Never Dare A Duke

Chapter 11 (Sweet Butterflies)

Chapter 11  

(Sweet Butterflies) 

Nathan ran his hands through his hair for the tenth time that night. He sat lazily behind the table watching as the stars began to show themselves clearly. When had he taken time to really look at the sky? The way the sun set or how effulgent a cloudy moon could be. No he forgotten all about the thing around him. It was only him and his work. It was always the same clogged road. But he knew if he looked closer he could have taken the time to look through his car window and enjoy the paleness of the sky and the sound if the rain beat hard against his wind shield. He felt his lips move and before he knew it he was smiling.

“What are you smiling about?” Candice came out through the kitchen doors with warm soft cheeks, brightened Irish eyes colored lips and flushed cheeks from the heat of the stove. She smiled all the while wiping her hands over the borrowed apron. The image was so homely, so comfortable he wanted to stay there in what seem like a mirage for ever. Her eyes twinkled as she tilted her head catching the light in a way so majestic it made his stomach churn. Then he realized the silence stretched out until he remembered the question she had asked.

“I just remembered something.” he said discreetly. She sat down across form him hair tightened up over her head in a loose bun. She crossed her arms over the table and smiled.

“What?” she asked wanting to know more about the man behind the stone like exterior. 

“Nothing; it’s stupid” he said boyishly. Candice leaned back with a wide smile. Maybe it was the way he smiled at her; but there was something that had changed. She could feel it. 

“No , no tell me.” she insisted. Nathan chuckled.

“Weren’t you in the kitchen trying to make something?” he asked. Candice looked over his shoulder and waved at Beth to bring her steak and mash potatoes over to them. 

“You’re changing the subject “ she pointed out watching as he ran his hands through his hair again. 

“You catch on fast. I don’t want to remember it.” he said curtly. 

“Please don’t do that.” Candice said sitting up. He raised his brow looking at her thinking of what she meant by it.

“Do what?” he asked. 

“Close yourself in. We put a hard cover over ourselves so we could lie to the world. That nothing could be better on our side of the grass. Except the truth is that we’re not happy; and it’s not like we enjoy it-no, we get comfortable in our own pool of self pity and pride. It’s hard and I’m not the best person to talk to about fears.” she chuckled half way knowing that her own phobia was stopping her from living her life. “Why out yourself through more pain right? Why dig up the past when you know your future is much brighter?” she asked herself. “We don’t want to remember our past; neither of us-and we think it’s going to ease all our pains. But then why are we still unhappy?” she asked looking into his pain struck eyes. His hands tightened around the coffee mug. Candice reached out and grasped his free hand giving it a squeeze before letting go.

“ Sometimes the best thing you can do is strip yourself of that hard exterior and break apart. Let someone else pick up the pieces for a change.” she sighed wanting very much to lean over and kiss him. She could see he was hurting; hurting beyond belief. Nathan was a dieing man who was falling into a dark hole.  

Beth cleared her throat and smiled down at them. Candice abruptly leaned back looking away but Nathan’s eyes never left her face. He suddenly wanted to get away from her. He wanted to turn his face away from hers and never look back but her eyes glued him to the seat. With all his power he stood strictly and cleared his throat.