Nate frowned and it only got worse. She didn’t live far from the resort. The house was at the top of one of the flatter slopes with a full three hundred and sixty degree view. It looked like it took up three of the original lots. A very large colonial style with big windows and a wrap around porch. Nate followed her around the side and parked next to her. Behind them was an Olympic sized building resembling a green house, frosted glass prevented you from viewing inside, but he guessed it was the swimming pool. Nate stepped out onto the gravel, staring like a kid, his swim trunks clutched in his hand.
Sophie dropped her keys into the small purse she carried, walking to take his palm and lead him over the wide wrap around porch to the front.
“This…is your house?” Nate cleared his throat a couple times, dark eyes peering at him from behind the tinted lenses.
“It is…I actually have the southern end,” she gestured behind them. “It’s a fantastic view…I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.”
“It is incredible,” Nate looked out over the wide expanse of the Sound stretching to Vashon Island, the Narrows Bridge to the south west of them.
“I can take those,” she held out her hand for his trunks. “Let’s find my father then I’m going to run change clothes…”
Nate stepped inside the large foyer, light streaming around them from the windows placed about the double doors. He looked at Sophie, her mouth pulled into a taut bow.
“Ahh! Sophie!” A tall silver haired man came from the long corridor to the left, his palm up immediately. He was naturally tanned and lean, his smile welcoming.
Sophie released Nate’s palm, stepping forward and kissing her father on the cheek. “Nate Cooper…this is my father, Stewart Addison. I’m going to run change, you two get acquainted,” she turned to stride off when her father’s deep laughter stopped her.
“Sophie! Look at the boy’s face!” Dark eyes twinkled. He was long familiar with his daughter. “You didn’t tell him about the house…I think he’s in shock…”
“Shock? Nonsense…” Sophie looked at Nate with a puzzled frown, leaning forward. “Nate…it might come as a shock to you…but I live in a house…how very odd,” she murmured, shaking her head and striding off down the right side.
Nate shook hands with the older man. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”
“My daughter is amazingly organized and talented, but there are times she is off in her own world,” Stewart Addison gestured to the doors behind them, throwing them wide. “Come into the study, Nate…she’ll find us when she returns.”
“It’s a really nice house,” Nate managed to find his voice inside the large study. Books lined one entire wall, shelves on another with photos and what he guessed were trinkets. The furniture was old style glossy leather and a huge, old desk occupied one corner with a laptop closed on the surface.
“My grandparents built it when there was nothing out here,” Stewart recalled, bending over the wide under counter bar and glancing at Nate. “Do you like ales? I have some excellent ones in the fridge. Help yourself,” he selected one, watching as Nate looked over the choices and pulled out a dark bottle. “The dark ones have a great deal of flavor.”
“I think so,” Nate agreed, taking a slow drink with a sigh.
“Have you known Sophie long?” Stewart gestured to the sofa, his own body sinking into a large chair.
“We’re been talking about six weeks now,” Nate told him easily.
“Sophie doesn’t talk about her personal life much,” Stewart said with a thoughtful frown. “I think it’s because so much of her life was public when she was little.”
Nate walked over to the shelf of photos. “Are these photos…”
“Sophie…my delightful pride and joy,” Stewart said quietly, nodding as memories flowed around him in the room. “I kept her with me everywhere…we’ve slept in some of the most unusual places…and she never complained. As long as I got her to a book shop now and again, she was happy.”
Nate let his eyes go over the photos slowly. She had been born a very beautiful baby and grew into that beauty. Rarely posed for the camera, her father or someone had caught her in relaxed, fun poses that gave a good story of a happy child with a father she loved.
“What’s this one?” He lifted a photo of Sophie at about five, lying on her side in what looked like a hospital bed and refusing to look at the camera. He could see that full bow of her lower lip stuck out.
“Ahhh…that one…” Stewart Addison had one of his fatherly questions answered.
