Author's Note:

Thank you for all the feedback on the previous chapter (the first married disagreement.) Unfortunately, it happens, let's be real. No marriage is honest without a disagreement here or there (and the first year of marriage has the tendency to have it's fair share, as a couple learns each other on a deeper level). But, the silver lining to any disagreement is that we come out on the other side melded even more together. And, I think that was the case for Nathan and Julia, or at least that's what I was going for.

Here's a fun chapter to make up for the last one (; Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 134. Irresistibly Charming

On Saturday night, Nathan had reservations at the hotel's fancy restaurant. So, he and Julia got all dressed up for an elegant dinner together. Nathan had even brought his wedding suit, for the occasion.

He was just finishing his tie when the bathroom door opened, and he turned. The moment Nathan laid eyes on his wife, his jaw dropped.

She walked to the middle of the room dressed in a periwinkle blue dress, one he'd never seen before. It was absolutely beautiful, the embellishments were lacy and feminine and complimented her coloring. The blue brought a depth to her eyes, made them even more striking, even at a distance. A few soft tendrils fell from her romantic, wistful updo. And the cosmetics accentuated her strong cheekbones and gorgeous lips.

She was stunning.

Nathan walked toward her and drawled long, his typical, habitual greeting. "Hi." He took a deep breath, and added, on an exhale. "Wow." He looked her over from up close. She had on her grandmother's pearls, the ones she wore on their wedding day. "You look…incredible."

Julia looked him over, too. She absolutely loved this suit on him, it accentuated his build and complimented his dark hair. He looked stately and regal. And wow, his eyes - they were arresting - a deep crystal blue. "And you, my husband, are incredibly handsome. Dapper and suave." She pronounced as she kept her eyes on him.

He smiled that happy smile down at her. "Oh, that I would kiss you, now." He softly said, eyes drawn to her perfect, mauve-colored lips.

She tilted her head and challenged him. "A gentleman always waits till the end of the date, to kiss a lady."

"Oh, that will be so very hard to do, especially when the lady looks like you." He said playfully, still with that happy smile. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners only added to his attractiveness.

Julia audibly sighed and smiled up at him. "Tonight, the lady will have a very hard time resisting the gentleman's charms."

Nathan shook his head just slightly, that way he did when he couldn't believe his luck. "I can tell already, Mrs. Grant, that I am really going to enjoy going to dinner with you." There was something in their playfulness tonight, their romantic banter, that just sparkled an extra measure. He just knew it would be wonderful.

Julia felt the exact same way. "You have a way with the ladies, Inspector Grant. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Nathan chuckled hard, even as he answered. "No. Never." He extended his elbow, and she took it. They walked toward the door, and he opened it. "But you're the only lady whose attention I care to capture."

She giggled up at him, as he led her through the door. "Well, you, Lawman, certainly have my attention." She smiled up at him, with both dimples. "Every bit of it."

When Nathan led Julia down the grand staircase, a great many heads turned in their direction. It was a grand hotel, and they were a grand couple. Not only were they both attractive, and well dressed, but they radiated happiness. The way Nathan looked at her, as he whispered something, and then, the way she smiled up at him in response, earned many admiring glances.

At the bottom of the stairs, Nathan turned and led his wife into the grand restaurant. When they entered, the Maitre'D smiled and greeted them. "Inspector and Mrs. Grant, good evening. Your table is ready. Please, follow me."

Nathan placed his hand over Julia's hand, hooked over his arm, as he led her through the restaurant. Heads turned, yet again, as they walked by.

The Maitre'D led them to a table just next to the window, with a spectacular view of the sunset. "Our best table, sir." The gentleman stated and waited for Nathan's approval. When Nathan nodded, the younger man pulled out the chair for Julia. As soon as the honeymooners took their seats, a waiter arrived with two champagne glasses.

"For the inspector and his lovely wife." The waiter said as he presented them the two glasses. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Nathan replied, as he took his glass.

"Thank you, sir." Julia offered too, as she took the glass he offered.

When the waiter left, Nathan raised his glass, and Julia met him. This time, he knew just what he wanted to toast. "To making up." He said with an adorable grin.

Julia, caught by surprise, laughed and blushed. But, it had been wonderful to make up with Nathan. So, she told him with a playful smile. "Well it certainly was the best part of our disagreement." And she raised her glass.

Nathan chuckled at her clever response, then he added. "To harmony."

Julia agreed. "To harmony." And they clanged their glasses together, and drank.

As Nathan sat his glass down, he cleared his throat, leaned over and added playfully. "I happen to think we make rather spectacular harmony."

Understanding his implication, Julia blushed deep red. "Nathan!" She whispered under her breath, but then, he did have a good point, so she joined in his laughter.

