CHAPTER SIX

NATALIE

It takes me a few seconds once I open my eyes to realize that I'm in Luke's bedroom and alone. There's still an indent in the pillow where he was sleeping the last time I woke, so I know he couldn't have been gone long.

Is he gone because he doesn't want to make this morning awkward? Maybe I should get up and go back to my room, so no one feels weird. Even though I'm not sure how we are supposed to not feel weird about last night.

I stand up, holding the damn comforter up to cover myself again, and look around for something to wear as I walk through the house. I was most definitely not wearing clothes when Luke carried me into here. I see a T-shirt of Luke's lying across a chair and grab it. It smells like him and for a moment I just stand with it pulled up to my nose, inhaling the vanilla sandalwood scent of the man I'm crazy about and then I pull it over my head.

It's halfway over, covering my whole face, when I'm grabbed around the waist and gently thrown back toward the bed.

"Where do you think you're going, baby girl?" Luke asks as he pulls down the shirt to expose my face.

"Um, going back to my room?"

"This is your room."

I push him back so I can sit up. "No, this is your room. I'm in the guest room upstairs." I shake my head. "I'm a little confused about what this all is."

"I told you that you are mine," he says like it's obvious.

"You know that's not going to work. You're my dad's best friend."

"Then what do you think this is, Natalie? A little bit of fun for the summer? You're just convenient?"

I gasp. "No." Except that's kind of what I do think. Not that I'm convenient, I don't think Luke would ever be cruel, but this is just a summer fling. I don't see how it could be anything more.

Luke stands up and starts to leave the room. "I need to take care of something, but Natalie this is serious for me and I need you to know that. Your dad's friendship is important to me, but it's nothing compared to what I feel for you."

Then he leaves the room and I'm left sitting on the edge of his bed, wearing just his T-shirt, wondering if I've messed up something truly spectacular.

It's been hours and I still haven't seen Luke again. I've tried to work on my thesis paper and made it through one article. I also took a quick walk on the beach and down the boardwalk. Love Beach is an adorable little town and there are so many places I want to visit.

If Luke doesn't get back soon, I'm going to go out. Maybe get dinner or visit that bakery I heard about that keeps having hot firefighters show up. I'm not interested in finding any other man, but surely looking at a group of hot civil servants could brighten my day. If it's at the same time as eating a cupcake? I don't see a single downside.

At least I wouldn't be sitting here, in Luke's house, waiting for a man I shouldn't want.

I'm putting on my shoes when my phone rings and I smile when I see my best friend's name and silly face on the screen.

"Brooke!" I excitedly answer.

"Hey, babe! How are things going with your sexy bearded man?" she asks.

"I'm fine," I answer, not telling her the truth or actually answering the question. "What are you doing today?"

"Working like always, but you just lied to me. Why?"

"I didn't lie to you." This is the problem of having a lifelong bestie, she knows you too well that she can even hear your lies through the phone.

"Natalie, I want to know what's wrong right now or I will get on a plane and fly to Love Beach to kick the ass of whoever has upset you."

"Why do you think someone's upset me?"

"Because Brooke knows all." We both laugh. "Is it Luke?"

"Yes," I admit. "I'm just confused about things and it's not him that's the problem. I think I've screwed up."

"Explain it to me like I'm not there," she says. "I'm sure that it's not as complicated as you are making it all out to be. You brainy types like to do that. It's why you need me. Little brains, big mouth."

"Ugh, I hate it when you talk about yourself like that." This is an argument we've had many, many times.

"Spill."

"Okay. I got here yesterday, and we kissed in the pool."

"And…"

"We had a great dinner and then he made me a yummy peach drink and held my hand as we walked on the beach."

"All of this sounds perfect and exactly like what you dreamed about happening."

I lower my voice so that no one hears me, even though I'm here I'm here by myself, "He caught me in the shower, joined me, took me to his bed, and ordered me to do amazing things to him."

"What!"

"Then he called it our bed and our room this morning and got mad when I tried to go back to the guest room. I told him I understood how this is just a summer thing or even a one-night weekend, but he got mad and left."

"Okay…"

I hear Brooke take a deep breath and wait for her to laugh at me for being such a loser at all of this love stuff, but of course, she doesn't.

