“Oh, Beth, you’re just in time,” April said as they walked into the entry. Natalie sighed in relief. It wasn’t their dates yet, which meant she had time to collect herself after that conversation with April. Or, rather, she had time to bury the conversation deep down where she didn’t have to take a close look at it.
Natalie introduced herself to Beth and gave her the rundown of how to handle things. She ended by telling—no, begging—her to call if there was even one small, minuscule problem.
Beth laughed and pushed her glasses up in a cute manner that appeared more habit than necessity. “It doesn’t sound like you’re that excited about this date, Miss Taylor.”
“I’m not, Beth. I’m really not. So, again, if you need anything—”
“She gets it, Natalie,” April laughed. “Now I think that might be one of our... no, that’s just. Oh.”
“Who?”
Her question was answered as the bell jingled again and Cade stepped inside, stopping abruptly at the sight of the three of them staring at him.
“Well, hi everyone,” he said, though it sounded more like a question. Natalie had a lot of questions too. Namely, how long would he be in town? Because she couldn’t keep her heart under lock and key much longer with him looking and acting like he had been.
“Hey, Cade, where’ve you been?” Glorious April stepped in with a perfectly normal question that saved Natalie from asking a completely un-normal one. Like, ‘can I go out with you tonight instead?’
Oh crap, her face was getting warm already.
“Over at my parents,” he said to April, not meeting Natalie’s eyes. “They have various activities planned all holiday, so I spend a lot of my time over there. I’m actually going back in just a second.”
“Oh? Why not just stay there?”
“Their basement flooded the day I got here, so someone needed to sleep somewhere else.”
Still, he wasn’t looking at Natalie. Since it was the first day since he came to town that she actually had a full face of makeup on and looked pretty nice, his lack of notice was aggravating.
“That’s too bad. Is the clean up going okay?”
“Yeah, but now it’s looking like they need to change the carpets. They’re giving them a bit longer to dry out to be sure, though. What are you guys up to tonight?”
Finally, he looked at her, only to immediately look away. Natalie experienced just the briefest moment of frustration before his gaze zeroed in on her again. And this time it didn’t leave. As she watched, his gaze slid from her head to her shoes, then back up again. Instead of feeling violated, like whenever the construction workers would do something like that, she felt warm all over. And kinda like doing a little dance.
Ugh. She broke up with him. And for good reason. Why was he making her feel all sorts of... giddy... now?
“We have our first double date,” April responded, oblivious to Natalie and Cade’s stare down.
If Beth’s little giggle behind her was any indication, though, she certainly noticed.
“I think that’s them now,” April added.
This time, she was right. The door jingled, yet again, and two men walked in.
A quick perusal told Natalie a lot. Both grinned and walked with that self-confident swagger that generally meant the man was more cocky than confident. They had a long night ahead of them.
She glanced at Cade, who’d crossed his arms and seemed to be sizing up the new guys with a scowl. This bothered Natalie for some reason, so she smiled with enthusiasm that was usually April’s territory.
“Hi! I’m Natalie and this is April. I’m assuming you guys are our dates for tonight?”
Both men looked at her and one, in particular, checked her out from head to toe. She felt suddenly squeamish, and dropped her smile.
“Hey Natalie, I’m Kyle. That’s Carter, but you don’t need to worry about him,” her date jerked his thumb toward his friend, grinning as if he was hilarious.
No one laughed.
“Nice to meet you, Kyle.” She glanced at Cade. Should she introduce him? Judging by the way he looked at the newcomers, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea. The best idea would be to just get the date over with. “Should we head out?”
“Sure,” Kyle said. The guys turned back to the door, and Natalie leaned over the check-in counter to grab her purse and coat.
Beth caught her eye as she straightened. With a raise of her eyebrows and an incredibly impressive whisper, she jerked her thumb toward Cade. “I think he’s much cuter than those guys.”
Natalie smiled tightly at her and followed April out the door.
Me too, Beth. Me too.
Chapter 9
Cade
“Four... Five.” Cade breathed a sigh of relief. “I think that’s all of them.”
“It’s only five kids, Cade,” his mom laughed at him as the door closed behind them. “Abby handles five kids every day.”
“And I am truly questioning her sanity.”
His mom laughed again, then walked away to stand by his dad, weaving through Cade’s nieces and nephews to get there. Cade remained where he was, ready to catch any escapees. They’d learned the hard way at the movies that the twins liked to test boundaries. Oliver distracted the adults, while Aiden ran away, laughing. It had taken Cade nearly fifteen minutes to find the little twerp once they discovered he’d snuck out of the movie.
Cade rubbed his thumb and forefinger on the sides of his head. That hadn’t been a fun fifteen minutes. He wasn’t sure his heart would ever beat normally again.
Outside of questioning Abby’s sanity, he was also questioning his own. Why had he agreed to this ridiculous plan to take the oldest grandkids out so their parents could have a break? Sure, he loved his nieces and nephews, but he wouldn’t love being the reason they came home with one less.
He scanned the kids again, watching for a jail break. Really, he’d offered to help tonight to distract himself from the fact that Nat was on a date with one of the imbeciles he’d seen at the inn.
