Page 53 of One Kind Soul
“That’s the price you pay to be Alpha.”
“This is why I like hanging around with you, Nixen.” He walked her to Tessa’s SUV where Tessa and Donovan waited. “You don’t shed as much.”
“Is that the only reason?”
He opened the back passenger door for her. “It’s one of many, many reasons.” He shut her door while she got all warm inside from his words. When he slid into his seat, but reached over to tug her into the spot right next to him, that warmth turned into a full-blown blaze.
As Donovan pulled out of the driveway, he asked, “Make any progress on the house today?”
Christian rested his hand on Nicole’s knee and she loved the weight of his touch. It anchored her to the here and now, allowing the thoughts about returning to Kauai to fade. For now anyway.
“I finished staining the hardwoods today. I basically got up before the sun did and went at it all day.” He looked at Nicole. “I don’t smell like stain, do I?”
She shook her head. “You smell like accomplishment and drive.”
“Thanks.” He squeezed her knee. “What did you guys do today?”
“Donovan and I wrote out thank you notes for wedding gifts. It took forever,” Tessa said.
Donovan held up his hand. “I’ve developed arthritis from signing my name so many times.”
“Nah,” Christian said. “You developed arthritis because you’re old.”
“Remind me why we let him come tonight,” Donovan said to Tessa.
“Because Nicole seems to like him for some reason.” Tessa shrugged. “It’s a mystery.”
Christian looked at Nicole. “Are you going to let them gang up on me?”
“You’re a tough cowboy farmer,” she said. “You can take it. Besides, you started it by calling Donovan old.”
“Oh, right.” He tugged on her hair then leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. “What did you do today?”
“I relaxed outside with a mystery novel.” Donovan had quite a library when it came to that genre. “This is my vacation after all.”
A slight wince narrowed Christian’s blue eyes as if he hadn’t wanted to be reminded that her stay in Vermont was vacational in nature.
Conversation turned to what farmhouse project Christian would work on next and Donovan and Tessa talked about returning to work when this week was over. Nicole listened, but she kept thinking about serving drinks at The Nalu Resort so far away from Maplehaven, Vermont.
They arrived at the restaurant, a place called Three Peaks because it offered a stunning view of Maplehaven’s three mountains. As they walked to the front doors, Christian took Nicole’s hand and wiggled her arm a bit.
“You okay?” he asked. “You were quiet on the drive.”
“My eyes are tired from all that reading, I guess.” She smiled to reassure him. “Some food will perk me up.”
He escorted her inside the restaurant behind Donovan and Tessa and a hostess showed them to their reserved table. It was right in front of a wall of windows that showcased the setting sun, reflecting oranges and pinks off the mountains.
“Well, that should be a postcard.” She pointed out the window.
“Some might say it’s better than a beach view.” Tessa picked up her menu and opened it. “Just sayin’.”
Nicole reached over and lowered her best friend’s menu. “Why do I feel as if you are more than just sayin’?” She looked at Donovan who jutted his chin toward the windows as if to remind her how gorgeous it was out there.
“Take it easy, Mr. and Mrs. Henley,” Christian said. “This double date is not a promotional opportunity to convince Nicole that Vermont is better than Hawaii.” He glanced at her. “Even if it’s true.”
“Look,” she said, “I’m not going to deny that Vermont is wonderful.” She arced a hand at them. “All of you are wonderful. Every single person I’ve met here is wonderful. Every activity I’ve done has been wonderful.” She fiddled with the silverware at her place setting and inhaled, letting the air out of her lungs slowly. “It would be crazy, however, to decide something huge like quitting my job and moving here after only two weeks in Vermont.”
Wouldn’t it?
