He laces his fingers through mine.

“Thank you for joining our tour today, Miss Conner, we are delighted to have you with us.”

I laugh at his tour guide voice and relax a bit. He does have a way of making me laugh.

“You’ve seen the kitchen.”

“I love the kitchen.”

He smiles and pulls me down a hallway pointing out a powder room, and a spare bedroom. At the end of the hall is another closed door, but he waves it off and says, “Just storage for now.”

He leads me back to the great room and up a flight of stairs to a large loft area that he’s using as a TV room, with more plush furniture. The flat screen mounted to the wall is huge, and I can’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he looks at the TV and I snicker.

“Boys and their big TV’s.”

He chuckles and leads me through to another spare bedroom and bathroom.

On the opposite side of the loft, with more floor to ceiling windows showing off the view, is the master suite. It’s huge, with large scale white furniture and green, blue and khaki accents. It’s incredibly peaceful.

His master bath is beautiful, with a large egg-shaped tub separate from the shower that could be a room all on its own.

I gasp in delight when he shows me the walk in closet.

“Women and their closets,” he’s laughing at me, and I can’t help but join him.

“This, my friend, is a fantastic closet.”

“Yes, it is.” He agrees, and squeezes my hand, then leads me back through the bedroom and down the stairs to the great room.

I’m suddenly uncomfortable, and before I can change my mind, I pull gently on his hand and wrap my arms around his waist, linking my fingers together at the small of his back, and into a big hug. His arms fold around my shoulders and he kisses my hair, inhaling my scent.

“Thanks for dinner.” I murmur into his chest.

“Anytime.”

“Thanks for the tour.”

I feel his smile against my head.

“Anytime.”

“Thanks for your phone number.”

He chuckles and pulls back. “I recommend you use it.”

“I will.” I pull out of his arms and grab my purse. It’s time to go home and think about this sweet, sexy man. I certainly can’t think when I’m with him.

He walks behind me out to my car, pulls his photos out of the back and takes them inside, then returns to me to open my door.

“Let me know that you get home safely.” The shadows from his house lights are playing across his face, the light reflecting in his gorgeous eyes.

“Okay, bossy man.” I chuckle up at him.

“Bossy?” He purses his lips like he’s giving it some thought, then smirks.

“Maybe a little bossy.”

He leans down and touches me, just with his lips, running them lightly over mine. “Good night, beautiful.”

“Goodnight.” Swoon! Jeez, he’s just so yummy. I’m thankful that I have enough wits about me to climb into my car and get my seatbelt on. He walks back to his doorstep and waves me off as I pull down his driveway.

Holy shit.

***

I sling my purse on the hallway table by my front door, throw my keys in the key bowl and dig for my phone. I heard it ping when I was driving home, and I know exactly who it’s from.

“Nat, is that you?” I hear Jules’

stilettos click smartly on the hardwood between the living room and the foyer.

“Yeah, I’m home.”

Thank you for today. Please let me know when you get home. –Luke I smile and want to jump up and down in giddiness.

“Well, I guess it went well?” Jules has her hands on her hips, and her blond head tilted with a smile across that gorgeous face of hers. She’s still in her cranberry-colored dress and heels from work, her long hair pulled back from her face.

“Oh, yeah, it went well.”

“So, not so much a mugger, huh?”

“No,” I giggle. “He’s really nice.

And oh my god, Jules, he’s hot.” I worry my lip between my teeth, but she reads my mind.

“He’s not out of your league, Nat.” I frown at her.

“I wasn’t going to say that.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “You were thinking it. You’re hot too, Nat. Enjoy him. He’s lucky you’re interested. We both know that doesn’t happen often.”

“Yes, that’s what worries me too.”

I tell her about having happy hour, and how he seemed uncomfortable out and about with me, but when we were at his house he was much more relaxed. I tell her about the best kiss on record, and the sunset.

Jules

listens

patiently,

doesn’t

interrupt, or get all giggly or jumpy like she always does. She simply smiles at me, and before I know it she’s pulled me in for a big hug.

“You deserve a good guy, Natalie.

Don’t run from it. Enjoy it. Really.” I lean into her and suddenly feel like crying, which is mortifying.

“I don’t even know when I’ll see him again.”

She pulls back and grins. “Oh, I have a feeling it won’t be long. Sounds like he’s smitten.” There’s the Jules I know!

I smirk and kick my shoes off. “I’m going up to bed. It’s been an eventful day.”

“Okay, goodnight sweetie.” She briefly hugs me again, and heads back to the living room and whatever she was doing before I came home.

I run upstairs and straight into my bathroom. I take my makeup off and brush my teeth and stare at myself in the mirror for a moment. I touch my lips.

They’re still sensitive from Luke’s kisses. My cheeks have a glow, as do my green eyes. My dark hair, that he pulled out of my bun, is all disheveled and kinda sexy.

Remembering his comments about my ass, I turn around and peer at it, giving it a good study. I’ve always considered my butt to be too big, too round and prominent. Yeah, I definitely have a round butt. I guess Luke likes round butts. I smile to myself, strip naked, turn out the lights and jump into bed to text him back.

No, thank YOU for today. I had a good time, despite almost being mugged. I’m home and safely tucked in bed. –Nat.

I smile, happy with my flirty response and lay back on my pillows. A few seconds later there is a ping.

Glad to hear you are safe. What are your plans for tomorrow?

Oh my! I quickly hit reply.

No sessions tomorrow, thinking about going to take some photos at Snoqualmie Falls. What are your plans?