Page 137 of Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist

A month ago, she’d never imagined she’d be in a darkened bar, getting along with Amber and watching Pike gyrate around in a Santa hat. Even more surprising was being able to type back four little words without any hesitation or sweaty palms.

I love you, too.

Chapter 31

NICK

“Noel! Have you seen my tie?”

Noel stuck her head out of the bathroom, her toothbrush hanging out of the corner of her mouth. “I hung it over the back of the chair in the kitchen.”

“Which one?”

“The only one that has a tie on it, goob!”

Nick threw his pillow at her and she closed the door before it connected, her laugher muffled.

In the eleven days since they’d exchanged I love yous, Noel hadn’t balked at their relationship once. She’d come home the day after Gabby’s bachelorette party seeming lighter, freer. When he’d asked how Amber was, Noel just said they’d had fun.

Which is exactly how Nick felt about his time with her. They teased. Wrestled. Kissed. Cuddled. And loved. Boy, how they loved.

Today was the Christmas concert and Wednesday, Gabby’s wedding. If Noel was nervous about either, she hadn’t let on. He hoped that he held it together tonight, as he wasn’t completely over his stage fright.

Nick found his tie on the floor, underneath the chair he always sat in for work. He stared down at it as he tried to tie it without a mirror, looking up when he heard Noel clear her throat.

She stood at the end of the hallway in a red, shimmering dress. The off-the-shoulder and sweetheart neckline showed just a hint of cleavage. The dress nipped in at the waist and flared out to just above her knees, highlighting her long, smooth legs. Simple black flats adorned her feet and they were in contrast with the fancy, familiar feel of the dress.

She’d pinned her dark hair back from her face, and it fell in dark curls over her shoulders.

“Well?”

Nick crossed the hallway to her, cupping her cheek in his palm. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you. It’s the dress my mother wore to the concert every year. Is that weird?”

“Considering this concert is about honoring her and your dad, no. I think it’s fitting.”

Noel took the tongues of his tie, lowering her gaze, but not before he caught the shimmer of tears. “I’m so nervous, I feel like I may be sick.”

“Nope, as my sisters will remind you, nausea related to performing is my forte. You stop trying to steal my stuff.”

Noel finished his tie and used it to pull him down for a kiss. “So no more borrowing your T-shirts, then?”

“There are some exceptions. Especially when you look so good in them and nothing else on.”

Noel moved away from his wandering hands. “Uh-uh. I need to go apply some lipstick and then we need to go. If we’re late because we wind up back in bed, your mother will murder us both.”

Nick waggled his brow. “I think it may be worth it.”

“Not today, Satan!” She backed into the bedroom and he chuckled, heading to the front door to shrug into his suit jacket.

When she came out in her black dress coat and black clutch, he couldn’t believe they were here and she was here.

“You’re sure you don’t want to test my mother’s wrath and go back into the bedroom.”

“I promise you all kinds of hot, sexy times tonight, but right now, it’s about my parents. I will not be late to an event in their honor.”

Nick took her hand, leading her out the door and down the stairs to the truck. He’d used the remote start to defrost and warm up the cab, so when she climbed inside, it was toasty warm.

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