Then as another waiter approached, Nathan sat up straight, playful, making completely innocent. Julia chuckled under her breath at him. The waiter handed them two menus, recited the evening's specials, then he left them.

Julia took her time looking over the menu. "Wow, Nathan. This place is really fancy. How will I choose?"

Nathan agreed, excited to try new things. "I also made reservations here tomorrow night, so you'll get two chances to decide."

"Really? Are you sure that's…okay?" She asked, wondering about the prices.

Nathan lowered the menu and looked at her earnest. "It's perfectly okay. Julia, this is our honeymoon. When we get back to Hope Valley, it will be: back to real life, work, and Allie." He smiled, excited about this time together. "Make the most of every moment, remember?"

Julia smiled at him, determined. "The most of every moment."

He liked the way she smiled at him. "Plus, back in Hope Valley we have only two choices for dining out: the cafe and Gustave's."

Julia chuckled at that statement. "Touché!" But then she added. "I hope I can still steal you away on dates sometimes? To Benson Hills or Buxton, even if just for the day?"

Nathan closed his menu and leaned forward. "Not if I steal you away first." He put his hand out across the table and she took it. "I will make a point to steal you away, whenever you like."

Julia bit her bottom lip, then tilted her head and admitted. "I might like that, to be stolen away by you, a little too often." Especially in his cowboy hat, she thought to herself.

Nathan just gazed at her and nodded one small time. "I'll be happy to oblige."

The waiter came back, and interrupted them, but they didn't mind. They quietly ordered, and then Julia raised her glass to make a toast of her own. "Happy Anniversary, Nathan." Julia told him with a smile. "To one week of marriage."

Nathan smiled, and clanged glasses. They drank together again, both of them now obviously reminiscing about their wedding, one week ago. The image that came rushing into Nathan's mind: Julia walking down the aisle, toward him. It was one that would never fade or lose its luster, of that much, he was certain.

For a few minutes, they sat just like that, gazing at each other, and enjoying their champagne together.

Just before the first course arrived, Julia happened to glance to the right, and noticed Wyatt and Susie's arrival in the restaurant. A waiter seated them across the room, and when Susie looked up and saw them, she gave Julia a little wave. Julia returned it.

Nathan noticed and smiled. "Ah, Young Wyatt and Susie."

"Yea." Julia glanced over at them again and noticed something. Before, when she had been distracted by her disagreement with Nathan, Julia had been oblivious. But now, she couldn't help but notice, and it was so obvious from this angle, which provided a bird's eye view of young Wyatt. There was indeed something special in the way Wyatt looked at Susie, something very special, in fact. And that made Julia smile. "They are cute aren't they?"

Nathan chuckled low. "That's one way to put it."

Julia looked at him and chuckled, too. "You know, she thought you and I had been married a long time already. I don't know if it's because of our age, compared to her?" Julia was only twenty-six and Nathan thirty-two, neither an age that would normally be considered old. But, of course, to young Susie… "But, that's what she told me."

Nathan laughed. Susie didn't seem a day over seventeen or eighteen, so yes, compared to her, they would be considered old. "Really? I wonder what gave her that impression?"

Julia smiled. "She said it was something in the way we looked at each other."

Nathan glanced over at the younger couple. "Susie could discern something from the way we looked at each other?" Nathan was now curious. "And what exactly did young Susie discern?"

Julia laughed and shared softly. "She just said you looked at me like you'd loved me for a long time." Julia looked one eye at the ceiling. "I think she might've said: like you'd loved me all of your life."

Nathan smiled crooked. "Well I have been in love with you pretty much since the day I met you. So, how long is that?" He crinkled his eyebrows together.

Julia giggled low. "That's not very long."

Nathan thought Susie might be onto something, though. "She might be right, in a sense…" He paused. "You are my love of a lifetime. So, she had that part right." He paused and smiled at his wife. "And I will certainly love you for all my life, from here on out."

Julia gazed at him, and smiled wistful. "And I will love you for the rest of mine."

The waiter came and picked up their empty plates from the first course. And a few minutes later, brought their main course.

They enjoyed their dinner together, chatting and laughing with each other. They talked about their day, the hike excursion, and reminisced about their wedding, just a short week ago. They discussed plans for tomorrow and Monday. Then they supposed, tried to predict, what was happening in Hope Valley in their absence. What progress was made on the construction of their house? Had Clara been to see Faith? How big was Rosemary's belly now? They talked about Allie and how much they missed her, and they wondered if she had gotten their letter?

Then they shared a big fancy dessert, though Nathan was left to finish the most of it. Julia couldn't eat another bite, no matter how delicious the food, or how much she was enjoying this dinner with her husband.

