Nate smiled and pulled her back into him.“I would like that.”He stared at her a moment, perhaps wondering the same thing as her.Would they be together next year?She certainly hoped so, and the outlook was pretty good, but you never knew.Nate finally broke their staring contest, nodding at the frozen television screen in front of them.“Mind if I join you for your movie?”
“Not at all.”Lottie passed him the bowl of popcorn and started up the show, making a silent Christmas wish that next year would find her in the same spot with the same man next to her.Maybe she would even be getting a different piece of jewelry for the holiday.With that wonderful thought in her mind, Lottie settled into his side, letting the simple pleasure of his presence be enough for now.
Chapter Fifteen
Nate
The television screen in front of Nate was flashing with holiday images while actors voiced dialogue written many years ago, but he was hardly paying attention to any of it.With Lottie next to him, his arm wrapped around her shoulder as she lounged on the couch, he couldn’t think of anything but getting her underneath him.Her cotton pajamas were oddly sexy for something so modest, barely showing any skin below her collarbone, and her face was free of any makeup while her hair was down in its natural state of just slightly wavy.It was the most unpolished Nate had seen her since high school, and he loved it.
Lottie’s everyday looks, the style of clothes she wore to accentuate her pinup worthy curves, the make-up that was reminiscent of an old Hollywood starlet, and the hair that probably took longer to do than his entire morning routine were ones Nate loved as well, but there was something so disarming about seeing her as she was now.It was another part of her he hadn’t had access to in a very long time, but he loved it as instantly as he loved everything else about her.Without her normal armor, Lottie looked slightly vulnerable, and the protective instincts he had when it came to her rose to the surface.For so long, those instincts should have been pointed against himself since he was the one to do her the most harm, but instead of berating himself once again for acting like such an ass, Nate vowed to be better.
As Lottie continued to watch the movie, all of his focus remained on her.Every time something on the screen pleased her and her eyes brightened, Nate memorized the look, hoping to recreate it as often as possible.Whenever her eyes teared up and her expression saddened, he promised himself never to be the cause of that look on her face.And as Lottie watched and occasionally stroked the small brooch he’d given her with the tip of her finger, a soft smile on her face, Nate burned the scene into his memory.He’d been nervous about the gift because he wanted to give her the world, but all he had to offer was an antique piece of jewelry.Lottie’s reaction made it seem as if he’d accomplished his goal, loving it so much that she’d held onto it from the moment he gave it to her.
Lottie sniffled and turned to him, a look of serene happiness on her face as the screen faded to black.“Did you enjoy the movie?”
Nate shook his head.He hadn’t caught much of it, but he’d gotten enough of the plot to understand that, in his opinion, the ending seemed less than happy.“Why didn’t she decide to stay with the angel?I mean, her husband kind of ignored her and Cary Grant seemed like a pretty stand up guy.”He shrugged.“Seems like she made the wrong choice.”
Lottie chuckled and put her gift on the table before turning to face him.“Cary Grant is amazing in any movie he’s in, but the whole point of this one is that he was able to give people guidance and even though her husband was imperfect, he was who she loved and she chose him, warts and all.”Lottie smiled slyly and leaned closer to him.“Surely you can understand someone wanting the person who maybe had done wrong in the past but has since changed their ways.”
Nate opened his mouth and closed it like a fish.Apparently while he was watching Lottie, he’d missed the point of the whole movie.“So you think she made the right decision?”
Lottie shrugged and settled back onto the couch.“I think it was the decision most in line with her character.”
What she was saying made sense, and it also spoke to Lottie’s own ability to forgive Nate for all his past dickish behavior as well.It was in her character to never give up on someone, and he was grateful that she had been able to apply that to him.Lottie had the grace and patience someone like him needed.If she had been anyone else, he would have remained in the doghouse for good, but then again, if Lottie was anyone else, Nate wouldn’t love her as much as he did.
It was freeing, being able to openly admit his love for her not only to himself, but anyone else who asked.Nate was ready to shout it from the top of Town Hall.There had always been a great deal of scrutiny regarding the two of them and being seen around town and his parent’s party had probably only added fuel to that fire, but he didn’t care.He would happily lay claim to Lottie if she let him.
Suddenly needing to thank her for being the wonderful woman she was, Nate reached over and cupped her cheek.“Thank you,” he told her.Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her lips as gently as a butterfly landed on a leaf.
Lottie blinked up at him, her eyes questioning.“What for?”She nodded to her brooch on the coffee table next to empty bowls of popcorn.“You’re the one who brought me a gift.”
Nate’s smile widened, his face unable to hold back from showing every bit of feeling he had for her.“Every second of your time that you grant me is a gift, and I was thanking you for being the type of person to give me another chance, so many chances in fact that I’ve lost count.”
Chuckling, Lottie leaned up and kissed his cheek.“You’re welcome,” she replied, her voice bright.She kissed his other cheek, and ran her thumbs across his beard as she looked at him.Nate held his hand over hers, leaning into the touch he craved at all times and had denied himself for so long.
Nothing was said between the two of them, but the longer they sat there, touching each other innocently, the more Nate desired her.“Charlotte,” he breathed out.His voice was husky, and when Lottie looked up at him, her brown eyes slowly grew darker with each second that passed.“I need you.”