Sophie came around the corner, barefoot and tucking her tee shirt into her jeans. The frown set on her lips, Nate noticed, definitely resembled the pout in the photo.
“Oh, no…just stop right there, father,” she ordered firmly, ignoring the laughter from her father and the stare from Nate.
“I remember a conversation about no secrets,” Nate commented, setting the photo down and striding to sit on the sofa, sipping the ale and watching her glare.
“This isn’t a secret…” She corrected firmly. “It’s…it’s private…”
“Sophie…I’m going to presume that eventually…”
“Father!” Sophie’s eyes widened, a pink hint in her cheeks.
“The difference between private and a secret?” Nate watched the exchange between father and daughter, relaxing and enjoying.
“I think Harold just announced dinner,” she said loftily, holding her palm out to Nate.
“In to dinner than,” Stewart carried his ale with him. “I, however, am not intimidated by her blustering, Nate. One of the zoos we were visiting at the time had a very nice children’s zoo.”
Nate saw the dark eyes close as they entered the large dining area, a modest table set for three.
“Sophie was just past five…we’d had a grand birthday party,” Stewart gestured to a chair, sitting down and beginning to reach for the plates of food. A large roast chicken, wild rice and steamed very green broccoli waited for them. Tall glasses filled with ice water and a pitcher set on one corner.
Nate sat across from Sophie, accepting the plate she handed him when she finished putting vegetables on her plate.
“There was a baby zebra in the collection of free roaming animals in the petting zoo area,” Stewart continued after taking a bite of his chicken. “My daughter always liked dresses as a child…even in the woods or brush…climbing trees and rock faces…a dress and boots…or a dress and tennis shoes…the dresses of a five year old aren’t overly long and Sophie also liked very bright colorful…”
“Oh god,” Sophie put her palm over her face.
“Underwear,” Stewart said delicately. “With lace edging…this particular pair was streaked green because she had been sliding on the grass a short while before…”
Nate felt the grin building on his face, dribbling dressing over his salad and taking a large bite.
“I really believe the zebra might have actually had vision problems,” Stewart continued in a serious tone.
“So…” Nate began slowly, watching Sophie glare at her plate. “She’s lying on her side in the photo because…”
“Sophie had been carrying around a tiny baby pygmy goat and was bending down to set it on the ground…”
“I can think of a hundred topics more appropriate for dinner conversation…” Sophie said with a long sigh.
“The young zebra believed he was taking a bite of grass,” Stewart explained delicately, winking at his daughter. “No secrets is a fine way for a relationship to exist, Sophie.”
“I spent a week being unable to sit because of…of stitches in my…”
“I’d…uhh…offer an embarrassing moment of my own, but they generally revolve about the fact that guys brains just aren’t wired right,” Nate said with a rueful shake of his head. “I’ve climbed out of windows into trees and spent nights locked in a computer lab…never been bit, though.”
“I can probably recite the alphabet with things I’ve been bitten by,” Sophie
said with half a grin, meeting the twinkle in his eyes with a flush of color.
“So tell me what you do at the resort, Nate? I’m quite impressed with the philosophy and mission statement that Sophie’s told me about. Have you always lived here?” Stewart guided the conversation, listening and keenly interested. His daughter had never brought a male friend to their home before. This one was special to her, he noted with a nostalgic fatherly sigh.
Nate accepted a slice of the cherry cobbler from the older woman, his gaze wandering to Sophie as she helped clear the table of plates on to the cart the woman had wheeled into the room. The older couple working there looked to be in their late forties, both treating Sophie like their daughter.
“Linda makes the very best cobbler,” Sophie said with a bite of the flaky crust and cherries.
“Oh, my new passport arrived today so I’m all set for the trip,” Stewart told her half way through his dessert. “I’m looking forward to visiting St. Petersburg.”
“In late September?” Sophie arched an eyebrow. “I hope the baby tigers appreciate you. It’s going to be cold there.”
