Grant took her hand and Natalie let him lead her out the front door to finish their talk away from the listening ears of the entire family. Rain fell hard around them, and Natalie—wearing only a thin long-sleeved shirt—shivered.
“Natalie, you’re being ridiculous. I know you’ve had fun this week, but it’s time to get back to our lives now. Life is not all about fun and celebrating. We have responsibilities.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ve put your bag in your trunk. Are you going to follow me?”
“No.” Natalie put her hand on Grant’s arm. He didn’t understand her. “I can’t be with you anymore.”
Grant stepped back, nonplussed. “But we’re perfect for each other.”
“On paper we are. But I want more.”
Grant’s face turned stony. “You couldn’t have broken up with me before I spent my entire Christmas driving here to see you?”
Natalie didn’t have much to say. He was right. She should have made up her mind before he came all this way. But how could she have known she’d have such a change of heart in one week? She blinked back the tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Grant. Drive safe, okay?” She reached into her purse and pulled out the tablet he’d given her for Christmas.
Grant took it from her and walked down the stairs and to his car without turning back. He slammed his car door shut and drove off into the rain, Natalie’s feelings torn between relief and regret. What had she just done?
She walked back into the house and went into the living room with everyone else. They spoke all around her, but seemed more subdued than they had been that morning.
Janessa came over to Natalie and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
Natalie rested her head against Janessa’s. “Yeah.”
“I can’t believe you just did that.”
Natalie smiled, laughing a little, in shock of her own actions. “Me, neither. Think he’ll be okay?”
“Grant? He has too much pride to be anything but okay.”
Natalie nodded, knowing it was true. One of the kid’s mechanical trains rolled past their feet and into another pile of wrapping paper. “We should start cleaning this up.”
“There’s the responsible Natalie I know.” Janessa sighed and fell back into a pile of paper. “I don’t want to clean.”
Suddenly Natalie heard a door slamming shut from upstairs and someone’s feet pounding on the stairs. Jimmy ran past the living room, a blur of green sweater and dark jeans, and out the front door. “Natalie!” he called out the door, a little out of breath from his mad dash from the house. Natalie and Janessa looked at each other with wide eyes as they both got up and walked to the door. Jimmy stood by her car, looking down the road to where Grant’s car had disappeared.
He turned toward the doorway, dejected, starting when he saw Natalie at the front door.
“You’re still here,” he breathed.
Natalie nodded, the sudden tightness in the back of her throat making it hard to speak.
Jimmy stepped closer. “I got your note.”
“I meant every word.”
Jimmy took Natalie in his arms and brought his mouth gently to hers.
Natalie buried herself in his warm embrace, feeling home again. In the background, she heard cheering, but she didn’t care. She wanted to remain here forever.
“Merry Christmas, Jimmy,” Natalie murmured against his lips.
“Merry Christmas, Natalie.”
The small paper ring Jimmy held in his hand flittered from his fingers when they kissed again. Everyone backed into the warm, joyous house, leaving Jimmy and Natalie alone, the paper drifting inside with them and landing beside the happiness chain where it belonged.
Jimmy—
My happiest memories this Christmas were every moment spent with you.
Natalie.
NATALIE STRAIGHTENED THE BABY JESUS—the one that had been baked into her bread from the first night of Christmas—in the tiny bed of hay that she’d found at a crafting store. Maybe it would look better a little more to the right, she thought, adjusting it again.
“Natty, you’re obsessing. It looks fine.” Jimmy came up behind her and nuzzled her neck.
“I just want it to be perfect.”
“Why? So the kids can come destroy it thirty seconds after they get here?”
“You’re right. It’s good.” It could stand to go a smidge to the left, though. She leaned forward to nudge it. “Okay, I promise. I’m done.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” He turned her around to kiss her. “When is everyone getting here?”
“Hopefully in the next fifteen minutes. That’s when the tamales will be done, anyway.”
“Do you want to go get changed?”
“Yes. Can you watch the food?”
