Sweet Imperfection by Libby Waterford Page B

asked if he wanted a tour. He eyed the particles of wood on her skirt. “Maybe some other time. I’m dropping off some papers for Nate here.”
    “You need me to sign some things?” Nate asked. Cory handed him a file folder.
    “It’s all marked, dude. Here’s a pen.”
    Nate took the file, accepted the pen, and went to the living room, leaving Emma and Cory alone.
    They stared at each other for a moment. “So the best friend and the girlfriend meet at last.”
    Emma couldn’t help smiling at Cory’s serious tone. “We had econ together like three semesters in a row, Cory.”
    “You know what I mean. Nate has never been happier since you and he worked things out, but I saw him when things weren’t so good, and let me just say he was practically worse than during his divorce. So just know I’m super happy for you two, but I’m sick of cleaning up when his love life goes to shit, so, please, tell me that’s not going to happen again.” Cory was as earnest as a puppy.
    Emma’s expression softened. “You’re a good friend, Cory. And I’m glad you were there for him. I’m not going to hurt him. I love him.” Her heart beat sure with the truth that had been on the tip of her tongue for days.
    “Yeah, I guess you do,” Cory said thoughtfully.
    “You do?”
    Emma whirled around. Nate stood in the doorway, his expression expectant, his arms wrapped around the file folder as if it were a security blanket.
    “I do,” she said.
    Wordlessly, Nate handed Cory the file then he replaced the space against his chest with Emma, wrapping her in the heat of his body, kissing her with certainty, passion, love.
    Emma tipped up her head and gazed into her lover’s eyes. She saw everything she was hoping for. He cherished her, desired her, loved her, protected her, needed her. She saw the soul of a man she’d love for the rest of her life, a man with whom she’d have children and share life’s peaks and valleys. They’d make this house a home together. Nothing had ever seemed more right. She pressed her lips to Nate’s, sealing all her unspoken promises with a single kiss.
    Cory cleared his throat. “Well, on that note, I’ll be going.”
    Emma pulled away, but Nate kept his arm around her waist. She’d forgotten they had an audience.
    “Thanks, man,” Nate said distractedly. “Let’s get together soon.”
    “Yes, you, Emma, Lizzie, me, we’re doing brunch on Sunday. No arguments. We’re going to do it up with mimosas and omelets, so come hungry.” And then Cory was gone.
     
    Nate barely noticed his friend closing the door behind him. The shift in the air had happened before when he’d overheard three words. “I love him.” The phrase was like a balm, soothing his heart, calming his mind. She loved him. The most incredible woman in the world loved him .
    As they held each other and kissed, he knew he’d found his soul mate. He’d found the one person who ignited passion, lust, romance, wanting, need, all of those things he’d thought were unattainable or undeserved.
    He drew her over to the staircase and sat down, pulling her into his lap. She smelled like herself, and it was more seductive than any perfume.
    “You love me,” he said just to be sure.
    She laughed. “I love you, Nate Hirsch. Is it really a surprise?”
    “It’s not a surprise. It’s a gift. I hope you know I love you, too.”
    “Now I do.” She kissed him softly. “I like hearing it.”
    “You’ll be sick of hearing it,” Nate vowed.
    “I doubt it.” She kissed him again, firmer this time. “I like Cory. He cares about you a lot.”
    “He’s a good guy. You’ll like his wife, I think. She’s a tough cookie.”
    “She’d have to be to keep Cory in line.”
    Their kisses deepened. Nate forgot about their conversation, forgot about anything except how good it felt to be with her, their lives stretched out before them, two separate paths suddenly merged. Everything on that path seemed brighter now, full of