"Natalie, you sweet little pumpkin pie, that man called his bedroom that he's never shared with anyone else your room and you don't get that he's crazy about you?"

"But, he's my dad's best friend. It's crazy."

A masculine voice answers. "It sure is, sweet girl, but I don't care. I'm absolutely crazy about you."

I turn to find Luke leaning in the doorway.

"Is that Beard Daddy?" Brook asks, loudly.

"Um, Brooke, I'm going to call you back later." I don't wait for her to say anything else, I just push the button to hang up.

I stare at Luke as he leans one arm up on the doorway doing the romance hero lean that I've dreamed about him doing.

"Beard Daddy?" he asks with a smile.

"Um, it's just something Brooke thinks is funny."

"And you talk about me with Brooke?"

"I choose not to answer that because it will incriminate me. I mean, may incriminate me."

He raises one eyebrow and walks toward me where I sit on the chair. I only have one shoe on and feel oddly naked when he notices.

"Where were you going?"

"Out." I give the obvious answer. Why am I poking this bear?

"Anywhere in particular?" He leans down and helps but on my other shoe.

"Um…" I'm distracted by Luke on his knees in front of me and forget what my plan from twenty minutes ago was. "I was maybe going to out."

"That sounds like fun. Can I come with you?"

"Aren't you upset with me? You've ignored me all day. I assumed that you didn't want to spend any more time with me." I sound like a child.

"Sweet girl, did you miss me?" He stands up and holds out his hand. "I'm sorry I was gone so long. I was never mad at you, Natalie. I just had some things that I had to do today. I won't leave like that without telling you when I'll be back again. I'm not used to having someone else caring about where I am."

I grab his hand and instantly forgive him. I'm curious about what he's done today, but if he wants to tell me he will.

"Let's go explore Love Beach and have some fun."

* * *

LUKE

I hate that I upset Natalie again. There seem to just be too many miscommunications happening between us and that has to stop. I know how I feel about her and what I want. I think that she feels the same way, but doesn't want to upset her dad.

We need to tell Cameron that things have developed between us, but after we've solidified what we are. I don't know how my best friend will act when he finds out I'm in love with his daughter. It won't change anything for me, but it will be better for Natalie if he can accept us and we can remain friends.

Natalie and I walk into the BAR. It's pretty empty since it's a Monday and still early. I wave at the bartender, who I've met a couple of times in town, and pull out a chair for Natalie at one of the small tables.

"I'm going to order us a couple of drinks. Is there something particular you want?" I ask, leaning down and placing a kiss on her ear.

"I'll let you pick," she says with a smile.

I order a beer and a rum and coke at the bar. A man sitting at the bar nods in Natalie's direction. "Who's she?"

"Excuse me?"

"She's not from around her. Wondering if she's fresh meat for the summer?" The man's slurred words let me know that he's not on his first round of drinks, but that doesn't excuse him to talk about my woman that way.

"I think you've had too much to drink, buddy." I try and laugh him off.

"She's hot and looks like one of those that would be grateful." He laughs. "You know what I mean. I saw you kiss her. You can pass her this way when you're done."

I tried, I really tried. "You need to shut the fuck up and get out of here."

He stands up, almost falling over, and then says, "You going to make me?"

"I guess I am."

I grab him by the neck and turn him around to walk him out of the bar. No one else gets up to help me, but they don't help him either.

Natalie looks at us with shock. "Luke?"

"I'll be right back, sweet girl. Everything's fine."

"Yeah, sweet ass, everything's good," the asshole says and I decide that I'm going to punch him once we are outside instead of just throwing him out the door.

But when we get outside there are a couple of cops right there and I just hand him off. He hasn't done anything illegal, but he starts fighting with the cops and they arrest him. Much more satisfying than hitting him and having sore knuckles for a few days.

I return to the bar and Natalie.

"Are you okay, Luke?"

"Absolutely," I say as I lean over and give her a quick kiss. Our drinks were delivered while I was gone and I take a deep pull off my beer. "There's nothing I wouldn't do to protect you and that guy was going to cause problems if he didn't leave."

"My hero," she says batting her eyes.

Quickly the asshole is forgotten and Natalie and I enjoy the rest of our time out. We pick up cupcakes at the bakery and Natalie teases me about being sad to not see the hunky Love Beach firefighters. I promise to make it up to her with something even better and then follow through when we get home.