The first time I’d realized I was falling for that stupid farmer.
I was smiling, looking at these pictures, thinking about the possible life I could have here . . . if he wanted it, too.
I needed Oscar. I wanted Oscar. And I also . . . you know what? I really missed him. Beyond the sex, beyond the obsession over my ass and watching it bounce, beyond the showers and the barns and the sweet, sweet love on the stairs, the man made me laugh. I missed him.
Where the hell was that man?
“Hey, Natalie! The pictures look great; we can’t wait to see the commercial!” Roxie’s mom, Trudy, and her boyfriend, Wayne Tuesday, danced by, literally rocking around the Christmas tree.
“Good to see you! Have you seen Oscar?” I replied, trying to act like a normal person, though I was all butterflies inside.
“Haven’t seen him, sweetie; I’m sure he’ll be around. The whole town is here!” Trudy waved as she danced past.
Good lord, when did the dancing start? While I was going inside myself for a feelings check, the Christmas party hop had officially begun.
I smiled and nodded at people I’d actually gotten to know on my weekend trips up here, people who smiled and nodded back, welcoming me, accepting me as one of their own, even though I’d only been here for a short time.
A couple danced past, seeming lost in each other, dreamy happy and—holy shit, was that Missy?
It was. She caught my eye around the same time I realized it was her. I watched her face change, working through surprise, acceptance, and then . . . hope?
It was hope. She offered me a cautious smile, one that I returned. That done, she returned her gaze to the man she was dancing with, and I took a deep breath.
“Hey, pretty girl!” Chad called out as he and Logan danced past. “Why so glum? Your pictures look gorgeous!”
“Not glum, just, have you seen Oscar?”
They exchanged knowing glances.
“No, but if he’s not here yet, he’ll turn up soon. Get yourself a drink; try the eggnog. Mr. Peabody made it and it’s filled with hooch,” Chad said.
“Eggnog. I’ll give you some fucking eggnog,” I grumbled, searching through the crowd. It shouldn’t be so hard to find a six-foot-six-inch-tall man, but still no sign of him. “Sonofabitch,” I continued—and heard a telltale rattling sound behind me.
There was Polly, wearing a Christmas sweater and shaking her swear jar, which was festively festooned. “You swore, Natalie. Please put in a quarter.”
“You’re like a little curse ninja, you know that?” I said. “Who’re you here with?”
“Daddy brought me, but he’s helping Roxie bring in the cakes.” She winked, and started talking out of the side of her mouth a little, very 1930s gangster. “And you know what that means.”
I’d been burned like this before. “What does that mean?”
She shook her head and rattled her jar. “I don’t know, actually. It’s just what I heard Uncle Chad say one time. Quarter, please.”
“Kid, you’re bleeding me dry.” I dug in my purse for a quarter.
“That’s all?”
“You said a quarter.”
“Yes, but you usually give me a dollar, in case you say something else.”
“Well, I’ll try and keep my mouth zipped tonight.”
“You can try . . .” she muttered, walking away while shaking her jar to the tune of the music.
“Little hustler,” I said under my breath, and I heard a low chuckle behind me.
Every part of me turned on. I could feel it, feel him. My skin tightened, my hands clenched, my heart burst, and my teeth chattered. I slowly turned, and there he was.
Tall. Beautiful. Hair artfully pulled back in that leather tie, looking effortless as usual. It was Oscar, my caveman.
Wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater I’d ever seen. Red and green, covered in running reindeer, it was too tight across his chest and too long in the arms, and absolutely hideous.
“Wow,” I said, taking in the riot of colors. “That’s some sweater.”
“Missy made it for me; she knits me one each year,” he said with a shrug, watching my eyes carefully for any sign of jealousy.
I realized with a start that there was no jealousy here. I didn’t have to worry about Missy, even if she did still love him. Which, based on her dance partner and the way she was gazing at him, seemed like less of a possibility than before. If the world had more relationships end as amicably as theirs did, it’d be a much happier place.
“That’s truly sweet,” I said sincerely.
He stepped closer to me as the Christmas lights twinkled all around us. “Everything looks really great, Natalie. People have been saying all night long how impressed they are, and how Natalie Grayson is the best thing to happen to this town in a long time.”