With Me in Seattle Bundle One (23 page)

“You do spoil me.”  I smile as I remember the flowers, the coffee, dinner last night.  “You spoil me in all the ways that matter.”

“Nat, I’m very wealthy.  I can afford to spend money on you.”

“Ditto.”  I cross my arms over my chest. 

“You are so fucking stubborn!”  He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair, and I can’t help but be amused.

“Are you smirking?” he asks.

“Kind of.  You’re funny when you’re irritated with me.”

He laughs and looks at the ceiling.  “God, you’re frustrating.”

“I know.  But I love you.”

His eyes soften, and he pulls me into his arms.  “I love you, too.”

I lean up and kiss him sweetly on the lips, then the corner of his mouth. 

“I’m serious, baby.  Take my credit card, grab Jules and go shopping.  Both of you, on me, for your birthday.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Jules breezes into the kitchen.  “Okay, don’t have to tell me twice.  Thanks.”  She winks at him and grins.

“Hey!” I say.  “No way.  I mean it.” 

“Jules, do you have plans tomorrow before dinner at your parents?”  Luke is talking to her but looking at me, his jaw set. 

I am so going to lose this argument.

“Nope.  I happen to have a clear calendar.”  She smiles.

“Great.  Will you please take my girlfriend shopping?  And I think the spa is in order, too.”

The spa, too?  My jaw drops.

“It would be an honor and a pleasure, generous boyfriend-in-law.”  Jules laughs at her quip, and Luke joins her, and all I can do is look back and forth between them.

“I’m in the goddamn room, people!”

“I know, baby, I’m just planning a little something for your birthday.”  He flashes a wolfish smile and winks, and I don’t know whether to smack him or really kiss him.

“I like your boyfriend, Nat.”  Jules smiles at me sweetly, and I know I’m sunk. 

“Fine,” I mutter.

“Your enthusiasm is inspiring.”  Luke’s eyes are shining in humor.

“We’ll go to the spa, but no shopping.”  I’m really hoping he’ll accept the compromise, but I can see by the set of his jaw that there’s no use in arguing.

“You will shop.  Buy whatever you want.  There’s no limit on the card.” 

I shake my head at him.  “Talk about stubborn.”

He shrugs and kisses me hard, then pulls away abruptly, leaving me off balance.

“Will you come to my place when your sessions are over?”

“Yeah, I’ll text you when I’m done.”  I sigh, resigned to my fate tomorrow.  I know that Jules will make me follow Luke’s instructions. 

Traitor.

“Good.  I’ll see you later.”  He kisses me again and rests his forehead on mine.  “I love you, beautiful.”

And just like that my world is set right again, and in this moment I’d do just about anything he wanted.

“I love you, too, bossy man.”

Chapter Twenty-One

“Jules, I don’t want to spend his money.”  I hear the whine in my voice, but I don’t care.

“Sweetie, he wants to do something nice for you.  It’s your birthday.” 

We are wandering through Neiman Marcus in downtown Seattle.  The crowds are light today given that it’s the middle of the week.  The perfectly coiffed saleswomen are very attentive and overeager to make a midweek commission.

“I feel like a gold digger.”

Jules laughs as she pulls a blue blouse off a rack, then quickly dismisses it.  “You are no gold digger.  Here, try this.” She hands me a black blouse, and we continue wandering.

We’ve already been to the spa this morning.  We both had facials, massages, pedicures and manicures and had our bits and pieces freshly waxed.  I have to say, it felt fantastic.  “The spa was enough.  It was generous and relaxing and perfect.”

“Nat, stop fighting this.  Luke is being incredibly generous and wants—
wants
—us to enjoy ourselves today.  I agree that there’s no need to go ape-shit crazy, but humor the man and get a few nice things.  You’ll probably need a few formal dresses if he continues to plan things like the other night, which, by the way,
holy shit
.  Plus, you may have to go to a movie premiere or something sometime, and you have to look the part.”

Holy shit is right.

I’d never considered that.  Does he go to the premieres of the movies he works on now?

Hell.

Two hours, and a few thousand dollars later, we leave the store loaded down with bags and boxes.  I can’t believe she talked me into all of this.  I’m happy that she also managed to snag a few things for herself.  Luke would approve.

I have purchased three new evening dresses and the appropriate undergarments for them, a few blouses and jeans, two new pairs of shoes—Manolo Blahniks!—and a new Gucci handbag.

I might chicken out and return it all tomorrow. 

