Come Away With Me(66)

He tenderly cups my face in his hands and slows the kiss, pulling back so he can look into my eyes, and I see the love reflected back to me. It makes me glow inside, and it makes me want to run as fast as I can in the other direction.

“Thank you for tonight,” I whisper.

“Oh, baby, it’s just getting started.”

He gives me a slow, sweet smile and lifts me off of him. I rummage around and find a towel, and we clean up and straighten our clothes.

Settling back into our seats, Luke freshens our champagne and wraps his arm around me.

“I’m sorry about today,” he murmurs.

“Me too,” I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder. “Did you get your work done?”

“For the most part. I’ll have to make a few calls tomorrow.”

“Oh good.” He’s running his fingertips up and down my bare arm and I want to purr.

“What did you do today?”

“I hung out with Jules.” I take his hand in mine and lace my fingers through his, reveling in how long and lean his hands are. “She’s got some stuff going on, so I did the best friend thing.”

“Is she okay?” He sounds sincerely concerned and I can’t help but grin. My sweet man.

“She will be. Man troubles.”

“Ah. So, what does the best friend thing entail, exactly?” He kisses my forehead.

“Well, a lot of talking, eating ice cream and other things that I’m not allowed to divulge.”

“Oh?” He chuckles and kisses my forehead again.

“Yeah, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you, and I’ve grown quite fond of you.”

“Is that so?” He leans back so he can look me in the eye and I nod gravely.

“Yes, very fond of you.”

“And what are you most fond of, exactly?” He gives me his sweet smile, and I know that despite our teasing he wants an honest answer.

“I’m fond of this.” I lean up and kiss his lips softly. “You say such sweet things to me, and make my body hum with it.”

“Happy to hear that, beautiful girl.”

I smile and kiss the palm of his hand.

“And I enjoy your hands, and how expressive they are and how they feel when they’re on me.”

“Mmm… they love being on you, baby.”

I lay my cheek on his chest, just over his heart. “Most of all, I love your heart; how kind you are and how gentle you are with me. Most of the time.” I add and smile up at him.

His lips part as he exhales.

“Natalie, I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I would do it again, over and over.” He runs his knuckles down my cheek and kisses me tenderly as the limo comes to a stop.

“We’re here.”

Luke climbs out ahead of me and takes my hand to help me out of the impressive car. He pulls me to his side, and my eyes are glued to the enormous Chateau before us.

“Oh, my.”

“This is Chateau Ste. Michelle.

We’re going to have dinner here tonight.”

“I didn’t know they had a restaurant.”

My wide eyes meet his.

“They don’t. They do special events.

Tonight, for a few hours at least, it’s all ours.”

I’m struck dumb. He rented out the entire Chateau for me?

“Come.” He leads me toward the front of the building where an older woman, in her mid-fifties, is waiting for us.

“Welcome, Mr. Williams and Ms.

Conner. I’m Mrs. Davidson. We’re delighted to have you. Would you please follow me?” She leads us on a cobblestone path around the side of the Chateau. It’s lined with old fashioned street lights, illuminating the whole side of the building.

Luke tucks my hand in his arm and escorts me along behind Mrs. Davidson.

As we round the bend behind the house I gasp at the sight before me.

“Oh, Luke.” I feel him grin down at me, watching my reaction to the most beautiful display I’ve ever seen. The stone path leads us beneath an arbor that is covered in grape vines. The vines are heavy with luscious, purple grapes.

There are white twinkling Christmas lights draped over roughly ten two-person tables, and wound through the arbor and vines lining the small space.

There is soft bluesy music crooning in the back ground.

The small table in the center of the stone patio is covered in a white table cloth. The china is also white, but on one plate sits a single red rose. Luke walks forward and pulls the chair out for me and I sit.