Page 40 of Could It Be Magic?
You’ve got this, Thea told herself as she walked to the front door. The frosted glass panels of the door meant that she couldn’t see Nick, and Nick couldn’t see her. She was grateful for a few extra seconds to compose herself, and remind herself that this was Nick Saint, whom she’d known forever, and that she’d been excited and delighted when he’d asked her out. Taking a deep breath, she turned the chrome lock on the door and pulled it open.
Standing on the doorstep, looking like he’d pass an audition for James Bond with flying colours, bow tie draped over his neck and immaculately cut dinner jacket sweeping the top of trousers that looked as though they’d been tailored just for him, was Nick. But as her heart sped up and her face grew warmer, she realised that she’d never seen him looking so gorgeous.
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‘Wow!’ Nick’s look of undisguised pleasure at her appearance did wonders for Thea’s still somewhat fragile self-confidence. ‘You look incredible.’
Thea knew she was beaming, and she decided to just embrace it. ‘Thank you,’ she said, once she felt capable of drawing breath again. ‘You look pretty good yourself.’
An expression of pleasure passed over Nick’s face, but Thea could sense there was something on his mind. ‘What’s up?’ she asked.
‘Only this.’ Nick gestured to the ends of the bow tie, which dangled at his collar. ‘You wouldn’t believe the hassle I went to, to get it, and now I’ve forgotten how to do the damned thing up.’
Thea laughed. ‘Is that all? I can help with that.’ She reached out a hand and pulled him into her brightly lit hallway, which had a large mirror to the left-hand side, reflecting them both in all of their dressed-up glory.
Thea felt a definite stirring of lust as she paused in front of him, trying to remember how to tie a ‘proper’ bow tie. She moved closer, taking the ends of it in her hands, and then, as if some kind of muscle memory had kicked in, she brought them together until she was satisfied that she’d tied the perfect bow. Breathing in the heady scent of Nick’s aftershave, an aroma that felt thrillingly unfamiliar, she straightened the bow, ensuring that the ends were tucked safely away.
‘There you go,’ she said softly. ‘Perfect.’ Thea raised her eyes from Nick’s collar and realised how close his mouth was to hers. Laughing nervously to break the tension, she spun him around to face the mirror. ‘Look. Not bad, if I do say so myself.’
Nick grinned at their reflections. ‘Looks great. We scrub up quite well, don’t we?’
‘We do.’ Thea agreed. She was jolted, seeing them both in the mirror, just how right they looked together, as if they were an actual, established couple. There was an ease with Nick that she’d never really paid attention to before, but as she caught his eye in the mirror and gave him a smile, it felt as though they were at the beginning of something that should have started a long time ago.
‘All set?’ Lorelai had appeared in the hallway and had a delighted expression on her face.
‘I think so,’ Thea turned briefly away from Nick and hurried to kiss her grandmother goodbye. ‘See you later.’ She grabbed her long black coat from the hook in the hall and then turned back to Nick. ‘Ready to go?’
‘Yup.’ Thea saw Nick glance behind Lorelai, to where Cora was lurking, having obviously wanted to get a glimpse of them both together in their evening finery.
‘Don’t let your gran watch any scary movies,’ he joked.
‘Cheeky beggar,’ Lorelai replied, but her eyes were twinkling. ‘Don’t keep my granddaughter out too late!’
‘Gran, I’m not fifteen any more!’ Thea knew she was starting to blush and suddenly felt the urge to get out of the house as swiftly as possible. ‘I’ve got my keys, so you can lock up.’
‘All right,’ Lorelai replied. ‘And don’t worry’ – she glanced back at Nick – ‘it’s Christmas romance movies all the way tonight, isn’t it, Cora? Not a murderer or scary villain in sight.’
‘Glad to hear it!’ Nick’s laugh was less nervous now, and Thea again thought how natural this all felt. There was something to be said for dating someone you and your family had known forever.
As they headed out of the front door, Thea felt the warmth of Nick’s hand in the small of her back, even through her coat. In the distinctly vertiginous heels, she was glad of the gesture. He led her to his Land Rover, which looked as though it had been cleaned for the occasion and opened the passenger door for her.
‘Are you ready for this?’ he asked when they were both settled inside.
‘I think so,’ Thea replied. ‘It’s been a while since I’ve been out on a date, let alone a night out as posh as this!’
Nick laughed, and the sound made Thea’s pulse race a little faster. ‘Me too. It’s nice to get the dinner suit out of mothballs.’
‘Well, I’m honoured you’ve done it for me.’ Thea smiled across at him.
A pause fell between them. Nick was just reaching for the ignition when he stopped and turned back towards her. ‘I’d do anything for you, Thea. I hope you know that.’ The nervous laugh was back again. ‘I’m sorry. That sounds a bit intense, but I want you to know that I’m here for you, as a friend, or, if things work out that way, something more.’ He was holding her gaze, his blue eyes reflecting the intensity of his words.
‘I appreciate that, Nick,’ she said softly. ‘All this…’ She gestured down at herself. ‘All this is very new for me. I’m kind of taking this one step at a time. But I’m glad it’s you I’m taking the steps with.’ She leaned towards him, and before she could second guess herself, she kissed him, very gently, on the mouth. Her lips parted slightly, and the kiss became deeper, and when Nick raised a hand to her cheek, she shivered at the contact. As they broke apart again, she let out a long breath.
‘Wow,’ she said. ‘That was quite something.’
Nick stroked her cheek with his thumb, and she shivered at the contact. ‘It was. And that felt like a very lovely step to take.’
‘I agree.’ Thea’s hand, which had come to rest on Nick’s shoulder, moved slightly so that her fingertips were just resting on the side of his neck, and she felt his pulse hammering under her touch, again suggesting he was as excited by the kiss as she was.
