Home Is Where the Bark Is
Page 32
She saw hope in his eyes. And relief. Nick did not really want to lose that land. But he would sacrifice it for her. That made her all the more determined that he would not have to sell.
“Keep talking,” said Nick.
“Every week my agent calls me and asks me to reconsider my decision not to pose for the chocolate people again. Their sales started sliding when the campaign ended. Each time the offer from them gets higher. It’s really high now, Nick. Sausalito-house-price high.”
He shook his head. “Serena, you said you would never get into that bathtub of chocolate again. You spoke about it as if it were your worst nightmare.”
“You’re right. I also said I would never wear sexy clothes again. Certainly not a Wonder Woman costume. Before I met you, I’d vowed to never have sex again.”
“I’m glad you changed your mind about all those things.” He kissed her mouth slowly and tenderly. “But what about your stalker? I thought you weren’t going to risk ever encountering someone like him.”
Serena still couldn’t help shuddering at the memory of her stalker. But she was determined not to let the past damage her hopes for her future. “I realize what happened was his problem. Not mine. I didn’t make him a psycho. And there’s another thing. I was scared of a total stranger. Then my close friend turned out to be just as much of a psycho. How much worse than that could it get?”
Nick’s expression was sober. “Those are brave words, Serena. I’m wondering what’s brought about this change.”
Now it was her turn to cradle his face in her hands. “I wasn’t brave before, believe me. It’s all because of you, Nick. Can’t you see? You’ve shown me how strong I am.You cherish me and protect me and make me feel safe.You’ve given me back my confidence.”
He put his hand over hers where it rested on his cheek. “I’m honored you think that way. It’s quite a turnaround.”
“Turnaround? I’d rather call it transformation. It’s love, Nick. I . . . I . . .” She faltered. But she couldn’t lose her courage now. Not when their future depended on it. She thought of that love-heart chew toy, crammed in the bottom of a drawer in her office. It had served its purpose, but she didn’t need to hear it ever again. Not when she could put voice to the words herself. And maybe . . . maybe hear them back in the deep, husky voice of the man she adored. “I love you, Nick.”
“Serena, I love you.” The expression in his eyes gave her no cause to doubt that. “I love you more than you can know.”
“It’s . . . it’s love that’s made the difference to me,” she said. She kissed him again. When it ended they were both flushed and short of breath. She was beginning to think bedroom, and all signs indicated that Nick was, too. But she had more to say. She pulled away from the kiss. “So what do you think of my idea?” she said.
“That you slide back into that bathtub for another ad campaign? No. I don’t approve, not when you’ve hated the idea so much.”
“Not the bathtub. The agency is talking something less racy. Something I think I can handle. I’ll be doing it for us. Oh, and for my grandchildren.”
“Grandchildren?”
“Maddy says I should shoot another campaign before I get old and wrinkly and overweight so I can prove to them I was once young and slim.”
Nick smiled. “It’s a thought. But I’d rather you said ‘our’ grandchildren.”
“Our grandchildren,” Serena said, loving the sound of it. “And by the way, this time it’s a swimming pool.”
“A swimming pool of molten chocolate?”
“You got it. In Hawaii. A beautiful pool with palm trees and everything. Don’t ask me how they’ll do it. Or how they’ll clean it up afterward. I just have to swim around in the chocolate.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I wonder if you would need a private assistant? Someone to lick all that chocolate off of you after the shoot?”
“I think you should apply for the job,” she said with a delicious shiver of desire. “We could practice lots before the shoot.”
“Sounds great to me.”
“There’s something else about Hawaii, Nick.” Serena wound her arms around his neck so his face was very close.
“Apart from the palm trees and the swimming pool of chocolate?”
Her heart started to pound so hard she felt he must be able to feel it. “Yes. They . . . they say Hawaii is a wonderful place . . . well . . . a wonderful place for a honeymoon.”
His eyes darkened fully two shades of blue. But he didn’t miss a beat. “Really?” he said. “I hear San Francisco is a great place for a wedding.”
“I’ve heard that, too,” she said.
“Perhaps we should try it,” he said. “Do you think the boss lady could schedule a wedding in sometime soon? Her own wedding?”
She smiled, her heart making as much music as her guitar ever had. “Yes, please,” she said.
Table of Contents
Praise
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five