CHAPTER ONE

NATALIE

Saying I've taken the long way to Love Beach, South Carolina would be an understatement. I left home five days ago for a drive that I could have done in one or two days. It's not that I don't want to reach my final destination, I'm just nervous about what's going to happen once I get there.

A month ago, spending my summer with Luke Ashford sounded like a dream, but since then, I've convinced myself it's the worst idea ever. How am I going to hide the insane crush I have on Luke?

After spending a day in both Memphis and Nashville, I've been in Charlotte for the last two days. When I woke up this morning, I knew it was time to make the last four-hour drive of my trip to Love Beach.

With a deep breath, I drive up to Luke's beach house. It's huge and beautiful, exactly what I pictured, and right on the beach. Turning off my car, I open the door and breathe in the salty sea air. I love being at the beach. I may have been born in a landlocked state, but my heart has always belonged to the water.

Before I can even make it out of my seat, the front door of Luke's home opens and he walks out. Damn, he looks good. Every time I see him I think that he can't look as good as I think he does and when I see him he's even better.

I give a small wave and try to regulate my breathing. Be normal, Natalie. Luke doesn't want some twenty-two-year-old woman fainting because she's in his presence.

While I was talking myself down, Luke walked down his front path and to my car door, surprising me when he reached in to help me out of my seat.

"Luke!" I yelp. "Sorry, I didn't realize you were there." I let him help me out of the car. His hand warm against mine.

"I thought you saw me. I'm sorry I scared you." Luke says with his deep, sexy voice. "I wanted to help you with your bags."

I nod. "I have a few." I tried to pack light, but I'm staying for a few months and it's hard to know what to pack for that long. Plus, I did some shopping at all three of my road trip stops. I hit the button on my keys to pop the trunk and walk around the car.

Luke laughs when he sees the full trunk. "You sure do." He lifts the two heaviest as if they barely weigh anything. I had to roll them out to the car and it took all my effort. "Let's get these two in and dropped off in the guest room and then I'll come back for the rest. I know you only drove in from Charlotte, but I'm sure you need to refresh before we do anything."

Is he telling me I look bad? "Um, sure." I grab my computer bag, purse, and one of the smallest suitcases, leaving only one more bag in the car, and follow him into his house. I'm trying to look at everything all at once, but as we go up the staircase my eyes become glued to Luke's ass and I can't look away.

When he turns into a room, I almost run into the doorframe. I have got to get it together before I make a huge fool of myself.

"Is this room, okay?" Luke asks as he sets my suitcases on a bench at the foot of the massive bed in the middle of the room. "There's another room down the hall, but this one has the best view."

"This room is amazing, Luke." Wandering over to the window, I look out at the ocean. "It's so beautiful."

"Yes, it is," Luke agrees, but when I turn, he's not looking out the window. He's looking at me.

* * *

LUKE

Beautiful is an understatement. Natalie is fucking gorgeous and I'm in deep shit. As she glances at me over her shoulder, questions in her eyes, I want to grab her in my arms, throw her to the bed, and make love to her for hours.

Instead, I get the rest of her luggage from her car and make sure she has everything she needs. "I'll let you get settled in. I'm going to cook out some steaks and we can eat by the pool." I start to leave her room but turn back to get one more look at her sweet face. "I was thinking we could take a swim after dinner if you wanted to. It's been another hot day and I promise the pool feels amazing in the evening."

"That sounds like fun. I'll find my swimsuit and be down in maybe twenty minutes. Is that okay?"

"Take as long as you need, sweetheart," I tell her, letting the endearment just slip between my lips. Before she can react or say anything in response, I gently shut her door and walk away.

Quickly, I make my way back down the stairs and into my suite. I change into my swim trunks, ignoring my half-hard cock, and head toward the kitchen.

I prepped our dinner earlier. My mother asked if I was going to hire staff for the house, but I like doing all of this myself. The house is not big enough to need anyone full-time. I do have a housekeeper who comes in twice a week to clean, and she leaves a few meals for me to heat up. I'm not great in the kitchen, but I can grill with the best.

I spend the time waiting for Natalie making sure things are perfect. Even though I know it's not, this feels suspiciously like a first date. I haven't been on one in years, but the nerves and anticipation aren't something you forget.

Minutes later she walks into the kitchen and my heart stops. She's wearing a tiny bikini top and some jean shorts. It's sexy as hell and there's not a man alive who wouldn't think himself a lucky bastard to be in her presence.

"Is this okay?" She asks shyly. "I got overheated unpacking and thought since we were going to eat outside it would be." She shakes her head and turns back toward the doorway. "I can't believe I came down here like this. I'll be back."

"Natalie, stop," I say, authority ringing through my voice.

She slowly turns around and I can see her nipples poking through the thin fabric of the bikini top. Fuck, she liked that.

"Baby, you look sexy as hell and any man would want to eat dinner with you." And have you for dessert. I want to add, but don't want to scare her off. "Come on," I hold out my hand, allowing her to take the few steps between us to grasp it. "Let's go eat and swim."

She holds my hand as we walk outside. "Thank you," she whispers.

"For what?"

She laughs a little. "For talking me down, for not making fun of me."

"Who's making fun of you?" I ask, ready to kick some ass. No one makes fun of my woman.

"No one." She sits at the table and takes a very healthy sip from the glass of wine I poured before she came out. It's a rich red, which she said was her favorite the last time I saw her. She looks at the glass and smiles. "It's my favorite."

"Of course."

"Did you remember or did my dad say something?"

"I remembered, Natalie."

A blush spreads across her cheeks and down the ample cleavage displayed by the triangles of her bikini.

"Natalie, you know that you can tell me anything, right?"

"Of course."

"Anything," I say again, but with that dominant tone that I know she liked earlier. "I want you to tell me what you're feeling and thinking." I want to know everything about her. I crave knowing everything about her.