When the waiter cleared the last plate, he mentioned that there was dancing in the ballroom. Though, Nathan had previously been informed, and already made his plans.

He smiled at Julia and teased her. "Well, I am wearing my dancing shoes."

Julia just laughed, realizing he had a plan. "Well, then we must. I mean, if you are wearing your dancing shoes..."

Nathan chuckled, and gazed at her, as his laughter died down.

Then he stood and extended his hand. "Shall we?"

Julia placed her hand in his, and stood. Though when she came close to Nathan, and he hooked her hand over his arm, she asked. "Could we just stop by Susie and Wyatt's table, on our way out?"

Nathan replied playfully. "Of course, let's go see young Wyatt and young Susie."

When they approached, Susie and Wyatt both looked up, and stood. Susie spoke up, louder than necessary, as usual. "Well aren't you two a sight for sore eyes?" Julia was sure that young Susie didn't even understand the meaning of that expression.

"Hi, Susie, Wyatt." Julia smiled at both of them as she greeted them. "Are you enjoying your dinner?"

"Very much." Susie answered emphatically. "And you?" She asked, looking back and forth between Julia and Nathan.

"It was very nice." Julia replied.

"You both look…amazing." Susie drawled out long as she looked them over, though her eyes seemed to linger slightly longer on Nathan.

Julia just kept a tight grip on his arm and smiled. "You both look very nice, too." And that brought Susie's eyes back to Julia. "Well, we just wanted to say hello. We'll let you get back to your romantic dinner, now." Julia told them.

Nathan extended his hand to Wyatt, who shook. And for some reason, Susie stepped forward and hugged Julia. As she pulled back, Julia didn't miss the opportunity, but quietly told Susie. "He does look at you that way."

Susie's eyes came up quick to meet Julia's. "What?"

Julia smiled at her young friend. "Wyatt. He does look at you that way." She paused, then continued, determined that young Susie know. "You were just too busy looking at him the very same way, to realize."

Susie glanced at Wyatt, who was actually managing to converse a word or two with Nathan. Her eyes lit up, as she looked at her husband. "Thanks for saying so."

"I just wanted you to know." Julia told her. And Susie smiled big at her new friend. She hugged Julia one more time, and then stepped back to her place.

"See you two later." Susie told them both, as Julia took Nathan's arm again.

Then Nathan led Julia back through the hotel lobby, to the ballroom. They entered, where quite a crowd was gathered, already dancing. Nathan found them a table, and when the music changed to a faster tempo song, he led her onto the floor.

Nathan took off with her, as only he could. They danced wistful and romantic, and Julia felt as though her feet barely touched the floor. Around and around they went, jovial, until the music finally ended.

Next a slower song came on, so Nathan tucked her hand into his, sweetly against his chest, and pulled her in close. Julia gazed up at him as he kept their cadence with the music. "I married a very good dancer." Julia said with a cute smile.

"So did I." He said, as he gazed down at her, so close. "Add it to your list, Mrs. Grant."

Julia chortled low. "What list?"

He smiled crooked and told her. "The list of reasons why we were meant to be. Evidence that I met my match." He paused. "Remember?"

"Oh, that list." Julia paused. "I thought maybe you were referring to my list of all the many ways you are irresistibly charming." She said with a playful smile.

Nathan raised his eyebrows at her. "Irresistibly charming, huh? You have a list like that? Pertaining to me?" He chuckled low. "Is there anything on it?"

Julia smiled proudly up at him. "There's plenty on it!" She raised her eyebrows, too. "Enough to keep me charmed for life, and make thousands of other women jealous, besides."

Nathan threw his head back and laughed. "That much, huh?" He asked between chuckles. And nodded at her in disbelief, completely enjoying her cute playful ruse.

"I think you, Nathan Grant, don't realize the power of your charm." She said all coy.

"Really? The power of my charm?" He laughed again. "Maybe you have me confused with someone else." He told her, as he looked around behind him.

"Lawman, you are a very charming man, in a real, honest way. And that kind of charm, is the most powerful kind." She simply told him, serious now.

"If you say so." He whispered softly as he leaned down close. "And if you think I'm charming, that's all that matters."

"Oh, I most certainly do. And I've told you before. You are the most charming man I've ever met." She smiled honest. "And I wouldn't have fallen for anyone else."

Nathan leaned down and kissed her, one long but very tender peck on the lips. They were in a roomful of people, so he kept it chaste, but he couldn't resist. Her affirmation had filled him up, and he just needed to let that one little kiss, that bit of love, overflow onto her.

When he pulled back, Julia sucked in breath. How could one small kiss contain so much depth and feeling, that it stole her breath? He stayed close, and she gazed up at him, lost now in his eyes. "See what I mean? Charming. One small, tender kiss, and I'm all mush."

