With Me in Seattle Bundle One

by Kristen Proby

  ***

  “Oh, this feels so good.”

  Natalie and I are at our favorite nail spa near Alki Beach. We’ve been coming here for years. I have Olivia on my chest, snoozing away, my feet in hot water, and my best friend to my right.

  Life is damn good.

  “We need to get back on our pedicure schedule,” Natalie remarks and sighs as she dips her feet in the hot, fragrant water.

  “Definitely.” I kiss Olivia’s head and pat her little diaper-covered bottom. “She’s so sweet, Nat.”

  “I know.” Natalie smiles at us. “Here, give me your phone, I’m going to take a picture.”

  “Oh good!” I hand her my phone and smile as she takes our photo and then hands the phone back to me. “Oh, look at us, Livie. We’re beautiful.” Without hesitation, I send the photo via text to Nate.

  “Can we paint her toes, too?” I ask Natalie, and she giggles.

  “Sure. Let’s do pink.”

  The nail tech finds the tiny brush she uses to hand-paint designs on nails and paints each of Olivia’s tiny toes baby pink. She sleeps right through it.

  “Adorable.”

  My phone pings, and I check the text from Nate. Gorgeous girls. Kiss her for me.

  I sigh and show it to Natalie.

  “He’s very sweet. I’m surprised.”

  “I know. He can be rough around the edges, with his motorcycle, and the fighting, and the tattoos. I had no idea. But at work he’s exactly the opposite, all professional and rich businessman.” I kiss Olivia’s head and breathe in her baby smell. “And this weekend he was incredibly romantic and sweet.”

  “So, someone’s in love.” Natalie grins at me.

  “Yeah, I won’t deny it.”

  “I’m so happy for you.”

  “But it’s so complicated, Nat.” She frowns and tilts her head, and I continue. “We can’t tell anyone at work. Ever. We’d both lose our jobs. It’s not easy to pretend.”

  “Don’t pretend, just be you. You’ve always gotten along well with him at work. Just keep doing that.”

  “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who wants to lick him every time you see him.”

  “Well, no, Luke might have issues with that.” We laugh, and then she’s serious again. “Just be who you are, Jules. Enjoy him. The rest will work its way out.”

  “I hope you’re right.” My phone pings again, and I check the text message.

  Hey baby, I’ll be late tonight. Unexpected teleconference.

  I frown but then shrug. Okay. Still coming over when you’re done?

  I’ll be there.

  Okay, see you later. xo

  “Nate’s working late,” I murmur and stow my phone back in my handbag. “Are we on for Friday movie night?” I ask, changing the subject.

  “We are. Luke’s mom is going to watch the baby at our place. I’m a bit nervous to leave her for the first time, but she’ll be in good hands.”

  “I’m so excited. A night out is exactly what we all need. Let’s go to that newer bar by the theater that has a live band on Fridays. We can dance, and the guys can shoot pool.” Olivia starts to squirm, and I give her her pacifier.

  “That sounds good to me. I’m warning you, though, I’ll be texting Lucy all night for updates.”

  “I don’t mind.” I grin at her over Olivia’s soft head. “I’m just thrilled that you’re no longer pregnant and we can have a margarita.”

  “Or three.” She smirks. “I guess there’s one upside to not being able to breast-feed.”

  “You know, Nate’s birthday is only a couple months away.” I pat the sleeping Olivia’s back as an idea forms in my head. “Since he’s working late tonight, why don’t you and I spend some time in the studio after we leave here?”

  “Oh, that would be fantastic! I’m itching to get back to the studio.”

  “Then it’s a plan.”

  We grin at each other and sigh as the technicians begin to rub our calves and feet.

  ***

  “I forgot how fun this is with you,” Natalie murmurs and presses the shutter aimed at me.

  Luke met us at the house to pick up Olivia, so it’s just Nat and I, like the good ol’ days, playing around with pretty lingerie, makeup and her camera.

  Sexy dance music is pumping through the speakers, and I can’t help but move my body with it.

  “You’re so good at this, Nat. I’m so proud of you.”

  “Okay, no mushy shit tonight. Think sexy.”

