Chapter 3
Nathaniel
“Damn, little bro, you’re gonna slay tonight,” my sister Lila teased, coming up behind me. She wasn’t wrong. My reflection smirked right along with me as I checked myself out in the full-length mirror that had always hung on the back of the bathroom door. I looked pretty damn fine.
My hips and ass—my best assets, in my honest opinion—were encapsulated in my favorite pair of skin-tight black denim jeans. Combined with a long-sleeved white button-down with a black vest hugging my chest, all I needed was a matching tie and I could be the main course.
Lila giggled and elbowed me out of her way, fussing with her hair in the mirror. “Got a hot date tonight?”
I spun in a small circle. “As a matter of fact, I do.” At least I hoped he was hot. Ma seemed to think he’d be right up my alley, and well, she’d never steered me wrong before. Not that I was regularly taking dating advice from my mother. That was just weird.
She gasped, one hand flying to her mouth. “Legit? Aw, munchkin, I’m so proud.”
I glowered at the nickname. Wasn’t my fault I’d been born prettier than her. It was just part of my charm. “Shut up and share the mirror. I need far more makeup for this yuletide thing. It’s not Christmas without a little glitter, you know.”
All dolled up and glistening, I slipped into my favorite fuzzy winter boots, which had little pom-poms dangling from the sides, and shrugged into my blazer. Ma said the gala was indoors, so I probably didn’t need a coat. It’d just be something extra to lug home if tonight went anywhere.
Man, I was hoping it went somewhere.
The Christmas party was in full-roar when I arrived at the banquet hall. I took two steps inside and my jaw dropped. Whoever had decorated this place? Wow, they were a genius.
Strung up around the ceiling and encircling the sturdy wooden beams of the building were endless strands of glittering lights.
They cast a cozy glow throughout the place, outshined only by the twin crystal chandeliers hanging above the tables.
A massive Christmas tree sat nestled away from the hubbub, decorated to perfection with a star on top and presents nestled underneath.
Eye on the prize, I reminded myself, glancing around the room in search of my date.
I’d only been given a brief description by Ma, who’d been gushing about him all afternoon.
“He owns his own business, Nathaniel!” she’d exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement.
“He’s a self-made man, and according to Marina, he even put her through college. That’s damn admirable.”
That was code for: Don’t fuck this up, boy-child. I’d only smiled amicably. It would be what it would be. Even if he was the hottest Alpha on two legs, if he was an asshole, I was out. The end.
My stomach fluttered with nerves as my gaze finally settled on a dark-haired man sitting alone at one of the smaller tables.
He seemed to be scanning the crowd—looking for me?
—and my heartbeat ramped up. Shit. Here goes nothing.
Holding my breath, I approached the stranger with what I prayed was suave confidence, but holy hell.
I was expecting hot, but I wasn’t expecting this.
I might’ve gasped. I stared, blinking down at him, enraptured by the gorgeous god of a man sitting in front of me. He was tall and sturdy, with broad shoulders and a wide chest, and those arms… From what I could see beneath the tight sleeves of his shirt, the man had muscles.
His dark eyes locked into mine, as deep and rich as coffee, before a small smile tugged up the corner of his lips. He cleared his throat and stood, offering a hand. His black hair fanned over his forehead, short but thick. I was dying to run my fingers through it.
“You must be Nathaniel.”
“Yeah,” I squeaked as my face went up in flames.
The moment our skin touched, a tingle of electricity went shooting up my arm, effectively shorting out my brain.
“I—sorry, I’m weird about meeting new people and I—” Oh god, you’re making it worse!
“I’ll shut up now. Uh, mind if I sit? Here? With you?”
His chuckle sent warmth seeping through my veins. “Of course. I’d be honored.” He was a gentleman too? Lord have mercy on my soul. I gratefully sank into the chair across from him, my heart hammering double-time in my chest. “So you’re Mackenzie. Do you go by Mac?”
He grinned. Even his teeth were perfect. “I do, actually. Should I call you Nate?”
I snorted. “Not unless you’re looking to die.”
His eyes widened. My breath hitched. Damn it, did I say that out loud? But before I could open my mouth to apologize, Mac’s shoulders began to quake with laughter. The glint of amusement in his eyes told me he found me endearing. I hoped.
“Depends on how you plan to kill me.” He winked.
“Slowly,” I drawled, propping my elbow up on the table and resting my chin on my upturned palm. “So. Come here often?”
“Absolutely not. No offense, but this isn’t really my idea of a good time,” he admitted, and I noticed he kept stealing glances around the room.
Was he nervous? “I don’t really like crowds, but I told my sister that I’d at least try and have fun.
” He flashed a quick smile. “At least my date turned out to be pretty damn cute.”
I sniffed. “Sweetheart, I’m a fucking prize.”
“Before we get ahead of ourselves… You’re single, right?
No other would-be suitors sniffing around?
” He lofted a brow, then scratched at his well-trimmed goatee.
“Not that I’m saying tonight’s gonna go anywhere, but I…
I’m not the kind of guy to play games. My last relationship was a mess and if you’re dating around, or you’re into the whole open-relationship thing, then it’s probably better if I go. ”
He looked so damn conflicted all of a sudden. Here he was, this drop-dead gorgeous Alpha with an amazing smile and an even better laugh, and he was insecure about competition? Wow.
