
was still a very beautiful man… just Wow.
     
    Peterson
huffed at me, reminding me I was already in trouble. “Well, work to do” I said
with a disappointing smile, “Take care, Nate” I said softly as I started
walking away.
    Nate
gave me a puzzled look and grabbed my arm. “How about I buy you lunch and we
can catch up properly?” he asked, vaguely cocking his head to one side.
    “I’d
love to Nate, but I’ll have to work through my lunch cos’ I’m late today” I
apologised.
     
    Nate
turned to Peterson frowning “Oh, I’m sure Simon can manage without you for an
hour. Can’t you Simon?”
    Peterson
nodded and smiled, “Of course. Olivia, you must still take your lunch break
even though you’re running late” he informed me, giving me an obnoxious glare.
    “Great!”
Nate declared “I’ll meet you in the foyer about 12.30 Liv, okay?”
    Flustered,
I nodded my agreement and hurried through the building, stepping into the
already waiting elevator.
     
    Leaning
against the thankfully, empty elevator wall, I slid down to the floor, trying
to control my breathing.
    “Holy
shit” I rasped.
    My
heart was racing and I rushed to the bathroom as soon as the lift doors opened.
     
    Splashing
my face with cold water, I looked at my ruffled reflection and repeated my
earlier sentiment “What the Hell, Liv?”
    I
sat on the loo, locked the door and tried to fathom out what had just happened.
     
    I
hadn’t seen Nate for twenty years, and then he just turned up at my workplace,
and was friends with my arrogant boss.
    I
couldn’t picture the two of them as friends. At university, Nate had hated
people like Peterson.
     He
was always the first to stick up for the poor sap that ‘The Petersons’ of this
world were bullying. Not thinking twice about smacking the nasty sods in the
face. 
    That’s
what I had fallen in love with, the sensitive, gentle side that he had. Although
at the same time he had a dangerous edge to him that told people not to mess
with him.
     
    The
bathroom door opened and I heard someone come in. “Olivia?” Grace’s voice asked
“you okay sweetie? You looked a bit miffed when you exited the elevator.”
    Straightening
myself out, I plastered a smile on my face and opened the cubicle door to greet
her. “Morning Grace” I said, “yes I’m fine thanks, just running a bit late… again.
Peterson was in reception and gave me a fucking… again!”
    I
picked my things up from the vanity and waved