She couldn’t bring herself to admit how many times she’s felt his eyes on her and how many times her own eyes had been on him.
“From the look of things, I’d say he’s more than pleased, Lily,” Ava said knowingly. “I can tell he’s proud to have you on his arm. I can see it in his eyes. I also can tell that you challenge him. He looks at you like you’re a puzzle he can’t quite figure out.”
Lily couldn’t contain her laughter. “I think it’s the other way around, Mrs. Brighton. He definitely challenges me. In fact, I don’t know if he’s told you about our first few interactions, but they were . . . well . . . confrontational. But I’m glad we could put aside any differences we have and come together for Daniel’s sake.”
Ava nodded.
As they made their way back to the party, Lily noticed a third figure standing with Nate and Mr. Brighton. Daniel laughed as Mr. Brighton patted Nate on the shoulder with a chuckle of his own. Nate’s expression seemed confused—like he was trying to figure out whatever they’d said.
Daniel turned toward the two women as they approached. “Lily! I’m sorry I haven’t gotten to be around much tonight. But I hope you’re having a good time.” He wrapped her in a huge hug before she could answer.
“I’m having a great time! And you’re obviously having a great time, too,” she said, raising an eyebrow in question of just how many drinks he’d had. “Your parents are wonderful, by the way.”
“Yes, we are,” Ava said with a laugh. “Hello, son. Enjoying yourself?”
Daniel was instantly a child again, looking at his mother with complete adoration. “Hi, Mom,” he said, bending to kiss her cheek. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“She certainly does,” his father said. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s take a spin on the dance floor.” He took her hand and nodded toward the center of the room. “We’ll see you kids later.”
Daniel shook his head in amusement before turning toward Lily and Nate, his expression turning all business. “Okay, team. How do you think it went tonight?”
Lily and Nate’s eyes met at Daniel’s use of “team.”
Is that what we are?
Nate spoke first. “I think it went well, Dan. People seemed to like the movie, and everything was under control at the premiere itself.”
“I agree,” Lily added. “Your interviews went well. And spending time with your fans is definitely good PR. I think you’re going to get a lot of good coverage from this.”
A smile spread across Daniel’s face. “Good. I’m glad it’s over, but happier that it went well.”
The DJ started a new song, and Daniel glanced over at Nate. “Mind if I steal Lily for a dance?”
Lily’s eyes widened, and she was surprised to see Nate’s narrow.
“If that’s what Lily wants, of course,” he said, his gaze never leaving Daniel’s.
Lily cleared her throat. “That sounds great, Daniel.”
He took her hand and led her to the edge of the dance floor before placing his hand at her waist.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to say it, but thanks for being here tonight.”
Lily blushed. “I should be thanking you. I’m thrilled to be here. This has been amazing. I’ve had many amazing experiences since I met you, actually, but I think this one might top them all.”
Daniel chuckled. “Really? Why’s that?”
Lily shook her head in disbelief. “Daniel, I’m at a film premiere after-party. This is a far cry from covering the Fall FunFest or creating a regional travel guide.”
“Well, you’ve earned it. You’ve treated me with respect, which is more than I can say for other entertainment reporters in this room right now. Enjoy it.” His genuine smile let Lily know that he meant it.
“I should be thanking you for keeping Nate under control,” Daniel continued. “He’s usually as tense as I am at these things, just waiting for me to go off on a reporter or something. But you seem to keep him calm.” He looked over Lily’s shoulder at his best friend. “Except for right now, apparently.”
Lily saw the look on Nate’s face when Daniel turned her, and she glanced nervously between the two men. When the DJ cued up a song with a distinct tango beat, she gasped. The opening strains of the song reflected the strong, purposeful strides Nate suddenly took toward them.
Catching Lily’s gaze, he held it as he approached and held his hand out to hers.
“May I?” he asked in a commanding tone.
Lily didn’t answer. She simply put her hand in his.
