Tied with Me (With Me in Seattle, #6)(44)

“Is she okay with what you’re into?” he asks softly.

“Yeah. It’s new to her, so I’ve been honest but taking it slow. Took her to the club last weekend.” I smile as I recall her tied up in my red ropes, pulled up tall, panting and turned on. “She enjoyed herself.”

“Good. She seems like a really sweet girl.”

“She’s the best, Caleb.” My eyes find his. “She’s smart, funny, loyal. So f*cking sexy.”

“You’re in love with her.”

“I am,” I reply without hesitation.

“It’s fast,” Caleb remarks, rubbing his hand over the light stubble on his square jaw.

“I know,” I reply honestly. “But it just feels right. I want to be her friend as much as I want to be her lover. She makes me laugh. I’m proud of her. She’s accomplished a lot on her own, and she’s so damn good at it.” I shrug and laugh at my brother’s stunned look. “What is that look for?”

“You’re really f*cking in love with her.”

“I thought we just came to that conclusion.”

“I’m just…wow. Okay, well, that’s awesome. I want to spend some more time with her.”

“You’ll get to. I’m bringing her to Nat’s birthday party tomorrow.” I grin and take another drink of my beer. “Nic’s bringing a new cupcake recipe. She made it up just for Nat.”

“Cool.” Caleb grins, and then his face sobers as he watches me. “Just be careful, man. You’re the best person I know, and seeing you hurt is the last thing I want.”

“I don’t relish the thought of that myself.” I chuckle and shake my head. “We’re not throwing the love word around yet. We’re learning each other and enjoying our time together.”

“Good.”

“Uncle Matt! Look at our T-shirts!”


The girls come bouncing down the stairs, their dark brown ponytails flying around their heads in their excitement to show off the souvenirs their parents brought home for them.

“And backpacks, too! For our coloring books!”

“This is all very cool,” I reply. “Where is mine?”

“You don’t want a backpack,” Josie responds with a wrinkled nose.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re a big boy,” Maddie informs me. “But I’ll share.”

“I’m just teasing, darlin’.” I pick her up and kiss her cheek loudly, then bury my face in her sweet little neck and blow raspberries, making her squeal in delight.

“I love you, Uncle Matt.”

“I love you, too, baby girl.”





Chapter Eleven


Nic



Today is the perfect day for a pool party. The warm Seattle sun is high in the cloudless, bright blue sky. Luke Williams’—the Luke Williams of the Nightwalker movies—and his wife Natalie’s home is absolutely breathtaking. It’s a large two-story stone home that sits near the jagged Washington coastline, just north of Seattle.

We are in the backyard next to a large pool. There’s a large covered outdoor kitchen off the patio, and luxurious chaise lounges next to the pool with individual sun umbrellas to keep the hot rays off of delicate skin.

I opted to close the umbrella to get some sun on my white body, but suddenly a shadow falls over me.

I open my eyes to find Matt standing over me, clad only in black swimming trunks, opening the umbrella over me.

“Hey! You’re blocking my sun.”

“You’ve been in the sun long enough, little one. I don’t want you to burn.”

He picks me up, takes my seat on the lounge and settles me on his lap.

“This is better,” he whispers in my ear as his hand glides down my naked side to my hip.

“Did you see the new dance instructor dance yesterday afternoon before the girls’ class?” Stacy, Matt’s sister-in-law, asks Brynna, who is sitting next to her.

“No, we didn’t get there early enough. Is she good?” Brynna sits in Caleb’s lap and wraps her arms around his neck.

Matt and I are sitting with Brynna, Stacy, Meg, Mark and Caleb. Natalie, Jules and Samantha are sitting on the stone edge of the pool, dangling their feet in the water, while Will, Leo, Luke, Isaac, Nate and Dominic play water volleyball.

I’m just exceedingly proud that I remember everyone’s names. Matt’s family is large, and friendly.

Except Jules. She’s been friendly enough, but she keeps eyeing me, and I know she’s dying to ask me questions.

Maybe I should approach her.

“Oh my Gosh, good doesn’t begin to describe her!” Stacy replies to Brynna, pulling me out of my own thoughts. “She’s freaking amazing. She used to tour with some of the most famous people out there, dancing for them.”

“That’s right.” Brynna nods. “Didn’t she tour with Beyoncé for a while?”

“That’s what I heard,” Stacy confirms.

“Wait. What is this dancer’s name?” Samantha asks from her seat on the edge of the pool. Her gaze is on her brother, Mark, whose eyes are narrowed on her face.

“Meredith,” Brynna replies.