  Natalie backs up and surveys the scene. I’m on her king-size, white satin-sheet-clad bed in the middle of the studio. Because it’s dark outside, she has her lights on. My long blond hair is down and wavy around my face, in that just-fucked state that men find so sexy.

  “Lie on your back with your head facing me and arch your back and put your legs in the air, knees together.”

  I comply, making sure my silver heart is nestled seductively in my cleavage, and cross my ankles, legs straight up in the air. I’m wearing white thigh-highs with a white garter and a lacy white push-up bra.

  “Nice, Jules, hold that. Put your hand up at the side of your face. Good.”

  The shutter clicks some more, and I close my eyes, imagining that Nate is looking at me, that he’s the one behind the camera, and I start to move.

  Natalie comes around the bed, taking different angles of the same shot, then I turn over onto my stomach and flirt with her some more.

  “Take the bra off now, but then keep your torso flat against the bed.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The sheets are cool and soft against my breasts, and I feel my nipples pucker.

  “Do you want some nudes as well?”

  “Hell, yeah, it’s his birthday.” I grin wickedly, and she presses the shutter.

  “He’s gonna go crazy when he sees these.” Natalie grins, and I giggle.

  “Here’s hoping.”

  I sit at the side of the bed and remove the stockings, the garter, the thong, with Natalie all the while taking photos. I know that when she edits them she’ll make them look incredibly seductive. A woman taking her clothes off for her man.

  “Okay, naked girl, on your back again.”

  I lie down and arch my back, looking to my side at the camera, cup my breasts in my hands and bend my knees, pointing my toes.

  “God, Jules, if I swung that way and wasn’t married to the hottest man in the free world, I’d so do you right now.”

  I laugh at Natalie, completely at ease with her, and we move about the bed and the room in different poses, trying on different pieces of lingerie and jewelry.

  Natalie’s studio is a blast for a girlie girl like me.

  When we’re finished and locking up the studio, I see lights coming on in the main house.

  “Nate’s here. We’d better get inside so he doesn’t know what we’ve been up to.”

  Natalie smiles. “That was fun. We should do it more often.”

  “I know, I’ve missed you. Playboy called this past weekend. They want me to pose in an anniversary issue.”

  “What did you say?” Natalie asks as we walk through the back door and into the kitchen area.

  “I told them I’d think about it, but then I called them this morning and declined.”

  Nate walks in the room, clearly looking for me, and smiles widely at me before pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply.

  “Well, hi, hot stuff,” I say.

  “Hi. Did I hear you say you turned them down?”

  “Yeah, this morning.”

  “Good. Hi, Nat.”

  “Hey.” Natalie grabs her camera, purse and jacket and kisses Nate on the cheek as she passes by.

  “What have you two been up to?” Nate asks, eyeing Natalie’s camera. “And where’s the baby?”

  “Luke came and got her so Natalie and I could indulge in some girl talk.” I smile sweetly at him and bat my eyelashes, but he narrows his eyes, seeing through me.

  “Uh huh,” he responds.


  “Well, speaking of Livie, I’d better go. See you guys on Friday.” She waves and then is gone.

  “What were you really doing?” he asks.

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Why?” He kisses my cheek and then my ear, and I lean into him with a sigh.

  “Because you’ll find out soon enough. You aren’t allowed to ask questions like this within three months of your birthday.”

  “What?” He pulls back and grins down at me. “What do you mean?”

  “No questions so close to your birthday, ace. Just trust me, we were having fun and I was thinking of you.”

  “Well, that’s all I can ask, baby.” He kisses my forehead and pulls out of my arms, takes off his suit jacket and rolls his sleeves, exposing that sexy tattoo.

  “Are you hungry?” I ask.

  “Starving. Come on, I’ll make you dinner, and you can tell me about your day.” He heads for the kitchen, and I grin. Nate cooking is a sight to behold.

  “You already know about most of my day.” I sit at the breakfast bar and gratefully accept a glass of white wine from Nate.

  “Did you and Nat have fun getting your feet done?” he asks.

