No surprise there.
“I don’t know if I could live here,” Natalie says, biting into her perfectly baked scone. “I would eat this every day if I could.”
“Isn’t it delicious?”
I grab my scone and slather clotted cream and jelly on it. I never let myself indulge like this. I have my afternoon cup with a digestive, but scones? Sweets? Sandwiches?
It’s a rarity I get all of this.
“I’m really glad we got to spend time together. I can see why my brother likes you,” Natalie tells me as we finish our drinks and shrug back into our coats.
“Really?”
“Don’t sound surprised. He’s not the only one in the family that likes you.”
I don’t miss the weight of her words. Saying she likes me is more than I could have hoped for, even more so since they never liked Tag’s ex-wife. Butterflies swarm in my belly.
“I like you too,” I tell Natalie as we head outside. “I’m glad I got to know you better.”
“Me too.”
As far as unplanned days off work go, this was a good day. Natalie is an easy person to be around, just like her brother.
The one person I want to be around all the time.
Falling for a man like Tag is messing up every idea I had for my life. Maybe it’s time I change my plan…
Chapter Twenty-Six
OLIVIA
“You know I don’t need a fancy restaurant, right?”
I burrow closer into Tag’s side as the cold air nips at my skin.
“When you said you wanted to dress up for the holiday, I figured it required somewhere nicer. But it’s still to your liking, babe.”
“I guess I’ll allow it.”
The team will be traveling over New Year’s Eve, so Tag and I decided to celebrate early. Which meant it was the perfect time to wear the new dress I got with the girls.
Something I didn’t let Tag see when he picked me up.
That will be for later.
“I wish we didn’t have an away game,” Tag tells me as he opens the door into the restaurant. People linger in the small lobby of the Italian bistro.
“If only I could go with you.”
“Why can’t you?”
The party in front of us heads to their table as we move forward. “Well, I…”
I try to think of a reason, but I can’t. In the past, I’vealways spent New Year’s Day planning the new year. There’s something about starting off the year on the right foot that makes me feel settled.
Not that I feel the need to divulge that little secret to Tag.
“Easton.” Tag gives the hostess his name.
