Nathan Wolfe: Wolfe Brother’s Series, Book Two

by Lynn, Sandi

  Chapter 50

  Six Months Later

  Nathan

  Life was great. The only complaint I had was when I had to work long stretches and leave Allison and Ruby. For the most part, I cut way back on doing international flights because I wanted to be home more. A few of the other captains had retired and I was moving up which allowed me to pick more of the flights I wanted to fly. Ones that got me home at a decent hour.

  When Allison worked and I was off, I picked Ruby up from school. She was a great kid and so far, she hadn’t given us any trouble. I felt like an instant dad and the thing was, I liked it. Her guitar skills were improving. Especially since I bought her one of her own. She was getting so good at it that we were able to play together.

  I stepped through the door at 40 Sullivan Street in Soho and looked at my watch. My brothers would be arriving any minute and I couldn’t wait to get their opinion.

  “Why are we here?” Elijah asked as he and Mason stepped inside.

  “Welcome to Casa Wolfe.” I held out my hands with a smile.

  “What?” Mason said.

  “You bought this place?” Elijah asked.

  “Not yet. But I’m hoping to. I need to get Allison’s opinion first. I’m taking our relationship to the next level and asking her and Ruby to move in with me. Our apartments are just too small for the three of us.”

  “Damn, bro. You’re moving fast.” Mason smiled.

  “He’s doing just fine.” Elijah grinned as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

  I took them on a tour and they both loved it.

  “You do realize you’re really close to Mom, right?” Elijah asked.

  “Yeah. Like just around the block,” Mason said.

  “I know.” I sighed. “But this place is a steal right now. It’s in foreclosure and the price is too good to pass up.”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Wolfe.” Nancy, the realtor stepped inside the house. “I just wanted you to know that someone put down a deposit on this place.”

  “What? When?”

  “About an hour ago. My partner who listed the house just called me.”

  “Shit.” I shook my head.

  “He told the interested party that they have twenty-four hours to make a final decision and to get the paperwork started if they want it. I’ll call you if they change their mind. In the meantime, I can show you something else.”

  “No need, Nancy. I wanted this place. Shit.”

  “Don’t worry, Nathan. Maybe they’ll change their mind,” Elijah said.

  “Why would they at this price?”

  * * *

  After I picked Ruby up from school, I heard my phone ding with a text message from Allison.

  “My mom is coming over to get Ruby and take her to dinner. Want to go out tonight?”

  “Want to stay home and have wild and crazy sex instead?” I replied.

  “Yes, but I want to take you somewhere. It’s a surprise.”

  “I love your surprises. I’m in. What time are you going to be home?”

  “In about an hour. Be ready. I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  What surprise did she have for me? Ah, I knew what it was. She was taking me to that new Mediterranean place I’ve been wanting to try for the last couple weeks. She must have got us a reservation.

  After Carol came to pick up Ruby, I put on my shoes and made sure I was ready for when Allison got home. I heard my phone ding in my pocket, and when I pulled it out, there was a text message from Allison.

  “I’m down in the cab. Get your hot ass out here.”

  “You’re not even going to come up first?”

  “No. I told you to be ready. Now hurry up and don’t take the elevator in case you get stuck again.”

  “You want me to go down twenty-two flights of stairs?”

  “Going down is the easy part. So yes, hurry up.”

  What the hell was going on with her? I was a nervous wreck as I stood in the elevator. There was no way I was going down twenty-two flights of stairs. I let out a deep breath when the elevator reached the lobby. Sliding next to her in the cab, I smiled as I kissed her lips.

  “Hi.”

  “You didn’t take the stairs, did you?”

  “No.”

  She opened her briefcase and took out a blindfold.

  “Put this on.” She handed it to me.

  “Wow. Aren’t you a kinky little kitten.” I grinned.

  “Just put it on. I don’t want you to see where I’m taking you just yet.”

  I was so confused as to what was going on. This wasn’t like her, but I wasn’t going to lie and say I didn’t like it. In fact, it turned me on. I felt the cab pull away from the curb as I grabbed onto her hand. When the cab stopped, I started to take off the blindfold and she stopped me.

  “No. Not yet.”

  “Allison, what is going on? We’re here, aren’t we?”

  “Yes. But I can’t let you take it off yet.”

  “Then how the hell am I supposed to see?”

  “You’re going to let me guide you.”

  I sighed as she helped me out of the cab and led me a few feet down the street.

  “There are three steps going up. Don’t trip.”

  “I’ll try my best, but to be honest, this is scaring me.”

  “Stop being a baby.”

  I heard a door open and she guided me inside. Where the hell had she taken me? It was completely silent, and I knew we weren’t at a restaurant.

  “Okay. Now you can look,” she said as she took off the blindfold.

  I was in total shock as I stood in the same foyer that I was in earlier today with Elijah and Mason.

  “Allison, what—”

  “What do you think?”

  “Mr. Wolfe?” Nancy cocked her head as she walked in from the other room.

  “Do you two know each other?” Allison asked me.

  “Wait, I’m confused,” Nancy spoke.

  “Is this the person who put down a deposit today?” I asked Nancy.

