Fight With Me

by Kristen Proby

  “We’re not staying here,” he responds and snuggles me more firmly against him.

  “Where are we going?” I whisper.

  “You’ll find out tomorrow. Go to sleep, sweetheart.” He kisses my forehead and I fall into a restful sleep.

  ***

  “You don’t need to bring all of this crap.” Nate and I are standing in his bedroom with my suitcase open on the bed.

  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask, hands on my hips.

  “No.”

  “Then I need all this crap.” I glare at him, secretly delighted with him, and enjoy the view. He’s pulled his hair back, is wearing a white t-shirt under a black sweater and dark blue jeans. His arms are crossed over his chest, making his biceps flex.

  Yum.

  “Julianne, I want to take the bike.”

  “Okay, tell me where we’re going and I’ll downsize my stuff.”

  “I’m not telling you where we’re going.”

  “Then how do I know what I need? Let’s take the car. It’s called compromise, ace.”

  He sighs, rubs his face with his hands in exasperation, and glares at me when he sees my smile.

  “Why are you grinning?”

  “Because you’re hot when you’re frustrated with me.”

  Nate chuckles and shakes his head. “Fine, bring all your shit. We’ll take the Mercedes.”

  “See? That wasn’t so hard.” I tap his cheek playfully as I walk past him to the bathroom to gather my toiletries.

  “Wait, you have more shit to pack?”

  “Yep,” I call over my shoulder.

  “Jesus,” he mutters and I laugh.

  “Okay,” I shove everything in my suitcase and zip it up. “I’m ready.”

  Nate picks up his overnight bag, which is much smaller and weighs far less than my bag, grabs the handle of my rolling suitcase with his other hand, and ushers me out of the room.

  “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty One

  Nate pulls his shiny black Mercedes SUV into the parking lot of his father’s gym and throws it in park.

  “What are we doing here?” I ask.

  “I have to run in for a second to talk to my dad. Wait here?”

  “Okay.”

  He leans over and swiftly kisses me, then hops out of the car, leaving the engine running. I watch his fine form stride through the front door of the building and sit back to wait.

  Where is he taking me?

  Clearly we’re not going far because we’re driving and we both have to work Monday morning. Maybe he’s taking me to Portland for the weekend? That’s only a three hour drive. Or maybe up to the little resort town of Leavenworth? Or the San Juan Islands?

  There’s so much to do here, it could be anywhere.

  I check my phone and send Natalie a text, letting her know we’re going somewhere out of town in case she tries to reach me and I don’t have cell service.

  Just as I finish with the text, Nate climbs back in the car.

  “Okay, ready?”

  “Sure. Everything okay?” I ask.

  “Yep, just needed to check in with Dad for a minute.” He smiles over at me as he pulls out of the lot and toward the freeway.

  “Okay, so are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I pull his hand into my lap and lace our fingers.

  “The beach.”

  “Really?” I feel the face-splitting grin on my face. “I love the beach!”

  “Good.” He kisses my hand and lays them both in my lap again. “I have a beach house in a newer little town called Seabrook. It’s about a half hour north of Ocean Shores.”

  “You own the house?” I ask.

  “Yeah, my dad and I do. He uses it too.”

  “I like your dad.” I really do. Rich has been nothing but sweet to me since the first time Nate took me to their gym.

  “He likes you too.”

  “Can I ask you a question?” I bite my lower lip, nervous to ask, and he glances over at me, then back at the freeway. Traffic is pretty light this morning on Interstate 5 South.

  “Of course, anything.”

  “Where is your mom?”

  Nate signals and changes lanes. “She died when I was seven.”

  “I’m sorry,” I murmur.

  “Don’t be.” He squeezes my hand and smiles reassuringly. “It was a long time ago. She had breast cancer. It’s been just dad and me ever since.”

  “He never remarried?”

  “No,” he shakes his head and frowns. “I know there have been women, but he never paraded them around me. I thought he might remarry after I was grown and gone, but he seems content with the gym and dating here and there.”