“I’m here with you and only you,” I told him.
“I might be a little promiscuous, but…I’ve had to reevaluate my life choices recently, and I think it’s finally time to settle down.
To find someone who’s real and not just another phony Alpha-hole.
If this goes anywhere, then you have my word.
I don’t fuck around and I don’t play games. ”
He released a pent-up sigh and when he smiled at me, it glimmered in his eyes. A man could get lost in eyes like those… “Good. Great. That’s really good to hear.”
“So I’m guessing you aren’t a fan of dancing?” I gestured to the partygoers who’d gathered on the dance floor, currently jamming out to “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”
He pulled a face. “No.”
I laughed. “Then what do you say we ditch this place after dinner? Go someplace a little more private. The coffee shop on the corner of West and Ninth has the best peppermint mocha, hands-down. We could take a walk, enjoy the scenery?” I winked.
He rolled his lips together, but he couldn’t hide his pleasure. “I’d love that, Nathaniel. Honestly.”
“Good. Now tell me a bit about yourself…”
Dinner was amazing—melt-in-your-mouth prime rib with a smorgasbord of roasted veggies, finished off with a decadent pumpkin cheesecake. I leaned back in my seat after my last bite, regretting that my jeans were so damn tight…at least until I caught Mac checking me out.
I crooked my finger in a come-hither motion. “What do you say we make a break for it?”
“That sounds like the best thing I’ve heard all night.”
“Perfect.” Or it would’ve been perfect if some numbskull wouldn’t have opted not to bring a damn coat. As we crunched our way slowly down the snowy sidewalk, our hands brushing together every now and again, I had to suppress a shiver.
I must’ve failed miserably, because Mac caught my hand and pulled me to a stop. “Where’s your coat? It’s freezing out here.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” I remarked, then flushed. “Sorry. I’ve got a big mouth.”
He smirked. “I noticed. Here.” He tugged free of his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders. My hands trembling from the cold, I welcomed the warmth of his body heat with a soft groan. It smelled like him too.
“Aren’t you cold?” I asked.
When I glanced up at him, he smiled and shrugged. “Nah, I’m pretty hot-blooded and besides, I have my blazer. The only reason I brought my coat was in case of car troubles. Never know when you might get stranded in cold weather and my car’s not the most reliable source of transportation.”
“I thought you owned a business?” I blurted, not thinking first. Damn it.
He only smiled. “I do, but I’m a sentimental guy. I like my old Chevy and so far, she hasn’t left me high and dry. She’s gotten me through a lot of shit and until she kicks the bucket on the side of the road, well, I guess she’s sticking around.”
“You’re cute,” I said on a sigh. Why did he have to be so perfect?
We talked all the way to the coffee shop with only a brief pause to order our drinks. The hot peppermint mocha I bought tingled across my tastebuds with a zip of flavor, but my attention was locked on Mac and his colorful way with words.
He told me all about his business, his cat, his sister and his nephews and I had to admit, I hadn’t enjoyed learning about an Alpha since… Wow, I couldn’t remember the last time I was invested beyond sex. Did that make me a bad person?
Did it make me a bad person that I really wanted to climb Mackenzie Weaver like Mt. Everest and jump his bones? I bit my lip and tried to keep my thoughts from straying into the red zone, but damn it. I blamed the pheromones, or maybe my own hormones. Could it be both?
“It’s getting late,” Mac said, glancing down at his phone.
“Yeah,” I agreed, but I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Not yet. “You wanna come back to my place?” I wasn’t sure what I expected. Maybe for him to kiss me right here and now, then fuck me senseless?
Instead, he smiled gently and squeezed my hand atop the table. “Sorry. Nothing against you, but I don’t mess around on the first date. It’s just how I am.”
I couldn’t help but feel disappointed though, my smile feeling fragile as I nodded and agreed. When we stood to leave the coffee shop, though, Mac wrapped his arm around my shoulders and leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear. “Let me walk you back to your car?”
I swooned. “You’re so sweet. Thank you.”
The walk back was frigid with the wintry wind snagging at my borrowed jacket, but if the cold bothered Mac, he didn’t let it show. His arm slid down my back and without hesitation, he took my hand in his and laced our fingers together. His smile was hopeful. “This okay?”
“It’s perfect.” I sighed. And what was even more perfect was the sweetly chaste kiss he dropped on my lips when we reached my car.
My heart rum-pa-pum-pumping like the little drummer boy, I let myself enjoy these last few moments together.
“Thanks for the wonderful night,” I murmured, savoring the tingle of peppermint on my lips.
His grin was dopey. “Thank my sister.”
“Whatever.” I nudged him with my shoulder. “Can I get your number? Maybe we can catch lunch sometime?” I held my breath, warning myself not to get my hopes up, but he was the one who kissed me. Surely he expected something more than a once-and-done.
“If you’re okay with starting slow, sure. It’s been awhile since I’ve dated. I’m a bit rusty.”
“Hardly.” I held out my phone and he put his number in my contacts list, then handed it back. “Thank you again for tonight. I think this was just what I needed.”
Mac’s smile rocked my world. “I think so too.”