Jules rolls her eyes and turns back to the pancakes. “He might just be some random guy, but if he’s as hot as you say he is, you should have gone to breakfast with him.”
I scowl at her. “Gone out to breakfast with
the
hot
mugger?”
I
ask
incredulously.
“Oh don’t be dramatic.” Jules flips the bacon in the oven then ladles more pancake batter onto the griddle. “It sounds like he was really nice.”
“Yes, when he wasn’t trying to steal my obscenely expensive camera, he was a perfect gentleman.”
Jules laughs and I can’t help but smile in return. “What do you have going on today?”
Pleased
with
the
change
in
conversation,
I
walk
around
the
breakfast bar and start loading a plate with delicious food. “I have a session at noon, and I need to make some deliveries this afternoon. I really need to try to get in a nap this morning.”
“Couldn’t sleep again?” Jules asks.
I shake my head. Sleep never comes easily for me.
I reclaim my stool and take a bite of bacon. Jules is next to me. “How about you?”
“Well, since it’s Tuesday, I guess I’ll go to work today.” Jules is a very successful
investment
banker
in
downtown Seattle. I couldn’t be more proud of my long time best friend. She’s beyond smart, beautiful and successful.
“We gotta make a living,” I am devouring the delicious pancakes on my plate, then rinse both our plates and load the dishwasher.
“I can do that.” Jules starts to come into the kitchen, but I wave her back.
“No, you cooked. I got this. Go to work.”
“Thanks! Have a fun session.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and heads for the garage.
“Have a good day at the office, dear!” I call after her and we both giggle.
I climb the stairs to my bedroom and strip naked. I really need some sleep.
My clients pay me very well to give them a fun, beautiful photo session, and I need to be well rested.
My room is large, with floor to ceiling windows. This is the one room of the house that has any pink in it. I love my soft pink duvet and fluffy pink pillows.
My bed frame is simple, but the headboard is an old barn door that I nailed to the wall to give the room a rustic feel.
I fall into my king sized bed, the soft sheets hugging my naked body, and gaze out the window to the ocean view. I love this house. I never want to move.
Ever. This view alone is priceless. The sapphire blue water outside calms me and as my eyes get heavy I think of deep blue eyes and a killer smile and slip into sleep.
Chapter Two
I’m out and about, delivering framed photos of flowers and beach scenes to the restaurants and shops along Alki Beach.
“Hi, Mrs. Henderson!” I smile at the gray-haired, plump woman behind the counter in Gifts Galore, one of my favorite trinket shops. I happily note that my work is hanging behind the cash register. There are shelves and shelves of beachy knick knacks, jewelery, and other art work. It’s a fun place to wander around in.
“Hello, Natalie! I see you have a delivery for me!” She smiles and comes around the counter, pulling me into a big hug.
“I do. I hope you can use them.”
“Oh yes, I’m just about out of the others you brought in last week. You’ve become quite the popular young artist.”
Mrs. Henderson starts looking through my work, oohing and aahing and I feel the pride in my chest as she tells me that she’ll take all I’ve brought her today.
We chat at the counter while she writes me a check for last week’s sales and I turn to leave, but stumble into a very firm chest.
“Oh, excuse me…” I take a step back and look up. Oh shit.
“Hello, Natalie.” Luke’s staring down at me, a smile tickling his lips. He looks a bit surprised, happy, and just…
Oh my.
“Hello, Luke.” My voice sounds breathy again and I mentally wince.
Mrs. Henderson heads to the back of her store to check on a customer, leaving Luke and I alone. I stare down at my sandals, reminding myself I need a pedicure.
What am I supposed to say?
“So, you’re an artist.” Luke glances over at my framed photos still stacked on the counter.
“Yes,” I follow his gaze. “I sell my work in the local shops.”
He grins and I feel that pull again in my gut.
“What are you doing in here? This doesn’t seem like your kind of store.”
“I’m looking for a gift for my sister for her birthday.” He starts shuffling through my frames. “These would be perfect. She just bought a new condo.
Which ones would you suggest?” He glances back at me and I have no choice but to join him at the counter and lean close to him as we look through the twenty plus photos together.
“Does
she
prefer
flowers
or
scenery?” I ask.
“Er,” he swallows. Am I having some kind of effect on him? I lean a little closer to him, pretending to inspect the photos on the counter and hear him catch his breath. “Probably flowers.”
“I’d go with these.” I smile to myself, enjoying his nearness now that I don’t feel threatened by him, and select four photos of flowers, all different kinds and colors, and arrange them in a square for him to see.
“Perfect.” His smile lights up his face and I can’t help but smile back. “You’re very talented.”
His compliment takes me back for a second and I feel my cheeks flush.
“Thank you.”
Luke pays Mrs. Henderson, and then follows me as I start to head out of the store and to my car.
“Where are you headed?” he asks as he catches up to me.
“Well, that was my last delivery, so I’ll be heading home.”
“Or,” he says nonchalantly, “I could take you out for coffee.”
My stomach tightens excitedly. He’s still interested! Am I? He could be an ax murderer. Or worse.
“Happy hour?” he continues.
I smile and look away from him, still striding toward my car.
“Dinner? Can I buy you an ice cream cone?” He runs his free hand through his messy hair and I mentally hug myself.
Somewhere public should be safe, so before I can put too much more thought into it, I hear myself saying, “Let’s go get a drink. There’s a bar one block over that has a good happy hour.”