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 moving 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 LA, 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.”
“But…”
“Listen.” He kisses me, his smile still in place, and I calm, just a bit. “We don’t even need to break ground until we both agree that we’re ready to take that step, Sam. The land will be here.”
“But it’s so far out of town.”
“No, it’s not.” He shakes his head and chuckles almost shyly. “I took the scenic route. I was trying to kill time while waiting for the radio to play your song.”
“How far out are we?”
“Only ten minutes from downtown.” He runs his fingertips down my cheek. “Think of the closet you can build, baby.”
“Oh God, it’s not fair to bribe me with a closet.”
“I’m not bribing you.” He tosses his head back as he laughs. “I want you to have full input on the house. You can have anything you want, whenever you’re ready.”
“Did you already buy it?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
He looks down and frowns nervously and then looks back into my eyes. “Yes. For us. For when we’re ready. It’s gonna happen, sunshine. You’re mine.”
He’s right. And I love him for not pressuring us to jump into it right now, but rather letting things progress as they should.
“So, when we’re ready to move in together,” I clarify, “we’ll draw up plans and have Isaac build us a house here, on a seventy-five-foot cliff?”
“Or on the grassy part over there,” he agrees.
I look out over the gray water, covered in dark clouds with white seagulls flying over it looking for food. A ferry is carrying people to one of the islands.
“It’s a beautiful view.”
“Yes, it is.” I glance over to find him staring down at me with serious eyes. “I want to look at it for the rest of my life.”
Wow.
“Thank you.” I hug him tight, bury my face in his chest and breathe him in.
“For what, sweetheart?”
“My song. This place.” I lean back and look up into his handsome face. “Being so good to me.”
“You’re welcome.” He kisses my forehead and leads me back to the car. “Wanna get takeout and a movie on the way home?”
“And cupcakes.”
***
“Seriously, why do men think all this blood is cool?” I cringe as another poor bad guy gets blown away on the big-screen TV in Leo’s bedroom.
“Ask your brother, he’s the expert.” Leo laughs and takes another bite of his lemon cupcake. I eye it longingly, and he pulls it out of my reach. “Mine.”
“But I didn’t get lemon.” I bat my eyes at him and cup his dick in my hand. “Please?”
“You don’t fool me.” He smirks and pushes my hand away. “You’re a selfish brat when it comes to cupcakes.”
“Meanie.” I pout and cross my arms over my chest. My cupcake was devoured long ago.
He smirks again as his phone rings.
“Nash.” He swallows his cake and frowns. “When?”
I don’t like the tone of his voice. He pauses the movie and sits up straight, checking his watch.
“Okay, man, don’t panic. I’ll call the flight crew and get the jet ready. You just get your shit together and meet us there. Yeah, I’ll call the other guys too. Tell Lori we love her.”
He hangs up and runs his hand down his face.
“That was Gary.”
“What’s wrong?” I immediately ask.
“Lori’s in labor.”
“She’s early.” I frown.
“Yeah, we thought we had time. Gary’s still here. We need to get him down to her.” He jumps up off the bed and just looks around, his eyes worried, like he doesn’t know what to do first.
“Okay, you make your calls, and I’ll pack your bag.” I reach for his large duffle.
“Are you sure? You should come with me.”
I fold his jeans and a few tees and lay them in the bag. “I can’t, babe. I have interviews, and Luke called today while we were at the cliffs. He wants to chat.” I shake my head and smile at him reassuringly. “It’ll be okay. Get Gary home, check on Lori. Tell her I’m sorry that I can’t be there.”
“Okay.” His mouth is grim, and
I can see the internal struggle of taking care of his guy and being here with me. “I don’t like it.”
“It’ll be okay,” I repeat and hug him tight. “Make your calls.”
“Thanks.” He kisses my forehead and gets to work, calling to make sure the jet will be ready within the hour.
Must be nice to have a plane at your beck and call.
As he paces the bedroom, placing call after call, I gather his things and pack his bag. His toiletries, socks, underwear. He really has great underwear. They’re all the really short boxer-briefs in black. Some say Armani along the elastic waist. Some say Ed Hardy. God, they’re hot.
