Chapter 29
NATHAN
Arianna looks up at me with those beautiful green eyes I’ll never be able to resist before she snuggles into my chest as we move slowly together on the dancefloor, enjoying the gentle pace of the song the orchestra is playing.
I was right; she is the most beautiful woman in the room tonight. She’s also easy-going and surprisingly relaxed, which she hasn’t been around me since she started working as my secretary, and she fits right in as if she has always been part of my family.
My brothers love her, which I knew since they were the ones who encouraged me to invite her tonight. They saw what I couldn’t or wouldn’t admit myself.
Arianna has spent the evening talking to my mother, who I know is just as smitten as I am.
When I confessed to her that I care about her, I couldn’t help myself.
It was as if there was a dam of words I was holding back that made my throat feel tight, but as soon as I started telling her how I really feel, a wave of emotion overtook me and I just couldn’t stop myself.
Which is new for me. And yet I feel at peace. Complete.
My brothers are right; I’ve turned into a sappy bastard, which is what they called me when Arianna excused herself to go to the restroom earlier.
With Arianna, everything feels different. She’s different and has me questioning… my entire fucking existence. Which is what I have been doing—existing, not living life to the fullest.
Fun?
I want more. But I can’t bring myself to tell her the full truth from fear of exposing myself completely.
I want walks on the beach, nights at the theater, a family perhaps. Fuck no, I’m not there yet. One step at a time, Nathan. Vacations, nights around a firepit. I want it all.
These new thoughts are so unexpected and what I always feared, yet I’m not scared or running away.
Maybe it’s because she understands me, my work, and my commitment to my job, or maybe it’s because she accepts me for who I am, flaws and all.
And hell, I know Joseph calls me Mr. Crankypants, which I am a lot of the time, but in my defense, I spend the majority of my days in a state of permanent stress.
Remembering every case inside and out, questioning witnesses, preparing closing arguments all while thinking on my feet and trying to maintain my composure is taking its toll.
I look down at the incredible woman who is wrapped around me. I must admit, having Arianna in my life makes me feel better. She soothes me in ways I don’t fully understand.
Maybe I need a vacation. I can’t even remember when I last took a day off and didn’t check emails or prepare for a case.
There’s no off switch in my life anymore and separating life and business has become a thing of the past. Every day seems to blend into one and before I know it, it’s the New Year and I’ve said goodbye to another three hundred and sixty-five days. Somewhere along the line I lost myself.
Does she know what she’s signing up for? Nights alone, missed dinners. Will she stick around if it all becomes too much… or not enough?
Can I have both?
“You’re going to give yourself a seizure if you don’t stop overthinking us,” Arianna pipes up. She tilts her head back, before flashing me a knowing smile.
“So you read minds now?”
“Just yours, and we’ll work everything out as we go. No pressure.”
“Could you be any more perfect?”
“Like I said, I’m not, but we’ll agree to disagree on that one.” Her voice is full of playfulness. “No more serious thoughts. Have you enjoyed yourself this evening?” She changes the subject.
“Yes, but I think I’ve spent enough money for one night.” I pull her closer to me as we dance to the slow song the band is playing.
“Well, no one said you had to bid for half the auction items.” She lays her forearms on top of my shoulders as we continue to move to the music.
“True.” But after Arianna told me it was the charity she volunteered for and how underfunded they were following cuts to their funding streams, I want to help in any way I can.
And I’ve already decided on Monday I’m going to set up a monthly donation and make them our charity of the year at Hart Law, something we renew every year.
“Thank you for bidding for all those items, but tell me, have you always wanted a private tour of Lucasfilm?”
“Nope, I’d rather eat a hornet’s nest. But Eli will love it.” He’s a huge Star Wars fan.
“That’s very sweet of you.”
“Well, Eli had to leave early because there was an emergency with one of his clients, so it will more than make up for it.”
“I don’t think his date even noticed he’d left,” she mutters.
I follow Arianna’s path of sight to discover Eli’s date, Fiona, I think her name was, slipping out of the room with Chase “Jerkoff” Torres.
“He’s a shitty husband.” Arianna’s tone drips with disgust as she remembers the encounter she had with him the first night we met at the bar. “Where’s his wife?” She surveys the room.
“Suzanne found out he wasn’t being truthful about his whereabouts during the week and now she’s divorcing his ass and taking him to the cleaners. Max is representing her.” He specializes in divorce.
“Poor guy, I feel bad for him,” she says with a sigh.
“Really?” I ask, surprised by her reply.
“Nope, not one bit.” She shakes her head. “I hope Max squeezes every single penny out of him.” Her chest shakes against mine with laughter, and I join in.
Arianna’s laughter turns into a stifled yawn as if not wanting to give her sleepiness away.
“Tired?” I ask.
“It’s been a long night; I’m ready to go home now.”
“Let me say goodbye to Mom and then we’ll leave.”
“Okay,” she agrees as I take her hand in mine, and we head off the dance floor.
“Ari.” Someone from behind us shouts her name to get her attention, stopping us in our tracks.
“Julie.” Arianna drops my hand before throwing her arms around a woman I know all too well.
Julie fucking Hanson, a journalist for The Golden Telegraph . She’s a shit-stirrer and all-round thorn in Hart Law’s side.
Max dated her for a while. It was a long time ago now and it didn’t end well.
We discovered she’s pretty fucking handy with a golf club and Max never did forgive her for the damage she did to his 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe.
The one he saved every cent for from the age of sixteen, working for my father on the weekends to have restored.
Julie is a fucking tornado, out of control and completely unpredictable.
I get that she was heartbroken when her and Max split, but while she thought they were going to settle down, get married, and have lots of babies—all the things Max did not want with her—Max was slowly moving her out of his apartment.
In the end, when she refused to leave, we had to file a restraining order, one that has since lapsed.
I’m kind of wishing it was still in place. Six years wasn’t enough.
“Nathaniel.” Julie greets me with a tight smile.
“Julie.” I give her a curt nod. “I didn’t think vampires came out this early.” She always did have a knack for sucking any good vibes out of the air. “Played any golf lately?”
Julie folds her arms around herself, tilts her head to the side, and rolls her eyes. “Very cute. It’s been years, get over it.”
Arianna watches our interaction, ping-ponging her gaze from me to Julie and back again as if trying to work out what the hell we are talking about.
“Not long enough.” I push my hands into my pockets and kiss Arianna on the cheek.
“I’ll grab your purse. Meet me in the foyer, and don’t say a fucking word to this one.
” I point at Julie. “She’s a fucking snake.
” She’s written numerous articles about us, each one factually incorrect.
Who the hell knows what goes on in that twisted mind of hers.
“Nathaniel,” Arianna scolds me, pinning me with an angry look. “Julie is my friend.”
I tut, then lick my lips, annoyed that Arianna doesn’t know how sneaky and vindictive Julie is. “If you class her as a friend, you need to find new ones.”
Julie blows me a kiss then flips me the bird. “Love you too, Nathaniel.”
“Classy as ever, Julie.” I turn my back on her. “Five minutes,” I tell Arianna, and I can feel the anger bouncing off my girl.
Fuck, now I’ll have to tell Arianna about what happened between Max and Julie when Max never wanted anyone outside of the family knowing what went down between them.
Well, screw him. Arianna is one of us now.
A Hart.
She just doesn’t know it yet.