  “Yes.”

  “Nathan. What’s going on?” Allison asked with concern.

  “I can’t believe this. I fucking can’t believe this.” I grinned. “Baby, this is blowing my mind. I want this house. I was looking at it and fell in love with it and I wanted to bring you by to see it first, but Nancy told me that someone put down a deposit already.”

  “Shut up! So you already saw this house?”

  “Yes. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. Especially the—”

  “Rooftop terrace with the outdoor kitchen and fireplace,” we both said at the same time.

  “Yes! Oh my God, Nathan.” She threw her arms around my neck.

  “But wait. Why were you looking at houses?” I asked her.

  “Because I feel like the apartment is too small for the three of us. I was going to ask you how you felt about moving in together. Then I found this, and the price was too good to pass up. So I put down a deposit so no one else could steal it until I showed you.”

  “I felt the same way and I was going to put down a deposit so I could show it to you. Love of my life, will you do me the honor of moving into this beautiful house with me where we can make beautiful memories together?”

  “Yes!” She hugged me tight.

  I looked over at Nancy who had tears in her eyes and gave her a thumbs up.

  Chapter 51

  Two Months Later

  Allison

  It was moving day and I couldn’t wait to move into my beautiful new home with Nathan and Ruby. Nathan didn’t have to worry about his lease because he rented month to month. I, on the other hand had about three months left on mine. Being the lawyer I was, I negotiated with the building manager because of the issue with the elevator that occasionally still got stuck between floors nine and ten. I was only held to pay one more month of rent which was fine with me.

  “I love this place so much!” Ruby exclaimed as she ran around the six thousand
seven hundred square foot home.”

  “No running!” I shouted as she was out of ear reach.

  “Hello, hello,” I heard Caitlin’s voice.

  “Great. Now she can just pop by at any time.” Nathan rolled his eyes. “Hello, Mother.” He kissed her cheek.

  “Hi, Caitlin.” I smiled.

  “I just dropped by to give you a housewarming gift.” She grinned as she handed us a white envelope.

  Nathan opened it and we both looked at it in shock. It was a sizable gift certificate to the furniture store where we had been looking at furniture.

  “Mom, we can’t accept this.”

  “Don’t be silly. Neither one of you have enough furniture to furnish this entire place, and I know you were waiting until you moved in. So, I thought that was the perfect housewarming gift.”

  “Thank you, Caitlin.” I hugged her.

  “Thanks, Mom. That was very generous of you.”

  Later that night, after we put Ruby to bed, Nathan and I cuddled on the couch in the living area amongst all the boxes that surrounded us.

  “This is perfect,” we both said at the same time.

  “You know what would even be more perfect?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “If you’d marry me.”

  “What?” I lifted my head and looked at him in shock.

  He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box and flipped open the lid.

  “I love you, Allison. Maybe this is too soon. Who the hell knows. All I know is I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you.”

  “I love you too, Nathan. And yes, I will marry you,” I spoke as tears filled my eyes.

  He took the 2-carat white gold, princess cut ring from the box and slipped it on my finger. Perfect fit. Do you like it it? Because if you don’t, we can exchange it.”

  “I love it. It’s perfect.” I kissed his lips. “You have amazing taste, Mr. Wolfe,” I said as I held out my finger.

  “Did she say yes?” I heard Ruby ask from the stairs.

  “She said yes, kid.” Nathan smiled.

  “Yay!” She ran down the stairs and jumped on our laps. “Congratulations, Mom.”

  “You knew about this?” I tickled her.

  “Yes. Who do you think helped Nathan pick out the ring?”

  I looked at Nathan and he gave me a wink.

  “So now that you’re getting married, when can I have a brother or sister?”

  “Time for bed,” Nathan said as he got up, threw her over his shoulder and carried her upstairs.

  “Goodnight, Ruby.”

  “Goodnight, Mom,” she shouted.

  * * *

  Nathan

  After I tucked Ruby in again, I walked down the stairs and passed the living room.

  “Hey, where are you going?” she asked from the couch.

  “I’ll be there in a minute,” I said as I went into the kitchen and stood at the sink.

  “If you’re getting a drink, can you—Nathan, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I wiped my eyes as I turned on the water.

  “You’re lying.” She walked over and lightly took hold of my arm. “Were you crying?”

  “No. Don’t be ridiculous. I have something in my eye.”

  “Both of them?” She arched her brow. “What’s wrong? Are you regretting asking me to marry you?”

  “Oh my God, baby, no.” I grabbed her and held her tight.

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  “Your daughter. That’s what’s wrong.”

  “What did she do?”

  I broke our embrace and wiped the tear that fell from my eye.

  “She called me Dad.”

  She stood there in shock as she placed her hand over her mouth.

  “If you don’t want her calling you—”

  “No. I do. That’s the point. It made me so happy to hear that. These stupid things are uncontrollable happy tears.”

  “Aw, Nathan.” She hugged me as she laughed.

  “It’s not funny, Allison.”

  “Yes, it is. What would your brothers say if they knew?”

  I broke our embrace and narrowed my eye at her.