“Does everyone know what they want?” Dad’s booming voice carried through the ice cream parlor. Cade hadn’t even looked at the menu yet.
“I want chocolate!”
“Can I try the cookie dough one, Grandpa? Oh—or cotton candy? Can I get both?”
“Do you have just red sprinkles? I want sprinkles but I don’t want all the colors. Just red.”
Cade raised an eyebrow as he looked over at Noah, “Why red, buddy?”
“Because it looks like blood.”
Cade wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cower at the seven-year-old’s deadpan expression. “Yeah... okay.”
“Are all these yours?”
Cade spun around at the familiar, teasing voice. Nat was standing just behind him, looking at his nieces and nephews with amusement. She flicked a glance at him, and his heart did funny things.
Wait, wasn’t she supposed to be on a date?
He glanced behind her, and April waved at him from where she stood, talking with her date. Cade looked back to Nat and raised his eyebrows. She shrugged.
“My date had to run home to let his mom’s dog out, apparently. I guess it's a new puppy she’s training... He lives with her and offered to help while she’s visiting her sister. He wanted me to come, but I declined. He’ll meet us here.” She grimaced slightly but Cade didn’t have time to dwell on that before she spoke again, “What are you missing... three of them?”
“No, only two, we took the oldest five out for a movie and ice cream,” Cade glanced over the five kids gathered in front of him. Except now there were only four. “Shoot!” He looked wildly around. Aiden was missing.
“Cade? Oh, hi Natalie, how have you been?” His mom had come back to his end of the line again and was smiling at Nat as if it hadn’t been almost four years since they last saw each other.
“Mom. Aiden is gone again.”
Her smile dropped, “Seriously? Abby wasn’t kidding when she offered leashes.”
“You mean we could have had these kids tethered down this whole time, and you turned that opportunity down?” Cade’s eyes swept the little parlor while he spoke. He stepped from the line, glancing quickly at his mom. “You and dad get the ice cream. I’ll find Aiden.”
“Are you sure? One of us could help you... Cover more ground.” She glanced worriedly at the rest of the kids.
“I’m sure. Maybe check around here a bit.” Cade went to the door. If Aiden had actually left the building, he could be in serious trouble.
“How can I help?”
Cade looked at Nat, startled to see she was following him. “I’m fine, you can get back to your date.”
“He’s still not here. Where are we looking first?”
She seemed determined, and he wasn’t about to turn down the help. Or the opportunity to crash her date. They ducked out of the shop. “Will you go left? I’ll go right.”
She nodded, then immediately set down the street. Belatedly, Cade realized she didn’t even know what Aiden looked like. “Hey, Nat!”
From her place partially down the block, she turned, and Cade abruptly realized something—something that would have to wait. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “you don’t even know what he looks like! Just come help me instead?”
Cade started walking the second she reached his side. “He’s six years old, about yay high, and has light hair like Abby’s.” He paused to look through the windows of a small diner. Aiden wasn’t there. “And he’ll probably be laughing, the little hellion.”
“I take it this is a common occurrence?”
“Unfortunately.”
They walked silently, stepping into stores and stopping people to see if they’d seen a little boy around. After nearly an entire block, Cade’s heart rate was starting to get out of control again. What if Aiden hadn’t run off? What if someone had taken him? Should they call the police? Abby! She was going to kill them!
A buzzing in his pocket stopped his spiraling thoughts. ‘Mom’ flashed across the screen.
“Did you find him?” Cade asked the moment he answered.
“Yes. Silly boy was hiding in the bathroom. It took a while to find him because he was sitting on top of a toilet so your dad couldn’t see his feet beneath the stall.” His mom sighed, and Cade slowed his steps. “I swear, next time I’m bringing those leashes, cool Grandma or not.”
“Next time? I’m thinking I don’t want to be in charge of those kids again until they're in college. Actually, never mind, I don’t want them then either.”
Nat laughed beside him as his mom’s laughter sounded through the phone.
“Well, don’t bother hurrying back. We’ve got the kids covered for now.” His mom’s voice had taken on a sly sound, and Cade grinned.
“Thanks, mom.”
He hung up and turned to Nat. “Thanks for helping, but I guess our services are no longer needed.”
She laughed, her features lighting up. Cade suddenly remembered his earlier realization.
“Hey, Nat, the day I checked into the bed and breakfast, did some guy almost run you over in the street?”
Her eyebrows raised then pulled together. “Yes... Wait, was that you?” She spun toward him on the snowy sidewalk. But the movement was too abrupt, and she slid.
Without thinking, Cade grabbed her arm. Once she was steady, he found it hard to let go. Forcing his fingers to release her, he shoved the hand into his pocket and looked away. Snow was falling softly, and the street was almost deserted, except for a pair of teenagers who were heading into a store a few doors down from them. “It was. I’m so sorry—I was such an idiot. First to nearly kill you, then to not even get out of the car and check on you.”
Nat waved him off. “It’s fine. I was fine, just surprised. What made you realize it was me, though? I was bundled up tighter than an Eskimo.”
