How to Turn a Frog into a Prince - Bree Wolf Page 0,45
a seat at the pianoforte by the back wall. While the doors to the terrace remained opened, allowing her soft notes to drift outside, a heavy curtain hid her from their view as she preferred.
After all, it had taken all of Charlaine’s powers of persuasion to get her new friend to agree. Emma was painfully shy around guests, and even Pierce still made her feel on edge. Although he had only ever been kind to her, offering her a position in his household when Emma had been alone and without means, not knowing how to provide for her little girl, she still seemed to fear that all his generosity would one day come to an end.
Who knew what else she had suffered in her life that fear had been able to sink its claws into her this deeply?
Her fingers flew nimbly over the keys and a soft melody floated out across the terrace. Pierce pulled Caroline into his arms and, soon, they were moving together as one, their eyes locked and their thoughts no doubt far from the steps that carried them around.
“I promise I’ll do my best,” Charlaine promised Nathanial as she stepped toward him. “Perhaps I should take off my shoes after all?” She grinned at him.
Ignoring her teasing, he grasped her hand. “Remember, don’t look down.”
Charlaine nodded…and promptly looked down.
“I told you not to,” Nathanial reminded her with a bit of an annoyed huff.
Charlaine wanted to hug him, but forced herself to retort with equal measure. “Well, perhaps you shouldn’t have. Instead of telling me what not to do, how about you simply tell me what it is you want me to do.”
Nathanial sighed. “Very well. Look up.”
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Charlaine teased and delighted in the way he tried not to roll his eyes at her. “If you’re annoyed with me, then say so.”
His gaze refused to meet hers.
“I dare you.”
The muscle in his jaw twitched.
“It’ll make you feel better.”
He ignored her.
Out of options, Charlaine decided to push the envelope. Her foot came down on his hard.
Nathanial gritted his teeth, his gaze still fixed on something above her head.
“Oops,” was all Charlaine said.
He drew in a slow breath, no doubt in order to calm himself.
Charlaine sighed. “I commend you on your discipline. However, I must say your lack of anger worries me.”
Finally, his eyes met hers. “Pardon me?”
“If you’re upset with me, then tell me,” she urged him. “After all, it’s not a secret. I can see that you’re upset with me.”
He swallowed hard. “A gentleman—”
“You’re not a gentleman,” Charlaine objected, “and I’m not a lady.”
His jaw dropped and he stared at her.
“You’re my friend, and I’m yours,” she clarified. “Brutal honesty, remember? Why are you so afraid to upset me?” His gaze moved from hers. “You weren’t when we first met. You told me without hesitation that you didn’t care for my company.”
His feet stilled, and the muscle in his jaw twitched yet again as he inhaled a deep breath, his gaze unsteady. “I care for your company now,” he finally mumbled, his voice barely audible as though he was not certain if he wanted her to hear him.
Charlaine smiled, touched by his words. Indeed, this soft, honest admission warmed her heart and made her realize how deeply she had come to care for him. “Look at me,” she whispered, smiling up at him. “I am your friend, and nothing you do will change that. I promise.”
His chest rose and fell with a deep breath.
“Despite everything I’ve done to you,” Charlaine said with a chuckle, “to your toes in particular, you’re still here.”
The ghost of a smile danced across his face.
“You haven’t run. You haven’t turned from me.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re still here. Why would you think I’m less steadfast in my affections?”
For a long time, he simply looked at her. She could see that he wanted to believe her, but his natural distrust stood in the way. Then, however, he nodded and his hand on hers tightened. “Look at me.”
Charlaine nodded, and they began to move again to the music.
“You can be quite tiresome,” Nathanial remarked after a while.
“I know.”
“And I don’t like it when you tease me.”
Charlaine grinned. “Are you certain? For whenever I do, your pulse beats faster.” His gaze stilled, and she could see that he was contemplating her words. “Would you mind if I took off my shoes?”
“Yes,” came his reply, quick and clear.
Charlaine laughed. “Why?”
“What would…?” His voice trailed off as he looked around