"We'll have to watch it together sometime," he said, his tone light but the invitation clear.
She smiled, warmth blooming in her chest at the thought of curling up on the couch with him, Jill dozing contentedly at their feet. "I'd like that."
The conversation flowed easily as they finished their meal, moving from favorite films to childhood memories of summer vacations and family traditions. Harper found herself sharing stories she hadn't thought about in years, like the time she got lost at the state fair and ended up befriending a prize-winning pig.
Nathan's laughter was warm and rich, his eyes sparkling with mirth as he listened to her tales. In turn, he regaled her with stories of his own misadventures, like the time he accidentally dyed his hair green trying to impress a girl in high school.
As the last bites of chicken disappeared from their plates, Harper leaned back in her chair, feeling pleasantly full and more than a little giddy from the wine and good company. Nathan stood and began clearing the dishes, waving off her offer to help.
"You're my guest," he insisted, stacking their plates. "I've got this."
After the dishwasher was loaded, Harper followed Nathan into his cozy living room, sinking into the plush leather couch. The wine had left her pleasantly warm and relaxed, though a touch of shyness crept in as she gathered her courage.
"Would you..." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Would you play your cello for me? I've never heard you perform."
Nathan's face lit up. "Of course." He disappeared down the hallway to his music room, returning moments later with a gorgeous mahogany cello.
Harper watched, fascinated, as he settled into an armchair and positioned the instrument between his knees. His longfingers curled around the bow with practiced ease, and when he began to play, her eyes widened in recognition. A laugh bubbled up before she could stop it.
"You're playing the Tennessee Waltz?" She pressed her palm to her forehead, shaking her head. "You were supposed to be cheering me up."
Nathan paused, fixing her with a steady gaze that lasted long enough to make her squirm slightly.
"It's a cello," he said simply.
Harper opened her mouth to protest, then closed it as she considered the instrument's deep, mournful tones. The rich vibrato and somber timbre were perfectly suited for melancholy pieces. Even upbeat songs took on a haunting quality when played on a cello.
"Fair point," she conceded with a small smile.
Nathan adjusted his grip on the bow. "How about this one? Not exactly cheerful, either, but you might like it better."
The first haunting notes of Skye Boat Song filled the room, and Harper's breath caught. The melody flowed from his cello like water, rich and deep, telling the ancient tale of loss and desperate flight. His eyes closed as he played, completely absorbed in the music. His fingers danced across the strings with practiced grace, drawing out every nuance of emotion from the instrument.
When the final note faded away, Harper burst into enthusiastic applause. "That was beautiful! I love playing that one on my harp."
"You do?" Nathan's eyes lit up. "The arrangement must be gorgeous on the harp."
"It really is. The harmonics work perfectly for it." Harper leaned forward, excitement building. "Have you ever played The Wild Mountain Thyme?"
"One of my favorites." Nathan nodded.
"Oh yes! Greensleeves- though that one's become a bit cliché."
"Still beautiful though," Nathan said. "Especially when you strip away all the Christmas arrangements and get back to the original melody."
Harper narrowed her eyes playfully at Nathan. "What have you got against Christmas?"
Nathan laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Nothing! I swear." His eyes danced with amusement as he set his cello aside. "I love Christmas. The decorations, the food, the music - well, most of it. But some arrangements take beautiful old melodies and drown them in so much sugar and sparkle you can barely recognize them anymore."
Reyna perked up at the mention of food, and Harper had to stifle a chuckle at her fox's one-track mind. "So you're a Christmas music purist?"
"Not exactly." Nathan settled back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Take Greensleeves - it's this incredible Tudor-era love song with layers of meaning and emotion. Then someone decided to make it about pine trees, and suddenly that's all anyone remembers."
"What Child Is This uses the same melody," Harper pointed out.
"And that version works because it maintains the dignity of the original tune." Nathan's hands moved as he spoke, conducting an invisible orchestra. "It respects the source material instead of trying to jazz it up with sleigh bells and synthesizers."
Harper couldn't help smiling at his passionate defense. Music truly came alive when Nathan talked about it, his whole face lighting up with enthusiasm. It was adorable how worked up he got over musical authenticity.
