very
unexpected. What are you, twenty three?”
Why does he want to know my age?
“Twenty five. You?”
“Twenty eight.”
“So, you’re old then.” I giggle.
“You have a great laugh.” His eyes are shining with happiness and I mentally hug myself again, forgetting to be nervous and I realize I’m just really enjoying him. He’s just so easy to talk to.
I check my watch and gasp at the time. We’ve been sitting here for three hours!
“I should go.” I smile up at him.
“We’ve been here a long time.”
“Time flies when you’re with someone beautiful.” He leans over and grabs my hand and I am so caught up in his spell right now. My eyes focus on his lips and he licks them, making me squirm. Before I know it, he retracts his hand and I’m left feeling frustrated and missing the warmth of his touch.
“Right back at you.” I put my sassy smile back on my face and reach for the check.
“Oh no. That’s mine.” Luke pulls the check from my fingers and digs out his wallet.
“I’m happy to pay for my own drinks.”
He glares at me, and I’m stunned that he looks genuinely mad. Whoa.
“No.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
His smile is back as he says, “You’re most welcome.”
Luke settles the bill and we head back out onto the sidewalk. He hastily puts his sunglasses back on, and is visibly aware of who’s around us. My heart flips as he takes my hand and we start to walk toward my car.
The sun is just starting to set and I look out over the gorgeous Sound, the blue water, the boats and the mountains and long for my camera. I glance up at Luke and his jaw is tense, he’s looking down and we’re walking briskly.
“Hey, slow down.” I tug on his hand a bit and deliberately slow my steps.
“Are you in a hurry to be rid of me?”
“No, not at all.” He looks around us again, then grins down at me, slowing his pace.
“It’s going to be a great sunset.
Wanna walk along the water? I promise, no camera.” I hold my free hand up to show him it’s empty.
Luke smirks, and then looks around once more, and I follow his gaze. There are a lot of people out and about enjoying the beautiful day on Alki Beach. Luke shakes his head and looks forlorn for a moment.
We stop by my car and I think he’s looking down at me but it’s hard to tell through his dark glasses.
“I don’t like crowds, Natalie. It’s kind of a phobia.” He shakes his head again, runs his hand through that sexy hair and releases my hand putting his hands on his hips.
“It’s no problem.” I feel sorry for him in that moment and want to comfort him.
I’ve never wanted to comfort any man before, ever. I’ve never had soft feelings toward a man. They’ve always just been a pleasant diversion, or my worst nightmare. Confusingly, I find myself reach up and cup his face in my palm to sooth him.
“Hey,” I say softly. “Don’t sweat it, Luke.”
He leans into my touch and exhales, puts his hand over mine, then clasps it and kisses my knuckles.
Oh my.
“Come on,” I deliberately interrupt this lovely moment, needing just a little space, “I’ll drive you home.”
Luke’s jaw drops open.
“I’m not going to make you walk home, carrying these brilliantly genius photos, through the crowds. Hop in.”
He flashes me his sexy, face-splitting smile and hops into the passenger seat.
Oh Natalie, what are you getting yourself into?
Chapter Three
Luke’s home is a very short drive along the coast, and it strikes me that his place is less than a quarter mile from mine. He directs me to pull into a gated driveway. I can only see a single-lane drive ahead of me, there is no house in view.
“The code is 112774,” he directs me.
“Wow, you trust me with the code to your gate?” I am trying to keep the banter between us light to mask my nervousness of going to his house. Will he even invite me inside?
“You’d be amazed at what I’d trust you with, Natalie.” I glance back at him and catch his frown. “In fact, so would I.”
I ignore his comment and pull through the gate winding to the left and gasp at the beautiful modern home before me.
It’s not huge, it’s simple, but the view of the Sound is breathtaking, and the white home itself is newer, with clean lines, tons of large windows, beautiful purple and blue hydrangeas lining the front of the house, and pruned shrubs lining the driveway.
“Wow, Luke, this is beautiful.”
“Thank you.” The pride is back in his voice, and it’s evident that he loves his home. I smile at him, completely understanding the feeling.
I park so the passenger side is facing the front door and don’t make a move to take my seatbelt off. Luke has already jumped out, and to my surprise walks around the front of my car to my door and opens it.
“Please, come in.” He holds a hand out to me, but I pause.
“I should go…”
“I’d really love for you to come inside.” He gives me that charming grin, and I feel myself softening. “Let me show you the view. Maybe make you dinner. That’s all, I swear.” His eyes shine with mischief, and I just can’t resist him.
I don’t want to resist him.
“I’m not keeping you from anything?”
“Nope, I’m a free man, Natalie.
Come on.”
I shut off the car and take his hand.
Wow. The electricity from his touch is still there, and my eyes widen as they find his. His smile is gone, and he’s staring intently into my eyes. He pulls my hand up to his lips, then closes my door behind me and leads me up to his door without letting go of me, as if I could run away at any minute.