Come Away with Me

“Great idea.” I smile as we dish up, grab our wine and head out to the deck off the great room. The outside eating space is spectacular. Warm tones of reds and browns, the table seats six, and there is a huge stainless steel grill with outdoor kitchen counters, fridge and sink.

We sit and my nerves from our earlier delicious kiss are gone, and I’m just plain hungry.

“Hungry?” he asks, reading my mind.

“Starving!”

“Dig in.”

I take a bite and close my eyes.

“Mmm… s’really good.”

I cover my mouth with my napkin and laugh. Luke’s eyes dance and he smirks, taking a drink of his wine.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“So,” I scoop up another bite. “Your mom taught you to cook?”

“Yeah, she always said that all of her children needed to be able to feed themselves after we left the nest.” I watch him stab some chicken with his fork.

“How many siblings do you have?”

“I have one brother and one sister.”

“Older, younger?” I ask. God, this man can cook.

“Older sister, younger brother.”

“And what do they do?”

“Samantha, my sister, is an editor for Seattle Magazine.” Luke’s eyes are full of pride. “Mark is wasting away his college education as a fisherman in Alaska.”

“I take it you don’t approve?” I raise my brow at him as I take a sip of wine.

“Well, he’s young. I guess it’s good he sows his wild oats now.” Luke shrugs.

“Your parents?” I like hearing him talk about his family. He clearly loves them very much.

“They live in Redmond. Dad works for

Microsoft

and

Mom

is

a

homemaker.” He glances down at my empty plate.

“It was delicious, thank you.” I lean back in my chair and stretch out my legs.

“You’re very welcome.” He looks so young with his shy smile. “Would you like some more?”

“Oh no, I’m full.” I pat my belly and gaze out at the water. “This is a fantastic view.”

“Yes, it is.” I look over at him, and he’s gazing at me. My cheeks warm.

“You’re very complimentary.”

“You’re easy to compliment.”

I smirk.

He tilts his head to the side and picks my hand up in his, bringing it to his mouth. This is the first time he’s touched me since that thigh-clenching kiss and I sigh at the heat of his touch.

“You are quite beautiful, Natalie.

Why don’t you believe that?”

I’m stupefied. No one has ever called me out on my insecurities because I’ve never shown them to anyone. I shrug.

“I’m happy you think so.”

He frowns at my answer but doesn’t press me. “I do.”

“I wish I had my camera.” I don’t realize I’ve said this out loud, and I feel him tense beside me.

“Why?” his voice is cold, and looking into his eyes, they’re arctic.

“Because of this view.” I gesture out to the water. “This would make a wonderful image.”

He relaxes beside me. “Maybe one day you’ll be able to capture it.”

“There’s that ‘one day’ again.” I grin at him and he grins back.

“One day.” He says again and I can’t help but feel a little giddy inside. I shiver a bit as a breeze rolls through his patio. The sun has set, and the sky is all purple and orange, and it’s cooling off.

“Are you cold?” he asks.

“No, I’m good.”

“Really?”

“I’m a tiny bit cold, but I don’t want to go inside.”

“I’ll be back.” With that he stands and gathers our dirty plates.

“Hey, I’ll clean up. You cooked.”

“Nonsense. You’re my guest, Natalie. Besides I have a housekeeper who will do most of it in the morning.

Sit. Stay.” He pins me with a serious gaze, then heads inside.

He’s so bossy. I think I like it. No one has ever had the audacity to be bossy with me before. It’s fun.

I hear the iPod change from Adele to something soft and bluesy and a few moments later he’s back with a plush green blanket and my iPhone.

“The light was blinking on your phone; I thought you might want to check it.” He hands it to me, but before I can look at it he holds his hand out to me.

“Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“Just over there.” He points to a plush loveseat closer to the edge of the patio.

I take his hand and he leads me over and I sit, sinking into the cushions. He sits beside me and drapes us both in the blanket. His arm is draped around me.

“This is quick.” I look into his blue gaze, unsure if being in his arms like this, this quickly is altogether safe, yet I want to be here.

“We’re just admiring a pretty view, Natalie.” He pulls me closer to him, runs his hand down my side and I lean on his shoulder. I remember my phone in my hand and pull it out from under the blanket to read it, not bothering to hide it from Luke.

Hey gorgeous, plans tonight?

It’s my friend Grant, and while we haven’t had sex in a while, sometimes, if we’re drunk or lonely, we indulge. I haven’t heard from him in weeks, and of course it has to be now, as I’m curled up in this sexy man’s arms that he texts me.

Crap, crap, crap. Luke tenses beside me, and I cringe, but hit reply, still not pulling it out of his eyesight. I have nothing to hide.

Yeah, I have plans. Sorry.

Luke doesn’t relax beside me and I know he’s mad. Shit.

Grant responds almost immediately.

Tomorrow?

Sorry, Grant, not interested.

Okay, bye Nat.

I put my phone in my pocket and just lean my head back on Luke’s shoulder, not saying anything. What can I say? He lets out a sigh and tightens his hold on me, not saying anything for a long time.

Finally I glance up at him.

“Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Um, I don’t know. Just checking.”

The last two words are whispered. He seems mad at me, but I didn’t do anything wrong. I told the guy to take a hike!

Suddenly he shimmies and pulls his iPhone out of his pocket. “What’s your phone number?”

My wide gaze finds his and he raises a brow. I rattle it off to him and he punches it into his phone. “What’s your last name?”