Dating by Design Series Box Set

by Jennifer Peel

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving him permission to continue his tour.

  He picked me up and placed me on the counter. I drew him as close as I could by wrapping my legs around him. His lips came crashing into mine before he deepened the kiss and explored every available space in my mouth. The torrid love letter between us was finally being written, and I knew I wanted to reread it as often as possible. His hands once again undid my hair and it fell around us.

  “Is something burning in here?” Skye yelled.

  Yes, my body. Wait. Something was burning. There was smoke and an acrid smell. How did I miss that?

  Nick and I broke apart. While I jumped off the counter, embarrassed to be caught passionately kissing Skye’s dad, Nick swore and quickly took the pan of burnt peppers off the stove.

  Skye stood there, towel-drying her hair after her shower, with a mix of amusement and I’m-grossed-out playing on her face.

  I tucked what I was sure was messy hair behind my ear.

  “I’m happy you’re together, but can you save the PDA for when I’m not around?” Skye didn’t give us a chance to answer—she walked right back out.

  A look passed between Nick and me that said the tour would continue later.

  As much as I enjoyed the private tour Nick had given me, I loved it even more when I found myself between Nick and Skye on the most comfortable, stylish leather couch of all time watching one of Skye’s favorite movies, Pitch Perfect, on what had to be the biggest personal screen you could own. Who needed a movie theater?

  Plus, the food here was way better. Nick made the most amazing braised chicken with peppers. He didn’t burn them the second time around. I had no idea he was such a good cook. I thought he’d have a personal chef on staff. He mentioned he used to when On the Edge was at its height.

  I was snuggled against Nick while Skye got comfy by resting her head in my lap and prostrating herself on the couch with her feet propped up. I played with her hair while she talked over the movie.

  “So, Hensley wants me to go to San Diego tomorrow with her parents. Is that okay?”

  Nick mulled it over. “What are they doing there and how long would you be gone?”

  “They’re going to Coronado Island, you know, to do the tourist thing. We’ll be gone all day. Please, Daddy, I’ve hardly seen Hensley all summer. And you trust her parents.” She had the cute pouty-lip thing down.

  “But Kate’s in town,” he countered.

  Skye smiled up at me but spoke to her dad. “Yeah, I know, but don’t you want some alone time? And we can all have dinner tomorrow night when I get back. We can take Kate to The Loft. You’ll love it,” she addressed me specifically.

  Nick did the total dad thing and acted like he was debating all while I knew, and I was sure Skye knew too, that he was going to say yes.

  “I suppose,” he relented. “But I’m making reservations for seven, so make sure you’ll be back in time for that.”

  “Thank you, Daddy.” She focused back on her movie and sang along with it.

  Nick kissed the side of my head. “Looks like it will only be you and me tomorrow. Can you handle that?”

  I was going to try my very best to. “I think so.”

  “We’ve made progress.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  I hadn’t intended to fall asleep in Nick’s arms on his couch with Skye snuggled against me also sleeping soundly. It felt amazing, but when I realized I was at his home and it was late, I stirred and turned, ever so gently to not wake up Skye, to find Nick awake and gazing at me in the semi-dark.

  “Why did you let me fall asleep? You were supposed to take me back to my hotel,” I whispered.

  His only answer was to brush my lips with his own. “Stay with me, Kate.”

  I hadn’t received that kind of invitation in a long time. My heart was beating double-time even thinking about what that meant. “Nick, I can’t . . . we can’t . . . yet.”

  “I’m not inviting you to my bed. I promise you, the anchor will come before the pleasure cruise.”

  “You listened to me.”

  “Every word.” He stroked my cheek. “Please stay.”

  “Even if we aren’t going to sleep together, I don’t have my stuff with me. And how will it look to Skye?”

  “It will look like I finally let her have a sleepover. We’ll all stay here on the couch,” he said as if that was a logical solution.

  “And she’s not going to think it’s weird that you let your friend stay the night?”

  “You can say it like it is and call yourself my girlfriend. Skye already does.”

  “Does she now? And where did she get that idea?”

  “I think everyone but you knew.”

  “That’s not true. Kenadie and Zander said I was too smart to fall for you.”

  His brows furrowed together. Something about Kenadie rubbed him the wrong way. “What do they know?” he grumbled.

  “Regardless of what I am or not, I don’t have my things.” I grinned. Honestly, I was happy to think of myself as his girlfriend.

  He shrugged. “Everything you need will be here in the morning.”

  That gave me some pause. “Do you keep a closet full of women’s clothing for ‘occasions’ like these?”

  “What are you implying?”

  “I don’t want to be anyone’s conquest.” My vulnerabilities were coming out.

  “Kate.” He rested his forehead on mine. “Despite my reputation, I’m not that kind of man. I don’t see women, especially you, as conquests. Yes, I’ve made mistakes—you know that. But you’re different. We’re different. I knew from the first time we met, you would be.”

  “The very first time?” I eked.

  He kissed my nose. “Yes.”

  “How could you know then? We barely had a conversation.”

  “Only because you ran off, which seems to be how you operate. Why did you leave?”

  “Your fans mauled you and pushed me out of the way. It looked like you were kind of busy.”