  “You’re not going to tell them. Not one word about what you just saw to anyone. Understand me?”

  “Roar. You’re sexy when you’re crying and being authoritative.” She grinned as she ran out of the kitchen.

  “I mean it, love, you better not breath a word of this to my brothers!” I chased after her up the stairs.

  * * *

  A couple days later, we went to family dinner at my mother’s house. We had already told Allison’s family about our engagement last night and tonight it was our turn to tell my family. After we ate dinner, we all gathered in the living room like we always did, and I grabbed my glass of scotch to make a toast.

  “I would like to make a toast,” I held up my glass of scotch and took hold of Allison’s hand.

  Everyone picked up their glasses and held them up.

  “I asked Allison to marry me and she said yes!” I grinned.

  “Oh my God!” Aspen exclaimed as she hugged us both. “This is so exciting.”

  “Congratulations, darling.” My mother smiled as she hugged me and then turned her attention to Allison. “I am so happy to have you as my daughter-in-law.” She hugged her.

  “Congratulations, brother.” Elijah hugged me. “I’m so proud of you.

  “Congrats, bro,” Mason said. “I knew you’d cave.” He hugged me. “And Mom better not get any ideas about me getting me married. Because it isn’t happening.”

  “We’ll see, little brother.” Elijah smiled.

  I felt a tugging on my pant leg and when I looked down, Mila stood there with her arms held up to me.

  “Up. Up.”

  I bent down and picked her up.

  “Hey there, sweet girl.”

  She giggled as she pulled my nose.

  “Any talk about babies yet?” Elijah asked.

  “Nah, not yet. Someday we’ll have that talk.”

  “From what I can see between Mila and Ruby, you’re going to make a great dad.”

  “Only because I learned from the best, bro.”

  He smiled as he hooked his arm around me.

  * * *

  This was my life now. I had a job I loved, a great family and a beautiful fiancée and future daughter whom I loved very much. I thought I was happy before, jet-setting across the world, when actually I was just running from the one thing I feared the most: falling in love. My name is Nathan Wolfe, and this was my story of how one woman and her little girl changed the course of my entire life and changed me into the man I was proud to become.

  The Ring

  Chapter 1

  Adalyn

  It all started when I found a beautiful diamond ring nestled between two pieces of coral while scuba diving in Antigua with my boyfriend of three years, Stephen. It was our dream vacation, and we’d been saving a whole year for it. The white sandy beaches, the calming site of the clear turquoise blue waters, and the sunsets were just part of the amazing experience we had. We did everything we could during our time there which included a buggy tour to see the rural areas of the island, zip lining, snorkeling, swimming with the stingrays and finally scuba diving. Little did I know that two weeks after our perfect vacation, my life would completely do a one eighty and go to total shit.

  You’re probably wondering what the hell happened. Well, let me enlighten you. It was my birthday when I came home after being fired from my job to find Stephen packing his bags. He delivered the news that he’d met another woman when we returned from Antigua and he couldn’t explain what he felt when he met her. So, after a lot of screaming and throwing things, he took his bags and walked out on me, our three-year relationship, and our Seattle apartment. In one day, and on my birthday none the less, my boss fired me, and my boyfriend broke up with me. Both events completely devastated me, and I thought my life was over. I bar
ely got out of bed for a week, and the one day I did, it was because my best friend Carly dragged me out of the apartment and to lunch with her, I came home to find that my building had caught on fire and burnt to the ground. Thank God nobody was seriously hurt, but I lost everything I owned.

  I moved in with Carly and her husband of two years, Daniel, until I figured out what I was going to do. It seemed the best option for me was to go back home to California. That’s where I was originally from, born and raised. I graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Design degree while Carly graduated with an MBA. California was our home, and the plan was to attend the University of Washington together, graduate, and move back home. We were best friends like that who did everything together. Then she met Daniel a few months before we graduated, and it was insta love. In the meantime, I secured an intern position with a company called K&L Design Group, and they offered me a full-time position when I graduated. I liked Seattle; I liked my job and Carly was staying, so I stayed. Then I met Stephen, who gave me even more reason never to leave Seattle.

  * * *

  “Hey, you,” Carly softly spoke as she sat down next to me on the bed. “Whatcha doing?”

  “Thinking about how much my life sucks.”

  “Don’t say that, Adalyn. You could have been home and injured or even killed when that fire broke out.”

  “Just my luck that I wasn’t.” I rolled my eyes.

  “But you would have been if I hadn’t dragged you out to lunch. Listen, I know things are rough, but you will get through it.” She placed her hand on top of mine.

  “I’ve decided to go back to California.”

  “As in move there?” she asked, and I could sense the worry in her voice.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. All I know is I need to get out of Seattle.”

  “I totally get that. I really do. But Seattle is your home and has been for the last twelve years. It was your home way before your job with K&L Designs and it was your home before Stephen. Don’t let a couple bad things that happened here make you run away. Just give it more thought. I know you’ll find another job soon and I’ll help you find a new apartment. I hate to say this, Ad, but you could totally put a positive spin on the whole apartment fire thing.”