Winter's Magic (Music City Hearts Series) (4 page)

Beth stepped into the living room and picked up her purse. Her matching shawl would be perfect for the evening—silky soft and elegant, while thick enough to keep the wind from freezing her bones. Of course, if Nick kept staring at her the way he was now, the temperature outside wouldn’t be a problem.

Nick took the wrap from her hands and draped it around her shoulders, dropping the ends across her forearms. “I have a confession to make,” he said.

“Another secret revealed?” She tried to sound lighthearted. The weight of his hands on her shoulders made it hard to concentrate on anything except the warmth spreading through her body.

“I wanted to kiss you Friday night, but decided to wait. It’s been the longest forty-eight hours.”

“You did?” She could barely whisper as he took her into his arms.

She hadn’t misread him after all
.

For two days, she had second-guessed everything that happened that night. Just about the time she’d thought he was going to kiss her, knew he was just about to lean down and touch his lips to hers . . .

He’d stepped away.

A flutter rippled through her stomach as Nick continued to stare into her eyes. Despite her efforts, she could barely breathe through the tension filling the air between them.
Please kiss me
her only thought as time stood still.

He either heard the plea or was thinking the same thing, because his hand came to the side of her face in a soft caress and then he lowered his head.

His lips touched hers with a tender hesitation she hadn’t expected, easing the anxiety she’d held all afternoon. But after what seemed like only a moment, Nick pulled back.

Beth didn’t speak. Even if she’d been able to, words would have broken the spell and she didn’t want the moment to end. So she waited and then watched as his gaze lowered back to her lips.

She closed her eyes just before feeling his mouth on hers again. This time, his gentle touch paired with a strength that made every nerve ending in her body come to full attention. And as his tongue skimmed across her lower lip, she felt a long-dormant need rising inside.

She tilted her head and opened for him. His tongue touched hers in a slow, smooth stroke that left her insides trembling and her mind whimpering in a silent prayer. Nothing could have prepared her for the yearning in her chest or the ache she felt below.

Just as she felt a slight quiver roll down to her knees, Nick lifted his head and spoke in a low, gravely tone. “You were worth the wait. But I couldn’t have sat through dinner and continued to wonder.”

Beth didn’t know which she preferred, wondering or knowing. Now that he’d kissed her, she couldn’t help but want him to do it again. Her dreams paled in comparison. Reality was so much more. And to think this had only been a kiss. Except for his lips and a single hand, their bodies hadn’t even touched.

“Speaking of dinner.” Beth cleared her throat and tried to regroup her thoughts before they completely ran away with her. At the same time, she pretended not to notice how his eyes lingered on her mouth.

“We should go. And I believe you owe me two secrets now.” Nick stepped back, slid his hand away from her face, and took a moment to unnecessarily straighten the wrap on her shoulders.

So. She wasn’t the only one shaken.

As her mind came back to full attention, she realized what he’d said and a shot of courage ran through her. She wouldn’t second-guess her instincts again.

Lifting up on the tips of her toes, Beth briefly touched her lips to his and had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes flash with a subtle heat before he could rein it in.

She slowly moved toward his ear, letting her lips softly skim his cheek as she went. “I wanted to kiss you, too. So, now I only owe you one.”

Nick laughed as he opened the front door and led Beth to his car. It took a lot to surprise him. She’d done it, though. Pleasantly.

He’d been on autopilot from the time she’d opened the door wearing a deep blue dress. Conservative at first glance, with a simple v-neck and long sleeves. He’d followed the soft cashmere down as it highlighted every curve on her body, making his heartbeat quicken. Hurrying to help her with her wrap, he’d wanted to get out of the house and on their way to dinner before he said or did something outrageous, like kiss her.

Then he’d slid the shawl around her shoulders and felt the velvet caress of the cashmere between her skin and his fingers. It had been impossible to turn away. There had been something in her eyes that drew him in. In hindsight, he couldn’t remember half of what he’d said before reaching down and touching her lips. He just knew he had to.

As she settled in the seat beside him, the light from the dashboard reflected off her dangling earrings and shimmered in the darkness, reminding him of the bare neck he’d craved to caress, but had held back. He wanted to take her hair down and run his fingers through it.

“I told my grandfather you were going to join us for Midnight Mass.” Nick knew he had to rein in his thoughts. The evening would be unbearable if he didn’t relax and enjoy the moment, instead of letting his mind wander uncontrolled.

“I hope he doesn’t mind me intruding. Like I told you—”

He reached over and took her hand, stilling the words mid-sentence. “He’s ecstatic. He adores you.”

Talk about an understatement. When he’d told his grandfather about Midnight Mass, a sparkle had shown in the man’s eyes. Then he’d mentioned their upcoming date and the joy vanished, replaced with complete and utter elation. He hadn’t known how to react at first, though he wouldn’t trade the moment for anything. Seeing such pleasure in his grandfather’s eyes was rare.

“He does? He’s so sweet. I’m glad he doesn’t mind me coming.”