  “Busy trying to get away from them so I could see what your plans were . . . for the rest of your life.”

  Time and my lungs stopped working with that confession. “Really?” I breathed out.

  “Really.” His eyes tried to convey how sincere he was. “When we touched it was like—”

  “A torrid love letter,” I whispered.

  “You felt it too.”

  I nodded.

  “Why did you refuse to tell me we’d met before?” He was not going to let that question go.

  I looked up to his high ceilings and bit my lip. “Because I didn’t want you to ruin the magic of that moment for me. I was afraid if I ever told anyone about it, it wouldn’t be real. The connection I felt that day was so overwhelming. I’ve wondered if I would ever have it again. But even if I never got to experience it again, I needed it after everything I went through. Something to hope for. As silly as that sounds.”

  “What you’re saying is you needed me.” A smile danced in his eyes.

  “In some way, I suppose.” I rested my head on his shoulder. “Honestly, though, as magical as that moment was, it made me realize that as much as I had dreamed about you, you and I weren’t meant to be. You were a newly single father of a toddler.” I stroked the hair of that toddler, now all grown up, who rested against me. “A man who could have any woman he wanted, and you didn’t need another coed fangirl vying for your attention. I knew I couldn’t compete. I didn’t even want to try. So I hung up my dreams and got involved with a nightmare.”

  He held me tighter as if trying to protect me. “You had my attention for far longer than you’ve known. I wanted you then and now.”

  His words filled me with such pleasure, but a hint of worry played in the background. “Nick, I’m not the girl who wrote your name in my notebooks or ogled you on my wall.”

  “Kate, I’m not looking for a fan to share my life with. I want the woman who looks past my fame and who’s not
afraid to keep my ego in check. You do both well.”

  I laughed softly into his shoulder.

  “But if you want to hang me up on your wall again, I wouldn’t stop you. I’d be happy to hang a picture of you on my wall.” The last part sounded sincere, maybe even the first half.

  I snuggled closer to him. “Nick, is this crazy?”

  “No.” He tilted my chin up and our lips met. Feelings of serendipity swirled around us. His kiss was warm and gentle this time. He barely parted my lips and only lingered for a stirring moment. He brushed his hand across my cheek and through my hair. “Stay with me.”

  I took a deep breath and nodded.

  He swiped my lips one more time. “Good night, Kate.”

  I settled back against him, feeling connected and whole for the first time in a very long time. Peaceful sleep engulfed me.

  ~*~

  I woke to the sound of Skye frantically shouting about how she was going to be late.

  Nick and I both sat up lazily.

  “I better make us something to eat.” Nick yawned.

  “Do you want me to see if I can help her while you do that?” I was afraid to overstep bounds and wasn’t sure how and where I should insert myself as Nick’s girlfriend. Was that ever weird to say or think. Weirder that we had all slept together on his couch. The crick in my neck I was starting to feel was worth every second of it.

  Nick paused and peered into my eyes. A thoughtful expression filled his gaze. “Kate,” he paused, then opened his mouth to say something, but it never got articulated. I did get a peck on the lips. “Yes.”

  It was a good way to start the morning. I rushed off to find Skye to see if she needed my help. Light streamed in and illuminated every surface of the magnificent house. It was a weird observation, but his hallways were a lot wider than any home I’d been in, but I was happy to find that it was a normal house of a teenager—Skye’s things cluttered the hall leading to what could only be called a suite. Skye’s glitzy and sparkly bedroom was every teen girl’s dream, right down to the huge lighted mirrors, four-poster white bed, and poufs galore that filled the space. It was also a mess, with clothes strewn about, an unmade bed, and empty strawed plastic smoothie cups.

  “Hey, pretty girl, can I help you?”

  Skye was frantically tossing clothes all over. “I can’t find my new Abercrombie shorts.”

  “What do they look like?”

  “They’re denim with embroidered flowers.”

  “We’ll find them,” I assured her.

  “And I need to do my hair and my makeup.” She was starting to panic.

  The mom gene appeared, and I easily found the shorts lying next to her bed under some T-shirts with tags still on them. No need to mention how pricey they were. I held up the shorts. “I’ll help you with your hair while you do your makeup.”

  She rushed to me and took the shorts but not before hugging me. “Thanks, Kate.”

  Her private bathroom was as dreamy and messy as her bedroom. I was jealous of her clawfoot tub.

  I brushed and smoothed her hair while she sat at her vanity and applied moisturizer to her flawless skin. “I can do a braided twist.”

  She met my eyes in her mirror. “You’re a godsend. I love you.”

  Huh. Those words pricked my heart. I rested my hands on her thin shoulders and the most beautiful feeling fell upon me. “I love you too, kiddo.”

  Her face was all smiles. “I’m really glad you and my dad are together.”

  “Me too.” I began to piece her luxurious blonde hair into strands.

  “I wish you lived here.”

  Oh. Whoa. About that. “Your dad and I will have to work out when we all can see each other once the summer is over. I’ll come visit and you guys can visit me.”

  Her cute nose scrunched. “It won’t be the same.”

  “It won’t, but I live near Liam.”