“Won’t take my eyes off of it.”
Natalie couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she walked down the hall to her bedroom. She slipped out of her charcoal pencil skirt and pink blouse, and pulled on a comfortable pair of jeans and t-shirt. She loved every minute she worked at Alderman, but was learning to appreciate all the time she could get at home—especially since Jimmy got a job in Phoenix and moved into the same apartment complex as her.
So much had happened since Christmas Day that Natalie almost got overwhelmed just thinking about it. She stayed with Jimmy and Janessa’s family for a couple more days before she needed to head home to work on her ad for the competition. Regardless of Grant or Jimmy, she wanted that full-time job so bad she ached inside. Janessa stayed with her mom and Stan until after New Year’s and Jimmy had a few things to take care of with his old apartment and a friend had contacted him about a job opportunity, so Natalie had a few days all to herself. No distractions. No excuses.
Her first morning home, she’d scattered the blocks out in front of her. She wrote every observation she’d had onto notecards that she spread in front of her. She threw out all of her old ideas and tried to start fresh.
Lying on her stomach and resting her chin in her hands, her thoughts had wandered to Jimmy playing blocks with Ben. She’d reached forward and picked them up, realizing that they’d never be fun for her to play with by herself, but with a child it was a whole new experience. It was magical. This toy wasn’t about the individual block—it was about the possibilities of putting them all together.
Jimmy had said that one of his first memories was of building blocks with his dad. Blocks like those were targeted at an age group of kids who still wanted to spend time playing with their parents. And because of Jimmy’s experience, he not only had at least one good memory of his dad, it sparked his interest in building things, which led to his career in architecture.
Natalie had brainstormed all of her ideas, finally coming up with something that she could be proud of, regardless of whether or not Alderman liked it the best. She loved it and knew that her ad and tag line represented some of her best work: Building futures one block at a time.
Mr. Billings and the people from Magneto blocks loved it, too, and she not only got the full-time position, but they were going to run her ad starting that fall when the toy was slated for release.
“Hey.” Janessa stuck her head in the room, interrupting Natalie’s musings. “Jimmy thinks the tamales are ready, but he’s not sure.”
“Well, I don’t know how to tell,” Natalie responded.
“Yeah, well this is your party, señorita, so stop daydreaming about my brother and get your tail out here.”
“He is pretty dreamy, right?”
“By virtue of the fact that he’s my brother, I am going to abstain from answering that question. But I do like him way, way better than the other one.”
Grant. Natalie tried not to think about him if she could. He still worked for Alderman, but they managed to avoid each other most of the time. In fact, the only time they’d seen each other since Christmas was when Natalie had to sign papers for the job offer she’d receiv
ed. It had definitely been an awkward moment. He’d congratulated her, they shook hands, and both acted as though they’d never been a bigger part of each other’s lives than casual coworkers.
The doorbell rang and Natalie hip-bumped Jimmy away from the steamer. “Can you get that? I think these may be done.” Steam rose from the husk as she pulled it aside to check the masa. Voices carried through the hallway and into the kitchen. It sounded as though everyone had arrived at the same time. Anne, closely followed by Stan, came over and gave Natalie a huge hug. Only two of Stan’s kids could make it, along with little Ben and Kennedy. Janessa was lost already with the baby in the corner making cooing noises. Natalie suspected she’d been having baby withdrawals since Christmas.
She pulled the last of the tamales from the platter and set them on the table. “Thank you for coming everyone!” Slowly they quieted down and turned to her. “I know no one expected me to actually have this tamale party—least of all me—back when I got the baby Jesus at our Christmas celebration.”
“It’s true!” Janessa yelled out from the back and everyone laughed.
“Thanks, Janessa. Anyway, I just want to welcome you to my home and tell you how much this Christmas meant to me. It changed my life.” She swallowed the emotion welling up in her chest. “So, grab a plate, find a seat somewhere, and let’s eat!”
