4. Lucas
Chapter Four
LUCAS
I’d be lying if I said kissing Natalie yesterday hadn’t changed something.
Part of me is jubilant, thinking about the feeling of her soft lips and gorgeous curves pressed against me. But another part is concerned.
I’ve kept my dating life on ice for the last five years so as not to put my kids through anything that might confuse them, or even worse, hurt them. I’ve knuckled down and focussed on work, and work only.
Natalie’s the first woman to make me deviate from my self-imposed rules and, looking at her laughing with Logan and Zoe, I know the reason why.
She’s beautiful, yes, and head-turningly sexy, but my feelings for her already run deeper.
From the first moment she replied in such a calm, thoughtful way at that gingerbread place, I knew she was something special.
Her communication style is so straightforward and she’s so honest, it’s such a contrast from all the fake schmoozing I’m subjected to in my business dealings.
She gives a lot of thought to her interactions, and that means something to me, knowing that she’s a deep thinker.
I meet a lot of people who are just interested in money, or status, or having the latest expensive trinket, and she’s not like that.
I’ve been working upstairs most of the day and as I come down the sweeping pine staircase there’s a knock on the door.
Eva, my ex, is standing there.
“You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?” She’s dressed head to toe in immaculate Louis Vuitton and her blonde hair is expensively blow-dried, as always. Behind her, through the open door, her driver sits at the wheel of a glossy Bentley. It looks incongruous in this place of pines, breezes and rough roads.
“Forgotten what?” Two can play at this game.
“It’s in the schedule - I added it yesterday.
I’m taking the kids with me to the outdoor festival near Newhope.
One of my labels is dressing the performers, we’re going to stay in a boutique tent.
Glamping, I think it’s called.” Eva looks pleased with herself.
Her fast fashion business has really taken off in the last three years.
The kids run in from the garden. Zoe is covered in mud and Logan has dirt on his face.
“Mom! We’ve been building a fort with Natalie!” Zoe rushes forward to give Eva a hug.
Eva backs away. “That’s great honey… but you’re all muddy and I have my good clothes on.
We’re going to a festival now and to go camping.
” She turns to Natalie. “Nanny, sorry I don’t know your name, can you get them cleaned up and changed ASAP?
We’re on a tight schedule - I have to be there for the opening. ”
Natalie walks slowly over. Her wild red hair and scuffed jeans are a contrast to Eva’s polished outfit. She glances at me as she walks past and I can tell she’s pissed about being talked to like that.
I reach out an arm and stop her. “Eva, this is Natalie. She’s been great stepping in when the agency’s nanny broke her leg. She’s a fantastic representative for Snowflake Falls and the kids adore her.”
Eva raises an eyebrow. “Okay, hi Natalie. Snowflake Falls is a very cute place. My mom moved here to be with her husband ten years ago. I hear Newhope is even better.”
Natalie shrugs. “Yes they’re getting a lot of boutiques and coffee shops in Newhope now.
Wealthy guys from the tech industry in the city keep moving in, my cousin tells me.
I’ll take the kids and get them changed.
” She herds Logan and Zoe upstairs, staying calm, even though Logan is complaining every step of the way.
Mrs. Klass has the day off today, so I walk into the kitchen to make Eva a coffee. She follows me, heels clacking on the polished wood floor.
“The new nanny is very young. And very pretty, in a voluptuous kind of way.” She leans against the counter.
“She is.” I’m not reacting to this. There’s nothing between Eva and I, but she can’t help causing a little drama wherever she goes.
“I bet she jumped at the chance to work for a billionaire.” She reaches her hand out to take the coffee cup. Her nails are long and bright pink.
“She’s not like that, Eva.” I busy myself pouring my own coffee so she can’t see the expression on my face.
“Oh Lucas, you’re so naive. It’s cute, actually.
Did you hear how she said her cousin mentioned about the tech guys in Newhope?
They probably have some sort of alert system when someone of high net worth moves in.
Probably the only way to get out of this tiny town.
” She drums her fingers on the countertop.
Natalie had mentioned her cousin telling her about this job. And I know she’s not got much money, but I don’t think she’s that kind of person.
I turn around. “Have you implemented that recycling scheme yet?”
“Changing the subject Lucas? Point taken. You must really think highly of her. No, I haven’t got in touch with the garment suppliers yet, using recycled materials will depend on them. It would be great PR for us though.”
“And good for the planet, too.” I stare at her.
She laughs. “Yeah, yeah. That too.”
After Eva and the kids have left, Natalie walks around gathering up their toys and straightening up the mess they’ve made outside.
I can’t help admiring her curvy hips in those tight jeans as she bends over to pick things up.
The evening sun is glinting off her beautiful hair, giving it a fiery red glow.
When she comes back inside I hand her a glass of wine.
“You know, that’s not in your remit, Natalie. To clean up - I mean. Mrs. Klass can take care of that tomorrow. Or, I’m capable, despite appearances.”
She smiles and sits down next to me on the sofa. “That’s fine. The kids were playing outside so much today that it’s all kind of targeted in one spot.”
There’s a silence as the breeze blows through the pines at the back of the garden. I wonder if she’s remembering us walking through the woods yesterday. I should offer to drive her home, but I want her to stay right here with me.
I’m tired of playing it safe. I set my wine down and put my hand over hers. “Natalie, stay for dinner with me. Again, contrary to appearances, I’m a pretty good cook.”
She looks over at me, her emerald-colored eyes wide. “Are you sure? Isn’t that breaking the nanny-boss unwritten rule or something?”
I shrug. “I don’t mind if you don’t mind. Of course, you can cook if you feel it’s more appropriate to your station.”
She looks at me in shock before she bursts out laughing. “You had me there! Okay... you can cook Lucas, but I’ll set the table.”
A couple of hours later we’ve taken our drinks outside. The heat of the day lingers in the air, so we’re sitting side by side cooling our feet in the pool.
“Lucas, you need to give me the recipe for that amazing pasta sauce. My cousin Taylor would love to recreate it - she caters for a lot of Snowflake events so you might get it served back to you if she gets her hands on it.”
“You can have whatever you like. I’d be happy to contribute to the happy stomachs of Snowflake.
” I nudge her with my arm, not realizing she’s reaching over for her wine glass.
The combination of my gentle nudge and her off-balance position sends her toppling into the pool.
But not before I reach out my arm to try and stop her, leaving me holding her hand as she gasps, up to her waist in water.
It’s so funny that I start laughing at her round eyes and shocked face as she stares up at me. Her eyebrows go up and she tugs on my hand as hard as she can. I don’t resist and fly forward into the water as she starts to laugh as well.
Still holding her hand, I draw her forward through the water.
Her tank top is soaking and her nipples are poking through the flimsy material.
Her soft curves press against my body as I lean my head down to kiss her laughing mouth.
It feels even better than yesterday with her soft, red lips against mine once more.
Her lips are open and she moans softly as her tongue meets mine.
My cock is rock hard as I run my hands down her wet back, plunging under the water to grasp her ass and pull her closer to me. My shirt is drenched with water and she reaches up to run her hands over my arms and back in a slow, sensual movement.
She draws her head back for a moment and those mesmerizing eyes meet mine. “I want this, Lucas.” Her voice is low and sweet.
I’ve been waiting to touch her since I first saw her.
Being sensible has gone out the window.
I want Natalie.
Now.