Chapter 23: The Breathtaking View
In the stillness of the woods, every soft swish of Nathan's tie could be heard as he worked and reworked the fabric. His muscle memory had, unfortunately, not proven to be as trustworthy with a bow tie. Part of the problem was in the way his shaky hands were betraying him. Though he attributed it to the cold, the temperature wasn't quite cool enough to justify the reaction. The truth was, it was nerves. Even the stoic Mountie was susceptible to them, on the verge of potentially calling Elizabeth his fiancée that very night. While he trusted that was the path they were on, he simply couldn't allow himself to rely on his timing actually working for him rather than against him.
After a deep inhalation of the fresh mountain air, an action that reset his resolve, Nathan tried again, starting at the front loop. Carefully, he wrapped, tucked, and tightened the long end around the bow shape. As he finished tying the bow tie, he realized he'd gained a newfound ease with ties in general. This knot was snug, yes, but the fit remained comfortable and relaxed, offering enough space to breathe and stretch without feeling constricted.
Nathan's chest puffed out with a sense of accomplishment, even beyond its usual muscular brawn. He may not wear a tuxedo often in Hope Valley, but he imagined this new bow tie skill might come in handy when visiting Hamilton. As he'd finished the phone call earlier with Elizabeth's parents, Grace warmly extended an official invitation, hoping to meet him and Allie as soon as possible. He guessed, aside from work, that Hamilton would likely be the next place this tux might make an appearance.
Following one final adjustment to the bow tie, Nathan shrugged into his tuxedo jacket. Emerging from the cluster of trees that served as his own personal changing station, he chuckled at the irony. Never had he imagined wearing a tuxedo—much less a white dinner jacket—out in the woods. But, knowing his hopes for the evening, he'd sent Rosemary out on a reconnaissance mission to determine just how formal he should go, gauged by the dress Elizabeth planned to bring.
Once armed with intel from her assignment, Rosemary didn't divulge any specifics about the dress. But, she insisted on the tuxedo, having already gathered everything he would need for his undercover night in Union City. Nathan tried to argue twice—first, claiming it was uncomfortable, and then noting the impracticality of wearing white in the woods. But each time, Rosemary raised her hand, silencing him, clearly unwilling to entertain any complaints.
"The tux, Nathan. Trust me."
And so he did.
Now to muster a degree of trust in his timing… Thankfully, he wasn't concerned about Elizabeth's answer to his proposal, though as the one asking, how could he not suffer from a hint of insecurity? But, having been the victim of bad timing one too many times, tonight he just really wanted to get it perfect. As muddled as their history had been, he hoped the moments leading up to their engagement would feel as natural and beautiful as their love for each other.
Fortunately, as a Mountie, Nathan had mastered the art of managing his emotions, which would serve him well in masking any suspicious signals to Elizabeth. He simply had to keep his telling brow from furrowing
Here goes, he told himself. A night to remember. And with a gentle reassurance, he reminded himself that it would be, whether or not a proposal came about tonight.
As Nathan made his way up the gentle slope, he spotted Elizabeth, not surprisingly out and ready before him. He'd been unusually slow, a result of both the bow tie and the quiet moments of reflection.
"I'd know that dress anywhere," Nathan said, the admiration apparent in his voice.
Elizabeth turned at the sound of his voice, her eyes instantly mooning over a certain gentleman dressed far too fancy for their outdoor setting.
"Excuse me, sir," she began playfully. "Can you tell me if you've seen a certain Nathan Grant wandering around in these woods? He's tall, handsome…usually avoiding suits, and most definitely tuxes?" Though her words teased, her eyes roamed over him, several times, in fact, with obvious appreciation for his choice.
"Well," Nathan explained, walking with a confident swagger. "Rosemary gave me the small hint to go dressy, so I wanted to look my best for you." Falling effortlessly into the character his tuxedo seemed to inspire, he slipped his hands into his pockets, shifted his weight, and struck a subtle pose. "How'd I do?" he asked, flashing a flirty smile.
Elizabeth shook her head helplessly, "You look like a dream, Nathan, you really do."
Still, as taken as she was, Elizabeth felt compelled to reassure her typically more relaxed constable that, despite her origins in Hamilton, she didn't expect him to be anything other than himself. "But, just so you know," she began, her smile sly and seductive, "as sharp as you look, I like you just as much in your suit, suspenders…" Her words trailed off as she tucked in her lips, glancing up at him under her long lashes. "…Or your swimsuit," she added, her hands brushing across his chest, the memory of his wet skin still fresh in her mind.