“I’m guessing you’re not going to Florida,” Nate commented between bites.
“Russia. We’re working on an inter zoo breeding program for the endangered sumatran tigers. The man funding it is Russian and supporting it if the zoo in St. Petersburg does the work and research,” Stewart shook his head, pushing his empty plate back. “It continues to amaze me how humans have decimated so many species in my lifetime…”
Nate heard the sound of soft chimes, neither Sophie nor her father glancing up until Harold came into the dining area with a large vase of flowers. He saw Sophie’s eyes widen and swing to him, her chest heaving as her breathing increased.
“Miss Addison…a delivery…”
Nate stood up and lifted the card, peering into the envelope and shoving it into his pocket.
“On the porch,” Sophie whispered hoarsely, her hand shaking slightly when she lifted her glass of water and drained it, reaching for the pitcher immediately.
“Sophie?”
“I don’t want them,” she looked at Harold. “On the porch. Get rid of them, please.”
“Child, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” her father reached for her palm with a reassuring squeeze before looking at Nate. “One of you kindly explain to me what is going on.”
“The resort terminated a man this week for violating the sexual harassment policies,” Nate said flatly. “This is the second bouquet he’s sent to Sophie.”
“He was harassing you?” Stewart looked at his daughter, concern flooding his features.
“Yes…I…I filed a complaint. He had also been bothering a few others. They terminated him and security escorted him from the property,” she said, both hands moving to circle the goblet of water. “What does the card say?”
“Sophie…” Nate cursed softly at the stubborn tilt of her chin.
“It’s my life he’s messing with, Nate.”
“Welcome home, sweetheart.”
“Oh god…he knows where I live…”
“I’ll get the card to Cassidy tomorrow. I know she’s been talking to Kate about a restraining order, but…” Nate shook his head. “There’s no proof it’s him. The flowers were paid for with cash.”
“Are the police aware of this?” Stewart looked from his daughter to Nate.
“I have to talk to Cassidy tomorrow, father. I’ll let you know when I find out,” Sophie said quietly.
“I spoke to Cassidy before we left work,” Nate said after a brief pause, noting the surprise on her face. “All the security people have photos of him. The police have been advised that there’s been a threat made against you by unknown person or persons,” he watched her mouth open and close. “Without proof, while they agree with Cassidy’s conclusion, at this point, nothing else can be done.”
“Until he harms my daughter,” Stewart said flatly. He stood up and moved to the kitchen. “I’ll let Harold and Linda know about this then I have work to do in my office. I hope to see more of you, Nate. Good night.”
Chapter Seven
“Well…” Sophie pushed her hands flat on the table and forced a smile. “Ready to swim?”
“You’re angry,” Nate said simply, standing up and following out of the room.
“Wouldn’t you be? I…I guess I was too wrapped up in work to think about calling Cassidy and I should have,” she said with a nod as they walked along the wide corridor.
“Are you angry because I talked to Cassidy? Or because the guy is turning out to be a total creep?” Nate asked carefully as the approached a set of ornate white double doors. He followed her inside, blinking at the wide open large room. One corner was media with a sofa and pillows all over the thick rug. The rest of the room was hardwood floor, a cozy dining area off the large kitchen; an office corner with her computer and comfortable desk chair and a smaller area with just a thick floor mat and plants.
“I’m not angry at you, Nate. I’m angry at me,” Sophie pointed to his trunks and then to the door off the kitchen. “Second bathroom. I’ll change in my room and get some towels for us…”
Sophie pulled the band from her hair, massaging her scalp as she pulled a simple navy one piece swim suit from her drawer, clothes dropped to the chair as she changed. She entered the main room holding two large towels and opened the patio door. It was a nice September evening, the smell of the ocean making her smile when she heard the door behind her open.
“We had the pool built just over ten years ago,” she said as they crossed the small open area to the sliding doors. It was steamy and warm, very tropical inside the pool room. “I never even asked if you liked to swim, Nate.”
