That Mistletoe Moment

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That Mistletoe Moment Page 8

by Cat Johnson


  He dipped his head. “Yeah, okay. I’ll agree to leaving that part out.”

  It wasn’t the most flattering thing for him that she’d had his phone number all those weeks and had only texted it by mistake.

  That raised a good question. “Hey, let me ask you something. Why didn’t you text me? On purpose, I mean. You had the number.”

  “Why didn’t you text me?” she countered.

  “Because I was sure you were already taken, and might I remind you that you were taken at the time. And don’t avoid the question. Why didn’t you text me after you broke up with George?”

  She shrugged. “I wasn’t exactly feeling all that great about myself after the breakup. And look at you. You’re like Adonis or something. Who’d have thought you were single?”

  Adonis, huh? He smiled at the compliment but had to set the record straight. Little did she know he had been single for as long as she’d been tethered to the unimaginative George. “Well, I was single, so you could have texted. But now that you finally did, I’m happy to attend the party as your real boyfriend so you don’t need a cyber one.”

  She bit her lip. “And when we’re not at the party?”

  “Will I still be your boyfriend, you mean?”

  Noelle swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I hope so, too.”

  He blew out a breath. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled.”

  “You might not be once you meet my family. Aunt Anna can be quite a tyrant. And George’s brothers are probably going to put you through the wringer.”

  Nathan snorted. He’d been fighting actual tyrants and men out to kill him for over a decade as part of an elite, highly trained team. He could handle Aunt Anna and George’s brothers. “I think I’ll be all right. Now come here and let’s talk.”

  He moved to pull her closer, but she resisted. “What are we talking about?”

  The suspiciousness in her tone had him laughing. “Everything. What you do for a living. How old you’ll be for your birthday on Monday. What your parents are like. Do you have any other brothers and sisters besides Nikki? How many other exes have you got?”

  She looked at him like he was nuts. “You really want to know all of that? Now?”

  “Yup.” He nodded.

  An adorable wrinkle appeared between her brows. “But why?”

  “Because I take my position as your boyfriend very seriously. That’s why.”

  Giving in, she lifted a shoulder. “Okay.”

  As she drew in a breath before launching into her answers to his many questions, he leaned forward. He grabbed her mug off the table and took a sip, smiling when she narrowed her eyes at him for stealing her drink.

  Nathan lowered the mug. “How about we go shopping tomorrow and get more cocoa?”

  “Can we really?” Her whole expression lit at the suggestion.

  He laughed. “Of course. We can do whatever you want.”

  They’d only just started really getting to know each other, but still, he was certain he could spend a whole life making this woman happy, just to be the reason for that expression of pure joy on her face.

  CHAPTER 11

  “Noelle Christina Chambers, spill. Why have you been avoiding my calls and acting so weird these past few days?”

  Nikki only used that tone and Noelle’s full name when she was serious about something.

  “Are you sitting down?” Noelle asked.

  “Now you have me even more concerned. Why do I have to sit down? What’s going on?” Nikki’s voice rose higher.

  “Nathan is real.”

  “What do you mean, real? What did you do?”

  “Nothing.” Noelle rethought that answer. “Okay, maybe I did do something, but it was a good thing.”

  “You’d better stop with the riddles and start talking or I’m coming over there.”

  Since Nathan wasn’t there any longer, it wouldn’t be horrible if Nikki showed up, but Noelle was expecting him later that morning. He’d promised to be back for their shopping trip as soon as he’d spent some time with his parents.

  A man who loved his parents and liked to shop—where had he been her whole life? He was perfect. But before she could get back to being with him, she had to defuse her sister.

  “Stop interrupting and I’ll tell you everything.”

  Nikki let out an audible breath. “Okay, fine. Talk.”

  “So remember that guy from Thanksgiving who gave me his cranberries? The original Nathan whom I named my Build-A-Boyfriend after?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, his number was in my phone because I’d texted him the recipe. And the Build-A-Boyfriend number was in my phone, too, from that first text from the app. I guess I mixed them up and—” Noelle stopped at her sister’s gasp.

  “You’ve been texting the real Nathan instead of the app?”

  “Yes.” The silence on the other end of the phone prompted Noelle to say, “Nik? You still there?”

  “Yeah. Just trying to absorb it all. What’s going to happen with the real Nathan? Are you going to meet up? Did you tell him about the app?” Nikki might have been momentarily speechless, but it didn’t last long as she followed up with a barrage of questions, some of which Noelle was less than keen to answer.

  She didn’t know where to start so she just dove right in and braced for the backlash. “He knows. I told him last night when he was here.”

  “What? He was there in your apartment?” Nikki’s exclamation had Noelle pulling the cell farther from her ear.

  “Yeah. And we’re kind of—well, more than kind of—dating. He’s coming to Mom and Dad’s party. And we’re going out Christmas shopping together today.”

  “Oh my God. I can’t believe you.”

  “I know. You have every right to be upset. I took a chance inviting him over, but it all worked out.” Noelle braced for her sister’s lecture.