"You know," she said thoughtfully, "as nervous as I was about you driving away the other day, looking so debonair, and walking into who knows what, I have to admit I was already dreading the disappointment of having to cancel our date."
"Why's that?" Nathan asked, wondering why she'd thought their date had been at risk.
"I don't know," she replied, suddenly realizing she was without a good reason other than their persistent pattern. "I guess since when has something actually worked out for us the first time around?" She chuckled, though a trace of soberness lingered as she thought of all the times things had veered off-course. The early confessions of love. The forever-foiled lunch date. The romantic picnic turned family outing. The rescheduled horse ride. Their first road trip gone awry. They'd amassed quite a list.
Nathan nodded in reluctant acceptance, knowing she made a fair point, one that gnawed at him as to what might come of his plans that night.
Elizabeth hesitated before offering her explanation, trying to find a reasonable way to justify her trepidation. "Well, maybe whatever secret plans you had up the sleeve of that tuxedo might've taken longer than expected—maybe even turned into an overnight stay," she suggested with a shrug. "It's not like being a Mountie comes with a set schedule."
"Well, I'll always do everything in my power to be where you are, 'Lizabeth," Nathan said, softly brushing the delicate gray lace of her sleeves between his fingers.
"I like the sound of that," she smiled before being swept away in Nathan's touch.
The moment Elizabeth felt a light tug at her sleeves—the weight of Nathan's hands now resting on her shoulders—she gasped. "Oh! Nathan, I'm sorry," she exclaimed, her heart fluttering at the feel of both sleeves slipping down below her shoulders. "I couldn't get my zipper all the way up in the back."
As if to prove its position, she turned slightly to show him, shifting her shawl to one hand to expose her back. "Can you help?" she asked weakly.
"These zippers are just impossible in form-fitting dresses," she said, justifying her difficulty as she gave him an apologetic smile.
Until that very moment, Elizabeth had forgotten that Rosemary filled in the previous time. So, this was not a premeditated act to seduce Nathan, though with a small fleeting smile, she supposed it had worked out nicely as such.
How Nathan answered flustered her even more as he slowly lifted her sleeves back over her shoulders, in no apparent rush. "I'd be more than happy to," he said, owning the truth of every word.
Where in the past, out of propriety, he would've carefully placed his fingers to touch only fabric, he now let his hand brush along her back as he lifted the zipper its final four inches.
Unable to resist, Nathan's hands again returned to her shoulders, this time from behind, and he placed a kiss on her bare skin at the base of her neck.
"You look beautiful, my love," he whispered, before gently turning her to face him.
"Thank you, Nathan," she said appreciatively, butterflies swirling within her—here, there, and everywhere. "We're quite a pair, you and I…" she said laughing softly, "...dressed in white."
Nathan smiled. "That we are," he replied, briefly checking his brow, hoping it wasn't furrowing at her comment that seemed unintentionally laced in symbolism.
With the reference to color, Elizabeth couldn't resist sharing a joke she and her best friend had considered playing on Nathan. "You know, Rosemary and I had a good laugh about whether I should wear that old floofy wedding dress you seemed to admire. She said at least some good would come of it if I wore it today."
Nathan chuckled at the thought, now understanding that the dress wasn't exactly Elizabeth's preferred style. Still wearing a smile, he coyly suggested, "Well, I'm convinced it was the beautiful woman with chestnut curls who made that dress truly stunning." Stepping forward, he fingered one of her ringlets, all of which had since loosened, now far away from the humidity of the hot springs.
Though they'd left the heat behind for this wooded wonderland, Elizabeth was surprised at how quickly Nathan ventured into the gray. Holding her gaze, he openly admitted, "Honestly, I think the first time I see you in a robe I may be just as taken."
"As in a wedding dress?" Elizabeth asked incredulously. She pressed him both figuratively in word and literally in action, as she raised her hands to his chest. "I think you might just be delusional, Constable!" she whispered, her lips enticingly close.
"I guess we'll have to find out," he replied, his tone balanced somewhere between levity and substance.
Helpless to resist the pull of Nathan's proximity, Elizabeth reached up and tugged at the lapels of his white tuxedo jacket. While their lips busied themselves indulgently, she couldn't help but notice how Nathan's hands explored every appropriate inch of her dress.