Nick watched a warm smile spread across her face as she spoke. He was aching to touch those lips again.

A moment later, they were turning off the interstate just a block from the restaurant. Thankfully. He’d never felt this way about a woman before. Never spent the entire day staring at paperwork and getting nothing done because all he could do was watch the clock tick minutes away as he thought about seeing her. She drove him crazy.

They were seated in a semi-private corner, near the glass wall overlooking the river. Lights from the bridge and neighboring riverfront properties reflected off the water. The ultimate setting for a first date.

Nick picked up the wine list and browsed the extensive selection. “You like chardonnay, right?”

“I’m flexible.”

The waitress arrived at their table, recited the chef’s specialty for the evening, and handed them each a dinner menu. Nick ordered a bottle of wine, then turned his attention back to Beth.

He was momentarily speechless. Sitting with her back to the glass, the light from a full moon reflected through the window and created a soft glow all around her.

“You owe me a secret,” he finally said, forcing sound through his suddenly dry throat.

Even in the dimmed light, he could see a soft pink blush rise up her cheeks. “You go first. I want to know how you got a reservation with one day’s notice.”

“Okay. But you can’t tell anyone, because my magic wand only works here.”

“Your magic wand? You mean you don’t have the power to command a reservation anywhere else in town?” Beth leaned forward, as if she couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say. He knew he was grinning like a kid at Christmas.

“Oh, no. My powers are very limited. I hope that’s not a disappointment.”

“Never. A little power is better than no power,” she said. “Now quit stalling and tell me.”

“All right. Chester and Dorsey built this restaurant. I know the owner. I just called him and told him I had a special favor to ask. He made it happen.”

“Well, since it takes weeks for anyone else to get a reservation, I’m flattered you would pull strings to bring me here. Your secret is safe.”

Nick watched as Beth surveyed the room, then twisted in her seat to glance out the windows facing the river. “Isn’t the water beautiful?” she asked.

Nick rose and held out the chair to his left. “Why don’t you move to this side of the table?”
Closer to me
. “Then you can look at the view all you want.”

The waitress arrived with their wine and quickly shifted Beth’s place setting to the alternate side. Pouring an ounce into one glass, she waited for his approval before filling them both and stepping away.

Nick raised his glass. “To a wonderful evening, a stunning view, and a beautiful woman to share them with.”

Beth raised her glass, lightly tapping his as she spoke. “Are you always this charming, Mr. Chester, or should I feel flattered for that as well?”

“Oh, you should feel flattered, all right. I’m on my best behavior this evening”—he leaned over and whispered—“hoping to find out
your
secrets.”

Settling back in his chair again, he watched as she took a sip of her wine before setting the glass back on the table. He couldn’t believe how comfortable he was with her already. So easygoing, she got his subtle jokes, even teased him back.

“All right, I’ll give you one. It’s not very exciting, though. I told you I don’t really have any secrets.”

“Let me be the judge of that. I know you have something you just can’t wait to tell me.”

“Okay. Well, Jenny and I read our horoscopes every month.”

He waited for more. When she didn’t continue, he asked. “That’s your secret?”

“We don’t read just one. She buys four or five magazines every month and we read our signs out of each of them.”

He couldn’t hold back his amusement—the silliest thing he’d heard in a long time. And it surprised him about Jenny. She didn’t seem like the astrology type any more than Beth did.

“Why?” was all he could come up with. Even Beth laughed now.

“I know it’s ridiculous. We’ve read them for so long now it’s become an addiction or ritual almost.”

“How?”

“We started in college. Jenny and I, and Sara, she still lives in Lexington, were roommates our freshman year. Jenny’s dad died when she was young and her mother had a hard time making ends meet. They rarely splurged on anything. But the first Saturday morning of each month, her mother would take her to buy donuts for breakfast and they would each get two magazines.”

The waitress came back. Neither of them had opened their menus, so she made a few suggestions and they ordered.

“Anyway, her mother always read the horoscope page before they would read through the fashion articles or the celebrity gossip column. Somehow, the habit stuck and we’ve followed our signs ever since.”

“Every month?” Nick watched as a solemn expression crossed her face and she took another slow sip of her wine.

“Jenny’s mom had a stroke at the end of our first year. It took a long time for her to recover and even then, it left permanent effects. Most of the time she has the mind of a child. There are a few things she still loves, and this is one of them.”

“Jenny’s never mentioned her mom. I had no idea.” His heart squeezed. He knew what loss felt like. But to only half—lose someone and watch them suffer in such a way–it had to be devastating.

“She goes to Lexington once a month. Lillian’s in a nursing home. I go with her sometimes. We sit on the floor around a coffee table and look at the pretty dresses in
Vogue
and talk about Oprah’s favorite things for the month.”

“Does she still read the horoscopes first?” He watched as a soft twinkle returned to her eyes.

“Every time. And when we’re laughing at the predictions and reading the gossip column, she almost seems like her old self.” She paused for a moment, and he wasn’t sure if she would continue. “Maybe we’re just fooling ourselves, but I think there’s a real connection and our ritual makes Jenny and her mom happy for the time it lasts.”

