Chapter Thirteen
Nate
Christmas with the Kemps was an annual tradition for Nate’s family, a party thrown at their house where a select group of friends of the family would come to celebrate the holiday with food, cocktails, and plenty of fun.
The house was decked out in every kind of decoration you could imagine.
Tinsel, colorful lights, and homemade ornaments from when the boys were young decorated the tree, wreaths and garland were hung from every surface imaginable, and stockings for every member of the Kemp family hung above the fireplace.
Nate couldn’t help feel an ache in his chest as he read off the names, noticing that each of his brothers had another name next to theirs while his sat alone at the end.
Nate rubbed at his chest, knowing exactly which name belonged next to his but wondering how long before it would be there.
The public forum had gone amazingly well with Lottie helping to come up with ideas to get most of the more reluctant community members on board.
There were still a fair number that opposed any kind of change, but that was to be expected.
Nate was confident that with a few more tweaks to his plan, the downtown business association would give their final approval and he’d have accomplished what he set out to do.
Then he could focus more of his attention on winning over the woman he loved.
Lottie hadn’t said it back the night he had confessed his feelings, and Nate hadn’t brought it up since, but he knew she loved him.
He just had to prove to her that he wasn’t going to ruin things again.
Nate felt like he was doing a fair job of that, but then again, he’d invited Lottie to come tonight, and she was nowhere to be seen.
A burst of raucous laughter drew his attention over to the living room where people were participating in one of the yule tide themed games orchestrated by his father.
This year Nate’s dad had been excited to try Candy Cane Olympics where teams would perform various tasks using the peppermint treat in some form or another.
By the looks of it, the current task was to see who could balance a large candy cane stick on the bridge of their nose the longest. Nate chuckled as he moved to the sidelines, watching as each person got eliminated until only two of his brothers and Parker’s daughter, Kit remained.
“You’re cheating,” Aiden told Travis. He then bumped the other man with his shoulder in an attempt to win, but even though Aiden was taller, Travis was built far more solidly and barely moved.
Travis chuckled at their eldest brother’s lame attempt at winning. “If anyone’s cheating it’s you.” Travis continued to balance the stick perfectly as Aiden seemed to struggle. “Big nose of yours gives you an advantage.”
Aiden tutted. “I don’t think Mom will appreciate you finding fault in her genes.” It was true that Aiden favored their mother, as did Felix and Beckett, but Travis seemed unfazed by the threat of involving the older woman.
“Not what I was implying—” Travis bit off before his words turned into a yelp. The candy cane that was perfectly balanced on his nose dropped the floor and cracked in two. Travis turned toward their mother who had just pinched his side. “What the hell—I mean heck, Mom?”
Cora smiled serenely and patted Travis on the shoulder as she reached over and pinched Aiden’s side as well. When his stick dropped to the floor, everyone cheered at Kit having won the game. “Looks like my favorite little lady is the winner.”
Kit beamed up at Nate’s mom before she turned to his brothers. “Better bring your A-game next time, boys.” After nabbing her prize from the box of wrapped presents, she skipped over to show her mom who was giggling along with everyone else who’d witnessed the event.
Travis soon joined the pair, congratulating the little girl and hoisting her onto his shoulders.
Nate looked around the room at everyone else gathered there and smiled wistfully.
Aiden walked over to Nicole and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of his fiancée’s head.
Beckett and Willa sat on the couch, his hand resting on her small baby bump as they chatted with Felix and Autumn who sat on top of one another in a small chair.
Envy stabbed at his heart like a dull knife, the ache low and persistent.
Nate knew that if he didn’t have what his brothers did with Lottie then he wouldn’t have it at all, and that put all the more pressure on him to not be his usual, quick to push self.
A cool breeze flew past the back of Nate’s neck making the hairs there stand on end. He turned toward the front door and the ache in his chest vanished instantly at the sight of Lottie coming inside with four large tote bags slung over her shoulders. “Sorry I’m late everyone.”