When they finally separated, only to catch their breath, Nathan inhaled deeply, and smiled through a long exhalation.
Elizabeth giggled. "What was that sigh about?"
"I just realized," he observed in his irresistibly low timber, "my lips haven't had the pleasure yet of kissing you in this dress, even though it's one I know well."
"Oh?" Elizabeth said with a faux modest gasp. "And how did it go?" she queried, as if asking how his day at the office was.
But her confident little spin she soon initiated belied her playful innocence. Nathan eyed his sultry siren, wondering how on earth they were ever going to make it to dinner.
Elizabeth spun slowly, letting the white, satin fabric of her gown catch the golden light, its delicate sheen accentuating every curve. The dress, which fell to her ankles, was decorated with intricate patterns of transparent gray lace, featuring elegant beadwork that adorned it like tiny jewels.
She'd been right, Nathan thought. The dress was form-fitting, hugging her in all the right places. He couldn't look away, tracing every curve he'd memorized while she'd been wearing only a swimsuit at the hot springs. She couldn't have picked a dress for tonight that would've mattered more to him. This breathtaking gown reminded him of one of the many ways she'd come through for him when he needed her most—the night he'd been awarded the Governor's Medal. It was finding her in the crowd that guided the words of his acceptance speech away from an utter disaster.
Granted, her talent for noticing these significant moments had always been a part of who she was, but her ability to recognize the smaller, little "nothing" kind of moments seemed to be growing with each passing hour, even on this date alone, the effect more profound than Nathan had ever imagined.
As Elizabeth completed her spin, he chuckled helplessly to himself before meeting her gaze. "Let this be your answer, my love, for how it went to kiss you in a dress I'll never forget."
Before he continued, he gently lifted her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles, hungry for her touch. "You know there's hardly an hour that goes by without me thinking about food. So to put in perspective just how distracting you are, the only time I've thought about food today was when there was a cookie in my mouth or in my hand."
Nathan stepped behind her and slowly glided his hands beneath the shawl and down her bare arms. Finding her skin cool against the autumn air, he took her hands in his, pulling her gently back to him as he enveloped her from behind in a cozy embrace, shielding her from the chill. Lowering his head, he pressed a trail of warm kisses along her neck, whispering a word in between each soft imprint: "Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner."
Elizabeth giggled. "I see. So, no food for dinner, Constable? Just kisses?"
"Well, I'm finding it impossible to think of anything else right now." Elizabeth gasped as Nathan surprised her—turning her first into a twirl and then lowering her into a dip, their bodies moving with effortless grace. However, unlike the flirty dance movement in the schoolhouse, this time Nathan expertly held the position. Having anticipated the move, he'd stepped deeply to the left, creating a foundation to support a dip that dropped intimately low.
Elizabeth's heart raced as the gentle weight of Nathan's torso pressed against her ribs, their legs intertwined, the closeness sending a rush of warmth through her. Just as the residual heat from the hot springs invited another dance, she felt the pull of gravity claiming the position of her barrette as it fell to the ground, lost to a mix of grasses and twigs.
Supported by the strength of Nathan's arms, she laughed softly, longing etched in every line of her face. Although her barrette was a family heirloom, she didn't motion to find it. But, even with Nathan's muscular build a dip can only be held so long. Out of necessity, he slowly lifted Elizabeth, who, once upright, held to a dance position that remained just as intimate. Nathan smiled with a glint of humor in his eyes. "Well, it seems gravity's not the only thing pulling us together tonight."
The way Elizabeth felt in Nathan's arms just now was as if time stopped, as if her whole life had been lived for this moment, lovingly tucked into a hold she never wanted to release.
"I love you, Nathan" she whispered, speaking directly to Nathan's eyes. After brushing a brief kiss to his lips, she stepped away toward the barrette, squeezing his hand. "Maybe a little too much right now," she admitted, giving him a knowing smile.
Nathan held his hand in place, which gently held her back. "I love you, Elizabeth Thornton," he said, drawing her again into his arms. "You said we could make up for lost time, remember?" he whispered.
"I do," she recalled, snuggling in against him with an affectionate shimmy. "And, I don't mind this at all," she sighed, blissfully content. "But will you help me remember to find my barrette? I have a feeling I might be endlessly distracted and forget otherwise."
