“Because of this view.” I gesture out to the water. “This would make a wonderful image.”

He relaxes beside me. “Maybe one day you’ll be able to capture it.”

“There’s that ‘one day’ again.” I grin at him and he grins back.

“One day.” He says again and I can’t help but feel a little giddy inside. I shiver a bit as a breeze rolls through his patio. The sun has set, and the sky is all purple and orange, and it’s cooling off.

“Are you cold?” he asks.

“No, I’m good.”

“Really?”

“I’m a tiny bit cold, but I don’t want to go inside.”

“I’ll be back.” With that he stands and gathers our dirty plates.

“Hey, I’ll clean up. You cooked.”

“Nonsense. You’re my guest, Natalie. Besides I have a housekeeper who will do most of it in the morning.

Sit. Stay.” He pins me with a serious gaze, then heads inside.

He’s so bossy. I think I like it. No one has ever had the audacity to be bossy with me before. It’s fun.

I hear the iPod change from Adele to something soft and bluesy and a few moments later he’s back with a plush green blanket and my iPhone.

“The light was blinking on your phone; I thought you might want to check it.” He hands it to me, but before I can look at it he holds his hand out to me.

“Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“Just over there.” He points to a plush loveseat closer to the edge of the patio.

I take his hand and he leads me over and I sit, sinking into the cushions. He sits beside me and drapes us both in the blanket. His arm is draped around me.

“This is quick.” I look into his blue gaze, unsure if being in his arms like this, this quickly is altogether safe, yet I want to be here.

“We’re just admiring a pretty view, Natalie.” He pulls me closer to him, runs his hand down my side and I lean on his shoulder. I remember my phone in my hand and pull it out from under the blanket to read it, not bothering to hide it from Luke.

Hey gorgeous, plans tonight?

It’s my friend Grant, and while we haven’t had sex in a while, sometimes, if we’re drunk or lonely, we indulge. I haven’t heard from him in weeks, and of course it has to be now, as I’m curled up in this sexy man’s arms that he texts me.

Crap, crap, crap. Luke tenses beside me, and I cringe, but hit reply, still not pulling it out of his eyesight. I have nothing to hide.

Yeah, I have plans. Sorry.

Luke doesn’t relax beside me and I know he’s mad. Shit.

Grant responds almost immediately.

Tomorrow?

Sorry, Grant, not interested.

Okay, bye Nat.

I put my phone in my pocket and just lean my head back on Luke’s shoulder, not saying anything. What can I say? He lets out a sigh and tightens his hold on me, not saying anything for a long time.

Finally I glance up at him.

“Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Um, I don’t know. Just checking.”

The last two words are whispered. He seems mad at me, but I didn’t do anything wrong. I told the guy to take a hike!

Suddenly he shimmies and pulls his iPhone out of his pocket. “What’s your phone number?”

My wide gaze finds his and he raises a brow. I rattle it off to him and he punches it into his phone. “What’s your last name?”

“Conner.” He finishes programming my name and number into his phone and I close my eyes and inhale his clean scent while he continues to fiddle with his gadget.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

Chapter Four

I retrieve my phone from my pocket and pull it out of the blanket.

“Oh my, look at that, I have a text!

Whoever could it be?” I bat my eyelashes at him and smile sweetly.

Luke laughs. “Maybe you should check it.”

“Oh! Good idea.” I chuckle and slide the arrow at the bottom of the screen, waking the phone up and open the text from a phone number I don’t recognize.

I want to squeal like a school girl, but simply smile and open the message.

Hey Natalie, save this number.

You’re going to be seeing it a lot. –Luke Williams I grin at him, and save the number and his name to my phone.

“So,” the smile leaves his face and he’s serious again. I pull back, out of his grasp, and turn my body toward him, my leg tucked under the opposite knee, mentally preparing myself for a serious conversation.

“So?”

“So,” he gazes at me almost warily and I feel a moment of alarm. “Who’s Grant?”

“Just a friend.” I shrug.

He raises an eyebrow. “That wasn’t just a friendly text, Natalie. I am a man, I know the difference.”

I cringe and look back out over the darkening water.

“Look at me.” His voice is sharp and I whip my eyes back to his.

“He is just a friend, Luke. Yes, there has been a physical relationship there in the past, but it’s been a while.”

“How long is a while?”

“Months.”

“How many months?”

“Since last fall.”

“Is there anyone else?”

“Why is this any of your business?”

“Because you’re the first woman I’ve brought into my home and all I can think about is getting your beautiful body naked and fucking you senseless. I need to know if there is any competition. I don’t share, Natalie.” His eyes are on fire, his beautiful lips parted as he breathes heavily, and his hands are in fists.