He blinked his eyes before they widened.
Was he human again?
“I didn’t expect that to happen,” she said, looking down at him, “but I suppose there was some truth to the old stories about true love’s kiss.”
Nathaniel sat up, looking down at his human hands in amazement.
“You broke the curse,” he said, standing and offering Thea a hand.“You did it.”
Thea was staring at him.“I didn’t mean to break the curse,” she said, her eyes wide.
“I don’t care whether you meant to or not,” he said with a grin.“I think you did.”
Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
It might have only been a few minutes since he last kissed her, but that was far too long.
And if he had his way, he would be able to kiss her every moment of every day for the rest of his life.
He didn’t want to leave her side ever again, especially now that he knew what it was like to be here with her—even if he’d only experienced it as a cat.
He wanted to marry her.
Chapter nineteen
Thea
EverythingwasrightinThea’s world as she stood in her café with the man she’d loved for so many years, finally holding her in his arms.
“I have a suggestion,” Nathaniel said slowly, “and you may not like it.”
Thea raised an eyebrow at him.“That’s never a good sign.”
“Hear me out,” he said defensively.“Sometimes I do have good ideas.”
“Sometimes?”she asked.
“Most of the time,” he said.
She didn’t argue.
“I love you,” he said, “and I have for many years, and you love me.And I know this sounds strange, but I think we should get married.”He said the last words in a rush, as if saying them faster would make her think about them less.
“You think we should get married?”she asked, her eyes wide.
“I do,” he said, barreling forward.“We love each other.I can’t speak for you, but I have never even once considered anyone else.And I think that you and I are meant to be together.And if there are strange men lurking around town with nefarious intent, I would rather myself be turned into a cat a thousand times over before letting him come near you.And if I wasn’t here and you were alone and something happened, I would never forgive myself,” he said.
He paused to take a breath and Thea jumped in.“It may sound strange, but it doesn’t sound like a bad idea.There’s nothing I would rather do than spend the rest of my life with you, and Ginger, and this café.”
“And you wouldn’t have to pay rent if we were married,” he pointed out.
Thea laughed.“Now you’re speaking my language.That’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me, you know.”
Her words were teasing, but inside she was considering what he had said.It was true.She had loved him, and she had never once considered looking for anyone else.If she was going to marry anyone in this lifetime, it would be him—and they had already wasted so many years.
It didn’t seem right to waste any more.
“I think we should,” she said.