"Of course," Nathan replied, making a mental note. For minutes—though time didn't need to be counted—they held each other in a perfect stillness, the pine scent fresh in their noses, their feet grounded on the soft soil beneath them. They'd become so familiar to one another, knowing their perfect fit depending on the intention of their touch. In this tender moment, Elizabeth's cheek rested against the fine cotton of Nathan's tuxedo shirt, his chin comfortably nestled on her head, as if tucking her into the strength of his love.
Eventually, the experienced outdoorsman sensed the change in the air as evening approached. Realizing time was slipping away, he knew he'd better hurry dinner along if they were to catch the sunset. The beauty of the view from up here was beyond words, and he couldn't even begin to describe what Elizabeth would experience.
He'd never shared this place with anyone before. In the past, there'd been things he preferred to keep private, but with Elizabeth, he found himself wanting to share everything—this place, these moments, their lives.
Nathan gave his sweetheart a firm squeeze, followed by a tender kiss to her forehead. "So, about that barrette?" he suggested, protective against losing anything shiny that night.
Taking her hand, he guided Elizabeth a few steps back toward where the barrette had fallen. As she bent down to look, Nathan couldn't help but notice how the form-fitting dress restricted her movements, a subtle reminder of its beauty but not its practicality. Now, his tuxedo wasn't exactly fitting attire for the woods, either; but at least the pants were loose enough to allow for his usual range of movement.
"I've got this, my love," he offered, though with his eyes fixed on those seams stretched taut, he willingly admitted to himself that he wouldn't mind seeing a tear or two…or ten.
Elizabeth smiled at him gratefully, and stood to take on the active and ever important role of supervising. "It was my grandmother's," she explained.
"Then I'm surprised you left it in the grass at all!" Nathan remarked.
"Well, I had other pressing matters to attend to," Elizabeth replied with a smirk, "Literally," she added, her breath catching as she thought of the way Nathan felt against her in their low-lying dip. Surprisingly, standing in the cold with nothing but a shawl wrapped around her, she felt a sudden surge of warmth spread through her.
Nathan glanced up from the grass in response to the heat in her tone, his heart skipping a beat as he noticed the soft flush to her face. Speechless as his own thoughts took over, he gave her his characteristic half-smile, a knowing glint in his eyes, before he returned his gaze to the ground.
It didn't take long for Nathan to find Elizabeth's barrette, his fingers brushing through the tufted grass. Once he'd recovered the missing accessory, he held it up, examining it closely. Her clip had an interesting shape, almost like the bow tie he was wearing. Like Elizabeth's dress, it was intricately detailed, sparkling with dozens of tiny rhinestones
"It's quite pretty," he told her, holding out his hand with the barrette.
Elizabeth's gaze darted from his hand to his eyes, as a sheepish look filled her face, realizing she'd need to ask again for Nathan's help, as though she were in Hamilton with a ladies' maid. "I'm sorry, Nathan. I actually need some help with my barrette, too, if you don't mind."
In response, he puffed out his chest, and with a confident swagger, stepped closer to Elizabeth. "Well, I happen to be quite the expert, if I do say so myself," he said, recalling how he'd volunteered for the task on their family road trip and acquired this important new skill.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smile. "Oh, I know you are, Constable," she teased, her eyes gleaming. "That's why I was willing to ask." She remembered how, amid the unexpected twists of that trip, their quiet moments—even like Nathan fumbling to fasten her hair clip—had become far more intimate than she'd ever imagined.
Nathan stepped closer, carefully placing the barrette between his teeth as he gently gathered a few of Elizabeth's soft curls. With a steady hand, he added just the right amount, then snapped the barrette into place. His fingers brushed the strands of her hair as he checked his work, admiring the way the curls framed her face.
"It looks perfect, if I do say so myself," Nathan said with a satisfied smile, his fingers lingering for a moment longer in her hair.
But just as he was about to savor his self-congratulation, his stomach let out a loud rumble, cutting through what felt like yet another cruel interruption.
Elizabeth laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I guess we do need food for dinner, Constable."
Of course, realizing that she was right, Nathan squeezed her hand, the invisible string tugging at him as he reluctantly let go. "I'll go get what we need from the horses," he said, taking a few steps back. But something kept him from turning completely away, and with a grin that was both playful and full of longing, he pivoted to face her once again, walking backward as if drawn by that string—one that was getting shorter and thicker by the minute. "Maybe we can save more kisses for dessert," he suggested.
"Cookies and kisses it is," Elizabeth smiled, remembering the bag she'd hidden earlier from Nathan. Satiated by her words alone, Nathan managed to finally turn and make it to the horses safely—which wasn't a guarantee while attempting to walk backward through the forest.
