Page 57 of Noticing Natalie
“No, I do. Of course, I do. They’re just a little… intense.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked uncomfortable. “I worried that they wouldn’t like me because I’m not as wealthy as they are. I thought maybe they’d want Heath to be with someone more like them… but that hasn’t been the case at all. They act like they adore me. It’s kind of overwhelming.”
“You’re easy to adore,” I shrugged. It was just true.
“It’s just that it seems as if they’re waiting for Heath to ask me to marry him and wondering what’s taking so long.
I almost tripped over her. “What are you talking about marriage for?” I was horrified. “It’s way too soon, right?”
She shrugged. “They don’t seem to think so. Including Heath.”
I looked around. “Hey, have you been out to the haunted garden yet?”
“No. What are you even talking about?”
I swung her expertly around the crowded dress floor until we reached one of the back doors that led to the riverwalk and gardens behind the country club. I pushed it open and hurried outside with her.
We walked around in the haunted maze Carrie had spent a lot of time on. It was only haunted by dry ice, but still, it was fun. I waited until I got her in the center of the maze.
“You’re not going to marry him.”
“You say that like it’s not a question.”
“It’s not. He’s not right for you, Nat.”
“Why not?” She put her hands on her hips, offended. “Because I’m not fancy enough for him?”
“Not at all. It’s because you’re not yourself with him.”
She looked at me sharply. “You’ve noticed that? You’ve only seen me with him twice, Tim.”
“That’s all it takes. I know you. Maybe better than anyone else.”
“Natalie!” a male voice called out in the distance.
I exchanged a glance with her. “Is that Heath?”
“Natalie!”
“It is. I better go. Are you coming with me?”
I shook my head, knowing it would make him mad at her if we came out of the maze together.
“Okay.” She picked up her skirts and started to walk away, when I reached for her and pulled her back in my arms. My eyesmoved between her eyes and her lips, and I saw hers doing the same to mine. Finally, I lowered my mouth to hers.
As soon as our lips met, it was like it had been the first night we’d gotten together. It lit a fire inside me, and all I wanted was to push her back up against the box hedge and have my way with her. Her fingers tightened almost painfully on my shoulders. We got closer and closer, kissing more and more wildly until we were dangerously close to the point of no return.
“Natalie!”
The sound of her boyfriend calling for her did it. She broke away from me, and we stood there staring at each other. We were both breathing heavily. “Don’t marry him, Nat.”
She studied my face for what felt like a long moment, then she took a deep breath. “I have to ask you something.”
“Anything.”
“I’m thinking of going back to Baltimore when my contract is up. What do you think of that?”
