Page 65 of One Month's Notice

“Pure intentions, huh?” Lexi brought her face closer to the camera so Nat could see her raised eyebrows.

“The purest.” Nat considered adding “for now”, but changed her mind so as not to get Lexi’s, or her own, hopes up.

“Let’s have a look at what you’re wearing, then.”

Nat pressed a button to switch the camera and held it up to the mirror.

“You look fantastic!”

“Really?” Nat never quite embraced her own beauty, forever comparing herself to glossy images or her mother’s exacting standards.

“You just don’t know how beautiful you are.” Lexi shook her head. “Well, have fun tonight. See you when you get back. I can’t wait to hear about it. About all of it.”

“Thanks, I’ll try.” With that, she set her phone down, her conversation with Lexi leaving a warm glow that battled the cool uncertainty she felt about the evening ahead.

Nat stepped back into the bedroom and selected a pair of silver hoop earrings from her jewellery box. As she sat on the edge of the bed, the soft fabric from the boutique they visited earlier that day spilled out beside her. The place she had dreamed about for years had been a revelation—an Aladdin’s cave of luxurious textiles and intricate designs that far exceeded her highest expectations. She couldn’t wait to transform the fabrics into her own unique creations. Each piece was a critical part of the portfolio that could make or break her career. Her heart fluttered with nervous anticipation at the thought. She reached out, fingers tracing over a particularly exquisite piece of silk, letting the smooth material calm her nerves.

A sudden knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. She checked her watch. Michael had a knack for perfect timing, and he was right on schedule. She took a deep breath and walked over to the door, smoothing down her top and adjusting her jeans.

“You look beautiful.” He stood there in a tailored navy blazer that accentuated the width of his shoulders. Underneath it, a crisp white shirt was unbuttoned just enough to be inviting. His dark jeans were a casual concession, but they did nothing to lessen the impact of his figure.

“Thank you.” Nat felt a blush warm her cheeks. “You look nice too.” Her compliment came out like an awkward afterthought, but he still acknowledged it with a charming smile.

“Shall we?” He gestured towards the corridor.

Nat nodded and walked out of the room, allowing the door to close behind her as she fell into step beside him.

The soft clinking of cutlery on plates echoed through the restaurant as Nat speared a bite of her starter. Across from her, Michael watched with an intensity that was doing nothing to settle her nerves. They had spent the day together, enjoying each other’s company with the easy banter of a secure friendship. However, the intimacy of the restaurant had somehow elevated the increasingly familiar underlying feeling that there could be something more between them.

“So…” Michael dabbed the side of his mouth with a napkin. “Tell me more about your family.”

“Not much to tell, really.” She pushed the food around her plate, considering what to say. Then, with a deep breath, she opened up to Michael in a way she never had before. “I grew up in the shadow of my brother, Simon. Everything he did set the bar. He was always the successful one, the driven lawyer. My ambitions… they always felt a bit silly next to his. Mum and Dad—well, more Mum really—she always seemed so disappointed in me. I suppose I’ve never really been good enough.”

Michael listened intently, his eyes never leaving her face.

“You are good enough,” he said, his voice soft. “You might have had a wobbly start in your job, but you’ve been amazing. I mean, let’s face it, you pretty much saved the company.” He laughed and tilted his head, giving Nat a lopsided grin.

“Well, yes, there is that small matter,” Nat conceded with a smile, her cheeks flushed with pleasure and embarrassment all at once.

“And your designs are incredible. Do you think I would have flown you to Paris if I didn’t think you stood a chance at winning that contract?” He raised his eyebrows in a gentle challenge.

“Thank you. So enough about me. What about you?” Nat was keen to divert the attention away from herself.

“I was an only child. My parents both ran their own businesses—success was the only option. Failure? It wasn’t even in our vocabulary. Everything was black and white, no room for error.”

“A bit like your apartment, then?” Nat laughed.

“Yes, very much! At least you came to save me from that. You have certainly brought colour into my life,” he admitted, his face brightening with a smile that revealed the hidden meaning behind his words.

As they ate, they talked and laughed, sharing stories of their childhoods, families and dreams for the future. Nat couldn’t help but notice how different they were to each other, but maybe that was a good thing? Over the last few weeks, she knew she had grown in confidence, facing challenges she didn’t think she would ever be capable of. And sitting here watching Michael, more relaxed than she had seen before, maybe he was changing too?

As they left the warm glow of the restaurant, the cool night air blew away the fuzzy sensation from just a little too much food and wine. The city’s lights twinkled around them, reflecting off the water as it lapped against the banks of the river. Nat wrapped her arms around herself, the thin fabric of her coat offering little resistance against the evening chill. Michael noticed and, without a word, draped his jacket over her shoulders.

“Thanks,” she said, pulling it tighter around her. The scent of his aftershave hit her, instantly triggering the memory of when they first met. The feel of his lips against the skin on her hand. Despite the warmth radiating from his jacket, she shivered a little.

They walked side by side, their footsteps synchronising on the cobbled riverside walkway. The soft murmur of distant conversations and the occasional laughter from other late-night wanderers filled the spaces between them. It was getting late, and Nat could feel the weariness seeping into her bones. She did her best to stifle a yawn.

“Shall we find a taxi?” Michael suggested.

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