Nathan smiled down at her. "I was all mush the moment you came out of the bathroom tonight, Mrs. Grant."

"There you go again…charming me." She teased.

Nathan chuckled and gazed at her. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to."

Julia smiled up at him. "Of course you didn't. But, you can stop now." She paused. "Mr. Grant, my kiss is a sure thing." She eyed him playfully. "No matter how charming you are, the gentleman will get the ladies' kiss, at the end of the evening. I've already promised you, remember?"

Nathan smiled big at that statement, that happy smile that went up into his eyes. But he had to tell her. "I'm not sure I know how to stop, since I don't know what I did to be charming, in the first place."

Now it was Julia's turn to put her head back and laugh. Of course he didn't. That was what made him so charming - he did it without meaning to be. "It's okay. You just keep being yourself, and I'll just keep loving you."

"You've got yourself a deal, Mrs. Grant." He shifted his weight and dipped her. Julia laughed happily as he brought her back up, then he spun her around and moved them to the other side of the dance floor. Then he pulled her in tight, close to his body, again.

And so it went for the rest of the evening. Nathan spun her, dipped her, and held her close. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. But they enjoyed each other, and the dancing. Always close and always attentive to the other.

The other dancers and patrons couldn't help but notice them, Nathan and Julia were both good dancers, and wonderful together. More than a few eyes were on them, as they danced. Of course, neither Nathan nor Julia noticed. They were too enamored with each other to notice anyone else in the room.

When the hour was late, Nathan led his wife back through the lobby, up the grand staircase, and to their room.

As soon as they got inside the door, Julia turned toward her husband. She placed her hands gently on each side of his face, and pulled his lips down to hers. She kissed him good, conveyed all of the emotions that she felt, for this charming man.

His arms came around her waist and pulled her in close. And when Julia finally pulled back to catch her breath, she whispered. "The promised kiss…"

Nathan smiled crooked, his eyes fixed on the depths he saw in hers. She spoke softly, "Thank you, Mr. Grant, for an exceptional evening." She smiled. "I enjoyed every minute with you."

Nathan brought one hand up to her cheek and caressed it tender. "And I enjoyed every minute with you."

He leaned down and kissed her again. And when he pulled back just a little, he whispered. "Make the most of every moment."

Julia nodded and looked up into his eyes, clear and blue, like the sky. "Are you charming me again, Inspector?"

He smiled close and replied raspy. "Is it working?"

She gazed up at him. "You know it is." She swallowed. "I met my match in you, too, remember?"

Nathan leaned down and kissed her again, slow and tender. She melted against him, so he held her close, firm and solid. Then he leaned back, drew a few ragged breaths, and asked her. "So about that spectacular harmony I mentioned earlier..."

And Julia just threw her head back and laughed. But at the very same time, she took his hand, turned, and pulled him into the room.

Julia fell asleep easily, but woke a short time later. Nathan was no longer next to her, so she looked around the room. A lamp was lit near the fireplace, and the fire was going strong.

"Nathan?" She whispered gruff.

He was sitting in the chair facing the fireplace, with his sketchbook open on his lap. He looked up from his work and answered her. "I'm here, darling. Just drawing for a little while."

She yawned and let her head fall back to the pillow. "Don't stay up too late, my love." She told him, and she returned to her slumber.

A few hours later, Julia roused again and was concerned, when she still didn't feel her husband close. She picked up her head and glanced back toward the fire. Nathan was there, still in the chair, but now, sound asleep. He had fallen asleep while drawing, holding his sketchbook.

Julia got up from the bed and came to him. His head was resting gently against the headrest of the high-back chair. He looked so handsome and peaceful, Julia almost hated to wake him.

She glanced down at the sketchbook in his lap. The page was still open, though the pencil had slipped from his grasp and rolled onto the floor. Julia picked it up, placed it back in the open case, on the table beside him.

She picked up his sketchbook next and turned it around. And when she did, her jaw dropped just slightly. Nathan was sketching the waterfall they had seen earlier today - and he had done a wonderful job. And standing just before the waterfall was she, or at least the beginning of her likeness, which was already surprisingly recognizable. Her loose braid was falling gently over her shoulder, just as it had been earlier today, when young Teddy had taken their picture.

Julia looked down at her husband again, handsome and talented, slumped over in the chair. She closed his sketchbook and laid it on the chair just next to him. Then she gently pushed a curl back from his forehead, leaned down and kissed his cheek.

She shook him ever so gently. When he started to rouse, she took his hand, and pulled him up to standing. "Come to bed, my love." She whispered, and though half asleep, he followed.

She led him to his side, and helped him into the bed. Then she crossed to the middle, pulled him farther in, and tucked herself into the warm curve of his body.