She bustled around the room, making sure that everyone had their food and was comfortable, pulled out the magneto blocks for Ben—it was the only toy she had—and cleaned up behind everyone.
“You need to sit and relax, Natty,” Jimmy said. He took her arms and steered her to the couch. “Stay put. I’ll bring you your food.”
“But I’m the hostess. I need to make sure they’re all taken care of.”
“They’ll all be fine for ten minutes while you eat. Don’t move.”
He backed away, watching her to make sure she didn’t leave her spot. If she were to be honest with herself, her back and feet ached too much to want to move a muscle. It had been a long day at work and she’d stressed about this party for weeks. She just wanted everything to be perfect.
“These tamales are wonderful,” Anne said from her spot on the love seat.
“Thank you. I won’t tell you how many tamales Jimmy has had to eat while I practiced making these.”
“A lot.” Jimmy sat beside Natalie with a plate of tamales in each hand. “But these ones are the best yet, Natty. You did good.”
Natalie bit into her tamale, agreeing with Jimmy.
Jimmy wiped his hands on his pants and took Natalie’s plate from her once she’d finished eating. “Hey, I’ve got Carl tying up the piñata in the courtyard. Should we send the kids out there?”
“Are we really supposed to hit a piñata at this celebration?”
“There is never a bad time to hit a piñata.”
“True. You take the kids out there. I’m going to stay and clean up.”
Jimmy took Natalie by the shoulders and led her to the door. “No way, Natty. You need to have fun at your own party. Piñata outside, guys! Let’s go.”
Carl had the piñata set up under the tree, and Ben hit it a few times. Ben sent the piñata spinning, but didn’t even make a dent in the Paper Mache.
“Okay, buddy. I think it’s time for the adults to go.” Jimmy pulled out a blindfold and held it toward Natalie. “You first.”
She backed up a step. “No way. Have Janessa go. Or Stan. He loves a good piñata.”
“Come on, Natty. Live a little.” He leaned close and whispered, “I don’t want to have to jump into a pool again to make my point. I’m still cold from that.”
“No one made you jump in.” Natalie folded her arms, but couldn’t resist Jimmy’s smile. “Fine. But I will not be held responsible for anyone who accidentally gets hit with the bat.”
Jimmy tied the blindfold on her and kissed her lips before spinning her for so long, she didn’t know where she was hitting. “Someone’s holding onto Ben, right? I don’t want to hit him.”
“I’ve got him! Don’t worry,” Stan said.
“Here goes nothing,” Natalie muttered, swinging the bat into clean air. “Strike one.”
Again she swung, hitting nothing. “Strike two.”
“Natty, the goal is to hit the piñata.”
“Yeah, thanks Jimmy. Why don’t you come a little closer so I can hear you better.” She shook the bat.
“You got one more hit, so make it a good one.”
Natalie held the bat over her shoulder and prepared to hit the piñata as hard as she could. If she missed again, she’d never hear the end of Jimmy’s teasing. Apparently being his girlfriend didn’t exempt her from it.
Swinging with all of the force she had, she was stunned when she felt the bat hit the piñata and go clean through it. All of the adults cheered as Natalie pulled the blindfold off.
“I got it in down in one hit? Lame piñata.” She looked around the ground. “The candy didn’t fall out.”
Jimmy took the bat from her. “Maybe you have to shake it out.”
“Sorry, guys,” Natalie said, picking up the piñata and shaking it. “I guess it takes a lot of the fun away when no one else gets a turn.” Her words drifted off when a black box fell out of the inside of the piñata.
All of the talking around her went silent as she reached down to pick it up, her heart pounding almost out of her chest. She looked around, locking eyes with Jimmy, who walked close and stood in front of her.
“What’s this?” Natalie asked, her voice shaking.
“She always wants to know the end from the beginning.” Jimmy shook his head with a smile. “Open it, Natty.”
Natalie slowly opened the box and gasped when she saw the diamond solitaire ring in a bed of red velvet. Jimmy knelt in front of her and took her hand. “I love you, Natalie. Will you marry me?”
