Page 14 of Christmas In Love

He watched as Nat gaped at her friend for a few seconds. Seconds during which Cade started to stand up, not okay with where this was going, though he couldn’t say why.

“Come on, Natalie,” April pleaded. “Your part of the challenge would be a lot easier than mine. You just need to findanyguy. Plus, I don’t want to go by myself—you’d be the best friend ever.” She dragged out the last syllable, much as a kindergartner might while saying ‘pleeeeease.’

“I… mmm… okay. Okay, fine. One double date. We can do it… right?” Nat’s voice was comically monotone.

“Easily.” April smiled, then turned and looked straight at him, as if she’d been waiting for this moment. “You could just ask your friend who’s been patiently waiting for us to stop talking.”

Cade watched as Nat looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening and a light blush tinging her cheeks as she turned fully toward him. He liked that reaction.

“Cade,” Nat choked.

He waved.

She looked back at April. “Yeah, that’ll be a no.”

Okay, he didn’t likethatso much. He found himself standing taller as if that would change her opinion of him.

“You sure know how to say ‘hi’ to a guy.” He grinned, not that he felt too happy.

Her blush deepened, but Cade was still irritated enough that he hardly noticed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound like that. It’s just… umm… April, you remember Cade Davis.”

April’s reaction was both enlightening and confusing. Her eyes widened in understanding and recognition, and then all emotion dropped from her face.

“I’m so sorry, it’s been so long since we last saw each other. Wow, you sure… well, anyway. What was it… three years ago?”

“Four,” Cade and Natalie said at the same time.

April looked between them. “Four? Wow… well, it’s nice to see you again, Cade.” She stuck her hand out, which he shook, then she shot a questioning look at Nat before speaking to him again. “How are you enjoying our little town?”

“It’s very… small.” Cade dredged up another smile, still fighting off the annoyance at how Nat had completely written him off. It shouldn’t hurt so bad. After all, she’d done it before.

April laughed. “That it is.” She turned back to Nat, raising her eyebrows in a look that seemed to say they would talk later. “Anyway, I told Em I’d meet her after this meeting, and you know how hard it is to pull that girl away from her work. I’d better run.”

Nat hugged her friend and said bye. Cade watched the exchange, debating coming up with his own excuse to leave. He didn’t like the feelings swirling in his chest, making him feel more and more frustrated. All because Natalie had said there was no way she’d be taking him on a date? Of course she said that. She’d dumped him four years ago… it would be weirder if she’dwantedto take him.

Not unwelcome. Just weird.

Would it be that weird, though? People got back together all the time…

He swore inwardly—his mind was talking itself in circles. He should just go. Come back and be helpful when he was in a better headspace.

But then Nat turned to him. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed. “Well. That’s April.”

“I know.” His hands had tensed into fists, and he fought to relax them. Familiar insecurities he usually kept at bay were starting to show their ugly faces.

“Yeah… of course you do.”

“Yup. So, what did you need help with?” He folded his arms, looking around with feigned interest at the various people and Christmas decor scattered around the room. Anything to avoid looking at her.

“Actually, the meeting ended about twenty minutes ago. Now people are just brainstorming and setting up. The hotel doesn’t have any events until New Year’s, so they’re okay with people storing things here and working over the next couple of weeks. It’s very nice of them, which hurts me to say since they’re my competitors.”

“So, you don’t need me tonight?” he asked, almost cutting her off with how quickly the words fell from his mouth. He stepped away, already preparing to go.

A flash of surprised hurt crossed Nat’s face, but Cade was too busy fighting the pain boiling up inside him to analyze her reaction.

“No, I think we’re okay.”

“Awesome. See you later, then.” He turned before he could say something stupid about how she should totally want to date him.

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