“Why are you staring at my underwear?” he asks with a laugh.
“I was picturing what you look like in them.” I smirk and throw them in the bag. “You have hot underwear.”
“What’s up with your obsession with underwear?”
“I just like it.” I shrug.
He shakes his head and makes his next call. I run downstairs to grab his computer and anything else he might need when I spot a notepad on the couch. The top sheet is covered in half-finished song lyrics. I read them and grin. This is definitely not a ballad, badass or otherwise.
I flip to a fresh sheet and scribble a note, fold it in half, and carry the rest of his things to the bedroom to add them to his bag.
“I think I’m about ready.” He frowns as his eyes move around the room and over to me. “Will you drive me to the airport?”
“Sure, but I don’t have my car,” I remind him. “I’ll have to drive your car.”
“I’ll drive to the airport, and you can drive it home, if you promise to be careful.”
“Are you insinuating that I’m a reckless driver?” I ask and plant my hands on my hips, feigning annoyance.
“No, I just want you to be careful with my car. It’s new. And really cool.”
“It’s okay.” I shrug and laugh when his jaw drops in disbelief.
“Did you just disrespect my car?”
“Get over it.” I roll my eyes and zip up his bag. “You’re packed.”
He takes the bag from me and sets it on the floor, cups my face in his hands and kisses me, not gently and softly, but passionately, like the thought of being away from me is killing him.
I wrap my arms around his waist and lean into him, pressing my belly against his erection.
“No time for this,” I murmur against his lips and smile as he growls in frustration. He kisses me again and then pulls me in for a tight hug.
“Be good,” he whispers, making me smirk.
“I’m always good. You be good.” I lean back and push my cheek into his hand, enjoying his warm touch. “Seriously, tell Lori I’m thinking of her. Be safe.”
“Let’s go.”
***
“Where is my wife?” Gary demands as we approach the ER desk at Cedars Sinai hospital in LA.
“Uh, who are you?” the plump brunette asks, her voice bored. She’s reading a magazine and gossiping with a co-worker.
“Gary Hovel,” he states impatiently, tapping his hand on the countertop. “My wife is Lori, and she’s having a baby.”
“She’ll be up on four, in the maternity wing. Are you all together?” she asks with a frown, eyeing all of us.
“Yes,” Gary calls to her, already halfway down the hall to the bank of elevators. He’s been a mess and a pain in the ass since we left Seattle.
Poor guy.
The elevator delivers us to the fourth floor, and Gary charges over to a nurse’s station. “Where’s my wife?”
“Which one would she be?” a petite blonde asks with a grin. She’s way too chipper to be working at this time of night.
“Lori Hovel.”
“Room 409, down the hall.” She points, and Gary is off like a greyhound after a rabbit.
The rest of us aren’t far behind him.
“Oh, thank God,” Gary breathes and rushes to his wife, taking her in his arms and burying his face in her neck, then kissing her face. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. We’re both fine.”
“Where is Maddox?” he asks.
“With my sister. Everything is okay, babe.” She smiles at him and rubs her belly. There’s a belt strapped around it with thick wires leading to a monitor.
“Hey, handsome!” Cher leaps from her chair next to Lori and launches herself at DJ. “Welcome home.”
“Thanks.” He grins at her and kisses her hard. The rest of us plop down in chairs around the room and grin at Lori.
“So, how much longer do we have to wait?” Eric asks.
“Well, my labor stopped,” Lori responds with a sigh.
“What?” Gary frowns. “How is that possible?”
“Oh, it’s possible. Trust me.” She shakes her head and sighs. “They won’t let me go home because my water broke, and they don’t want to risk infection, so here I am.”
“Can’t they make it start up again?” I ask with a frown. “I’ll make a call.”
“Even your contacts can’t make the baby come faster than it wants to.” Lori laughs at me. “If the labor doesn’t start again by tomorrow morning, they’ll induce me, but we could be looking at days, I guess. I’m not really sure.”
“Jesus,” I whisper and swallow. What the fuck am I going to do for a couple days in LA, besides go crazy from wanting Sam? And then it occurs to me. I grin and pull my phone out of my pocket, find the number I want and dial.