“I love the water,” he answered easily, watching as she dropped the towels and took a few steps, a running dive sending her shooting through the pale blue water. She surfaced on the other side, sweeping back the long hair and water from her face.
She watched him dive into the deep end, surfacing and using long practiced strokes to come to her side.
“I’m guessing you can SCUBA, too?” Nate asked, watching her float on her back, long hair fanned out like a mermaids.
“A lot of things I’ve been bit by are in the ocean,” she said with a laugh, pushing her feet down leaning against the side. “My father took me everywhere with him…he worked hard to make certain his trips were during off times from school whenever possible. I think he was surprised that you didn’t know about my scar…”
“Your…on your…” Nate blinked and shoved the hair straight back. “As in we should have…”
“Hmmm…he says I’m a replica of my mother,” she said softly. “And they barely made it through a month of dating…”
“Oh…”
“I know he loves his work…but it would have been nice to see him with someone,” Sophie let her feet drift when his hands settled on her waist, her palms resting along his arms.
“I think between his work and his daughter…he’s been a pretty happy guy…but I understand…especially lately…” Nate lowered his mouth to hers, tasting the chlorine and Sophie. He raised his head slowly, glad they were in the water. “Tell me you’re not really going as a school girl on Friday?”
“To the benefit?” She swam backwards with a broad grin. “Yep…sure am…but you weren’t supposed to know that. I told you that before I knew…that it was you I was talking to…”
“Why shouldn’t I know?”
“Can’t tell you…it’s a secret,” she answered with a shrug. Yelping the next instant and striking out hard across the pool when he went into pursuit mode.
“So why is it a secret?” He demanded when he caught up with her, trapping her in the corner.
“That’s a secret, too,” she said sweetly, ducking down quickly and shooting between his legs into the center of the pool.
“So…the girl who said no secrets…” Nate stayed in the center, watching her circle the outside.
&n
bsp; “Ahh…but we also discussed the differences between fun secrets and those that are bad for you,” two hands came up to sweep the hair back, eyes shooting wide when he suddenly dove down and grabbed her ankles, her body sinking into the water.
“So it’s a good secret…” Nate pursued the line of questions, enjoying their play.
“I should think it depends upon your perspective,” she answered in a Cheshire cat like voice, once more shoving her hands through her hair so she could see. “You are obviously having some heartburn with the notion of my school girl outfit, therefore, it might not be a good secret to you, true?”
“I thought you were coming out against all the sexy costumes for females?” Nate decided to try another avenue.
“I’ve given that some thought,” she waggled a finger at him when he started making a move closer, her feet up as she continued to swim just outside his reach. “I’m a girl. I like being a girl. I’ve decided it’s my lot in life to make men squirm by being as sexy as I can possibly be…”
Nate felt his mouth open and close. Twice.
“You do know…that costumes are for fun…I suppose if you think about it, they’re also quite erotic, depending on your personal predilection,” Sophie rambled with a small frown. “I’m guessing depending upon the individual, a costume ball would be the perfect place to ...." Sophie felt his hands on her waist a second too late, caught up in her own musings and losing sight of where he was standing. “That’s very unfair…”
“Your father told me you have a tendency to lose yourself in your thoughts…I just have to wait for the right time…” Nate told her, pulling her close and taking another slow, sensuous kiss. “Give up the idea of making all men squirm and I’ll volunteer for your lab experiment, Sophie…”
“You do know I was joking,” she whispered against his mouth, her tongue out to trace a softly teasing line around his lips. Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck, letting herself float against him. “But the idea does have appeal…”
Nate laughed and scooped her up in his arms, tossing her into the deeper end and diving down to surface with her, their mouths seeking one another through the water. Sophie wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her mouth hungrily meeting his, kiss for kiss. Searching, seeking and ravishing until both parted for air.
WindSwept Narrows: #5 Sophie Addison Page 5