In Nathan's absence, Elizabeth glanced around, eager to contribute. "What can I do to help with dinner?" She subconsciously rubbed her hands together, a mix of the chilly air and her excited anticipation for the plans Nathan had yet to unveil.
"Well, we're going to cook over a fire," Nathan announced, a smile spreading across his face, thrilled by the idea of bringing the country to this city girl. At Elizabeth's look of surprise, he assured her, "Just you wait, and see for yourself! I've become quite the master of using embers to turn a simple meal into something unforgettable."
"This entire date has been unforgettable, Nathan."
"I hope so," he replied, his heart's pacing immediately responding to the reality of just how memorable this night could be.
"I know so," insisted Elizabeth.
Feeling as though his nervous anticipation might soon break through his calm exterior, Nathan suggested, with an additional ulterior motive, "Why don't you gather some wood for dinner—just a few small logs."
Elizabeth scanned the forest floor, but it appeared relatively barren. Though she hated to be a downer, she unfortunately couldn't see how they were going to start a fire. She hoped whatever he'd planned could be eaten raw and cold if need be. Despite the warmth of their kisses, an altogether different hunger—less satisfying than the one in her heart—was beginning to make itself known.
While wandering around for a few minutes, carefully stepping to avoid snagging her dress, Elizabeth surveyed the woods for any fragments of branches that might qualify as "small logs," as Nathan had instructed. She spotted a few large downed trees that might serve as a place to sit, but tonight, the forest seemed fairly sparse when it came to firewood.
Eventually, she broke the news. "Nathan, I don't really see any wood we can use. It's too bad you didn't…" Then, just as the words hung in the air, a hopeful idea sparked in her mind.
Locking eyes with her rugged outdoorsman, she raised her eyebrow, a spark of anticipation in her gaze, and asked "You didn't happen to…?"
"I might have," Nathan grinned, a twinkle in his eye as he returned from the horses.
Elizabeth squealed in delight, clasping her hands together in excitement.
Just as he was about to suggest she might help with chopping the wood, Nathan hesitated, not wanting to assume anything—especially not that wood chopping was just a ruse she'd conjured up to admire his physique. He certainly didn't expect her to chop wood in her dress, though the thought did bring a smile to his face. But before he could speak, Elizabeth eagerly blurted out, "You're going to chop wood for me!"
"I guess I am," he said, easily giving in. "I'll be right back," he added, giving her a quick kiss before heading back toward the horses.
Soon, he returned, an axe dangling from one hand. Watching the way Nathan moved, dressed in his white dinner jacket and black bowtie, she could hardly keep her distance. God, she loved this man. Silently, she prayed, grateful beyond measure for the gift of third chances.
"I might need to sit down for this," Elizabeth murmured to herself. As she began to lower herself onto one of the downed trees, Nathan stopped her. "Wait!" he called out. Holding up a finger, he motioned, as if to ask for just a moment.
After setting the axe against a log, he jogged to the horses and came back with what looked like table linens. Quickly, he spread out a cloth placemat over the scratchy bark. "Here," he said softly. "Now you can sit. I didn't want the wood to get the best of your dress."
Elizabeth looked at him in wonder as she positioned herself carefully on the placemat. "Thank you, Nathan." How this man thought of every detail for her comfort and well-being, she couldn't fathom. All she knew was that she wanted to offer him the same care in the little things, to love him as perfectly as he loved her.
With a gleam of mischief, Elizabeth nudged Nathan along. "Now that I'm settled, on with the show, I say."
It's rarely spoken of—a man's heart melting—but Nathan's sure did in that moment, with just a hint of shyness swirling in the mix, unaccustomed as he was to being the focus of such affection.
Nathan gently brushed his hand across Elizabeth's back and shoulder before carefully hanging his tuxedo jacket on an outlying branch. Then, with an attentive audience of one, he started the long-awaited show—grabbing the axe, setting up a makeshift chopping station, and swinging his first strike.
Though thoroughly captivated by Nathan's wood-chopping, Elizabeth's concern soon drew her focus away from his upper arm strength and to a lower, more immediate point of interest. Before Nathan could raise the axe for another swing, she called out, sympathy flooding her voice. "Nathan! Your hand!"
He raised his bandaged hand, offering a slight smile. Understanding that this practical task held multiple layers—prepping for dinner, building intimacy, and leading to what might be their most memorable moment yet—Nathan had no issue continuing with his minimally injured hand.