  “What was her name?” I ask quietly.

  “Julie,” Nate responds softly and I gasp. “My dad called her Jules.” He looks over at me, his eyes bright.

  “Is that why you don’t call me Jules?” I ask.

  “Partly,” he shrugs and changes lanes again. “I don’t have a weird fixation on your name or anything, baby. I’ve slipped up and called you Jules a few times.”

  “I know, it makes me smile, but I like that you call me Julianne.”

  “You do? I thought you hated it.”

  “I hate it when other people call me that, but it’s different with you.”

  “Honestly, honey, I just think your name is beautiful, and it suits you.” He kisses my knuckles again and I melt.

  Damn, he says the sweetest things sometimes.

  “Are you getting all mushy on me, ace?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Never. I’m a man.”

  I laugh and squeeze his hand. “You’re my man.”

  “And only yours, baby.”

  ***

  “This is incredible!” I climb out of the car and stand facing the beautiful light blue two-story home with lots of large windows and a wrap-around porch. There are tall evergreens surrounding the house, and I can hear the waves crashing on the shore on the other side.

  “I was expecting a small beach cabin.” I turn back to Nate and grin as he pulls our bags out of the back of the SUV.

  “I know it’s bigger than I probably need, but it came up for sale last year and I snatched it. This is a new community, and the real estate is a good investment.” I follow him up the steps to the front door. There is beautiful outdoor furniture on the porch, and the door is a wide pine door with an oval frosted glass window that has a beach scene etched in it.

  “I also work with a rental company and they rent it out here and there for me, as well as I donate time to charity auctions.”

  He unlocks the door and walks in ahead of me. “Make yourself at home.”

  “Wow.” The space is large and open, and was clearly professionally decorated in a beachy theme, but in a subtle, non-annoying way. The furniture and art work are in shades of white, blue and gray. There is a magnificent stone fireplace in the center of the space with logs all set up and ready to light.

  The kitchen and dining room are in the back of the house, facing the incredible views of the ocean. It’s overcast but mild today, and the water is a deep gray-blue, beating up the shoreline. I can’t wait to get out there.

  “Come on, I’ll give you a quick tour.”

  “What’s up with you and sexy kitchens?” I ask, pointing to the truly sexy kitchen. It boasts all white cabinets and cupboards, black granite countertops, and stainless steel, top of the line, appliances. The space is large, with plenty of counter space. The adjacent dining area has a long black table with seating for ten.

  “I need good kitchens to cook in.” He shrugs and I grin at him. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  There are three good-sized bedrooms with an en-suite bathroom for each, along with a spacious loft, complete with a pool table, and the master suite, which I immediately fall in love with.

  “Oh, this is spectacular.” I walk straight to the French doors that open out to a covered balcony and walk outside, breathing i
n the salty air and looking out at the water. There is a one hundred and eighty degree view. “This, right here, is my favorite part.”

  Nate walks up behind me, wraps his arms around my middle and kisses my neck. “This is what sold me too. There is glass to enclose this, but I like hearing the water and feeling the breeze.”

  “Oh, don’t close it in. It’s perfect.” He smiles against my neck and I turn in his arms, hugging him close. “I love it.”

  “I love you,” he responds and tips my chin up to meet my gaze. “I love you,” he repeats, his voice and eyes raw, and I feel tears prick the corners of my eyes.

  “I love you, too.”

  Nate kisses me, gently moving his lips over mine, back and forth, nibbling at the corners of my mouth. He finally pulls back and kisses my nose, then my forehead.

  “Let me show you the master suite, before I make love to you on this balcony.”

  “Later?” I ask as my stomach clenches at the thought of making love to Nate on this amazing balcony.

  “We’ll see what we can do.” He smiles and takes my hand, leading me back inside. The bedroom is beautiful, with a king sized bed and the same white, gray and blue colors that flow through the whole house.

