Page 68 of One Month's Notice

“It’s a pleasure, I know how much this means to you. What else can I do?”

“You’ve done more than enough.” Nat slipped her arm around his waist and leaned in against him, lifting her head to kiss his stubbled cheek. “It’s time for you to go home and get some rest. It’s a big day for both of us tomorrow. Don’t forget about your meeting with Ethica.”

“They are going to be really disappointed you can’t be there to finalise the deal with me.” Michael leaned down and kissed Nat on the top of her head. “Julia couldn’t stop raving about you and how lucky the company is to have you. How lucky I am to have you.” He paused to look at her, his gaze telling her instantly what he really meant.

“I do really wish you could stay, though,” Nat said, a tinge of sadness in her tone.

“There will be plenty of opportunities for sleepovers.” Michael pulled her in closer. “Especially now we’ve established we’re probably not cut out for just friends.”

“No, I don’t think we are.” Nat laughed, stopping abruptly when Michael leaned in, his hand cupping her chin as he kissed her. Her body tensed for a second in surprise, before relaxing into his touch. She lifted her hand to run her fingers through his hair, feeling the urgency of his tongue quicken and his breath become more rapid. He moved his hand to find a gap between where her jeans and t-shirt met. She tensed again as his palm pressed against her back, the warmth tingling against her bare skin. She felt him lean closer into her, closing any gap that dared to exist between them, before pulling away.

“I had better go, otherwise you will have to drag me away,” he said, clearing his throat.

“That’s probably a good idea.” Nat leant against her wardrobe and watched as Michael gathered his things. She followed him downstairs and waited inside the porch as he pulled on his shoes. The silence was comfortable, yet charged with a desire she knew they were both fighting to keep at bay. They looked at each other and, for a moment, Michael hesitated, as if debating with himself. Then, with a clear determination, he closed the gap and his lips found hers again.

“Call me after the interview?” he murmured against her mouth.

“I will.” Her heart raced.

With a final glance, he turned and walked out of the front door. Nat stood in the stillness of the porch and a sense of calm washed over her. She smiled to herself as she made her way into the kitchen and reached for a glass. She filled it with water and drank slowly, the chill of the liquid doing little to quench the warmth that his kiss had ignited.

“Well, don’t you look like the cat that got the cream?” Lucy’s voice sliced through the silence, her figure appearing at the doorway with her arms crossed. Nat startled, her heart jumping into her throat.

“You scared me.” She attempted a laugh, but it came out like a nervous hiccup.

“Sorry.” Lucy’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “But seriously, what’s going on? Was that Michael only just leaving?”

“Um…” Nat started, struggling to find the words while her mind raced. She didn’t want to share too much, yet the truth was threatening to bubble up, almost impossible to contain. “Yeah, it’s been a nice couple of days. He’s been helping me out with my portfolio since yesterday afternoon.”

“Wow.” Lucy pushed off from the doorframe, her expression shifted to one of intrigue. “He’s really smitten, isn’t he? It seems you both are.”

“Maybe.” Nat’s cheeks flushed. She slipped a band off her wrist and pulled her hair back, tying it into a loose ponytail. She was suddenly conscious of how dishevelled she must look.

“And he was just helping you with your portfolio? This late?” Lucy’s tone took on a teasing edge, her eyebrow arching suggestively.

“Just helping with my portfolio,” Nat confirmed, trying to sound nonchalant. “It turns out he’s quite the gentleman.”

“Really?”

Nat bit her lip, wondering how much to reveal. Finally, she let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the secret too heavy to keep from her sister-in-law.

“There might be… more to it.”

“More to it?” Lucy repeated, tilting her head, her eyes wide with excitement.

“In Paris, we…” Nat allowed the silence and the look on her face to finish her sentence.

“Really?” Lucy’s face lit up, a smile breaking through. “That’s so exciting! I mean, as long as you’re happy.”

“I am. We have definitely become more than just friends.” Nat smiled to herself at the thought. They had tried hard to keep it that way, but in the end, it was never going to stay like that. “But it’s all so new, you know?” she added, her newfound confidence wavering a fraction. “And with everything that happened with Joe…” Her voice trailed off.

“Hey.” Lucy stepped closer and placed a hand on Nat’s shoulder. “Just take it one step at a time. You deserve happiness, and Michael might be just the person you need right now.”

“Thanks.” Nat managed a grateful smile.

“I’m off to sleep. Don’t stay up too late.”

Nat watched as Lucy made her way out of the kitchen, leaning against the kitchen counter and replaying the confession in her mind. She couldn’t believe that she had admitted there might actually be a relationship on the cards. With Michael, of all people. They were opposites, but maybe that’s what made it feel so right.

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