Jules also scored a new pair of Louboutins and a handbag.  She looks beautiful as we leave the store and head to the car.  She’s the happiest I’ve seen her since her tryst with her boss. Smiling, carefree and relaxed.

Three hours at the spa and two hours of spending someone else’s money at Neiman’s will do that to a girl.

We head back to our house to get ready for the party tonight. I’m really excited to see Jules’ family and to meet her new niece, little Sophie.

Luke will be here in an hour.

“Are you going to wear that pretty new red top with the new jeans?”  Jules pulls her new Louis Vuitton handbag out of its brown dustcover and makes quick work of moving all her things into it.

“Yeah, I think so.  That’s an awesome handbag.”  Aside from shoes, handbags are my weakness, and I can’t help but ooh and aah over my pretty new Gucci bag.

“Have I mentioned that I like your boyfriend?” Jules smirks.

“He is an over-the-top guy, that’s for sure.”

“He really loves you, Nat.  I can see it written all over him.  He just wants you to be happy.”

My heart goes a little gooey at her statement.  She’s right.  And if spoiling me with some new things makes him happy, who am I to complain?

“Did you warn your family about him?  I don’t want them to go fan crazy on him today.”

“Yeah, I did.  They’ve had plenty of time to go fan crazy in private.  You know they’ll be cool.  Besides, I have brothers.  They don’t care that he’s sexy.”

“Good point.”  We smile at each other and then head upstairs to primp for tonight.

***

“Hello, gorgeous.”  Luke pulls me in his arms and kisses me soundly. 

“Hello, handsome.”  I smile up at him and usher him inside the house.

“Are you ladies ready?”  He looks delicious in his black jeans and untucked white button-down shirt. 

I run my fingers through his soft blond hair. “Yes.”

“You look happy.”  He kisses my cheek and hugs me to him again.  “And beautiful in this red blouse.”

“It’s new.”  I feel my cheeks flush.

“Yeah?  I like it very much.”

“Thank you, for everything.”  I kiss him, cupping his beautiful face in my hands.

“Did you have fun?”

“We had a great time.  You spoiled us today.  Thank you for including Jules.”

“I’m fond of Jules.”

“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow.

“She loves you, and she’s your best friend.”

Damn, he’s just so sweet.

“Oh God, please don’t be like this all night.”  Jules walks into the foyer and rolls her eyes.

“Hello to you, too.”  Luke laughs and kisses my forehead, then releases me.

“Thanks for today, Luke.  We had a great time, and I am now the proud owner of this delightful handbag.”  Jules smiles sweetly.

“It suits you.  You’re welcome.  Shall we go?”

I grab my camera bag and follow Luke out to the car.  He raises an eyebrow, glancing at my bag.  “Do you think I’m going to a family dinner with a brand new baby without my camera?  I’m a girl, Luke.”

He smirks and opens my door for me.

Luke and I follow Jules in a separate vehicle to her parents’ house.  They live in a new subdivision in North Seattle where most of the houses look alike. Well-kept lawns, small front porches with hanging baskets of colorful flowers and kids riding bicycles on the sidewalks.  The house is average in size, with a large backyard.

No one, even the Montgomerys themselves, know that I’m the anonymous donor who paid their mortgage off earlier this year.

“This is a nice neighborhood,” Luke comments, and I smile at him.

“It is.  It suits Jules’ parents.  They’re empty nesters, so the house is the perfect size for them.  I’m glad it’s a nice day today. We can all sit out in the backyard.  Her dad has done a great job landscaping it.  You’ll love it.”

We pull up to the house, and Jules’ mom, Gail, comes running out to greet us.

“Oh, my girls are home!  Hello, honey.”  She envelops me in her arms, and I feel tears prick my eyes.  This woman is so special to me.

She pulls back and looks at me, her hands still gripping my shoulders.  “You look lovely, dear.  Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Gail.  This is my boyfriend, Luke.”

“Mrs. Montgomery.”  Luke offers his hand, but she also wraps him in a big hug.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Luke. Please, call me Gail. Welcome.”

His smile is wide and a little bit shy.  “Thank you.”

“Hi, Mom.”  Jules hugs her mom tightly.

“Everyone else is here.  We’re in the backyard.  Your dad is grilling, and I’m praying he doesn’t burn the house down.”

Luke takes my hand, and we wander through the beautifully furnished home, past the state-of-the-art kitchen and out to the backyard.  I smile at Luke’s gasp.

