Nathaniel looked at his brother, a flood of feelings rushing through him, none of them ones he wanted to mess with right now.
But he had forgotten how nice it was to talk with Roan when they weren’t fighting.
“I don’t suppose your grandfather built the café, too, yeah?”Thea asked.
“He did,” Nathaniel said.“My grandmother was quite happy running the tavern and didn’t move over to the other building—it was meant to be for our uncle.But he passed away before he could see it come to fruition.”
“I’m so sorry,” Thea murmured, and Abigail reached out to touch Roan’s arm.
Nathaniel studied Abigail and Roan for the rest of the night.He’d had reservations when she first appeared—it wouldn’t be the first time there had been someone sniffing around him and Roan for the apparent status they could provide.He’d seen it in his own mother.But she seemed to truly care for Roan, which was a surprise, given that it was his brother.He could allow for her having strange taste, though, as long as she wasn’t going to hurt Roan.
Nathaniel was surprised that the longer dinner went on, the more comfortable he became, and by the end of the night, he truly did not wish to leave.But all too soon, they had finished eating and finished their drinks, and Thea looked at him with a sigh.
“I need to sleep,” she said regretfully.“I have to be up early in the morning.”
“Yes, we should go,” Nat said, getting to his feet and pulling out Thea’s chair for her.
“I hope you will come again,” Abigail said, her eyes bright as she and Roan also stood.
“I would like that,” Thea admitted, “and you and Roan must come to the café.I would love to introduce you to Ginger.”
“I would love that,” Abigail said.
Roan reached for his brother’s hand, shaking it for the first time in far too long.
“This was good,” he said, the words sticking in his throat a little.
“We’ll have to do it again,” Roan said, nodding.“I enjoyed this.”
They took their leave, saying goodbye to a tavern full of curious people, and Nat laced his fingers through Thea’s as he began to walk her home.
“Well?”she asked him.“What did you think?”
“I think that Abigail has done what I never could do with my brother,” he admitted, “and I’m very much hoping that we can improve our relationship.”
“I think the same thing,” Thea said.“I think that went extraordinarily well, and I’m looking forward to becoming friends with Abigail.”
“Did you see the way everyone in the tavern couldn’t mind their own business?”Nat asked with a grin.“They looked as if their eyes would bug out of their heads when we all came out together.”
Thea laughed.“I’m not surprised.If I were them, I would’ve expected there to be a fight in the kitchen rather than a reconciliation
“Everyone in town knows what he did to you, and they all know that I have no intention of letting him disrespect you again.”
“Fortunately, it didn’t come to that.”
“But if it had, I would have been ready,” Nat said.
“I’m well aware,” Thea said, looking up at him with that smile that suggested he hung the moon.“I love you,” she said, as they came to a stop outside the café.
Nathaniel pulled his key out of his pocket and unlocked the door for her, opening it slightly.
“I love you, too,” he said, taking a step closer, his hand sliding up to cup her cheek as he leaned down to kiss her goodnight.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
“You will indeed,” she replied, her smile wide.“Good night.”She reluctantly pulled away as Ginger appeared in the doorway, meowing at them.
Knowing Ginger the way he did now, Nat could only imagine that she was asking Thea where she had been, and he grinned at the thought.
