“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.

I can’t help but appreciate the way his jeans hang on his hips, molding around his very fine ass. His white t-shirt is untucked, and hugs the muscles of his shoulders and arms just perfectly. I want to hug him from behind and sink my nose into his back, inhale his scent, and kiss him there between his defined shoulder blades.

It should seriously be illegal to be that beautiful. He clearly takes very good care of himself. Suddenly I feel out of my league. He is a ten, and I’m lucky if I hit a seven after I’ve been buffed and polished at my favorite salon. Not to mention, I have hips and an ass and a bit of a belly bulge that no matter how many sit ups or Yoga exercises I do it just won’t go away. I know I’m not fat, but I’m not super-model thin like Jules either.

And until today, that never bothered me.

Luke unlocks the door and turns to me, and the look in his eyes tells me that he’s not looking at my flaws. He seems to be just fine with what he sees, and hope starts to spread through me.

“Welcome, Natalie. Make yourself at home.” I follow him inside and can’t stop the face-splitting smile that comes at the sight of his magnificent home. The great room is large, with double-height ceilings and pale khaki-colored walls.

The back wall is all glass and the view is of the Puget Sound. The furniture is big, in blues and white and a touch of green. I could curl up in his love seat and stare outside all day.

I wander through the room, my sandals echoing on the dark hardwood floors, and gaze out the windows for a few moments. The sun is hanging low, just above the mountains, reflecting on the choppy blue water, and pretty white sailboats are coasting along gracefully. I turn around to see Luke still on the other side of the room watching me, his arms crossed in front of him. I wish I could read his mind.

“What?” I ask and mirror his stance, crossing my arms in front of me, pushing my cleavage up a bit, exposing it through the V-neck of my red t-shirt.

“You are so beautiful, Natalie.”

Oh.

I drop my arms and open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out, so I just shake my head and look to my right at his very lovely kitchen.

“You have a great kitchen.”

“Yes.” It’s a simple agreement, and Luke is on the move, slowly walking toward me. There’s no humor in his eyes now, it’s hunger. Hunger for me.

I couldn’t move if I wanted to.

“Do you like to cook?” My voice is higher than normal and the nervousness is back, but this nervousness is not fear.