“I told you,” I murmur to him.

The back of the house faces a greenbelt, so there are no neighbors behind them.  The yard is just under an acre.  Beautiful shrubs and bushes border the tall privacy fence that encloses the yard.  Stone paths lined with solar lights lead to different gardens.  There is a riot of color from all the flowers, reds and yellows, purples, pinks.  Some of the gardens have little benches next to them to sit and enjoy the day.

There are also large fruit trees for shade.  Steven Montgomery spends endless hours on this garden, and it shows.

The patio is also large and covered.  A huge stainless steel grill occupies the far left corner, smoke billowing out of it.  Two round patio tables, with six chairs around each, sit in the middle of the patio, and to the far right is a seating area of two rocking love seats.

“I could spend all day out here,” Luke murmurs, and I nod.

I glance at the tables and spot two familiar, but unexpected faces, and whirl around to Luke.  “Your parents are here!”

He blushes a bit and shrugs.  “Jules asked me if she could invite them, and I thought it would be a good idea.  I want our families to get to know each other, Nat.”

“Wow.”  I’m struck dumb.  He never stops surprising me.

“Is it okay?”

Is it okay?  I love him.  His parents are lovely, and yes, I want them to know my family.  Jules’ family is the only family I have.

“It’s great.” 

He smiles, relieved, and kisses my hand.

I lead Luke over to the tables and begin introducing him to Jules’ large family, hugging Lucy and Neil.

“It’s so good to see you, darling girl.”  Lucy holds me extra tight, and I return the embrace.

“Thank you for coming.  I’m happy to see you both.”

Jules’ dad abandons the grill and jogs toward me.  “Come here, birthday girl!”  He sweeps me up in a big hug and twirls me around in a circle. “You’re too thin.  I’m going to fatten you up today.”

I laugh and kiss his smooth cheek.  He’s a shorter man, but made of solid muscle like his sons, and balding on top, though he used to be blond like his daughter.  He’s one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.  “I can’t wait.  I’m hungry.”

“Good.  Is this your man?”  He turns to Luke and holds out a hand.

“Yes, this is Luke.”

“Some kind of fancy movie star, aren’t you?”  Oh God.  He’s going to give Luke a hard time.  A hush falls over the patio as everyone stops talking to listen to the exchange. 

I blush scarlet and start to interrupt, but Luke puts his hand on my elbow and smiles down at me before shaking Steven’s hand firmly.

“No, sir, I’m not fancy or a star.  Thank you for including me and my family here today.”

“Am I going to have to kill you for hurting her?”  Steven keeps Luke’s hand in his own, narrowing his eyes at him, and I just want to die.  Now.

Holy fucking shit.

Luke laughs.  “No, sir.  Can I help you at the grill?”

“You know your way around a grill?”  Steven smiles, and I exhale deeply.

“I do.”

“Well, why didn’t you say?  We’re cooking ribs and chicken.”  And just like that, Steven slaps Luke on the back and leads him over to the grill.

Jules’ brothers wander over to introduce themselves to Luke and offer him a beer, and the chatter resumes.

Isaac’s wife, Stacy, hugs me tight.  “Happy birthday.”  She’s a petite woman with red hair and laughing blue eyes.

“Thank you.  You look fantastic!  Where’s the baby?”  My eyes scan the patio until I find Sophie cradled in Jules’ arms on one of the rocking love seats.

Stacy and I join her, and I hold my hands out.  “Baby.  Mine.”

Jules laughs.  “I just got her.”

“I don’t care.  I’ve never held her.  Hand her over, Montgomery.”

Jules passes me little Sophie, and I just melt.  She is tiny, less than two weeks old.  Her dark hair is long and soft and a little wild in the way baby hair is, and Stacy has put a pretty pink headband on her.  She’s in a beautiful pink little dress with pink bloomers, and she’s barefoot.

I run my hand down her cheek and press my lips to her forehead.  She’s sleeping, oblivious to the party going on around her.

“Oh, Stacy, I’m in love with her.”  I smile up at the new mother, and she preens.

“She’s such a good baby.”

“She’s precious.”  I look down at her again and move her so she’s resting on my chest, curled up under my chin.  I rub her back and begin to rock and hum.  There is just nothing like having a newborn on you.

“You’re so sweet,” I murmur down to her. 

I look up to meet Luke’s intense gaze.  He’s watching me, his look unreadable.  What’s he thinking?