“You’re a charmer.” I wave him off and scowl at all the trees along the road. “And you’re going to be a single charmer if you buy a house I can’t find.”
He laughs and shakes his head at me, and I stop trying to figure out where we’re going and sit back to look at him. He’s in his black leather jacket today with his trademark faded blue jeans. No beanie, which I prefer, so I run my fingers through his hair again and sigh contentedly.
He keeps checking his watch as he continues to drive.
“Are we going to be late?”
He just shakes his head and grips the wheel a little tighter.
Why is he nervous?
“I think this is it,” he murmurs and pulls up to a cliff area that looks out over the Sound. I didn’t even realize we were this close to the water. There is a grassy bluff to my right with trees behind it. The view is spectacular.
But there is no house.
I frown over at Leo, but he’s already climbed out of the car and opens my door for me.
“Uh, Leo, there’s no house here.”
“Give me a minute.”
After he’s pulled me away from the car, he leans into the open passenger door and cranks the volume of the radio up so high that I’m pretty sure my brother over in Alki can hear it.
He checks his watch again, nods and pins me in his gaze.
“What are you doing?” I ask and laugh. “This is not like you.”
“Listen,” he murmurs.
The song on the radio ends and the DJ comes on.
“Hey there, Seattle, that was Life After You by Daughtry here on KLPR, Seattle’s best rock radio station. I have a special treat for our listeners. I got a call from Seattle’s own Leo Nash of the mega band, Nash, yesterday asking me to play their newest single from their upcoming album, Sunshine. The album doesn’t release for another month, but we have a sneak peak of the title track for you today. Leo tells me this song is dedicated to someone special. I hope you enjoy it.”
“Are you kidding me?” I ask, my eyes wide. Leo’s smiling softly and he grips the ends of my scarf in his fists and pulls me against him.
“Dance with me.”
He wraps me in his arms and as the piano begins, he moves us back and forth along the cliff, the wind blowing through our hair and stinging my cheeks. He pulls back briefly, so I can slip my arms under his jacket, and tightens his arms around me again, holding me close, looking down into my eyes.
I don’t wanna be your friend
‘Cause I’ve already let you in
Every time I see your sweet blue eyes
I know I need to make you mine
My walls crumble… and crumble
So all you see is the real me
When you smile
Your sunshine hits me
And the shadows in my soul
They are gone
He softly sings along, his eyes dropping to my lips and then back to mine. He kisses my forehead softly.
“I love this song,” I whisper.
“I love you,” he whispers back, bends me back into a deep dip, and then circles me more vigorously around the car. The song is swirling around us, the rest of the world has stilled, and it even seems like the crashing waves beneath the cliff have quieted.
Oh how many times
Did I stare at your lips
Wishing I could feel
Them on me
When you’re so close
Baby, I forget how to breathe
When you smile
Your sunshine hits me
And the shadows in my soul
They are gone
When I run my hand
Over your perfect skin
I know you see me
And not what I’m covered in
My walls crumble… And crumble
So all you see is the me I need you to see
I can’t look away from his eyes. This is how he sees me. What did I do to deserve him?
He cups my face in his hands and brushes my lips with his, gently nibbling and caressing my mouth, and then sinks into me, kissing me with all he has as our song comes to an end.
He pulls back, his stormy gray eyes happy and shining with lust, kisses my cheek and then releases me to lean in the car and turn the radio off.
When he turns back to me, his face is uncertain.
“When did you record the song?” I ask, a little out of breath.
“Last week.” He shrugs and pulls me back into him, my arms under his jacket again to keep me warm. “DJ and Gary came up from L.A. and we spent some time in the studio.”
“Was that your mysterious errand?” I ask and give him a mock-frown.
“Yes.” He chuckles and kisses my nose.
“I love it.” I kiss his chin and grin. “I really, really love it. Are you seriously naming the whole album Sunshine?”
“Yeah, we are.” He rubs my cheek with his thumb. “It’s appropriate.”
I grin and then look around us at the water, the trees, the cliffs. “So, no house, unless it’s wearing the invisibility cloak.”
“I didn’t know you’re a Harry Potter fan.”
“Sure.” I shrug.
“No house yet.” He nods and follows my gaze.
“What do you mean? Are you going to build a house on stilts?” I smirk and gesture to the Sound. “Do you know how many houses fall into the water every year here?”
“So, here’s the deal.” He kisses my forehead again and pulls back, takes my hand, and pulls me closer to the cliffs.
“This is as far as I go.” I plant my feet and stop. “I’m afraid of heights, remember?”
“Okay, scaredy cat.” He laughs and his eyes travel over the water. “Do you know how much I wanted to live on the water when I first moved out here? I’d never seen the ocean until I moved here when I was nineteen.”
He turns his eyes down to mine and squeezes my hand.
“You couldn’t find a house to buy on the water?” I ask.
“After the interesting afternoon with the last agent the other day, I thought it might be easier to build.” He shrugs. “Plus, then you’ll get exactly what you want.”
“Leo.” I swallow and try to keep my panic down. “I told you, I’m not ready to live together.”
“Me neither.” He laughs and turns to me, taking both my hands in his. “Do you know how long it takes to build a house?”
“Yes, Isaac is a contractor.”
“Great, he can build it.”