“Your hair,” his unruly hand escaped the confines of his pocket and lightly grabbed a piece of it. They still hadn’t moved. Cade didn’t want to. “When you looked back at me on the sidewalk outside the ice cream place. The way the wind pushed it back was the same as the day I nearly killed you.”
A surprised laugh bubbled from her mouth. “I must have made quite the impression.”
“You always do.”
Her eyes caught his and didn’t leave.
He knew those eyes better even than his own. He’d imagined waking up to those eyes every day. Despite the many years that should have made him forget how those eyes could make him feel, he loved them just the same. Maybe even more now that he knew what life was like without Nat. Unable to help himself, he took a step closer.
Except he’d forgotten about the icy walk. So, instead of smoothly cupping her jaw and coaxing her into kissing him as he’d planned, his feet slipped out from beneath him. She tried to grab his arms—at least, that’s what he thought she was trying to do—but he had a lot more mass behind him, which meant she just came down with him.
His butt hit first, jolting all the way up his spine. Then the weight of Nat, plus a few poorly placed elbows and knees of hers, knocked into him, pushing them flat onto the ice. The air whooshed out of him.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! Are you okay?” She scrambled to get off him but only slipped again, falling almost as hard as the first time.
“Oof.” The air he’d only barely pulled into his lungs, was pushed out again. “Maybe don’t move for a second.”
She immediately froze, and when the sharp stabs of pain lessened to dull throbs, he opened his eyes.
There were two of her; until he blinked, and they merged into one. He stared for several seconds before fully realizing the position they were in. She was lying almost completely on top of him, with a forearm on his chest, and a hand flat against the icy ground beside him. As he watched, that hand slipped marginally, and she fell a fraction of an inch closer. Without thinking, he slipped a hand around her waist. Just to steady her.
Or maybe to maintain their current position a little longer.
“I am so sorry,” she murmured. “Is it okay if I try and get up now?”
His eyes flicked to her lips. “No.” It was definitely not okay for her to go anywhere.
“Cade?” She sounded concerned.
He pulled his gaze back to her eyes. Warmth that was certainly not thanks to the block of ice beneath him, spread from every place that her body touched his. It was a lot of warmth. “Uh... yeah, let me help you.” Reluctantly, he steadied her waist until she was able to inch off him to a kneeling position. Then, carefully, she got to her feet.
As soon as she was standing, she reached a hand out to help him up.
He shook his head. “I’m okay, thanks.” Sitting up gingerly, he took stock of his limbs. He would certainly have a bad headache in the morning, and probably more than a few bruises, but nothing major.
“You sure you’re okay?” She was eying him with concern. Cade found he liked the attention.
“Yeah. Just bruised my pride.”
“And your backside, I’d guess,” the corners of her lips twitched. “That was probably a lot more ice than you thought you were getting today.” Her eyes went wide, and her gloved hand covered her mouth. “Oh my gosh I completely forgot the ice cream!”
All the warmth still lingering slipped away.
Her date. Of course. She was supposed to be with another guy right now.
He got to his feet. “Ditch the guy. He lives with his mother, after all.” He grinned to show he was joking. He wasn’t joking.
She rolled her eyes, but smiled. “I can’t, even if it’s tempting. It would be rude after he drove all the way back here. His mother lives in Woodcastle. Plus, April’s waiting for me.” She started back down the sidewalk; he followed.
The walk back to the ice cream shop took less than five minutes. The heat when they stepped through the door was welcome, but knowing Nat would be spending the rest of the evening with someone who wasn’t him had him wanting to pull h
er back out into the cold. He’d even take another elbow to the gut if it meant he could keep her for himself.
A quick perusal showed his parents in the back corner booth with all the kids between them. April and her date were sitting about three booths closer. She looked up when they walked in. Her expression went from happy to see them, to sympathetic in an instant.
“Natalie, Kyle called Carter. He got partially back here then his car got stuck in the snow. He said he’s really sorry.”
“Oh.” Nat stopped a few feet from April’s table. She glanced at Cade, then back to her friend. “That’s fine. I don’t want to be a third wheel for you guys though... I’ll just grab some ice cream then walk home.”
“No, you should stay with us!”
April’s date didn’t seem to like that idea much. Neither did Nat.
“Hey, why don’t you come join me and my family?” The words were out of Cade’s mouth before he could pull them back and tell them to back off on the enthusiasm.
Nat didn’t look convinced. That made him want to convince her.
“We’ll only be here a bit longer; it looks like the kids are almost done with their ice cream. We could get some cones and head out. I have Noah and Gregory in the car with me, but if you don’t mind running them back, I’ll drive us to the Bed and Breakfast. It’s too cold to walk.”
Nat still didn’t look entirely sure, but April was on his side.
“That sounds like a great idea!” She winked at him when Nat looked away for a second. He grinned.
“Okay, thanks, Cade.” She didn’t sound thrilled, but he’d take it.
“Awesome. See you guys later.” He grabbed Nat’s wrist and pulled her to the counter to order.
Christmas In Love: A Greenbank Holiday Romance (Greenbank Holiday Romances Book 1) Page 6