  The master bathroom is simply breathtaking.

  “Oh, I’m moving in,” I murmur, not catching the surprised look on Nate’s face as I circle the room. “I love this bathroom.”

  The tile is gray and blue, and the tub is large enough for two, white, and claw-footed, with shiny chrome fixtures. There are two white pedestal sinks with oval mirrors hanging above them.

  The tub sits in a glass alcove, with the same view as the balcony.

  “I love how the view is as much a part of the house as the décor is.” I comment and turn around to find Nate leaning against the wall, watching me.

  “What?” I ask.

  “What did you say when you walked in here?” His face is serious, and his arms are crossed.

  “Um, that I love this bathroom?” I’m completely confused.

  “Before that.”

  “I don’t know.” I shake my head and frown, and then it hits me and my cheeks flame. “Oh.”

  “What did you say?” he asks again.

  “I said I’m moving in here.” I grin sheepishly, then wince. “It’s just a girl knee-jerk reaction to this bathroom, Nate.”

  He shakes his head and looks down, clenching his eyes closed. What the hell?

  “Hey, I’m sorry if I said something wrong.” I walk over to him and take his face in my hands.

  “You didn’t.” He swallows and wraps his arms around me, pulling me in to lean against him as he leans on the wall.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Move in with me.”

  “Here?” My voice is shrill with shock and I know my eyes are wide.

  “No, in the condo. At home.”

  “Nate…” I look down at his chest, trying to collect my thoughts. My stomach is suddenly in knots and I can’t breathe.

  It’s too soon.

  “Look at me,” he whispers and I do.

  “It’s kind of soon, don’t you think?”

  “I don’t give a fuck about that.”

  “Let’s enjoy our weekend, and talk about it when we get back.” I need time to process this, but I know this is the wrong thing to say when his face falls and his eyes get cold.

  “I’m sorry I brought it up.” He starts to push me out of his arms, but I hold on tight.

  “Stop it.” My voice is hard, surprising both of us. “I didn’t say no, Nate. I said let’s talk about it some more. I want to be with you. Let’s enjoy this beautiful home of yours and relax, just the two of us, with nothing else to worry about, for the next thirty-six or so hours.”

  His face relaxes into a smile and he hugs me, tucking me under his chin. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll talk you into it.”

  I just laugh and squeeze him tight. “Let’s go for a run on the beach.”

  “A run?” Nate asks as I pull out of his arms and walk into the bedroom to open my suitcase.

  “Yeah. I haven’t worked out much this week.” I know Nate goes to the gym every morning before he follows me into the office. “I need a run.”

  “Okay.” We pull on some workout clothes, our running shoes and hoodies and head downstairs to the back porch.

  “Wow.” The wrap around porch that does indeed circle the entire house, is extended out farther in the back, over a steep decline in the terrain that leads down to the sand below. There is an outdoor kitchen, and plush furniture on the covered space. The railing is made of thick rustic logs, most likely native to this area, and there is a long stairway that leads down to the beach.

  Half way down the decline, the stairs stop at a large gazebo with more plush furniture and a fire pit. It would be a great spot to sit in the evening with a glass of wine, roast some marshmallows and watch the sunset.

  Nate leads me all the way down to the sand. “Well, the climb back up is going to be one hell of a workout,” I remark dryly.

  He chuckles down at me. “Why do you think the gazebo is there? I don’t need anyone having a heart attack on my property.”

  We walk down to the shoreline where the sand is packed and wet and silently start to run, setting a steady, even pace, running in silence, listening to the water, the birds, and our feet as they rhythmically hit the sand.

  We run around drift wood, over seashells, and even spot the carcass of a sea lion, most likely washed up during the tide.

  “If you want to run ahead of me, it’s okay,” I say, breaking the quiet. “I know your legs are longer than mine.”

  “I’m good.”

  I glance over at him, and he grabs my elbow, pulling me to the right. “Watch out.”

