“Jesus,” he mutters and I laugh.
“Okay,” I shove everything in my suitcase and zip it up. “I’m ready.”
Nate picks up his overnight bag, which is much smaller and weighs far less than my bag, grabs the handle of my rolling suitcase with his other hand, and ushers me out of the room.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty One
Nate pulls his shiny black Mercedes SUV into the parking lot of his father’s gym and throws it in park.
“What are we doing here?” I ask.
“I have to run in for a second to talk to my dad. Wait here?”
“Okay.”
He leans over and swiftly kisses me, then hops out of the car, leaving the engine running. I watch his fine form stride through the front door of the building and sit back to wait.
Where is he taking me?
Clearly we’re not going far because we’re driving and we both have to work Monday morning. Maybe he’s taking me to Portland for the weekend? That’s only a three hour drive. Or maybe up to the little resort town of Leavenworth? Or the San Juan Islands?
There’s so much to do here, it could be anywhere.
I check my phone and send Natalie a text, letting her know we’re going somewhere out of town in case she tries to reach me and I don’t have cell service.
Just as I finish with the text, Nate climbs back in the car.
“Okay, ready?”
“Sure. Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yep, just needed to check in with Dad for a minute.” He smiles over at me as he pulls out of the lot and toward the freeway.
“Okay, so are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I pull his hand into my lap and lace our fingers.
“The beach.”
“Really?” I feel the face-splitting grin on my face. “I love the beach!”
“Good.” He kisses my hand and lays them both in my lap again. “I have a beach house in a newer little town called Seabrook. It’s about a half hour north of Ocean Shores.”
“You own the house?” I ask.
“Yeah, my dad and I do. He uses it too.”
“I like your dad.” I really do. Rich has been nothing but sweet to me since the first time Nate took me to their gym.
“He likes you too.”
“Can I ask you a question?” I bite my lower lip, nervous to ask, and he glances over at me, then back at the freeway. Traffic is pretty light this morning on Interstate 5 South.
“Of course, anything.”
“Where is your mom?”
Nate signals and changes lanes. “She died when I was seven.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmur.
“Don’t be.” He squeezes my hand and smiles reassuringly. “It was a long time ago. She had breast cancer. It’s been just dad and me ever since.”
“He never remarried?”
“No,” he shakes his head and frowns. “I know there have been women, but he never paraded them around me. I thought he might remarry after I was grown and gone, but he seems content with the gym and dating here and there.”
“What was her name?” I ask quietly.
“Julie,” Nate responds softly and I gasp. “My dad called her Jules.” He looks over at me, his eyes bright.
“Is that why you don’t call me Jules?” I ask.
“Partly,” he shrugs and changes lanes again. “I don’t have a weird fixation on your name or anything, baby. I’ve slipped up and called you Jules a few times.”
“I know, it makes me smile, but I like that you call me Julianne.”
“You do? I thought you hated it.”
“I hate it when other people call me that, but it’s different with you.”
“Honestly, honey, I just think your name is beautiful, and it suits you.” He kisses my knuckles again and I melt.
Damn, he says the sweetest things sometimes.
“Are you getting all mushy on me, ace?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.
“Never. I’m a man.”
I laugh and squeeze his hand. “You’re my man.”
“And only yours, baby.”
***
“This is incredible!” I climb out of the car and stand facing the beautiful light blue two-story home with lots of large windows and a wrap-around porch. There are tall evergreens surrounding the house, and I can hear the waves crashing on the shore on the other side.
“I was expecting a small beach cabin.” I turn back to Nate and grin as he pulls our bags out of the back of the SUV.
“I know it’s bigger than I probably need, but it came up for sale last year and I snatched it. This is a new community, and the real estate is a good investment.” I follow him up the steps to the front door. There is beautiful outdoor furniture on the porch, and the door is a wide pine door with an oval frosted glass window that has a beach scene etched in it.
“I also work with a rental company and they rent it out here and there for me, as well as I donate time to charity auctions.”
He unlocks the door and walks in ahead of me. “Make yourself at home.”
“Wow.” The space is large and open, and was clearly professionally decorated in a beachy theme, but in a subtle, non-annoying way. The furniture and art work are in shades of white, blue and gray. There is a magnificent stone fireplace in the center of the space with logs all set up and ready to light.
The kitchen and dining room are in the back of the house, facing the incredible views of the ocean. It’s overcast but mild today, and the water is a deep gray-blue, beating up the shoreline. I can’t wait to get out there.
“Come on, I’ll give you a quick tour.”
“What’s up with you and sexy kitchens?” I ask, pointing to the truly sexy kitchen. It boasts all white cabinets and cupboards, black granite countertops, and stainless steel, top of the line, appliances. The space is large, with plenty of counter space. The adjacent dining area has a long black table with seating for ten.
“I need good kitchens to cook in.” He shrugs and I grin at him. “Let’s go upstairs.”