“No need to thank me for that, baby. It’s my pleasure.”
I laugh and prop myself up on my hands so I can look into his face. “Not that, smart ass. Thanks for this weekend. We needed it.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear and sighs. “Yeah, we did.”
I yawn and settle back down on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat and enjoying the rhythmic rise and fall with each breath he takes.
“Let’s sleep,” he whispers and kisses my hair.
***
I wake alone. A fresh log has been tossed onto the fire, I smell something delicious coming from the kitchen, and the radio is still on. I don’t recognize the song that’s playing.
I sit up and stretch. There is no sign of Nate, so I stand up and run upstairs to throw away my ruined yoga pants and change into jeans. I pick up my iPhone and turn it on as I descend the stairs.
Hmm… where did Nate go?
I sit back down on the couch and rub my hands over my face, trying to wake up. Naps always leave me extra groggy.
My phone starts to ring on the couch cushion next to me. I don’t recognize the number.
“Hello?”
“Jules?” a woman asks.
“Yes.”
“Hi, this is Marie Desmond from Playboy Magazine. I’m sorry to bother you on a Saturday.”
“No problem, what’s up?” I frown and stand to pace the room as I talk. What could they possibly want?
“Well, I’m calling because we are about to do an anniversary shoot for the July issue, and we’re bringing back some of our most popular girls. Do you have any recent photos of yourself?”
“Yes, I have some recent photos, Marie, but none that are nude.” Holy shit!
“That’s okay, I’d love for you to email a couple to me.”
“I’m not even sure that I’d be interested in posing for an anniversary issue.” I stop pacing in front of a wide window and watch the ocean crash on the sand below.
“Well, it pays fifty thousand dollars, Jules.”
“Fifty thousand dollars? Holy shit, Marie, that’s double what I got for the month I was the centerfold. Why so much?”
“We’ve been authorized to offer that to you veteran girls for this special issue.”
“I don’t know, Marie. That part of my life was a long time ago, and I’m not so sure that my father’s heart could survive me posing nude again,” I say with a laugh, and I hear Marie’s chuckle on the other end.
“I understand. Think about it over the weekend and call me on Monday.”
“Okay. Thanks for the opportunity, Marie.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll talk to you soon.”
I hang up the phone and lean my forehead against the cool glass of the window.
Holy fuck.
“Hell, no.”
I twirl around at Nate’s angry voice and find him standing next to the couch, leaning his hip against it with his arms folded over his chest.
“I take it you heard?”
“No way, Julianne.”
“I didn’t say I was going to do it.”
“You didn’t say no.” His eyes are glacial, his jaw clenched, and he’s just so pissed.
“She offered me fifty grand. That’s double what centerfolds make.” This is so not about the money. I don’t need it. But it is such a boost to my ego to know that they still want me!
“I’ll deposit a hundred grand into your account when we get home. The answer is no.” His voice is so calm, but he’s radiating anger, and this really pisses me off.
“I didn’t ask you.” I respond with a scowl.
“Julianne…”
“Stop.” I hold up my hand and shake my head. “I am not your child, nor am I your wife. This is my decision, Nate.”
I see a muscle twitch in his jaw and his eyes narrow on mine.
“So, what you’re saying is, when my girlfriend, whom I happen to be in love with, is propositioned by Playboy Magazine to pose nude, I don’t get to have an opinion in the matter?”
“You’re not giving me your opinion. You’re putting your foot down and telling me that I can’t. I’m twenty six years old. I’ll do what I want.” I cross my arms over my chest and glare back at him.
“No discussion?” he asks quietly.
I sigh deeply and look down at my bare feet. I know I’m being stubborn and stupid, but damn it, I’m not his property!
“Nate…” he crosses the room quickly and grips my arms in his hands, holding me in place.
“I can’t stand the thought of it, Julianne. No other man will ever see you naked again, do you understand me?” His voice is raw, his eyes are pleading with me, and my brain just stops.
“Nate…” I try again, but he interrupts me once more.
“No,” he shakes his head in denial. “I want to build a life with you. This isn’t just an affair for me. And you get a call from someone you don’t know who wants you to pose naked in a national magazine, and I don’t weigh in on your decision at all? How is that supposed to make me feel?”
Fuck.
“Nate.” I step toward him and he loosens his grip on me, but his face is hard, his eyes pleading with me, and I take a deep breath and wrap my arms around his waist, press my cheek against his chest and hold on tight. “Stop, babe.”
His arms fold around my shoulders and he hugs me to him.
I caress his back reassuringly, kiss his chest and back away, still in the circle of his arms. I look up into his uncertain, weary face and smile, my anger gone. He loves me. He wants to protect me.
“I was never going to accept their offer, Nate.”
“Why didn’t you just turn her down?” he asks quietly.
“Two reasons: One, because it felt nice to get the offer, and two, because ironically, I hadn’t talked it over with you. You know I’m not interested in that. But it’s really flattering that they thought of me, out of all the girls they could choose.” I shrug and look at his chest. “I would hope you’d be proud of me.”