He reached over and took her hand. “It’s not ridiculous.” It was actually one of the sweetest, kindest things he’d ever heard.

“Maybe not for Jenny. Sara and I don’t have any excuses. We just have fun and that’s all that matters. People really should laugh more.”

“I agree.” He raised the hand he’d been holding. “Would you like to dance?”

“I’d love to.”

Nick drew Beth into his arms as a soft ballad played from a baby grand on the far side of the room. He couldn’t have orchestrated a more romantic evening. Soft light, a great view, good wine, and a beautiful woman in his arms. A woman who puzzled him to no end.

Was she really as genuine as she seemed?
Nobody was this perfect. She helped at the children’s hospital. Truly enjoyed being around his grandfather. Went to Lexington to see her best friend’s mother. Successful and stunningly beautiful.

So why was she still single?

Beth wondered what Nick was thinking. He had the oddest expression on his face as his eyes stared into hers. She hadn’t meant to tell him the whole story about Jenny and her mother. In fact, she hadn’t planned on telling him about the horoscopes at all. Then today’s prophecy had come true with such startling accuracy her secret had been on the tip of her tongue before she could stop herself.

With the memory of their kiss continually running through her mind, she reveled in the feel of being held in his arms as they danced. He wore a warm winter musk that made her want to close her eyes and inhale deeply. She could almost taste the essence of him.

Gazing out the wall of glass windows, she tried to clear her senses. As an explosion of beautiful snowflakes drifted to the ground, Beth knew this moment, this evening, would headline her dreams for days to come. She would never forget this magical vision.

She turned back to him. “What are you thinking?” She saw the instant his eyes came alert.

“I’m thinking what a graceful dancer you are.”

His smile was genuine, even if the words weren’t. She knew his mind had been far away from dancing. The way he gazed at her now almost made the question disappear.

“You’re easy to follow, but I don’t think that’s what you were so deep in thought over.”

“Maybe not, but it’s true.”

Beth nodded toward the windows. “Did you notice it started snowing?”

“The flakes are coming down fast. The riverbank is already covered.”

“I hope it doesn’t get too slick outside. It could be a messy drive home.”

“The forecast only called for a dusting.” He paused. “Of course, that probably means we’ll get six inches and my morning flight will be canceled.”

An unexpected disappointment ran through her as she thought about Nick leaving town. She knew her feelings were unreasonable. She’d barely let herself accept this date. Plus, Jenny had told her his business was expanding into new states. Travel would be unavoidable. Then she reflected on her own schedule, working sixty hours a week. That wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Pennsylvania. I’ll only be gone a couple of days. Brandon and I are meeting with a new client to finalize next year’s schedule.”

The dance ended too soon. She didn’t want to part from the feel of his body that softly grazed hers with every step they took. They stood still, caught in the moment, until she forced her eyes away, sensing couples moving around them to leave the dance floor. She’d give anything to know what he was thinking.

They had just sat down when their waitress brought their meal. Beth had ordered a cheese tortellini with grilled chicken in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. The heavenly aroma was an instant reminder of her empty stomach. Scattered nerves had kept her from eating anything since breakfast.

“So, what do you do in your spare time?” Beth took a bite and almost groaned at the robust combination of flavors infusing her mouth.

“I hike, and I love to travel. I haven’t done either in a long time. We’ve been working on a couple of large projects since March and we’re finally moving into new markets after months of feasibility studies and contract bidding.”

“Jenny and I went hiking over at Natchez Trace State Park this summer for the first time. We normally just go to Long Hunter or Dunbar Creek. Who do you go with?”

“By myself or sometimes Brandon goes. He got me into hiking back in high school. We used to go over to Bledsoe Creek or down to Cumberland Trails.”

“Have you been to Black Rock Mountain in Georgia?”

“No.”

“It takes about three hours to get there, but it’s worth the drive. The park’s right next to a little town with an old-fashioned square. The kind full of antique shops and local diners. Jenny’s taken me a few times. There’s a little art gallery she just loves.”

“We’ll have to go down there one weekend when the weather warms up.”

She tried not to take his words too seriously. A casual statement, that didn’t mean anything. Regardless, a flutter went through her stomach.

“We should.” She concentrated on cutting an already tiny piece of chicken in half.

Conversation continued as they finished their amazing entrees. Beth tried not to stare at him. She was drawn to his eyes when he spoke. And his voice, so deep and rich, warmed her.

The waitress returned, taking their plates and brought them each coffee. As she sat back in her chair, Beth willed her heartbeat to slow. He had that thoughtful air again.

“You look so serious.”

He came back to the present. “Sorry. I was just thinking.” He sat down his coffee cup and rose from his seat, extending his hand. “One more dance before we leave?”

Beth rose, took his hand, and followed him to the dance floor. She’d been so focused on their conversation during dinner she hadn’t realized how much snow had fallen. Now that they were closer to the glass wall, she caught a glimpse of the riverbank. A light dusting had been a drastic understatement.