Nathan looked thoughtful. “Honestly? I hate the meetings. Being a CEO isn't what I love,” he admitted. “I miss creating things. Creating solutions. I miss that.”
“And you can't do that?” Holly asked.
“Not if I'm CEO,” Nathan replied. “And it's the money that matters. So, I'll be CEO.”
“Is that part of why you’re keeping the company here?” she asked. “Because you can create things again?”
“Maybe. There’s something magical there,” he told her. “I’m probably boring you.”
She shook her head. “The exact opposite. You’re excited and I love seeing that. Tell me more. I want to know why you’re excited.”
He grinned. “Really?”
Holly nodded. She knew she wouldn’t understand half the techno-jargon that was about to come out of his mouth, but she loved his enthusiasm. His eyes lit up and his hands moved around. Everything about him became more animated. It was like making love to him without having sex. Just excitement.
“Okay. But, you can’t tell anyone about the plans,” he said, keeping his voice low. “I still have to run them past the board.”
Holly pretended to zip her mouth and turn a key. The motion made Nathan chuckle.
“Okay. So, I have this idea for the laptop case that will allow better airflow and cooling properties with a minimal adjustment needed....”
Holly nodded, catching only half of the words, but loving watching him explain his ideas to her. He was alive with ideas and she felt herself falling even more in love with this man.
Which was okay now because he would be staying here.
Chapter 34
Holly
“You’re coming to the parade today, right?” Holly whispered, her head cradled on Nathan’s bare shoulder. He smoothed her hair with his hand against his head. The room was still blissfully dark with only the edges of the curtains showing any hint of morning light.
“I am. I made sure to schedule it with Lucy and everything,” he replied.
She grinned, snuggling into him. This was heaven. She was warm, safe, and completely satisfied. If it weren’t the fact that she’d been looking forward to this parade for the last month, she would happily stay in bed with Nathan for the rest of her life.
She wondered what their future looked like. Would there be more days like this? She knew it wouldn’t be perfect or easy, nothing worth having ever was, but she hoped there would be days like this. Perfect, content days.
“What are you doing for Christmas? Since you’re working, will you be staying here?” Holly asked.
Nathan shrugged beneath her. “I think so. Would you like me to stay?”
She sat up and rolled to her side, turning so that he could see her full face in the dim light. “Yes. Very much.”
He grinned, his eyes still sleepy and soft. He looked younger, less troubled. There was a restfulness to him this morning that she found calming. He looked as happy as she felt.
“Then I’ll stay,” he said.
She kissed his cheek and then resettled into the hollow of his shoulder. “I can’t wait to show you the party. My dad dresses up like Santa and gives out gifts. There’s a potluck this year and Mrs. Stone promised to make her pumpkin pie. It’s exactly what Christmas should be.”
“As long as you’re there, I’m happy,” he told her.
She sighed with contentment, her cheek warm against his skin.
“You’re going to be late,” he warned her. “It’s almost eight.”
“I know,” she said, wishing that time would just stop for a little bit longer. “I just don’t want to leave. It feels so good here.”
She could feel him smile at her in the dark as his arms gave her a squeeze.