Naylor froze, his handsome face registering surprise as his brow creased sharply.
“What do you take me for?”
Sure, he’d had his share of exes, but he’d never cheated, never kept anyone on the side. When he was with someone, he was all in. If the feelings changed, he’d end things cleanly and never skimped on being fair afterward.
When had he ever fooled around? What kind of man would bring a mistress along. on a business trip?
Katrina shot the question right back at him. “And what do you take me for?”
If every meeting was just about hooking up, what was the difference between that and animals mating? It was downright insulting.
To her surprise, Naylor didn’t hesitate. “Of course you’re my girlfriend. What else would you be?”
“Girlfriend?” Katrina stared at him, shocked.
He sounded genuinely annoyed. “We slept together, which means we’re in a relationship. Isn’t that obvious? What else would you be?”
Katrina’s heart skipped, her cheeks growing hot. The awkward tension from before suddenly melted into something sweet and a little giddy.
“I thought…” She hesitated, lips pursed in a pout, the picture of a girl feeling wronged yet defiant. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I thought you were just messing around. I thought you already had a girlfriend.”
Naylor couldn’t help but laugh, exasperated. “Katrina, you really know how to get under my skin. Who told you I was that much of a jerk?”
He wasn’t the kind of guy to sleep with someone while he was committed to someone else. That was beyond low.
“No one told me. It’s just… after that night, you barely kept in touch,” Katrina muttered, eyes downcast.
He replied, “Didn’t I tell you that morning that I’d be busy for a while, that you coul call if you needed anything?”
Katrina thought back–vaguely, she remembered, but she’d been so flustered that day, everything was a blur.
12
20:07
“We just started seeing each other, so it’s fair if you don’t know me that well yet. When work gets busy, I don’t have much time for romance, but when things calm down, I’ll always come back for you. If you need anything, reach out, and if I can’t make it, I’ll make sure someone helps you.”
He finished, watching his new girlfriend’s silent, uncertain expression. He added firmly, “Just because I’m busy doesn’t mean I’m running around with someone else. I have my own principles.”
Outside, the night air was chilly. Naylor took her wrist again. “Come on, let’s get in the car. I drank too quickly tonight, and now the wind’s giving me a headache.”
Katrina was still uneasy. Something about this whole relationship just felt off, but before she could collect her thoughts, Naylor had already ushered her into the car.
The driver was a young man Katrina didn’t recognize. As soon as the doors closed, he turned and asked respectfully, “Mr. Wilson, shall I take you home?”
“Yeah.”
Katrina felt even more awkward. “Um… maybe that’s not necessary? It’s late, and going back and forth seems like a hassle. Why don’t we just-”
She couldn’t quite put her discomfort into words, but going to his place felt too intimate, too much, too soon. Especially knowing how many exes he had–she couldn’t help but picture all the women who’d shared his bed before her, and the thought made her uneasy.
Naylor was still holding her hand as he loosened his tie with the other, yanking it off and tossing it aside. Seeing her hesitate, he turned and flashed her a wicked smile. “So, should we just find a hotel nearby?”
Katrina wanted to sink into the seat. She was mortified.
Naylor teased, “Didn’t expect you to be even more eager than me.”
“Naylor!” Katrina glared at him, exasperated. That wasn’t what she meant at all.
It was just she owed him so much, borrowed all that money, and she’d been the one to offer herself in the first place. She figured she should at least be straightforward about it. If he wanted to sleep together, then fine–find somewhere close, get it over with, and she could get back to the hospital easily. His place was too far; it’d be the middle of the night before they were done.
Naylor, watching her pout angrily, suddenly frowned and leaned in, sniffing at her. “What’s that smell?”
2007
Katrina instinctively leaned away, confused “What smell? I didn’t even wear perfume tonight.”
He looked up at her and said, “Smells like… old man.”
Katrina was speechless. Was he for real?
He’d been stewing over it all evening, and now he couldn’t help but demand, “What’s going on between you and that old guy? Two–timing isn’t a good look, Katrina. Not very self–respecting.”
“I am not!” Katrina shot back without thinking.
“You had dinner with him, went on a date, then lied to me about it over the phone.”
“I…” She wanted to defend herself, but when it came time to explain, she didn’t even know where to start. “Anyway, I didn’t, and besides, you were the one who vanished! How was I supposed to know what you wanted? Even if I did eat with someone else, it’s none of your business.”
“Fine, blame me for not making things clear.” Naylor undid his shirt buttons, finally relaxing as he leaned back, legs spread, looking completely at ease.
“Look, I’m not saying I’m some kind of saint. But I do have basic standards. When I’m with someone, I’m all in–never once have I juggled two women at the same time. I broke up with my ex more than two months before you and I started. Honestly, I was done with dating–after all these years, it just got boring. I was over it. But you, Ms. Lester, kept coming to find me, over and over, and I…”