Salvation (46 page)

Tears filled my tired eyes. I didn’t know if they were happy or sad ones. Now, more than ever, I wanted comforting, needed some security to bring me peace—necessities Nate satisfied when he wrapped his arms around me. Without them, I settled for a familiar voice.

“Is everything all right?” My father’s concern brought a welcome smile to my face. “It’s the middle of the night isn’t it? What’s wrong, darling?”

“It’s nothing. I just can’t sleep.”

“You sound a little low…?” I remembered why I never called my father when I was on one of my downers. He could detect my depression from five thousand miles away.

“Heard from Liam lately?” I asked, steering him away from further delving. I sat back, hugging my knees, and listened whilst he told me about my brother’s travels.

“I haven’t spoken to him in a while,” I mumbled. “I’ll try and catch him this week.” I traced around the intricately carved wooden frame holding the image I couldn’t stop examining as it nestled in my lap.

“Kara?” he said cautiously. “Have you met someone?”

My eyes darted to the gap at the door, thinking of Nate not too far away. How could he tell? I took a deep breath and confessed, “Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say? You can tell me anything, you know that.” His admonishment was mild, his words encouraging.

“I don’t know.” I sighed. I hadn’t told him because I didn’t want him worrying about me getting hurt all over again. I could manage that perfectly well on my own. “Dad, I really like him.”

“And he undoubtedly is utterly taken by you,” he stated with parental certainty. “Is he treating you well?” I knew by this point, he’d made himself comfortable in the Chesterfield armchair positioned next to the phone in the lounge, hoping for a long chat.

“Like I’m someone really special.”

“Because you are, darling. Is he handsome? Your mother repeatedly told me my suave good looks were her downfall.” His fake immodesty made me laugh.

“Unbelievably so. His heart is pure gold.” My stomach fluttered merely talking about Nate. I was drawn back to the photo. “He makes me feel alive, gives me strength…I feel like I’m finally content with who I am, and it’s because of Nate.”

“You sound like you’re in love,” he offered cautiously.

“It’s too soon for that. Listen, I’m going to try and sleep.” I faked a yawn and rolled my shoulders, guilty over not being entirely truthful. I didn’t know what to say, how to explain. How could I make him understand when I didn’t myself?

We said goodbye, and I was pleased he let me go without more questions or probing. I put the photo back on the desk and inadvertently knocked the remote mouse, waking the computer…

Another image of me at the beach filled the screen. I was laughing and my hand was reaching for the camera. I sat for a few minutes and straightened my thoughts, massaging my temples and combing my fingers through my hair, trying to ease my mind. I really needed some sleep before meeting Nate’s parents for lunch.

I left the office and slammed into Nate. “Shit!” I yelped. “You scared the life out of me!”

Large, warm hands came to my shoulders to steady me. “It’s after four in the morning.” The gravelly, just-woken-up sound of his voice stirred something low in my belly. “Why are you up?”

His hair was messy, the way I liked it, his eyes heavy with sleep. I couldn’t stop my arms from going around his neck. “I couldn’t sleep. I came downstairs so I didn’t disturb you.”

His brow drew in. He glanced over my shoulder to the room I’d vacated, then back to me, but he didn’t question what I’d been doing in there. “What’s on your mind?”

I don’t know how it happened, but he had me up against the wall and was pressing his weight into me. His face was temptingly close to mine, the sliver of light from the open office door beside me glinting in his eyes.

“Stuff.” I shrugged.

Nate drew his head back an inch so I could see his raised brow. “Stuff,” he repeated, testing the word.

“Meeting your parents…you,” I admitted, blinking away from his penetrating gaze.

Nate stiffened. “Me?” Then his head dipped in realisation. “Ah, because I fucked up again.”

I didn’t want him feeling like he was constantly screwing up because he wasn’t, but he had to understand I required total honesty. My silence was met with a resigned sigh. Both his hands curled around my head, holding me against his shoulder.

“I watched you sleep for hours.” His lips brushed my temple. “I can’t have been asleep long before you woke.”

