Page 25 of Finding Happily Ever After
“Well,” Sarah stood, “then my best advice is to get back out there, and don’t overthink anything. You’re an adult. A strong, confident woman. You go do exactly what it is you want to, and don’t let yourself get in your own way.”
Natalie put her glass down and stood as well. She straightened her dress and pulled her shoulders back. “And that is the best advice I could have asked for. I think I’m going to do just that.”
They’d walked hand in hand through the snowy streets to Brody’s house just off Main Street, behind Birchwood. Natalie, as it turned out, lived within walking distance to Main Street as well, only in the opposite direction. She was in the new condos, overlooking the river. Either way, it was a small town and a nice night for walking, despite the snow. Having Natalie’s hand in his made Aiden feel like a school kid again. He had butterflies in his stomach just thinking about kissing her for the first time.
When was the last time he’d had that feeling?
He couldn’t remember. Too long. It had definitely been too long since he’d felt about a woman the way he was feeling about Natalie.
“This is me.” Aiden guided her up the small walkway to the house he rented. He unlocked the door and flipped on the lights as he held the door for her.
She was nervous. It wasn’t hard to see it. As soon as he’d suggested going back to his house for a coffee, something had shifted with her. She hadn’t said no, but she’d become visibly edgy. As if she were unsure about him.
Or maybe she was hiding something.
No.
Aiden shot down the thought the second it entered his mind. He could not go through his life suspicious of every woman he met. Not everyone was like Brenna, operating with a hidden agenda. In fact, he needed to believe Brenna was the exception, not the rule. And Natalie wasnothinglike Brenna. She was just nervous. That was all.
“It’s really nice.” Natalie slipped off her coat and handed it to him before removing her boots. Somehow, in her stockinged feet, she seemed a little sweeter than before, if that was even possible.
“I can’t take any credit for it.” Aiden led her into the kitchen, where he fired up the espresso machine. “Almost everything in here is Brody’s. He rented it to me fully furnished, including this bad boy.” He waved his hand in a flourish over the shiny machine. “Can you grab two cups out of that cupboard over there while I—”
He grabbed a bag of beans, and almost spilled it as it slipped from his hands. He caught it just in time, thankfully, and Natalie laughed. It was a beautiful sound, because it meant she was starting to relax a little.
Now, if only he could do the same thing. But how? How could he relax with her in his kitchen, looking so sexy and so damn kissable and—he needed to get it out of the way. It was the only way he’d be able to function.
Aiden put the beans down next to the machine and crossed the room to where Natalie was reaching up into the cupboard to grab the cups he’d requested. He stood so close to her that the scent of the sweet jasmine perfume she wore filled his sinuses and almost rendered him useless.
Natalie must have been aware of his presence, because she stilled and then slowly turned around, one cup in her hand. “Did I get the wrong—”
“It’s perfect.” He took it from her hand and set it down next to her, moving him closer to her. “I…there’s something that I’ve wanted to do for so long now, that I was thinking maybe we should just…” He slipped his hand to her cheek and cupped it gently.
She didn’t close her eyes, holding his gaze instead, but her breath came faster, and her tongue slipped out, just a little to wet her lips.
Damn.
There was no doubt what it was Aiden wanted to do, and if he was any judge at all, it was clear that Natalie was looking forward to the kiss as much as he was. Still, he hesitated. “Natalie?” His voice was deep, just barely controlled. “Would it be okay if—”
Her lips, every bit as soft as he’d imagined, pressed to his before he could finish. And that was perfectly fine with him. Because the only thing that mattered was kissing her. Nothowhe was kissing her.
And damn, was heeverkissing her.
She was sweet, and spicy in a way he hadn’t expected. Her kiss started off tentative and completely unsure, but in seconds, she seemed to have found her footing. She released the smallest moan against his lips, and the sound was almost Aiden’s undoing.
His groin tightened and with one hand still on her cheek, he used the other hand to slide behind her hair into her silky locks and pull her toward him. He needed her closer. He needed her—
“Oh.”
She pulled away and touched her fingers to her lips as if she could hardly believe she’d just done that.
Believe it!he wanted to yell.Because if I have anything to say about it, we’re going to be doing a whole lot more of that.
“I…didn’t…I mean…I did...” She giggled, and it was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.
Especially because Natalie was gorgeous, strong, and beautiful. But adorable wouldn’t have been one of the words he would have described her with.
Until now.