  “Definitely. It was a good treat, both the pedi and seeing her and the baby.”

  “She’s getting big already,” Nate comments and seasons two steaks to place under the broiler. “The picture you sent me was beautiful.”

  “She’s awesome,” I murmur.

  “Thank you for turning Playboy down, Julianne,” Nate says softly, and my gaze shoots up to his hot gray one. He’s cutting up baby red potatoes, and his face is serious.

  “I told you I was going to.”

  “I know.” He sighs and shakes his head as if shaking off a mood and then shoots me his sexy grin. “How do you want your steak, baby?”

  “As soon as possible so I can get you naked.”

  Nate laughs. “I can do that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Nate smacks my ass, making me jump.

  “What did I say?”

  “Stop talking about hot dudes,” he growls, and I giggle.

  We’ve just left the movie theater after watching Luke’s newest movie, Never Surrender with Hugh Jackman. We’re walking on the sidewalk toward the bar.

  “What’s the big deal? If you told me that you thought Scarlett Johansson was a hot piece of ass, I’d agree with you.” I push my arm through his and lean my head on his shoulder as we walk. Natalie and Luke are walking ahead of us, hand in hand.

  “Besides, you’re the only hot dude I want, ace.”

  “Gee, I’m so happy to hear it,” he mutters drily, making me laugh again.

  “Has Lucy turned her phone off yet, Nat?” I call to her. She’s texted the poor woman ten times already.

  “No, smart-ass. But she just sent me the cutest picture of Liv and Sam sleeping on the couch.” She shows it to me, and we both ooh and aah over the sweet photo.

  “I need a beer,” Luke says. “Nate, can I buy you a beer?”

  “Yes, please. I need it, too.”

  “You both know you love looking at that baby.” I smirk.

  “Yes, but we’re men, Jules. We keep our feelings to ourselves.” Luke nuzzles Natalie’s neck, and I make a gagging noise in my throat.

  “Keep your hands to yourself, pal, and we’ll be fine. Jesus, why do I come out with you?”

  “Because you think I’m cool and handsome and witty.”

  “And modest,” I quip, and we all laugh.

  I do enjoy these people.

  Oasis, the bar we’re trying out tonight, is fairly busy, darkly lit, and loud with rock music. The cover band is playing a Maroon5 song and doing a pretty good job of it, which is a good sign for us as Natalie and I are big Maroon5 fans. We find an empty booth and all have a seat.

  “This is fun,” I say as I look around the busy bar. The dance floor is a good size and fairly full of dancers in various stages of intoxication. There are two pool tables in the opposite corner from the stage, both in use at the moment. The bar itself is long and big, with three bartenders running back and forth filling orders.

  A cocktail waitress in a tight white T-shirt and short black skirt with black apron approaches our table to take our orders.

  “Hey there, ladies and gentlemen, what can I getcha?”

  Luke orders beers for himself and Nate, and Natalie and I a margarita each. He knows how we like them.

  “The music is great! Get a couple drinks in me, and Natalie and I will be bustin’ some moves.” I smile shyly at Nate.

  “You are beautiful tonight in this red dress,” he murmurs in my ear.

  We always dress up on premiere night. It’s tradition.

  I’m wearing a halter-style red chiffon dress that flows down to my knees. The back exposes my shoulder blades, but all in all, it’s pretty modest. My hair is up in a twist, and I went a little more dramatic with my makeup tonight. I am wearing black Louboutin stilettos.

  I’m rocking this dress.

  Natalie is also gorgeous tonight in a black one-shoulder dress, also chiffon, that floats to her knees. She’s wearing her pearls and red Louboutins.

  Luke is movie-star handsome in his black slacks and white button-down shirt with black jacket, and Nate is just delicious in black slacks and black button-down with rolled sleeves.

  I trace his tattoo with my finger and smile up at him through my eyelashes. “You look mighty fine yourself.”

  Nate leans down farther with a smile and whispers, “I can’t wait to get you out of that dress and fuck you senseless.”

  My thighs tighten at his words, and I lean over to whisper back in his ear, “No need to get me out of it, ace. I’m not wearing any underwear.”