“What’s he doing?” Cher asks.
“Hey, Kat, this is Nash.” I grin. “I’m in town and need a favor.”
“He’s doing what Leo always does when he’s bored,” DJ answers and kisses her cheek. “He’s gonna get another tat.”
“We should all go and let you guys sleep,” Eric mutters as I end my call.
“Thanks, man.” Gary hugs me and slaps my shoulder. “I owe you.”
“Fuck that.” I frown at him like he’s nuts. “This is what we do.”
“Thanks for getting him to me so quickly.” Lori’s eyes have tears in them. “I can’t do this without you guys.”
“You’re gonna be fine, pretty face.” I kiss her cheek and follow the guys out of the room.
Chapter Twenty-Three
~Samantha~
“It could be days?” I ask incredulously and sit up in my bed, scoot back to lean on the headboard, and raise my knees up to my chest, my phone pressed to my ear.
“That’s what she said, but I hope she’s wrong.” Leo sighs.
I love his voice.
“Poor woman, I hope she’s wrong, too, for her sake.” He chuckles in my ear, and I smile. “What are you doing now?”
“I just got to the house a little while ago. I’m unpacking.” His voice sounds flat and unhappy.
“Have your feet frozen off yet?” I ask with a grin. Levine jumps up on the bed, headbutts my hand and begins to purr as I stroke his back.
“No, smart-ass, not yet.” He chuckles.
“Well, wear socks, or they will. What’s on tap for tomorrow?” I lean my head back and close my eyes, listening to him move about his bedroom, trying to picture what he looks like.
“I’ll probably be up at the hospital most of the day. Gary—” He stops suddenly and goes quiet.
“What’s wrong?” I ask and frown.
“I just found something tucked in my clothes.” I hear the smile in his voice.
“What is that?” I try to sound nonchalant but can’t help the grin on my face.
“A note,” he murmurs. “I love you, too.”
“I don’t usually do mushy stuff like that, you know,” I remind him with a laugh, and my stomach clenches when I hear him chuckle.
“Yes, I know. You’re very anti-mush.”
“Damn straight.”
“You know, I always knew this house was cold and uninviting, but I didn’t care because I was hardly here. Now that I’m here without you in it, it’s even worse.” He whispers the last few words.
“Sounds like you have it bad, Nash.”
“I’m having my assistant put it on the market tomorrow. I’ll have my personal stuff sent up north. I’m not staying here again. How’s my car?”
“Well, the tow-truck guy told me that it would be just fine in a few weeks.” I slap my hand over my mouth so he can’t hear the laughter.
“That’s not funny.”
“What?”
“I will spank your ass when I see you, Samantha,” he warns.
“Promises, promises.”
“Tell me it’s safe in your parking garage.”
“It’s safe in someone’s parking garage.” This time I don’t hold back on the laughter.
“Samantha Williams!” He’s laughing, too, and I hear rustling around like he’s getting undressed.
“Are you naked?” I ask.
“Yes. Climbing in bed. You?”
“No, I’m not naked, but I’m in bed.”
“Which shirt are you wearing?”
“Cyndi Lauper,” I lie.
“Liar,” he whispers.
“Journey,” I lie again.
“Try again, sunshine.”
“I might be wearing a signed Nash shirt that my sweet boyfriend gave to me.”
“That’s better.”
I hear him yawn, and I scoot back down to lie under the covers.
“You should go to sleep. We had a long day.”
“You should sleep, too.”
“We have to hang up.” I laugh.
“You hang up,” he mumbles.
“Are we sixteen?”
“Get some rest, baby. I love you.”
He hangs up, and I turn on my back and think back on the day. The song, the dancing, the cliffs where we’ll build a house someday.
If this is a dream, I don’t want to ever wake up.
***
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t let me take you out to lunch,” I complain to Luke when he opens the door to his house.
“Maybe because you’re not making any money, so how would you be able to buy lunch?” He takes my coat and evades when I try to punch him in the arm.
“Don’t be a douche.” I scowl at him. “I have savings. I’m not about to be homeless or anything.”
With Me in Seattle Bundle One Page 112
