Natalie Howard is her father's biggest disappointment, and nothing will ever change that. She's come to terms with the fact that she's useful only for her face, but with a lifetime of dreams to one day open her own gallery, and get as far away from...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
There were many words to describe Natalie Howard, but today's choice of vocabulary was breath-taking. The second she hit the landing, body clad in a stunning blue dress that hugged her so perfectly, I already knew without seeing that her eyes would be sparkling even brighter. They tended to do that when she wore blue. Even from my position far away by the open entrance between the living room and dining room, I could see how devastating they really were.
I pretty much followed her path after that. From the attention she immediately drew when Will introduced her to the rest of our team, to the way she darted towards the drinks area. Oddly enough, it's easier to think about other things when it's just the two of us in the seclusion of the kitchen, but somehow, in the midst of this colossus crowd, there is no one but her.
She's off-limits, that much I know, as we are ceaselessly reminded every time Kai gives her an unintentional and habitual once-over. She could be wearing old, tatted clothes, and still, it wouldn't prevent anyone from appreciating her raw beauty.
I've always been a stickler for the rules — except for the occasional underage drinking, which the bouncers and bartenders at Joe's Bar forget to acknowledge whenever we go — but she is giving me a hell of a time with the combination of her unparalleled beauty and fascinating personality.
We have been juggling sensibility and propriety ever since she first got here, and I'm here for the main act even if I can't see the distinguishable difference between the way she looks in those goddamn yoga pants that I love so much and the dress that clings to her body like she's a goddess.
In hindsight, it was selfish of me to subtly alert Will of the fact that Natalie was heading up the stairs with a guy she had just met and made out with for a good five minutes, but I would've felt worse knowing how much she'd had to drink that night, combined with any poor life decisions she might have been about to make.
My concerns were justifiable as soon as she had to giggle out her name, her cheeks flustered from a mixture of energy wasted on kissing a stranger and being annoyed at her brother. I sit on the step besides her as I question her name of choice, her lack of exchanging the simple pleasantry when first meeting someone further proving my point.
"It was the first name that popped into my head," she defended, a small smile on her lip as she elbowed me gently, jokingly, "And this is all your fault, anyway."
I am utterly confused, because in no way, shape or form, would I ever purposely push her into nearly having sex with a random guy, especially when she occupies the room right next to mine.
"And how, may I ask, is any of this my fault?"
She narrows her eyes, and I know she's stalling for time as she brainstorms a cluster of possibilities as to why I am the reason this has all happened, but when I return her equally-as-accusatory stare, she decides to keep it to herself, and huffs out a pathetic breath in response.
