Nate looked over at her.He shouldn’t have been surprised that she would be thinking of those things as he had as well, but her being so in tune with other people’s concerns was always a bit shocking when he’d always been more focused on logistical matters.
Mr.Harvey scratched his weathered face, looking at Nate wearily.“That’s a concern, but it’s more about changing the square as it is now.”He shrugged and smiled wistfully.“The town square has been that way for as long as I’ve been alive and changing it seems unnecessary.”
“But it is,” Nate insisted.Once the subject of the town square had been brought up, he’d felt his passion for the project rise to the surface as it always did.“The square as it is now doesn’t have enough room for even a fraction of the whole town, and that’s not even the largest problem.The cement is cracked and there’s little in the way of aesthetic appeal.Tourism could increase greatly if we were to update things and that would mean more business for you.More business means more money and with more money you could even update the diner if you wanted.”
Lottie had been squeezing his arm the whole time he talked, and only when he’d finished did Nate realize she was nearly cutting off the blood circulation.“Thank you so much for your insight, John.Tell Mary I’ll be by to drop off that Bundt pan she’s been asking about later this week.”Lottie left her stool before grabbing her bag with one hand and Nate’s sleeve with the other.“You have a lovely day now.”Before Mr.Harvey could say another word, Lottie dragged Nate out and into the cold, steering them into a nearby alleyway where she spun on her heel and glared at him.“What the hell was that?”
Nate balked at her words, but when he saw that her expression wasn’t angry, but confused, he stowed his indignation.“What do you mean?He was talking like the town square is this magical place when it’s a pile of rubble.It needs updating.”
Lottie pinched the bridge of her nose before meeting Nate’s gaze again.“To some people in this town, it is magical, Nathan.”Any delight at hearing her use his name like she used to was squashed by the disappointment in her eyes.“Mr.Harvey proposed to his wife in that square and you called it a mess and then implied that he should update his diner.”
Nate thought back on the cracked vinyl booths and spots of considerable wear on the counter.“He does need to update the diner.Did you see that floor?I didn’t know linoleum could peel up that badly.”
Lottie sighed heavily and leaned back against the brick of the building.“You can’t just steamroll people into seeing what you see.You have to listen to their concerns and then help them arrive at that conclusion after assuring them that stepping into the future doesn’t mean having to let go of the past.”She gazed up at him, her eyes begging for him to understand.He wanted to, badly, but he just couldn’t comprehend how people didn’t see things his way.“Does that make sense?”
Nate shook his head, wishing he could give her more than that.“I don’t know.I guess I never thought about it that way because most of my memories are tied to the farm, but even then we’re updating things all the time to stay relevant.”
Lottie grabbed his hands in hers.“Is there any part of the farm that, if threatened with overhaul or destruction, you would feel sad about?”
Nate didn’t have to consider her question to know that, if anyone tried to do anything with the loft he’d made love to her in, he would go apeshit on them.“There might be.”
Lottie smiled sadly.“That’s how some of the people in town feel about the square.They don’t want to see it changed, and telling them it has to, or that it’s what’s best, isn’t going to work.”
Nate sighed heavily, realizing that maybe he was friendly and approachable, but not nearly as good with people as he’d previously thought.“This is why I need you, Charlotte.You’re so good with everyone, always knowing what they need.”He gripped her hands, hoping that she wouldn’t leave him to flounder on his own.“Will you still help me?Even though I don’t know what to say or how to say it, will you stay?”
Lottie nodded.“Of course I will.”She lowered her eyes a little and spoke softly.“I’ve always believed in you, Nathan.I agree that the square needs updating, I just think we can go about it another way.”
Nate tugged on her hands and pulled her closer, trying to keep her warm in the frigid air that surrounded them.“Then show me another way.”Lottie gazed up at him and licked her lips.God, he wanted to taste her again so badly, but before he could do that, he needed to prove to himself and to her that he wasn’t going to get stupid and push her away again.“I’ll follow your lead.”
Smirking, Lottie picked up her bag and handed it over to him.“If only you’d said that ten years ago.Things could have gone a lot differently between the two of us.”
Nate smiled as he followed her out of the alleyway, picturing another life where he’d done exactly as she said and let her lead.They would probably be married with at least one kid by now, but instead of letting that impossible past sadden him, he let it bolster his resolve to make that vision a part of his future.Theirfuture.
Chapter Eight
Lottie
