Nerves still fluttered in the pit of her stomach as Sienna watched Nathaniel's face contort as he smiled and laughed at her comment. She couldn't believe those were the first words she spoke to him after fourteen years. She should be mortally embarrassed, but she felt nothing like that around him. She simply smiled, her eyes not leaving his face.
“Sorry to disappoint.” He replied, leaning forward and resting his forearms on the table as his eyes held her gaze “You look beautiful by the way . . . I didn't know you could get more beautiful . . .”
A fierce blush crept up Sienna's neck to her cheeks, made worse by the knowledge of the fact that every single word he said to her he meant. Everything he said to her was real. So much vulnerability held in that short statement. He was giving her apart of him that he gave to no one else. Which made it so much more unbearable because Sienna did not feel she deserved any thing so precious or important. Especially from Nathaniel of all people. She looked down unable to look Nate in the eyes, trying to compose herself.
“And I forgot how utterly irresistibly charming you can be when you want.” Sienna replied at length with a small smile, finally managing to look up, trying to keep the conversation light. The flush still bleaching the skin on her cheeks.
A short silence filled the space between them. Not awkward but simply companionable. They did not need to share words to understand each other.
A warm smile crept up Nate's lips eventually and suddenly his hand slid across the table and encased Sienna's. She gave a small start as if she had been shocked by the connection.
“Hey . . .” Nate said, refocusing her dazed attention on him once more “Remember how you used to teach me how to dance here? I could use another lesson, I may have gotten a bit rusty.”
“I . . .” Sienna trailed as her gaze shifted back to their clasped hands.
His calloused thumb rubbing a soft circle in the middle of her palm. She couldn't concentrate . . .
Wait. Had Nathaniel Hagen just asked her to dance?
That was an rarity in itself, Sienna marvelled but . . . she couldn't accept. She shouldn't. Dancing bred closeness and closeness led to intimacy and intimacy she could not afford . . . Not with Nathan. Not now, not ever . . .
She should just tell him she couldn't . . . that, that she had to leave. Yes, she should leave! It was the most logical thing to do because every moment she stayed here with him severely threatened her resolve.
“I,” Sienna began breathlessly as she looked up and across at Nathaniel.
His hand tightened over hers, and she couldn't seem to breath or get the words out.
“I.” She tried again but could not finish the sentence as she peered across at his face, seeing the expectation, the anticipation playing across his painfully handsome features.
Would it be wrong for one night? Sienna questioned herself. Even Cinderella had one night, so why couldn't she?!?
Because, if Sienna knew one thing for sure, then it was that this could never be. Nothing had changed. And when the night gave away to the day, then even this illusion would shatter just like the pumpkin at midnight . . . Yes, so I should just say no . . .
“I'd love to!”
Okay! So one night! Just One. Single. Night. Sienna vowed to herself . . . And then she would have to give him up, again . . . But not tonight . . . Sienna would live a lifetime in this night.
She longed to be back in his arms, no matter how much she denied it to herself or the world . . . The promise of what was coming warmed her skin in expectation.
Just one night couldn't be so wrong . . .
“And I don't remember anything about having to teach you anything.” She said with a smile and an arched brow trying to appear severe but failing completely “But I do remember having to stop from having my partner stolen by other women.”