Contentment filled me from learning he’d taken consolation in me in such an intimate way. Feeling brave, I stupidly asked, “Want to talk?”

Doubt flickered in his eyes. Nate stared at me for a long minute. I felt like he was sussing me out, deciding if I was ready for his confession. “No,” he said with blunt finality. My gut twisted, eyes widening at his outright refusal to talk. “Not while you’re still worked up.”

He massaged my tense shoulders, his able fingers exerting the ideal amount of pressure to both relax and entice. I decided to let it go. Arguing with such a headstrong man was too draining, too exhausting.

“C’mon.” Nate seized my hand and led me towards the stairs. “Fuck stress. Let’s work it off together in bed.” The salacious smile gracing his full lips when he glanced over his shoulder suggested I wouldn’t be getting the sleep I promised my father anytime soon.

“SHAVE OR NO shave?” Nate scrubbed a hand over his chin as he faced the mirror in the en-suite.

“No shave.” I washed the remnants of serum from my hands, grateful my hair hadn’t taken too much taming this morning. I dried them and turned towards him. “I like this.” My fingers drifted over the smattering of stubble on his cheek and ran along his jaw. Whilst I loved the clean shaven look Nate sported for work, I enjoyed the more rugged one equally as much. It suggested he was happy, relaxed and untroubled—something I wanted for him after the last couple of days.

“Okay, then.” He shrugged, then stripped out of his underwear, giving me a treat he knew I enjoyed. “I’ll grab a shower,” he called out, disappearing into the second bathroom. Most people got a shelf in the vanity cupboard; I’d been handed an entire bathroom. It was an over-the-top gesture, but one I was beginning to expect from Nate.

I finished up and went to dress. My stomach growled, twisting into knots of anxiety and nerves. I hadn’t managed breakfast, too on edge about meeting Nate’s parents, my apprehension increased when he told me his sister and her family were joining us, too.

I was sitting on the bench in the bedroom buckling up my heeled sandals when I sensed Nate approaching. “Do I look okay?” I called out, glancing up when I was done. My breath hitched as I ran my eyes over him. Yesterday, he’d willingly allowed me to pick something for him but refused to let me pay for it. He didn’t even try it on, but I knew the pale periwinkle shirt would emphasise the piercing blueness of his eyes.

It did, to a dramatically striking effect.

“You look breathtaking.” He helped me stand and turned me around. His hands splaying over my back before he zipped me up set my soul on fire and my pulse soaring.

I cleared my throat and faced him. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“This?” Shoving his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans, he smiled shyly and rocked back on his heels. I gave him a wry smile—I’d never seen him look
bad
in anything. Wanting to have my fingers in his hair I moved closer and began styling the damp strands. I loved how his hair could be smooth and elegant one minute, then all sexy bedroom hair the next.

Today, it was definitely the latter.

“You’re getting that look again.” Nate’s rasp that could seduce me with just one whispered word ramped up my desire. “Begging me to take you to bed.” He took a step closer until our bodies met, his hands coming to my ribcage.

I shook my head and laughed softly. If I had a look, surely it was permanently there when we were together.

“And as much as I want to,” he purred, running both hands over my arse and squeezing, “we really don’t have time.” Challenging me with a raise of his brow, his lips curved against mine. “Unless you want to explain to my mom why we’re late?”

“No,” I stuttered. Sex-mussed and flushed wasn’t the ideal first impression to make.

Nate’s smile flashed. “Didn’t think so. So let’s go while I still have a shred of self-control left.”

ALMOST an hour later we arrived at his parents’ house. A sweeping gravel driveway led to a sprawling Spanish-style villa, painted pale yellow with wrought iron window guards. Nate parked the Bentley and faced me after he’d silenced the engine. I wasn’t sure if he was nervous, but knew I sure as hell was.

“Be yourself,” he assured me, “they’re gonna love you.” He grinned, then something caught his attention over my shoulder. “Showtime.”

Nate climbed out, giving me a stolen opportunity to check my appearance for the millionth time in the rearview mirror. Taking a deep breath, I smiled at him and took his hand as I stepped out.

