Chapter 39 Strawberry Cake
Christina froze for a moment, her heart racing as she felt Nathaniel’s strong arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She could feel the warmth of his chest pressing against her, and for a split second, everything else faded away.
Her breath hitched, and she quickly pushed herself away, her cheeks flushing. “S-Sorry,” she stammered, her voice a little unsteady. She quickly cleared her throat to regain composure. “I didn’t mean to…”
Nathaniel, however, seemed unfazed. He gazed at her with an unreadable expression, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “No need to apologize,” he said softly, his voice low and steady. “It happens.”
Christina avoided his gaze, her mind scrambling to make sense of the sudden shift in the atmosphere. She had never felt so conscious of his presence before, and it unnerved her.
“Let’s go,” Nathaniel said after a moment, his voice more authoritative now as he motioned toward the door. Christina nodded, still feeling a little flustered.
As they made their way out of the office, Nathaniel remained unusually quiet. Christina couldn’t shake the feeling that the encounter had changed something between them. It wasn’t just the physical proximity; it was the way he had held her, the way his gaze lingered just a little longer than usual.
The ride home was relatively quiet, with Nathaniel driving in his usual calm manner. Christina sat in the passenger seat, her thoughts racing as she tried to focus on the design she had just completed. She was proud of her work, but a part of her kept returning to the moment in the office.
When they arrived at his place, Nathaniel turned off the car and looked over at her. “You’ve been working hard lately. You deserve a break,” he said, his tone soft, almost like a reassurance.
Christina offered a small smile, grateful for his consideration. “I’ll take it easy tomorrow. Just need some rest.”
As she stepped out of the car, Nathaniel followed her up to the door. When she turned to thank him for the cake and the evening, he caught her off guard by gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “You did a great job tonight,” he said quietly.
Christina’s heart skipped a beat. “Thanks,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
They shared a brief, lingering moment before she entered the house, leaving Nathaniel standing in the doorway. As the door closed behind her, she let out a long breath, her mind still spinning from the night’s events. There was no denying it anymore—something was changing between them, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.