Daniel left the dance floor, telling Lily he’d catch up with her later.
Lily and Nate didn’t speak as he led her across the dance floor. But their eyes remained locked.
Nate’s gaze was full of passion, and his motions were strong and determined, matching the music perfectly. Lily wondered if she should be offended or angered by his display. She gazed back at him with equal passion, the silence between them thick and heavy as they both battled for control.
What was meant to be a tango became a face-off. The dance wasn’t smooth or graceful. It was an expression of raw energy—of the small electric current between them that seemed to grow even stronger now that she was in his arms. In some small way, it was also an acknowledgement that something had shifted between them, and that they both felt the resulting frustration and confusion.
When the music slowed, Nate was the first one to break their gaze. He blinked and shook his head as if to clear his thoughts.
“That was . . . um . . . thank you. For the dance, I mean,” Nate said.
Lily smiled while trying to catch her breath. “Well, Nate . . . if that’s any indication of your prowess, I look forward to tangoing with you again.”
Nate smirked. “I’m going to hold you to that, Lily.”
Lily felt her breath catch at his reply.
When they reached the edge of the dance floor, she heard someone calling Nate’s name.
“Nate!”
“Anthony!” Nate responded enthusiastically. “Good to see you, man!”
“Good to see you, too!” Anthony said, pulling Nate into a one-armed man-hug. “So are you going to introduce me to your girl here?” Lily’s eyes widened when he glanced over at her and winked.
Nate’s cheeks flushed ever so slightly. “Anthony, this is Lily Richards. She’s a journalist who was helping me out with the press line tonight. Lily, meet Anthony Brighton.” Lily noticed Nate didn’t deny Anthony’s description of her.
Daniel’s older brother was every bit as striking as his sibling, although he seemed more approachable. He had Daniel’s messy hair, but he kept it cut short to contain his curls. Two dimples consistently appeared near the corners of his smile.
Lily offered her hand, and Anthony narrowed his eyes as he extended his toward her. “Wait a minute . . . Lily?”
Anthony’s eyes darted between Lily’s and Nate’s.
Nate nodded. “Yeah. Lily wrote the piece on Daniel in Vanity Fair.”
Instead of taking her hand, Anthony pulled her into a bear hug. “Damn fine to finally meet you! I’ve heard so much about you.”
Lily couldn’t help but laugh as he set her back on the ground. He had none of Daniel’s shyness. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”
A striking blonde with piercing blue eyes and a perfectly tailored gown and chignon that screamed Park Avenue appeared at Anthony’s side. “Darling, who are you accosting this time?” she asked, her voice full of knowing humor.
“Sweetheart, this is Lily. You know . . . Lily. Lily, this is my wife, Rachael.”
Rachael’s eyes lit with recognition. “Lily, it’s so great to meet you! And Nate, congratulations on tonight. It looks like everything went well. Daniel was wonderful in the movie.”
“Thanks,” Nate responded. “I’m glad you two are having fun.”
Rachael rolled her eyes and laughed as she patted her husband’s stomach. “Oh yeah. It’s always a laugh a minute with this guy!”
&nbs
p; Anthony wiggled his eyebrows and pulled her closer, causing Lily to giggle.
“All right, dear. I think you’ve scared this poor girl enough,” Rachael said with a smile. “Come on, let’s go mingle!”
Anthony looked back and forth between Nate and Lily as Rachael started to pull him away. “Lily, welcome to the family.”
Lily’s brows furrowed as she turned to Nate. “What did he mean?”
Nate cleared his throat. “With him, you never know. How about we get you another drink?”
After more dancing and even more champagne, Nate and Lily left the party in the wee small hours of the morning. Lily’s feet ached, but a contented smile played on her lips.
“Let’s get you home,” Nate said, his green eyes crinkling at the corners.
Lily felt pleasantly tipsy and gratefully accepted his arm as they made their way to the exit. He hailed a cab while Lily breathed in the chilly November night air.