  “I’m upset because only you could sign up for a fake boyfriend and end up with a real one. You have everything. Job. Apartment. Boyfriend. Meanwhile, I’m still single, still in school, still working in a crappy, dead-end job, and still living with Mom and Dad.”

  Noelle couldn’t help her smile. Her life was pretty amazing. She tried to temper her glee. “I’m sorry, Nik.”

  Nikki let out a deep sigh. “It’s okay. I’ll forgive you. It’ll be worth it to see George’s face when you walk into the party with the hottie from the store.”

  She laughed. Yeah, though it was bitchy and she shouldn’t, Noelle had a feeling she was going to enjoy that moment herself. Christmas Eve was certainly going to be interesting.

  That thought had Noelle drawing in a gasp. “I need to get Nathan a Christmas gift.”

  “What are you going to get him?”

  “I have no idea.” She sighed.

  Getting gifts for George had been easy. She pretty much bought him a new tie or some gloves. Practical. Useful. Boring. All the things he liked best.

  But Nathan—what could she get a man like him? A man who took what he wanted and gave back even more than he took. She thought back to their time spent together last night and felt her cheeks warm at the memories.

  She was going to have to think about this and decide—fast. There wasn’t much time left. Maybe she’d be inspired while they were together today.

  The sound of a knock had her spinning toward the door. “I gotta go. I think he’s here.”

  “Call me as soon as you get back. And take pictures while you’re out to post online.”

  Noelle rolled her eyes. She didn’t need to post pictures anymore to fake having a boyfriend, because she had a real one. But it would be nice to have the photos for herself when Nathan went back to Virginia.

  “Okay. Now I really gotta go. I’ll call you later.” Noelle hung up without waiting for Nikki’s good-bye and tossed the phone onto the counter. She trotted to the door and yanked it open. One look at Nathan standing in the hall had her smiling. “Hey.”


  “Good morning.” His low, husky greeting was followed by a warm embrace and a kiss that took her breath away. He backed them both up into the apartment and pushed the door shut without breaking their lip-lock. She was pressed up against the door, lost in a kiss she wished would go on forever, when he pulled back and smiled. “Ready to go shopping?”

  She had been, before, but not now after that welcome. They wouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon if he kissed her like that one more time.

  Noelle blew out a breath and tried to get a grip on herself. “Yeah. We can go.”

  “Good.” His smile broadened into a wide grin that was infectious.

  “You’re in a good mood.”

  “You can’t even imagine. It’s been a good morning so far.”

  She laughed at his enthusiasm. “Are you going to tell me why?”

  The day had barely begun, so she couldn’t imagine what had happened already to put him in such good spirits.

  “Nope.” He pressed his lips firmly together.

  “No?” She drew back in surprise.

  “Not yet. You have to wait. It’s a surprise.”

  “A surprise for me?”

  “Maybe.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Now, put on your coat and let’s go.”

  She held firm, shaking her head when he tried to hand her the coat hung by the door. “I want to know now.”

  All he did was smile at her declaration. “Ah, so you’re one of those people.”

  “What people?” She pulled her hand out of his to fold her arms over her chest.

  “The kind who shake their gifts to try to figure out what’s in the box. The kind who can’t stand not knowing something even if it ruins the surprise.” He lifted a brow. “Am I wrong?”

  She scowled. “No.”

  He laughed and pulled her to him with a hand on each of her arms. “It’s okay. I’ll enjoy torturing you with the suspense even more knowing that. Now, come on. There are gifts to buy and cocoa to drink.”

  Nathan stuck by his resolve and didn’t tell her the secret. Not during their day of shopping. Not after she plied him with rum-spiked eggnog. Not even when she tried to pry the secret out of him with what she considered to be some pretty creative sexual persuasion.

  The man only smiled and shook his head when she pushed him for an answer. And then told her to keep trying since he was enjoying her methods.

  It was infuriating. He was able to withstand anything she came up with. But he was also adorable and sexy as hell.

  The more she got to know him, the more she realized she was already half in love with this man.

  Maybe more than just half.

  By the time the day of the party dawned, Noelle was ready to give up trying to discover whatever his surprise was.

  Besides, she had bigger worries. It was Christmas Eve and she still had no gift for Nathan.

  They’d spent hours together over the past few days, but no idea for a present seemed appropriate. Not for the man who completed her.

  Finding Nathan was like discovering the final piece of a puzzle that had been missing her whole life.

  She was bemoaning her lack of inspiration, listlessly stirring her second cup of coffee of the day with a candy cane, when her cell buzzed.

  “Happy Christmas Eve!” Nikki’s chipper greeting had Noelle sighing.

  Noelle drew in a weary breath. “Yeah. To you, too.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Nikki asked.

  “I still have no clue what to get Nathan.” She pulled out the candy cane and popped the end into her mouth.

  “Well, you’d better hurry. The clock is ticking.”

  “Thanks, but I know that.” Noelle scowled.

  Why couldn’t she think of anything? She was an expert shopper. A Christmas aficionado. This should be easy.

  “Are you getting here early to help set up?” Nikki asked.

  The question elicited a fresh wave of guilt. She usually helped decorate for the party. This year, between the drama of George and the whirlwind of her romance with Nathan, she hadn’t lifted a finger to help her family.

