Page 22 of The Greatest Gift

He leans in for another kiss, and this time, it’s slower, sweeter. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. “Let’s take a walk by the wharf, yeah?”

Judd

The wharf is quiet, save for the crunch of snow beneath our boots and the distant sound of water lapping against the docks. Nakul’s hand is warm in mine, his fingers laced perfectly with mine. The air is cold enough to make my nose tingle and the light dusting of snow from earlier clings to the wooden beams of the pier.

I glance at him as we walk. The soft light of the setting sun catches in his long hair, turning it bronze in places. It’s easy to get lost in the comfort of the moment, to let myself forget about everything else for a little while.

“This is nice,” I say softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

He squeezes my hand gently. “Yeah. It really is.”

We stop near the edge of the wharf, looking out at the water. It’s a deep gray-blue under the fading light, reflecting the streaks of orange and pink from the sky. My free hand tucks into my coat pocket for warmth and I lean slightly into Nakul, letting his presence anchor me.

“Cold?” he asks, his breath visible in the chilly air.

“A little,” I admit, though I’m not really bothered by it. Not when I’m here with him.

He hums softly, a sound of agreement or maybe contentment. We stand there until the sun dips below the horizon. I don’t want this to end, but eventually, we turn and start walking back toward our cars.

Nakul pauses by his car, his hands tucked into his pockets now. He looks at me, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t want the night to end yet. Do you have more time?”

I blink, surprised by the question but immediately knowing my answer. “Yeah. I’ve got time.”

“Good,” he says, his smile widening. “Follow me.”

Curiosity piqued, I nod and climb into my car. He pulls out of the lot and I follow him through Windsor Creek’s quiet streets. We drive for a few minutes before he pulls up in front of my house.

“What are we doing here?” I ask as I park behind him.

“Dropping off your car,” he says, stepping out and motioning for me to join him. “Hop in with me.”

I hesitate for only a moment before grabbing my keys and joining him in his car. The heater is already blasting warm air and the faint scent of pine from an air freshener fills the small space.

“Where are we going?” I ask as he pulls back onto the road.

“You’ll see,” he says, a hint of mischief in his voice.

We drive for about twenty minutes, leaving the town behind. The snow-covered trees lining the road look magical under the starlight and when Nakul finally pulls into a small, deserted clearing, the sky opens up above us, breathtakingly clear and filled with stars.

“This,” he says, “is my favorite spot.”

My mouth drops open in awe as I take it all in, leaning forward to capture the true beauty of the sky through the windshield. “How did I not know that this existed?” The snow glows faintly under the starlight and the quiet is absolute, broken only by the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. “It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

Nakul chuckles as he takes one of my hands in his, both of us content to sit there and watch the winter sky. I find myself leaning my head on his shoulder, Nakul slipping off one of my gloves and pressing his lips to my knuckles. With the heat blasting, I let myself enjoy the quiet peace and before I realize it, my eyes drift close.

***

When I wake, I silently curse myself for falling asleep. I sit up quickly, groaning. “I shouldn’t have—oh God, what time is it?”

“It’s okay,” Nakul says gently, his voice soft. “It’s not that late.”

But I’m already in panic mode, scrambling to check my phone. It’s just past six am which means Athena and Lars need to leave for work. “I need to get back to the house. Stevie—” I feel awful, already talking about my kid while Nakul just prepared the best date I’ve had in a very long fucking time.

He leans over the console to kiss my cheek, immediately calming my nerves. “Hey, I get it. You and Stevie are a package deal and as excited as I am about this new thing between us, we have to remember we aren’t teenagers anymore. Let’s get you back, okay?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, hating ruining the mood.

Nakul shakes his head as he starts off down the road, “Don’t be. Neither one of us meant to fall asleep although I’m not complaining about how the night ended. I’ll apologize to your sister if that helps?”

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