With a quiet chuckle, he told her, "This might just be one of those times it won't even cross my mind." He'd whispered in her ear something similar before, while at the hot springs, not realizing until he'd been changing out of his swimsuit that he hadn't even once thought about his rope burn.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The axe came down several times more in quick succession, cutting a lengthier branch so it could be split into logs fitting of a fire.
After Nathan brushed away a loose curl from his forehead, he placed one of the chopped branches upright, and readied to swing.
"Nathan," Elizabeth interjected. "Might I give a suggestion?"
"About my form?" he asked, knowing she'd been watching closely.
A playful smirk settled on her face, "In a way, yes…Will you indulge me in something?"
Nathan eyed her warily, though his heart started pounding at what he knew was likely coming. "Two buttons?" he guessed, remembering her startling but pleasing request from their last date.
Although he was intuitively on the right track, Elizabeth had something more in mind. "Seeing as we were just swimming and we were in your towel thereafter," she reasoned, her lips tucking in momentarily at the memory. "Maybe you could take off the whole shirt?"
She smiled playfully as she decided to toy with his tendency toward practicality. "It would make swinging that axe far easier." Her eyes lowered to his restrictive tuxedo shirt. Had anyone ever even chopped wood in such a fancy shirt, she thought.
While Elizabeth wondered, two responses simultaneously collided within Nathan. The Mountie in him thought analytically. My shirt off? It's cold! Besides, I just buttoned this thing. And let's not even talk about the bow tie. Suits were one thing, but tuxedos were the worst to take on and off. However, the man beneath the serge had already boldly overstepped the constable's rational thoughts, from the moment Elizabeth's heated words slipped from her lips.
When it came to his siren of a sweetheart, Nathan was always in constant battle between his thoughts and his instincts. So, while he dutifully allowed his practical thoughts to be voiced, his utterly smitten self took action.
"Well, when you put it that way," he responded in a low, lilting timber, a roguish grin splayed across his face. Searching the area for any hint of peeking eyes or potential interrupters, he added, "Better here than back in town, I suppose."
"I thought you might see it that way," Elizabeth quipped, her racing heart reminding her to breathe.
Holding the gaze of the woman who'd made the intimate request, he quickly untied his bow tie, letting it slip from his collar, then sped through the buttons of his shirt, lowered his black suspenders, and invited Elizabeth to release him from the final sleeve, leaving his shirt in her care.
She gasped the second Natham added a flirty wink. Instantly whisked up to cloud nine, she stared after him, wondering how on earth she ever considered this man reserved.
Unapologetically, Elizabeth kept her eyes on Nathan while lifting his shirt to her nose to breathe in the fabric that had just graced his physical form. Little did he know just how often she'd attempted to find his scent in items he'd touched that came within her grasp.
"Smells just like you," she sighed. "Woodsy."
Nathan chuckled, his hand gesturing to their tree-filled surroundings. "Fitting, I suppose."
Shirtless, but not at all cold, he firmly picked up the axe and returned to his wood chopping post.
"You know, Nathan" Elizabeth mused, fully enjoying her front row seat, "if I could make time stop for any moment, it might just be this one, right now."
Nathan's cheeks blushed pink under her attentive gaze. "Well, here we go," he said.
Now, finally uninterrupted and unrestricted, Nathan went to work. With each powerful swing of the axe, his muscles flexed under the strain, the smooth motion of his body both strong and graceful, a perfect rhythm that seemed to mirror the quiet intensity of the moment. Although Elizabeth had intended to make some cheeky remark, she instead sat in silence completely mesmerized by Nathan's fluidity, and most especially, yes, his form.
But, eventually, her words came. "You're right, Constable. I do love the view," she admitted unabashedly, referring to what Nathan had assured her earlier about this last location.
"This wasn't the view I had in mind, 'Lizbeth," he clarified, though with a clearly affected smile. Now finished with the wood chopping, Nathan walked toward her in such a way that distracted all conscious thought.
Soon, once the man of her dreams stood enticingly near, Elizabeth couldn't help but take in every detail, her admiring gaze lingering. "Even still, it's the best view I've seen."
Nathan blushed pink yet again despite himself, his smile turning shy. "'Lizabeth, I just don't know what to do with you sometimes." He shook his head, chuckling softly. "You fluster me like no one else can. I mean, I'm a Mountie. I'm supposed to be unflappable."
