Angel Be Good (17 page)

He didn't want to go away. For the first
time today the ache that had settled around his heart had let
up.

"You look familiar." She crossed her arms.
"What's your name?"

Nat stared down at his feet. He had a
feeling that Terry was someone very special, someone he'd really
like to know. Now he had to blow it before he'd ever had a chance
with her. His name wasn't exactly looked at with fondness. "I'm Nat
Danvers."

"I thought so." She eyed him up and down. "I
have it on good authority Nathaniel Danvers never comes to the
office without being spotlessly dressed. What gives?"

He'd blown it, all right. She didn't like
the way he looked. He'd liked the way he'd dressed; he'd felt more
like a person and less like a duly chartered corporation. He
shrugged. "I'm trying out a new look."

"Yeah, right. And a new personality." She
laughed, more of a laugh at herself rather than at the situation.
"You're not his twin or something? You know, like a celebrity
double?"

"I really am Nathaniel Danvers." She was
beautiful. It hit him like an avalanche. When he gazed into her
eyes, he saw pools of reflected color like a diamond in sunshine.
She was so lovely, it almost hurt. "You can wait on the report. You
shouldn't have to work on Christmas Day; you should be home with
your husband."

She shook her head. "I'm not married."

Nat nodded, relieved she wasn't married.
Somehow, it was important. Then another thought struck him. "You
aren't engaged, are you?"

"No." She grinned and spread out her hands.
"I'm completely eligible."

Nat laughed. "Good."

"You can't be Nat Danvers," she blurted out.
"You're nothing like everyone says you are!" She blushed, then
threw her hand over her mouth. "I mean, you're so attractive."

At the words, she got even redder. "Oh,
geez. Hang on a sec while I pull my foot out of my mouth."

Nat grinned. "Don't damage those lips,
Terry. I have a feeling they're going to become very important to
me."

Her brown eyes got even larger. She licked
her lips, making him want to mimic the action.

"How about dinner?" he asked, wanting to
know her in every sense of the word, wondering if she felt the same
way.

"What about your family? Don't you want to
spend Christmas with them?"

Nat shrugged. "Percy's the only family I
have left and I couldn't stay with him all day. I'm on my own. Take
pity on this lonely guy and eat dinner with him, please?" He gave
her his most woe-be-gone expression.

She shook her head and sighed. "After I
leave here, I'm going to the Mission. Carl Curtis, from security,
is dressing as Santa and passing out toys to the kids. We've been
working on it for months, and I don't want to miss it. In fact, I'm
doing a lot of the cooking."

Nat wondered if his expression looked as
disappointed as he felt. Maybe he'd imagined there was magnetic
current between them? The sense of loss that had been haunting him
all day had disappeared the moment he'd seen her. Maybe he was just
lonely? But everything about her shouted yes, almost like he'd been
waiting a lifetime to meet her, a woman who could make him laugh
and could twist his heart around her every desire. He couldn't ever
remember feeling so connected with another person.

He felt almost humbled in her presence, like
she'd been heaven sent. Rubbing his forehead, he wondered if he was
losing it. How could such an instant attraction ever happen? It's
not as if he'd ever believed in love at first sight. But now,
though, he suspected not only its existence, but that he'd gone and
done just that.

Peeking at him through long dark lashes, she
added, "Want to come? We can share the mission dinner and I'm game
for coffee afterwards."

Nat laughed and took her arm, luxuriating in
the feel of her skin on his. Yep, he'd gone and done just that,
fallen in love at first sight.

~~~~

Epilogue

"I can't imagine anyone having a better
Christmas," said Terry as she gazed contentedly around her home.
The twins, Leonard and Daphne, sat beneath the Christmas tree,
banging on matching drums, while Nat encouraged their antics by
clapping and cheering delightedly.

Christmas carols played in the background,
the music wrapping itself around her heart. A fire crackled in the
hearth, sending out gentle waves of warmth into the room. Terry
sniffed the mingled scents of roast turkey blending with hot apple
pie. It was almost time for Christmas dinner.

The windows at the far corner of the room
were spotted with frost. Outside a light snowfall drifted down,
bringing her a sense of peace and joy along with a white
Christmas.

Earlier, Percy, Henri and Laura had come and
gone. Percy had made a remarkable recovery since Nat had given him
one of his kidneys. Nat had kept his word to Percy. He'd renamed
the company and turned over half of Danvers and Family to him,
freeing Nat to spend more time with her and the twins.

A tear of joy slid down one cheek. Nat
caught her gaze and, as if he were one of the toddlers, crawled
across the floor to join her.

"It's incredible, isn't it?" he asked in an
awed voice. "I can't believe what we have is so perfect. This time
of year just brings it into focus. When I think what my life was
like three years ago—"

Terry laid her head on his shoulder. "When
you asked what I wanted for Christmas, I couldn't think of anything
I don't already have merely by being here with you."

"You're the best, Terr." Nat kissed the tip
of her nose. "Why do I have an incredible urge to say: God bless us
every one?"

The End

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Kathy Carmichael