Page 32 of Christmas In Love

“You’re not supposed to be guessing,” he yelled back at the same time that Abby called out “Rudolf!”

Nat grabbed a new piece of paper, laughing along with everyone else. “You were so close, Brooke,” she teased as she scanned the next prompt. They guessed candy cane correctly, then star.

She looked directly at him after reading the next paper. Her hands jutted out, giving the impression that she had a large belly. Then she ran her hands over an invisible beard. Cade had it.

“Mr. Clarke!” He called out. Everyone looked confused.

“Times up!” Brooke called. “That last one was clearly Santa.”

“I know,” Cade laughed.

“I think we should still get the point,” Nat added as she sat back beside him. He put his arm around her, and she didn’t pull away. “He knew exactly who I was talking about—one of the guests at the B&B.”

“But he didn’t say Santa.”

“True,” Nat grinned. “But once you see Mr. Clarke, you’ll agree that he and Santa might just be one and the same.”

“Then we will keep your point on probation.” Brooke winked.

Nat agreed, a smile stretching across her face.

His mom got up to take a turn, and they played until the kids’ movie ended and it was bedtime. Their team lost by three points, which was entirely Cade’s fault. He’d taken two turns, both without a single point earned. The second time he’d sat down, Nat had playfully pinched him in the side—requesting a partner exchange. It had taken every ounce of willpower not to bend and kiss her laughing mouth.

“It was so great to see you again Natalie,” his mom said as they made for the door. She gave Cade a peck on the cheek, then hugged Nat. One of mom’s famous hugs, he could tell. The tight kind. “Come back soon, okay?” she said after they parted.

Nat’s smile was suspiciously wobbly. He didn’t miss her lack of response though. Clearly, despite the near-perfect night, she still had walls up.

They walked to the car, him keeping his hands in his pockets to refrain from reaching for hers.

As he eased out of the driveway, he turned to her. “Thanks for hanging with us tonight. I know it wasn’t what you had planned.”

She smiled over at him. “It was better than what I’d planned.”

He stopped at a red light. The picture he’d visualized earlier, of them with a car full of kids driving home from an activity, resurfaced. It was stronger now, after the time with his family.

“So, how was the first half of the date?” he asked. He must have masochistic leanings, to bring that up.

“Meh.”

Promising.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.” Nat smiled over at him, her elbow resting on the lip of the window. “Honestly, he wasn’t going to get a second date anyway, but he wasn’t my ideal. I think he tried to ask the waitress for her number. Idiot.”

Seriously? “He is.”

“Huh?”

They reached another stoplight, and Cade turned to her. “An idiot. Any guy that doesn’t see you as the catch you are, is an idiot.”

“Thanks.” It was one simple word, but the sincerity it was delivered with made it a lot more than that. Could she be considering what he was? A future with them together in it?

“So, what did you think of my nephews?”

She seemed a little thrown off by, but not unhappy with, the change in subject. “They’re hilarious. They must keep their parents busy.”

The light turned green and he started driving again. The picture of their future wouldn’t leave. Before he knew it, he was voicing his inner thoughts. “I always thought that would be our life.”

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