His hand found her shoulder in a tender touch, the motion filling a reflective pause. "But, I love that I'm not when I'm with you." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head before settling beside her.
There the two sat, shoulder to shoulder—a moment frozen in time, a picture that was definitely a "keeper:" Elizabeth in her elegant dress, and Nathan, shirtless with an axe in hand, a perfect contrast of grace and ruggedness. Elizabeth gently swept a stubborn curl from his forehead, then traced with her fingers a line from his shoulder to his fingertips.
"You should really take your shirt off more often when you chop wood."
"Oh really?" he laughed, reaching for her hand and interweaving their fingers. "And where would I do that? At your house, under the watchful gaze of Rosemary?" He delivered a teasing shoulder bump, flooding her with an affection he couldn't seem to contain.
Elizabeth giggled at the thought before thinking out loud. "I don't know, we talked about going to the cabin…"
"With the children…" Nathan reminded her.
"Oh, right," she replied, a fleeting look of defeat crossing her face. But despite feeling briefly stumped, Elizabeth quickly mustered her determination. "Don't you worry. I'll find a way."
"I don't doubt it for a minute," Nathan retorted, casting her a knowing glance, well-acquainted with her unyielding tenacity.
Soon, his glimpse deepened, fixing on Elizabeth with a quiet intensity. His piercing blue eyes rested on her, slowly following the beauty of every line and curve. Once his loving gaze returned to her face, he sighed with evident longing. "If only there were an equivalent for me," he said boldly, wishing he could create a moment of similar intimacy for himself, like the wood chopping clearly was for Elizabeth. But, who was he to complain, Nathan thought. "I have to say, though, seeing you in a swimsuit was heaven itself."
"I could say the same thing about you," she murmured, the memory fresh in her mind. "Scooped neck and all," she added with a playful smile, running her cool hand along his back, warm from the wood chopping.
With each passing second, Nathan found himself drawn deeper into thoughts of their future, the magnetic pull between them growing stronger, making it harder to resist the physical bond that seemed to draw them ever closer.
What he appreciated about both Elizabeth's date and now his was how connecting they became, spending hour after hour together. But now into the early evening, high on their love, every skin-to-skin touch of Elizabeth's felt almost like torture. If he'd already had a blanket laid out, like at the hot springs, he'd be helpless against his desire to sweep Elizabeth up in his arms, dress and all, and…well…
"Lots to look forward to," was all he allowed himself to say as he sighed, and then smiled at Elizabeth. Suddenly, he shivered, newly aware of the chilly evening air brushing against his exposed skin.
Though Nathan considered asking his sweetheart to warm him up, knowing she'd more than happily comply, he felt his resolve weakening and decided that some distance might help him reset. "Well, now that the wood's chopped," he said, gesturing to the half dozen logs, "time for the fire."
As Nathan reluctantly stood, it only took a glance at Elizabeth's face to know what she was thinking—her eyes transparent, her lips holding back a smile. "Let me guess," he laughed helplessly, with her sitting in a fancy dress and him standing with his suspenders dangling. "It's already burning for you?"
"You said it, not me," Elizabeth spouted off with sizzling sass, her grin wide and flirtatious. Her eyes roamed over him, teasingly slow, before she shook her head lightly. "But, yes, Constable. Your wood chopping alone started a bonfire."
"Well, the problem is, 'Lizbeth," he admitted, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "It's burning pretty hot right now for me, too. So how about that shirt?" he asked, removing one hand from its confined space to extend his arm.
Nathan was almost shaking now, likely not from the cold, but from the intensity of holding back. He at least knew this—for now, there could be no gray. With intimate thoughts of their future overpowering his mind, the gray for him in this moment would be a blazing shortcut to the black.
"Here, let me help," Elizabeth said with good intentions, pulling the first sleeve of his shirt over his arm. She then walked behind him, trailing her hand along the fabric covering his back as she readied the next sleeve.
Nathan exhaled slowly. "I'm not sure that's helping 'Lizabeth."
"No?" she asked innocently, standing to face him, the sudden mischief in her eyes telling.
Elizabeth tightly held hostage the two panels of his shirt. Bringing them together on her own time, she eventually began buttoning from the bottom up, intent on keeping the best view in sight for as long as possible.
"Better?" she asked, finishing up, except for the two top buttons, which she deliberately left undone. While her inviting blue eyes held his, she lightly brushed her hands down his white cotton shirt, from his shoulders to his waist, before gently lifting Nathan's hands into hers.
