That Mistletoe Moment (8 page)

CHAPTER 11

“N
oelle 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

N
athan 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.”

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.”

He let out a snort. “No worries.”

If they had been rude enough to start something in the middle of her parents' party, he could have taken out all three without any problem at all.

“You really are perfect.”

Nathan let out a laugh at her comment. “No. I'm far from perfect.”

“To me you are.” She heaved out a sigh. “And I have a confession to make.”

He stilled. “The last time you had something to tell me, it was that you'd texted me by accident and had thought I was someone else the whole time.”

“I know. This confession is bad, but not quite as bad as that.”

Nathan drew in a breath and braced himself. “Okay. Go on. I'm ready.”

“I hate that I have to say this, but there's no way around it. I mean, the stores are all closed. It's going to be Christmas morning in just a few hours, and I have no Christmas gift for you. And it's not for lack of trying, I swear. I racked my brain, but nothing seemed good enough.” She frowned when she saw his smile. “You're not disappointed?”

“Disappointed? No.” He shook his head while holding her hands in his. “Not at all.”

“You're really hard to buy for. I don't know why that is, and I swear I'll learn and get better at knowing what you like. But until then, maybe you can give me a hint of something you want?”

He swallowed hard, as it was clear what he needed to do. “I know exactly what I want for Christmas.”

It was crazy. It was too soon and there was a very real chance she'd say no, but he was going to ask the question anyway.

Life was too short. He'd seen that firsthand. Now that he'd found the woman he loved, he wasn't going to waste a moment of time he could be with her.

Nathan dropped down on one knee and heard the collective gasp of those nearby, followed by hushed whispers in the room, which had gone quiet.

“I wasn't planning on this tonight and I don't have a ring, but I know it's what I want. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Noelle, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“What the fu—” George's exclamation was cut off by his brother's backhanded slap to his gut.

Nathan struggled to ignore George and focus on the only person who was important. Noelle.

“I know I'm putting you on the spot. And I know it won't be simple or easy while I'm stationed in Virginia and you're—”

“Yes.” Her word interrupted his list of reasons why she should say no. A list he should have probably kept to himself.

“Yes?” he asked, afraid to believe it.

She swallowed and nodded as her eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too, and I want to be with you, so yes.”

He got up off his knee and drew her into his arms. “We're doing things a little backward, but I suppose I should meet your family now. Huh?”

Noelle nodded, smiling through the tears.

“Before we start with the introductions . . . It seems we're under the mistletoe.” Wrapping his arms around her waist, he glanced up. In light of the emotions filling him, he could really use a kiss.

“Looks like. I guess you'd better kiss me.”

“Gladly.”

Now and every year for the rest of their lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opposites attract when a wealthy cattleman and a penniless artist decide to get hitched at a Texas dude ranch in tornado country—and the whirlwind festivities are as filled with surprises as their love . . . especially when the guest list includes: one pretty party crasher on a mission, a sheriff known as the One Night Stand King, and a workaholic event planner who definitely did not plan to fall for a laid-back cowboy. Toss in a shocking behind-the-scenes bet, a fateful power outage, and a Man of Honor and a Best Woman determined to see the worst in each other (between hot kisses), plus thrilling lessons in love at first—and second—sight, and the celebrations will go all night long!