“Mom,” he acknowledged the woman waiting for us on the doorstep, arms outstretched to welcome him.

“Nate.” His mother beamed as Nate stooped to her level, giving her a one-armed hug because the other wasn’t letting me go, and kissed her cheek.

“Kara, this is my mom, Sadie.” He tugged me closer. “Mom, this is Kara.”

“It’s so wonderful to finally meet you,” she gushed, extending her hand. Flawlessly made up, she wore an elegant lilac belted shift dress with sheer sleeves. A beautiful amethyst pendant sparkled around her neck and matching earrings dangled through the hair around her ears. Kind, hazel eyes smiled at me. With lowlights in shades not dissimilar to my own running through shoulder-length hair, she could easily pass for an age ten years younger than I’d calculated her to be, given the thirty-five year wedding anniversary she was about to celebrate.

“And you, Mrs. Blake.”

“Please, call me Sadie.” She stepped inside and called over her shoulder, “Everyone’s out back.”

Nate placed a hand at the small of my back and followed me through the arched doorway, framed with vibrant red hibiscus, and into the cool interior of the house. “See?” he whispered into my ear. “Nothing to fear.”

The smell of home cooking wafting throughout the house caused my mouth to water. Memories of Sunday lunches at home sprung to mind, making me homesick and missing my mother.

“Nat! Nat! Nat!” The excited calls of a child echoed through the tastefully decorated family room. A mass of blonde curls sped towards us as the child launched herself into Nate’s arms.

“Betsy!” He caught her in a big bear hug, tickling simultaneously until she was shrieking with laughter. In the blink of an eye, Betsy was joined by a boy, no more than two years old, equally as loud until he found his spot in Nate’s other arm. “Hey, Charlie bear!”

My heart swelled as I observed Nate’s ease around the children. They adored him, and the feeling was obviously mutual. He was grinning from ear to ear. Nate introduced me to two of his sister’s children, then jostled them until they were both in one arm so he had a free hand to take mine again.

Sadie led us through open French doors to a flagstone patio whilst the children chatted exuberantly to Nate. Shaded by a purple bougainvillaea strewn pergola, a long table to seat ten was set in a cream theme with a bouquet of wildflowers in the centre. Rolling lush lawns, edged by palms and ornamental grasses, were broken by a large in-ground pool sparkling in the sunlight.

Nate set the children down when two men and another small boy made their way over. The elder one, presumably Nate’s father, was tossing an American football from side to side whilst the other dragged the small boy, who was clinging shyly to his leg, with him.

“Good to see you again, son.” The man with salt-and-pepper hair, golden tan, and brilliant blue eyes greeted Nate with a hug and typically male back-slapping. He was tall and distinguished, dressed in beige trousers and a white shirt.

“Dad, this is Kara,” Nate said, stepping back to my side.

The older gentleman tossed the ball to Nate and turned his attention to me. He took my hand and lifted it to his mouth. “A pleasure,” he smiled, kissing my knuckles, “call me Thomas.”

The old-fashioned gesture made me giggle. After being introduced to his brother-in-law Simon and the small child Tommy, Nate took me over to a woman sat beneath a sun umbrella.

“Mel.” Nate kissed the top of her head.

“Little brother,” Mel replied, shooting him a wry smile.

“I want you to meet my girlfriend, Kara.” Nate snaked an arm around my waist. It didn’t escape my notice that Mel was the only one he introduced me to as his girlfriend, almost as if stressing the point to her. He brushed my hair aside and pressed his lips to my nape.

“Hi.” I offered her a friendly smile.

“Hey.” She eyed me curiously and waved a greeting, not standing up as she cradled a tiny bundle in her lap. With mousey hair and the same intelligent eyes as her mother, Mel was pretty, with a fantastic figure for someone who’d had four kids—the last only a couple months ago judging by the tiny infant suckling her breast.

Sadie poured us all a refreshing champagne cocktail as we joined Mel in the shade and watched the boys resume their game of football. It wasn’t long before Betsy attached herself to Nate, perching on his knee and getting him involved in brushing her doll’s hair, which he did without hesitation.