Natalie swallowed, then swallowed again, in shock. Only two months before, Natalie never would have imagined herself here, with Jimmy asking her to marry him. She took in his solid frame, his warm hands on hers, his gentle, loving eyes.
He laughed nervously. “An answer anytime now would be awesome.”
Natalie held back her smile. This might be the only time ever she could tease Jimmy instead of the other way around. “I need to think.”
“For how long?”
“A long, long time.”
Jimmy started to stand, but she pushed his shoulder down.
“No, I like you right there while I think. This feels powerful, actually.”
She squealed when Jimmy grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap. “Are you messing with me?”
“Uh huh.”
He brought his face close to hers. “Marry me, Natty?” he whispered.
“Yes.”
She felt Jimmy’s step-siblings pounding him on the back in congratulations and Janessa and Anne hugging her from the back, but she kept her arms around Jimmy. This felt right. This was where she belonged. She thought she had everything she needed when her life was in order but was wrong. What she really needed to make her happy was a little bit of chaos, teasing, and love. She wondered if Stan had any crazy wedding traditions. This could be interesting.
Jimmy slipped the diamond on Natalie’s finger then pulled her in for a deep kiss, and she quickly forgot everything else but him.
TWO BOOTED FEET RESTED ON THE TOP STAIR as Ty McKenzie walked into the Lakeland Hills apartment complex. He followed the boots up to slim, denim-clad legs. Two hands rested on top of the woman’s knees, clutching an opened letter that blocked her face.
“Your mom wants to come for a visit.” The letter moved down, revealing Kenzie Tyler’s face. Long, curly auburn hair fell to her shoulders, with a ringlet dangling near one of her blue eyes.
Ty raised an eyebrow and lifted a key to his mailbox. “How many times do I have to tell you that opening other people’s mail is a crime? Just because it shows up in your box doesn’t mean it’s yours.” Not that Kenzie
would care. When it came to letters from his mom, she had absolutely no respect for privacy laws.
“Switch the names around, change 2 to 1 on the apartment number, and it could easily be mine,” Kenzie argued.
Ty rolled his eyes at her overused excuse. Still, what were the odds that two people with the same name—only flip-flopped—would wind up in the same apartment complex? Not too great. And yet somehow he’d moved into the apartment directly below Kenzie Tyler. At first he thought it was fate. Mixed up mail. A gorgeous girl. Right age.
Then he saw ring on her finger and fate quickly became bad luck.
Kenzie leaned forward and dropped her voice. “Hey, do you think our postman is dyslexic?”
“No,” said Ty. “I think he’s in a hurry to get his job done and move on to something more interesting than sorting or delivering mail.” He lifted out his small stack of envelopes and flipped through them. Three were junk mail, addressed to Tyler McKenzie of APT. 102, and one was an airmail letter for Mackenzie Tyler of APT. 201, postmarked from Madagascar. Ty felt the urge to toss it in the trash along with the rest of his junk mail.
Instead, he mustered an impassive expression and waved it at her. “Oh look, it’s a letter from your do-gooder boyfriend.”
“He’s my fiancé, not boyfriend, and his name is Brad. How many times do we have to go through this?” Kenzie jumped up from her place on the landing and trotted down the stairs. She made a grab for the letter, but Ty held it just out of reach. “Oh, c’mon,” she said. “The mail system there is so messed up, and I haven’t heard from him in two months.”
Ty shrugged. “I think it’s only fair that I get to read your mail first since you read mine first.“
“Please. As if you’d ever read yours.” She held out her hand. “Now hand it over.”
“Not unless you promise to stop reading my mail.”
Kenzie’s face drew into a slight pout that made her lips look way too kissable. More than ever, Ty wanted to dispose of the letter from the other guy who she had kissed.
“You know I can’t promise that,” she said. “Your mom took a lot of time to write each of those letters, and they deserve to be read by someone.”
All I Want (Three Holiday Romances) Page 15