Part 24 (1/2)
”I want privacy. Somewhere we can talk.”
No making out then. She was getting ahead of herself.
Signaling left, Lauren turned onto the road leading to the beach. ”I know a spot.”
Wind whistled past the winds.h.i.+eld as she guided the Caddy around the sharp curves toward Bounty Bay's beach. Instead of taking the ramp to the sand, she chose a side road that led to a small parking area overlooking the endless blue curve of ocean. Once she'd parked the car and killed the engine, they sat in silence, the rhythmic hiss of breakers pounding up the beach below the only sound.
”I like your hair,” he said. ”It suits you.”
”Thanks.” She drummed her fingers on the Caddy's steering wheel.
Then she swiveled on the bench seat, soaking up every detail of the line of his shoulders beneath a blue-checked s.h.i.+rt and the length of his legs in worn jeans. G.o.d, he stole the breath from her lungs, the thoughts from her head. Everything she wanted to say to him scattered in the whirlwind of love sweeping through her.
Kia kaha, Lauren. You can do this. You can be strong enough. ”Aren't you meant to have flown out by now?”
He continued to stare out the winds.h.i.+eld, the scent of his warm skin wrapping around her like a feather-soft blanket. Then clearing his throat, he turned toward her.
”Change of plans.”
”Oh.” Her gaze lowered to the rapid movement of his Adam's apple behind his unb.u.t.toned collar. Her closeness affected him. Something of a boost to her dwindling confidence.
He s.h.i.+fted closer on the bench seat. ”My plans had to change because I didn't take the deal with Martin Davis.” One of his hands closed over hers and squeezed.
Nate didn't take the deal? He didn't look upset, so maybe he'd changed his mind about selling Mac's place. Maybe he intended to be some part of their lives, after all.
”I've sold it to someone else.”
His statement clanged discordantly around her head. The sliver of hope snuffed out. She tried to tug her fingers from under his hand, but he tightened his grip.
”And my dreams have changed a little-h.e.l.l, a lot-in the last few weeks.”
”I see.”
Throwing herself into the ocean seemed a fine idea about now. Beneath the waves, she could pretend the man she loved hadn't driven all the way up here just to blow her off a second time.
His other hand stroked her hair, and before she could utter a wounded snarl and shove his fingers away, he spoke. ”Yep, Savannah's gonna love Mac's place.”
She jerked, her muscles icing to robotic stiffness. ”Savannah? Your cousin Savannah?”
”The one and only.”
Suddenly glad she'd vetoed the fairy floss Drew wanted to share earlier, Lauren decided her churning stomach agreed with what her mind suspected. He wasn't here for her. He'd come as a courtesy call to tell her about her new neighbor.
But d.a.m.n if he'd see her cry.
Heat flared across her cheekbones, and she lifted her chin, armed with an ex-model's best defense-the ability to smile for the camera while her life tore to ribbons. ”I guess that'd still work for you. You'll have the money to travel now.”
He shook his head and traced the line of her cheekbone with his finger. ”Lauren, that's not what this is about.”
”So what is it about?”
His gaze bored into her, making her ache for him all over again.
”I want you to understand. Before Steve died, he said something to me I chose to ignore for far too long. He told me not to be like him, to find a woman to love and to make a home with her. Steve said in dying, he'd learned everything about living.” His hand slid around to cradle her jaw. ”I realized I'm not like Steve. I've found the woman I'll love for the rest of my life. I've found the boy I want to raise as my own son. I've found the family and home I've always wanted but been too proud to admit I need.”
”Did you-?” Her blood thrumming so fast it was a small miracle her veins and arteries didn't spontaneously explode, Lauren blinked repeatedly. ”Did you just say you love me?”
Moving even closer on the bench seat, he pressed his forehead to hers. ”Yeah, for quite a while now. I think seeing you handling that chainsaw did it for me.” He chuckled then huffed out a sigh. ”I love you, Lauren Taylor. But I know I've been a complete idiot.”
”You have.” She couldn't prevent the quaver in her voice as she cupped his jaw, the sweet, sweet feel of his raspy stubble bringing tears to her eyes.
”Will you give me another chance?”
She could turn Nate down and refuse to take the risk of trusting him...or she could quit hiding and let her heart be exposed. ”Yes. Because I love you, too, and we all deserve a second chance to be happy.”
He let go of her hand and tugged her forward. She fell against him and grabbed his arms for balance, but he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her until her toes curled.
”You love me?” he said, chest heaving.
She gripped handfuls of his s.h.i.+rt so tightly the st.i.tching on his s.h.i.+rt pocket tore. ”So, so much.”
He tilted his head and delivered a kiss that melted her into a quivering puddle. She came back down to earth with a b.u.mp as the kiss ended, and she realized there were words left unspoken.
”Nate, I know you're not the settling down type-”
”About that.” He dragged a hand down his face. ”Remember I said I had some new dreams?”
She nodded, and his lips curved into a wide smile.
”Well, the new dream involves a coffee-table book but with a different theme.” He gently rubbed her arms. ”The beauty of Bounty Bay. Whnau. What makes us unique, what brings us together, what it means to be part of a family.”
”That sounds wonderful.” More than wonderful, an idea so beautiful that only a photograph of her soul could capture what words couldn't. ”But you love the rush of photojournalism, Nate-I saw your face at the Waitangi protest.”
”Yeah, I do. And I can still freelance with the odd local or short-term a.s.signment. But no more warzones, no more months away. Not when I've found something so much better.” Nate nuzzled the soft spot below her ear. ”It's you I want to hold every night until you fall asleep. It's you I want to be tangled up with every morning.”
Determined not let the weepy-female side of her take over, Lauren hooked her arms around his neck. ”You're the best cure for insomnia.”
Nate laughed, his chest shaking and his eyes crinkling. ”Well, thanks, I think. And by the way? I've left a message with a real estate agent to put my apartment on the market.”
Bubbles of joy fizzed in her chest. ”You're going to move up here?”
”Todd's promised to rent me a patch of his lawn to pitch a tent on in case you take some convincing to let me back in your life.”
She showed him her palms. ”I'm convinced. Besides, I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to be Todd's tenant. He'll fleece you dry and talk your ear off.”
He ran a light finger down her nose and tweaked the tip. ”You're saying there's room for me in your house?”