Come Away with Me (With Me in Seattle, #1)(62)



“No, that would have been helpful.”

He pulls up to my house, dropping me off so I can work. He grabs Jules’ dress and my shoes out of the back and we go inside.

“So, I guess we’re going to the dinner tomorrow night?”

“Yeah we are.” He hugs me tight.

“Thank you. Do you have much work today?” I ask, trying to distract him.

“Yeah, some. You?”

“I have two sessions, and I have to take Jules’ dress to the cleaners.”

He frowns deeply. “Jules’ dress?”

Crap.

“Yeah, she lent it to me.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t have any formal wear.” I shrug. “It’s no big deal.”

“I don’t want you to have to borrow clothes.” He narrows his eyes and plants his hands on his hips.

“Luke, that’s what girls do. We borrow each other’s clothes. It’s no big deal.”


“I want to take you shopping for your birthday.”

“No.” I shake my head emphatically and walk toward the kitchen.

“Why ever not?”

“You do not need to buy me clothes. I can buy three thousand dollar shoes without batting an eye, Luke. I don’t need you to clothe me.”

“I didn’t say you needed me to. I’m your boyfriend for Christ sake. That’s what we do. Let me spoil you.”

“You do spoil me.” I smile as I remember the flowers, the coffee, dinner last night. “You spoil me in all the ways that matter.”

“Nat, I’m very wealthy. I can afford to spend money on you.”

“Ditto.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“You are so f*cking stubborn!” He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair and I can’t help but be amused.

“Are you smirking?”

“Kind of. You’re funny when you’re irritated with me.”

He laughs and looks at the ceiling.

“God you’re frustrating.”

“I know. But I love you.”

His eyes soften and he pulls me into his arms. “I love you too.”

I lean up and kiss him sweetly on the lips, then the corner of his mouth.

“I’m serious, baby. Take my credit card, grab Jules and go shopping. Both of you, on me, for your birthday.”

I open my mouth to argue but Jules breezes into the kitchen. “Okay, don’t have to tell me twice. Thanks.” She winks at him and grins.

“Hey! No way. I mean it.”

“Jules, do you have plans tomorrow before dinner at your parents?” Luke is talking to her but looking at me, his jaw set.

I am so going to lose this argument.

“Nope. I happen to have a clear calendar.” She smiles.

“Great. Will you please take my girlfriend shopping? And I think the spa is in order too.”

The spa too? My jaw drops.

“It would be an honor and a pleasure, generous boyfriend-in-law.” Jules laughs at her quip and Luke joins her, and all I can do is look back and forth between them.

“I’m in the Goddamn room, people!”

“I know, baby, I’m just planning a little something for your birthday.” He flashes a wolfish smile and winks and I don’t know whether to smack him or really kiss him.

“I like your boyfriend, Nat.” Jules smiles at me sweetly and I know I’m sunk.

“Fine,” I mutter.

“Your enthusiasm is inspiring.”

Luke’s eyes are shining in humor.

“We’ll go to the spa, but no shopping.” I’m really hoping he’ll accept the compromise, but I can see by the set of his jaw that there’s no use in arguing.

“You will shop. Buy whatever you want. There’s no limit on the card.”

I shake my head at him. “Talk about stubborn.”

He shrugs and kisses me hard, then pulls away abruptly, leaving me off balance.

“Will you come to my place when your sessions are over?”

“Yeah, I’ll text you when I’m done.” I sigh, resigned to my fate tomorrow. I know that Jules will make me follow Luke’s instructions.

Traitor.

“Good. I’ll see you later.” He kisses me again and rests his forehead on mine. “I love you, beautiful.”

And just like that my world is set right again, and in this moment I’d do just about anything he wanted.

“I love you too, bossy man.”





Chapter Twenty-One


“Jules, I don’t want to spend his money.” I hear the whine in my voice, but I don’t care.

“Sweetie, he wants to do something nice for you. It’s your birthday.”

We are wandering through Neiman Marcus in downtown Seattle. The crowds are light today given that it’s the middle of the week. The perfectly-coiffed saleswomen are very attentive and over eager to make a mid-week commission.

“I feel like a gold digger.”

Jules laughs as she pulls a blue blouse off a rack, then quickly dismisses it.

“You are no gold digger. Here, try this.”

She hands me a black blouse and we continue wandering.

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