Nate rushed over to help her carry her load, smiling when she was finally in front of him. “May I help you with those?” Lottie beamed up at him and nodded, handing over the heavy bags with ease. Nate chuckled as he hoisted one up. “What do you have in this? You giving someone a set of kettlebells?”
Lottie laughed and shook her head. “Absolutely not. Gym equipment is not a good gift and I will die on that hill.”
She removed her blue pea coat, revealing a stunning blouse and skirt combination that Nate would dream about every holiday season from then on.
The red shirt hugged Lottie’s large chest so tightly the buttons strained at the center.
The dark green plaid skirt was larger, but it still gave the indication of a soft waist and wide hips that Nate couldn’t wait to get his hands on again.
The night on the roof was over a week ago and he’d been going mad with need ever since.
No amount of self-pleasure had taken away the ache low in his belly and he knew that he’d only feel relief once he was buried inside her again.
Nate tried to swallow but his throat was bone dry. “You do seem more the sentimental type,” he rasped. Coughing, he lifted the bag once again. “Where do you want this?”
Lottie smiled and grabbed another of her bags. “Oh, all of this goes under the tree except for the stuff for the other families. I’ll give those out now.”
Nate watched Lottie as she weaved through the small crowd of partygoers, greeting people with hugs before passing them a present.
As he walked slowly over to the Douglas fir in the corner, Nate smiled as he saw people open what she’d gotten them.
After each gift was revealed to be something thoughtful and completely personal to each person, they gazed at Lottie with wonder and shiny eyes.
It was incredible to him that she was able to find or create so many wonderful presents for that many people.
Nate had ordered something for her, but now that he saw just how much care she put into the gifts she gave, he felt his own paled in comparison.
Needing a distraction, Nate unpacked the bags she’d handed him, smiling at the names of each of his family members on the gift tags of the most perfectly wrapped presents he’d ever seen.
There was even a present for Boots, the old barn cat Kit had adopted as her pet.
He chuckled at Lottie’s getting a present for the mangy tabby and continued with his work.
After unloading a generous amount of gifts, Nate pulled up the last package, seeing his name on the tag.
Smiling, he went to place it along with the others, but was too tempted by what was inside to let it go.
Turning, he ran into Lottie who stood over him with a sly look on her face. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to wait until Christmas.”
Nate’s shoulder bobbed as he moved closer to her. “What can I say? I’m impatient when it comes to things I want.” The distance and time he’d forced between them was gone now and he couldn’t wait much longer to be with her again.
Lottie narrowed her gaze at him, one hand propped on her hip. “Well, I guess I can’t fault you. It is a really awesome present.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Nate raised the package in question, nodding over toward the hallway opposite from where the revelry was taking place. “So can I open it?” When Lottie made no indication either way, he leaned over to her ear. “I’ll beg if you want me to.”
Lottie’s body shuddered slightly, making Nate’s chest puff with a small measure of pride at having gotten to her in the same way she’d always gotten to him.
“Save that kind of talk for when we’re not surrounded by your family,” she ordered.
After grabbing his hand, she marched him into the hallway and spun to face him.
“I suppose I can make an exception to my no presents before the big day rule, but just this once.”
Nate smiled, knowing full well that she had and would make more exceptions for him if he asked.
“Thank you, Charlotte.” Tearing into the paper, Nate lifted the lid of the box and tossed it to the side.
Parting the tissue paper, he inhaled sharply at what sat in the box he held in his hands. “Where did you—”
The words dried up in his throat as his eyes started to water.
Staring up at him was an essay he’d written in fifth grade about wanting to be the Mayor of Applewood.
Nate assumed that it had been lost or that after he’d read it aloud and turned it in to his teacher, it was bound for the recycle bin.
Somehow, Lottie had found it and had it fixed to a plaque, protected behind glass.
The paper was crinkled and a little weathered from time, but his crude handwriting in black pen stood out enough that it was still easy to read.