  He’s steered me around a washed-up log.

  “Thanks.”

  After about twenty minutes, we decide to turn around and head back. We’ve run a long way down the beach, which means we have to run all the way back.

  I slow down to a walk when I spot the dead sea lion.

  “Julianne?” Nate is out of breath.

  “I’m fine, time to walk.” I’m also panting and we walk toward the house.

  “I love it here.” Nate’s eyes are fixed on the waves as they tumble toward us. “It’s like when I’m here, nothing else matters.”

  I love the beach too, and I know exactly what he means.

  “Being at the beach makes me focus on myself. I forget to worry,” I frown as I stare out at the water, trying to articulate my thoughts. “I guess it’s my happy place.”

  “You’re my happy place, baby.”

  My head whips up to meet his gaze at his softly spoken words. He just smiles and takes my hand in his as we continue along the shoreline.

  “Come on, let’s feed you lunch.”

  Chapter Twenty Two

  “This is nice.”

  Nate’s running his fingers through my hair. We are lounging on the plush sage green couch in the living room. Nate lit a fire in the beautiful stone fireplace, and it’s warm and comfortable. After our run on the beach I took a shower while he fixed lunch, then he joined me.

  “How did your kitchen get stocked?” I ask and close my eyes, loving the way his fingers feel in my hair.

  “I made some calls,” he murmurs.

  “Must be nice to have minions.”

  He chuckles and tugs playfully on my hair. “I don’t have minions. I have millions.”

  I hear the playfulness in his voice, but I keep my eyes closed. I don’t want to know how much money he has. I know he’s excellent at his job, and he is clearly wealthy.

  “None of my business,” I murmur.

  “Don’t go to sleep on me.”

  “You like it when I go to sleep on you.” Hmm… he’s still playing with my hair, and the fire is warm. “I don’t remember the last time I was this relaxed. We have to come here often.”

  “We can come here whenever you want, baby.”
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  Nate turned on the satellite radio while he was fixing lunch, and the music is flowing through the whole house through the sound system. I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz is playing, making me smile.

  “I love this song.”

  “You do?” I feel him reach for the remote and he turns up the volume.

  I open my eyes and look up into his face. How did I get this lucky?

  “You spoil me you know.”

  “I hope so. That’s the goal.” His thumb brushes across my cheek.

  “You don’t need to. I’m happy with just you.”

  “This is me, baby.”

  I sit up and cup his face in my hands. His hair is still tied, and my fingers are itching to run through it.

  “Can I take your hair down?” I ask. His eyes flair.

  “You can do whatever you want.”

  I pull the tie out of his hair and run my fingers through the thick, ink black softness. “Don’t cut it.”

  “Okay.” His arms are wrapped around me, and his eyes are traveling over my face, patiently watching me as I touch his hair, his face, his shoulders.

  “You’re so handsome,” I whisper.

  Nate leans down and lays his lips over mine, just resting them there, breathing me in. I never knew such a light touch could be so intimate. Finally, he kisses me sweetly and pulls back.

  “I have something for you.” He whispers and I grin.

  “It’s about time, ace.” I quickly straddle his hips and settle my center over his crotch. “This morning feels like days ago.”

  Nate laughs up at me as he cups my ass in his hands and pulls me closer. “Well, that’s not exactly what I meant, but I love the way you think, baby.”

  “Oh,” I kiss his cheek and nibble over to his ear. “What do you have for me?” I whisper.

  “On second thought,” he wraps his arms around my middle and before I know it I’m on my back across the couch, tucked under him. “This is an excellent idea.”

  “I do have good ideas, don’t I?” I ask with a sassy smile and he grins delightedly down at me, his gray eyes shining with happiness.

  “Oh, baby, you do.” He scrapes his teeth along my jawline, his hands are in my hair, holding me still and he devours me with a kiss that leaves me dizzy. My hands slip beneath the waist of his jeans and boxer briefs, and I grip his tight, smooth ass in my hands.