“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 in 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.