"To be honest, not better," he admitted, finally able to breathe. "But safer," he added with a smirk.
Sensing his resolve was still weak, Nathan leaned in and kissed Elizabeth on the cheek. "Thank you," he said, smiling as he withdrew. Those two words, simple but heartfelt, hinted at more than just her "help" with his shirt. He'd never felt as truly happy as he did in this moment, on the brink of a lifetime with Elizabeth.
Though his nerves were fraught, having prepared for this potential proposal for a couple of weeks now, she unknowingly steadied his heart, her grounding love and infectious passion giving him the confidence he hadn't known he needed for what may soon come.
Finally able to return the words Nathan had so freely given for years, Elizabeth lovingly replied, "Always," squeezing her love affectionately into his hand.
Nathan made quick work of his bow tie, his muscle memory at long last kicking in. Yet, like a well-rehearsed domestic dance, this time it was Elizabeth who helped, making the final adjustments.
"Now, for the wood fire," Nathan said, giving a distinct name to the physical fire he still needed to build with the newly chopped wood.
Warmed by Elizabeth's love, Nathan grabbed his dinner jacket, took the matches from its pocket, and draped the coat gently over her shoulders.
"I'm sure it smells woodsy," he teased with a playful grin.
"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled, her two words also expressing more—her gratitude running well beyond the gentlemanly gesture alone. She felt home in Nathan's scent.
Elizabeth breathed deeply, letting the mountain air fill her lungs, a sweet mix of his presence and the crisp, refreshing breeze. A small, contented smile tugged at her lips. She'd once thought, when Nathan suggested in his letter to bring a dress, that he had something formal in mind for their dinner. But as she watched him carefully arrange the kindling, his white shirt and suit pants a perfect contrast to their rough-hewn surroundings, she realized this was their dining room. A day of adventure, indeed, she mused.
Her gaze drifted to the horses laden with bags, wondering if Nathan had any surprises left in store for their dinner set up. But in that moment, the rustic setting, paired with their more formal attire, felt so perfectly Nathan. Unapologetically real. Rarely glamorous throughout, but always genuine.
As Nathan stood, brushing his hands together first, and then across his suit pants, he gave Elizabeth a heart melting smile, recognizing that she'd been watching him.
He sat down beside her, plenty willing to risk the scratchy bark against his suit pants. "The fire needs to settle into some embers first," he explained. "That way, it gives off a perfect heat for cooking dinner, without the unpredictable flames burning the food."
Elizabeth admittedly heard nothing past the phrase perfect heat. "Ah," she said in response, her eyes growing dark. "Any plans in the meantime?" she asked, her sultry tone drawing him in.
"I have a few ideas," Nathan replied confidently, his lopsided grin spreading as he leaned in, ready for whatever mischief Elizabeth might throw his way. With his trademark head tilt and a renewed dose of resolve, he slipped his arms beneath his dinner jacket that she wore loosely around her shoulders.
"It might involve placing one hand here," he said, drawing her closer with one arm around her waist, "and another one here," he added, gently brushing a finger to her lips.
"Sounds like dinner to me," she said, pulling Nathan toward her as she decided to start with appetizer kisses—quick, alluring, and always inviting more.
But, it wasn't long before Elizabeth found herself settled on Nathan's lap. As the sky hinted of golden hues, their kisses deepened, speaking a silent language of love that for them seemed to have no end. Meanwhile, the fire smoldered in the background, its steady warmth mirroring the heat between them, the perfect simmering ambiance for their upcoming meal.
Author's Notes:
I hope you're loving this final stop of Nathan and Elizabeth's date! Interestingly enough, I'd had these chapters fully sketched out after Episode 5, and the wood chopping scene was actually outlined to appear in this wooded setting when I first began writing this 2nd date. So it was quite timely how E6 included a Nathan and Allie conversation about Wyatt and even a wood chopping scene! The stars clearly aligned this week, in more ways than one.
Happily, though, THIS wood chopping scene was not a dream. In its reality, I hope it was even steamier. But, most importantly, Nathan and Elizabeth's ease with each other around this wood chopping scene spoke deeply and intimately as to their readiness for marriage.
After many adventures, deep conversations, and intimate moments, this couple has solidly landed in the last couple of hours of the date Nathan meticulously planned. Stay tuned for the final two chapters!