There is nothing more beautiful than this city at the holidays, she thought.
“I can think of something just as beautiful,” he responded almost too quietly for Lily to hear. She hadn’t realized she’d spoken aloud. She glanced up at him, her cheeks flushing and stomach fluttering.
Nate held the cab door open for Lily. As she climbed across the seat, she realized just how exhausted she was. Nate slid in behind her, and she sighed before closing her eyes and leaning her head on his broad shoulder. He reached out and patted her right knee, leaving his hand there as they moved through the city streets.
Lily rested comfortably, lulled by the rhythm of the car, until Nate gently shook her knee.
“We’re back at your hotel,” he whispered in her ear.
She gathered her things while he paid the cab fare. He was staying at the same hotel as Daniel, but insisted he see Lily safely to her room. He offered his arm once again as she got out of the cab, and she kept it even as they rode the elevator to the twenty-fourth floor.
“Well, this is me,” she said, stopping in front of her door.
Nate sighed. “Okay. I hope you’ve had a good time.”
“Of course I have. I can’t thank you enough for this experience.”
Nate couldn’t stop his grin. “Good. I’m glad. And thank you for helping me out tonight. It was much more fun with you there.”
Lily smiled. “Good night, Nate,” she said before reaching up to kiss his cheek.
As she pulled away, their gazes locked and energy surged between them. Before she could blink, Nate grabbed her around her waist and put his lips to hers.
His kiss wasn’t gentle or timid, but it wasn’t one of those push-her-up-against-the-door kisses either. It was sweet. It was “I don’t know what I’m doing.” It was “I can’t help myself,” and “I shouldn’t want you, but I think I might.” And Lily couldn’t help but wonder if it also was a promise of things to come.
“Wow,” she said as Nate broke the kiss and placed his forehead against hers. The quiet passion in his lips had made her knees go weak.
“I agree,” he said, the corners of his mouth turning up in a grin.
He leaned back and took her hand. “I’d like to see you again before you leave. Have brunch with me tomorrow morning?”
Lily couldn’t contain her smile. “I’d love to.”
“Great! It’s a date. I’ll be here at eleven.”
“A date?” Lily asked, her eyebrow quirked.
“Yes . . . a date,” he confirmed, his voice full of amusement.
Lily’s smile widened. “I’ll see you later.”
“Until then, Lily.” He kissed the back of her hand before letting it go and turning to walk to the elevator.
Lily didn’t wait to see if he looked back before slipping into her room and closing the door. Locking it, she leaned her forehead against the cool wood, which did nothing to stop the happy, jumbled thoughts racing through her head.
Chapter Fifteen
Lily’s sleep was both restful and restless. She slept well, but her mind seemed to remain in a frenzied state. Her dreams were vivid images of tangoes and camera flashes. She woke up full of nervous energy.
She decided on a soak in the large tub to calm her racing thoughts. The warm, vanilla-scented bubbles seemed to revive her body while relaxing her mind. She came to the conclusion that she needed to just . . . let it be. She didn’t need to have all the answers right now. She could figure out what Anthony meant when he welcomed her to the family and what Nate meant with his possessive dance later. For now, she would concentrate on the way her lips still tingled from the memory of Nate’s heated kiss, and on their upcoming date.
Since she would be traveling back home that afternoon, she opted for a casual look for brunch. Her cozy black cable knit turtleneck sweater, jeans, and black equestrian boots made her feel comfortable. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail and swept on some pale pink blush, eye shadow, and lip gloss, along with a touch of mascara. At 10:55 a.m., she grabbed her things and headed toward the lobby.
Nate smiled when he spotted her as the elevator doors opened. Her own excitement radiated through her.
“Good morning,” he said as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself,” she responded with a wink. It was true. She’d never seen Nate in jeans, but they looked good on his long, lean form. His charcoal gray button-down shirt was untucked, and a white undershirt peaked through where his top two buttons were unfastened. His black wool pea coat and casual black shoes completed the effortless look.