  I lean back and grin as he clenches his eyes shut and whispers, “Fuck.”

  I laugh as the waitress delivers our drinks, and we settle in to discuss the movie.

  “Okay, so we’ve established that Hugh is hot.” Nate narrows his eyes at me, and I smile innocently and take a sip of my drink. “But what did we think of the movie?”

  “Action, sex, blood, stuff blew up…it was fantastic.” Nate salutes Luke with his beer and takes a sip as we all laugh.

  “I liked it, too.” I nod. “I’m getting used to the blood, but I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. The sex was hot, as was Hugh.”

  Nate tickles my ribs, and I laugh. “It’s just too easy to tease you!”

  “I thought it was pure producing genius,” Natalie adds. “Obviously, the man who produced it was intelligent, sexy, and incredibly handsome.”

  “Well, that goes without saying, baby.” Luke kisses her neck, and I roll my eyes.

  “Puke.”

  “Are you saying I’m not sexy?” Luke asks me with a raised eyebrow. “If I remember correctly, your opinion was very different the first time you met me.”

  “Well, now that you’ve had your hands—and other things that make me throw up in my mouth—all over my bff, you can never be sexy to me again. Besides, you were Movie Star Luke then. Now you’re just Luke, my seriously cute brother-in-law.”

  “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” He wipes an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye, and I throw an ice cube at him.

  The waitress delivers refills on all our drinks, and Luke changes the subject.

  “So, I hear you have a beautiful home on the beach, Nate.”

  “I do.” Nate laces his fingers in mine and kisses my knuckles, then rests our hands on the table between us. “Julianne and I would love it if you three would join us there for a weekend next month.”

  I smile up at him, delighted with him, and he kisses my forehead.

  “I would love that! I love the beach.” Natalie nods enthusiastically. “I’ll bring my camera and take some photos of you guys, too.”

  “Cool.” I grin over at her. “Maybe we should set up an appointment with you in the studio.”

  Natalie’s eyes go wide, and
then a lazy smile spreads across her face. “Anytime, sweetie.”

  “Uh.” Luke frowns over at me. “Is that a good idea?”

  “What are you all talking about?” Nate asks, and I giggle to myself.

  “Have you told Nate what kind of photos I take, Jules?” Nat asks and sips her drink, not giving any indication that we were just in the studio earlier this week.

  I shake my head at her and wink.

  “Well?” Nate asks me.

  “Can I show him?” I ask Natalie.

  “Sure.” She shrugs, and Luke grins as I pull out my iPhone and scroll through my photos until I come to the ones that I snapped of the canvases hanging on the studio walls, specifically the ones of the naked couples in various sexual positions, and show them to Nate.

  His eyes go wide, and then he thumbs through each of them, then back through them again, and hands my phone back to me.

  He takes a long gulp of his beer, not looking any of us in the eye. We’re all watching him, smiling, and finally he looks at Natalie and says, “If I weren’t so in love with my girlfriend, and didn’t respect your husband like I do, I’d attack you right here on this table. Those are fucking hot.”

  We all bust out laughing, Luke high-fives Nate, and Natalie blushes just a bit.

  “However,” Nate continues, “I don’t think I’m comfortable with anyone, but especially you, Natalie, taking photos of me making love. We’ll keep it in the bedroom, thanks.”

  “Well,” I add, “not just the bedroom…”

  “Ew.” Natalie wrinkles her nose, and I smile smugly at her.

  “Not as pretty from the other side, is it, friend? Okay, no sex pictures. But I could use some studio time.”

  “Absolutely. When?” Nat asks and winks, enjoying our deceiving banter, then looks over at Nate with a frown.

  I look up into cold gray eyes. “What?”

  “Why?”

  I squeeze his fingers and lean in to whisper in his ear, “Your birthday is coming up, ace.”

  “Next week work for you?” he asks Natalie, making us all laugh again, and I’m relieved to know that he’s going to love his birthday gift.

  Suddenly, the band breaks into another hot Maroon5 song, and Natalie and I grin at each other.

  “Shall we?” I ask her.

  “Sure,” she responds.