  Her cheeks pinked while her shoulders fell. “He told me that he thought it would be better if we stayed friends.”

  “What? When?”

  “A couple of days ago.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, honey?”

  “Because it’s embarrassing. I mean, why doesn’t he like me?”

  I set the brush down and squeezed her shoulders. “I don’t know that he doesn’t. Sometimes it’s the timing of it all. He’s starting college and you’re still in high school. Maybe he doesn’t want you to miss out on any opportunities.”

  “That’s what he said.” She sniffled.

  I smiled at her through the mirror. “He’s a good guy. The kind that if it’s meant to work out, it will. But you are young, and you should date around and get to know lots of different guys before you ever settle on one. Most importantly, you should get to know yourself.”

  “Is that what you did?” she asked innocently.

  Her question caught me off guard. I had to think for a moment. “Something like that.”

  I wasn’t quite ready to tell her about Douglas. Someday, if this ended up being permanent, we would have that talk. And I would make sure to do my best to see that she never had a Douglas in her life.

  “I hope it doesn’t take me as long as you to figure it out,” she said without any guile.

  I laughed. “Me too.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  With Skye off, it was only Nick and me, looking frightful in the clothes I’d worn the day before.

  Nick pulled me close to him in the kitchen. “We have a busy day ahead of us. Why don’t you go take a shower,” he groaned. “While I try not to think about you in there.” He buried his face in my neck and soaked me in.

  My fingers tangled in his hair. “What are we doing today?” I stuttered. He was driving me crazy in the best sort of way.

  “I’m going to give you a taste of our world here. See how you like it.”

  I leaned away from him.

  He read my mind. “I’m not the novelty here I am in Georgia. No one is going to bother us or give a damn who you work for.” His expression softened. “What do you say?”

  “I can’t think of anything I would like more, but I have nothing to wear.”

  “I’ve taken care of that too.” He took my hand and pulled me along. “You will have everything you need when you are done showering.”

  “How?”

  “That’s my secret.”

  I let him keep his secret while I relaxed in one of his guest bathroom showers that doubled as a sauna. I had died and gone to heaven. I was with the man of my dreams in his dream house. How did this happen? My twenty-year-old self said told you so. My thirty-four-year-old self was trying to revel in it all while remaining cautious. I was me, after all. And there were things to work out—we lived on opposite sides of the country and my job. My younger self begged me not to ruin this moment for her. Okay, fine, I told her while I steamed away the kink in my neck.

  There was a knock on the bathroom door while I was combing my hair, wrapped in the softest towel imaginable. I needed to find out the thread count on it. I slid the door open, but only enough to peek out.

  Nick stood there with a smug grin on his face holding a large bag with a boutique name on it. “This is for you.”

  “Thank you.” I reached my hand out for it.

  He pulled it away from me, making my bare arm extend farther. “Just a little more, Kate.”

  “Nick.”

  “You can’t blame a guy for trying.” He took my hand and kissed it before handing me the heavy bag.

  “What’s in this?”

  “You’ll see. I’m going to get ready. By the way, I prefer the red one for the beach.”

  What did that mean? He strode away before I could ask. When I knew he was gone, I opened the door more and pulled in the bag, which was filled to the top.

  The first layer was clothing. I laid each piece out on the counter, touched and uncomfortable by his generosity. I carefully examined each beautiful article from the intimate items all the way to the iconic-lo
oking, cream off-the-shoulder sundress. How he knew my size, I had no idea, but he was spot on, even the bra size. Not sure I wanted to know how he gained that talent.

  The comment about the “red one” made sense when I pulled out two bikinis, one red, one white. I rolled my eyes. They were tasteful, but they were bikinis.

  Since it appeared the beach was involved, I wore the red bikini under the white safari shorts and V-neck T-shirt. I threw my hair up and only wore a hint of makeup. Nick had thought of that too. In the bottom of the bag were an assortment of high-end cosmetics.

  Nick had been busy while I got ready. He had a cooler and beach bag ready to go while looking like a million bucks in his blue swim trunks and tight, white tee. Maybe I would stay in California. Getting on that plane tomorrow afternoon sounded like the last thing I wanted to do.

  Nick’s garage was more like a car museum. Along with his beautiful Mustang, he owned a Porsche, Range Rover, two motorcycles, and a BMW.

  He headed for the Mustang again. It was my favorite.

  “Tonight after dinner, we’ll cruise the PCH—Pacific Coast Highway—on my bike. It’s the best way to experience it.” He pointed to the black motorcycle in the corner.

  “I’m game.”

  Nick smiled and placed the cooler and bag in the trunk before opening my door for me.

  Before I stepped into the car, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for everything.”

  “You’re welcome, but that bikini was for my pleasure.”

  “You may not think so once this top layer comes off.”

  “Kate,” he leaned in, “there is no one more beautiful to me than you.” He kissed me.

  The emotion his words evoked spilled out through my lips and I pressed them firmly against his.

  “Mmm,” he groaned in pleasure. “If you keep kissing me, I’m going to be tempted to take you back inside or lean the seats back in the car,” he spoke against my lips.

  “I’ll save some for later,” I backed away and took my seat.