“I thought we’d go to this bistro I know. They serve a fantastic brunch.”
“That sounds great. I’m starving!”
He took her hand to lead the way and didn’t let go as they walked three blocks to the restaurant.
They each immediately ordered cappuccinos, needing the caffeine. Nate chose the eggs Benedict with roasted potatoes, while Lily opted for an omelet with mushrooms, spinach, and onions.
Nate leaned back in his chair. “I talked with Daniel this morning. He wanted me to tell you goodbye for him and that he’ll talk to you soon.”
She smiled. “Please tell him thank you again for me. I’m sure he’ll have fun on the promotional tour.”
“Well, he’s not looking forward to being away from home for so long. But it’ll be good for the fans in other countries.”
“What about you? Are you looking forward to it?”
“Yes and no. It’s exciting to travel to other countries. But it’s a lot of work. So much goes into these events—I don’t ever have time to explore the places we go.”
Lily thought she caught a wave of regret cross his expression.
“That’s got to be frustrating—to be somewhere you’d like to visit but not truly be able to see any of it,” she observed.
“It is,” he agreed. “There are some places that I want to go back to—to truly see them.”
Lily nodded in understanding. “I’m sure there are. You’re lucky to have the opportunity to see them at all, though.”
“Yes, I’m very lucky. And I don’t want you to think I’m complaining. Every job has its disappointments, but I’m grateful to be doing something I enjoy and to work with my best friend.”
“Does that ever cause a problem?”
“Sometimes,” Nate admitted. “But because we’re friends, we’re able to work it out. Events like last night will sometimes cause tension.”
“Daniel mentioned something about you usually being as tense as him at those kinds of things.”
Nate laughed. “He’s right. It was great to have you there as a buffer last night.”
“Me? But I didn’t do anything.”
“Of course you did. It helped Daniel to have someone else there whom he knows and trusts. And you obviously helped me out, press-wise. But more important, it was kind of nice to share the load with someone.”
“Well, I have to admit, it was one of the best nights I’ve spent in a long time
.”
She wondered if Nate could tell that she was talking about more than just the premiere.
Nate let out a slow breath. “I’m sorry for kissing you like that. Wait . . . I’m not sorry for kissing you . . . but I shouldn’t have just . . . you know . . . done it.”
Lily wasn’t used to Nate being so flustered. She placed her fork against her plate and looked up from her meal, regarding him with a serious expression.
“Nate, did you mean it last night when you said this is a date?”
He glanced at her with a concerned expression. “Yes, of course.”
“Then don’t be sorry for kissing me like that. I’m not.”
Nate tried to hide his grin as he raised his mug for another sip of his cappuccino, but Lily caught it and winked at him.
Suddenly, all the typical first-date tension disappeared. It wasn’t as though they’d known each other forever, but they were able to concentrate on getting to know each other without awkwardness as they continued to enjoy their meal.
“So is this what you pictured doing as your career?” Lily asked.
Nate let out a sarcastic laugh. “Not at all. I was groomed to take over the family business.”
Lily could tell by the way he said “family business” that it was not a happy topic for him.
“I suppose focusing on marketing was my form of rebellion,” he continued. “My father runs a highly successful brokerage firm in Manhattan, and he wanted me to join him. I conceded and went to Dartmouth because I knew it was a good school. And marketing was close enough to finance to appease him since it has a business focus, while being enough of a stretch to keep me from feeling stifled.”
“Sounds like there was a lot of pressure on you,” Lily commented.
“You have no idea. My father is an intimidating man. But I just couldn’t picture myself living like him.”
“Well, now that you’re in it, do you enjoy marketing?”
“Yeah, I do. More than I thought I would,” Nate responded. “I think it’s rewarding to promote a product—if you can call Daniel that—you truly care about and want to succeed.”
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