  Nathan was meeting her at the party, so she was free to go over early. “Yes. Let me get myself together and I’ll be over.”

  She glanced at the time display on the microwave and sighed. The morning was almost gone already. She’d been up late with Nathan—again.

  Noelle had no complaints about spending time with him, but it meant she’d woken late.

  How was she supposed to help set up for the party, shop for a gift, and get ready for tonight? It would be really tight. The stores were going to be crazy. The traffic, the lines . . . but it didn’t really matter since she had not one idea of what to shop for anyway.

  “Okay, good. We can brainstorm what to do about a gift when you get here—not that I’ll be much help since you won’t let me meet him until tonight. Oh, and pack your makeup and outfit for tonight and we can get dressed here together the way we used to.”

  That was actually a good idea. And right about now, Noelle needed all the good ideas she could get.

  CHAPTER 12

  Nathan checked the address on the mailbox and pulled his car along the curb in front of a house festooned with garlands of fresh greens lit by tiny white lights and tied in big red bows.

  Noelle’s love of Christmas must be hereditary. Her parents’ house looked amazing all decked out for the holiday.

  Eager to see her, he grabbed the bag he’d stashed on the floor behind his seat and then slammed the door.

  He made his way up the path and had just raised his fist to knock when the door opened. Two guys, each a head shorter than Nathan, stood in the doorway holding bottles of beer in their hands.

  “Uh, hey. I’m here for the party,” he offered when they didn’t move to invite him in.

  One frowned and looked him up and down, clearly sizing him up. “Who are you?”

  Not exactly a welcoming committee, were they? He answered anyway. “I’m Noelle’s boyfriend.”

  “Uh, no, you’re not. She’s been dating our brother, George, for years.”

  If these two clowns were his brothers, Nathan couldn’t wait to get a look at George himself. “She was dating your brother. They broke up.”

  “No way.” The one guy turned to his brother. “They broke up and he didn’t tell us?”

  The other guy shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Still, no one had made a move to let Nathan in. “So I’m gonna come in now.”

  He didn’t give them a chance to argue with that as he turned sideways and slipped between them and into the foyer.

  The inside of the house was even more elaborately done up than the outside, with garlands draping the staircase, doorways, and chandelier.

  A fire crackled in the fireplace in the room to his left.

  Next to the hearth was a sight that had Nathan smiling. She stood speaking to an older man seated in a chair. In her red velvet dress with white fur cuffs and collar, she fit perfectly with the decorations. It was all like a scene from some bygone era.

  Noelle turned. Her eyes lit when she spotted him in the hall and she rushed forward. “Hi. You’re here.”

  “I am.” No thanks to the tag team of bouncers at the door. He leaned in and dropped a much-too-quick kiss on her lips, since there was no way he could kiss her the way he wanted to here. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” She dropped her gaze away, looking shy and making him want to take her somewhere to prove to her he spoke the truth.

  That would have to wait for later. Instead he handed her the shopping bag. “For you.”

  She took it, looking surprised. “What’s this? We didn’t agree to exchange gifts tonight.”

  “I know, but I’ve kept you in the dark for long enough. It’s the surprise I promised you. Remember? The one you were so eager to hear about.” He smiled, recalling some of her more creative efforts. “Open it.”

  Her eyes widened. “Now? Okay.”
r />   She moved to the side table and set down the bag. Reaching in, she pulled out a bottle of champagne. She put it down on the table next to the bag and glanced up at him.

  “Keep going. There’s more,” he prompted.

  Reaching inside, she drew out a box containing two champagne glasses.

  Still looking confused, she glanced at him again and said, “Thank you.”

  He laughed. He’d made her suffer long enough. “Those were my clues, but apparently they weren’t very good ones. The surprise is that I called command and asked to have my leave extended through January second—and they approved it.”

  “So you’ll be here for New Year’s Eve?” Her eyes widened.

  “Yes, and for your birthday, too.”

  He grinned as she leapt forward, tackling him where he leaned against the doorway. “Thank you.”

  That was more the reaction he’d been looking for. He laughed. “You’re welcome.”

  Leaning in, he dared a kiss that was a little bolder than the last one.

  “Who the hell are you?” The male voice broke through Nathan’s consciousness as he kissed her.

  He lifted his head and saw that his two new friends from the doorway had been joined by a third.

  “That’s George and his brothers.” Noelle’s hushed words only confirmed Nathan’s suspicions.

  “Ah.” He turned to face the trio, but left his arm around Noelle’s shoulders. “I’m Nathan.”

  One of the brothers tipped a chin in his direction. “He said he is Noelle’s boyfriend.”

  Noelle moved to step forward, but Nathan kept her firmly tucked beside him as he turned his attention back to George’s flushed face.

  Nathan took more pleasure than he should at the fact he could easily bench-press the man and not even get winded. “George. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  George scowled and turned to his brothers. “I need a beer.”

  When the other two Stooges followed George out of the room, Nathan let himself relax.

  Next to him, Noelle blew out a breath. “Oh my God, I need a drink. I thought you were going to end up in a fistfight against all three of them.”

 

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