WMIS 04 Rock With Me (31 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Where are we going?” I ask and frown out the window of Leo’s car. We’re in the middle
of nowhere.

“I have to show you something.”

“Another house?” I ask, unable to keep the excitement from my voice.

“Sure.” He shakes his head and smiles over at me.

“I hope it’s a different real estate agent. That chick was not the one for you.” I
laugh at him and run my fingers through his messy, soft light brown hair.

“Definitely a different agent.” He catches my hand to kiss my palm.

We continue to drive on side roads, and I’ve completely lost track of where we are.
Leo flips on the radio, turns to a popular local rock station and sings along with
Pink.

“You’re a Pink fan?” I ask, surprised.

“Isn’t everyone? That chick is badass.” He laughs and shakes his head. “And she can
fucking party like no one I’ve ever seen.”

“I’ve heard she’s slowed down since she had a kid.” I sing along with the radio. This
song is currently one of my favorites.
You’ve got to get up and try…

“I think that’s true, but I haven’t seen her in a while.”

“Where is this house we’re going to see?” I ask and examine our surroundings. “We’re
in the middle of nowhere.”

“Be patient.” He laughs.

“I’m not patient. Have you not learned this by now?”

“That blue scarf looks beautiful on you.” He grins over at me, changing the subject.
“Makes your eyes look even bluer.”

“You’re a charmer.” I wave him off and scowl at all the trees along the road. “And
you’re going to be a single charmer if you buy a house I can’t find.”

He laughs and shakes his head at me, and I stop trying to figure out where we’re going
and sit back to look at him. He’s in his black leather jacket today with his trademark
faded blue jeans. No beanie, which I prefer, so I run my fingers through his hair
again and sigh contentedly.

He keeps checking his watch as he continues to drive.

“Are we going to be late?”

He just shakes his head and grips the wheel a little tighter.

Why is he nervous?

“I think this is it,” he murmurs and pulls up to a cliff area that looks out over
the Sound. I didn’t even realize we were this close to the water. There is a grassy
bluff to my right with trees behind it. The view is spectacular.

But there is no house.

I frown over at Leo, but he’s already climbed out of the car and opens my door for
me.

“Uh, Leo, there’s no house here.”

“Give me a minute.”

After he’s pulled me away from the car, he leans into the open passenger door and
cranks the volume of the radio up so high that I’m pretty sure my brother over in
Alki can hear it.

He checks his watch again, nods and pins me in his gaze.

“What are you doing?” I ask and laugh. “This is not like you.”

“Listen,” he murmurs.

The song on the radio ends and the DJ comes on.

“Hey there, Seattle, that was
Life After You
by Daughtry here on KLPR, Seattle’s best rock radio station. I have a special treat
for our listeners. I got a call from Seattle’s own Leo Nash of the mega band, Nash,
yesterday asking me to play their newest single from their upcoming album,
Sunshine
. The album doesn’t release for another month, but we have a sneak peak of the title
track for you today. Leo tells me this song is dedicated to someone special. I hope
you enjoy it.”

“Are you kidding me?” I ask, my eyes wide. Leo’s smiling softly and he grips the ends
of my scarf in his fists and pulls me against him.

“Dance with me.”

He wraps me in his arms and as the piano begins, he moves us back and forth along
the cliff, the wind blowing through our hair and stinging my cheeks. He pulls back
briefly, so I can slip my arms under his jacket, and tightens his arms around me again,
holding me close, looking down into my eyes.

I don’t wanna be your friend

‘Cause I’ve already let you in

Every time I see your sweet blue eyes

I know I need to make you mine

My walls crumble… and crumble

So all you see is the real me

When you smile

Your sunshine hits me

And the shadows in my soul

They are gone

He softly sings along, his eyes dropping to my lips and then back to mine. He kisses
my forehead softly.

“I love this song,” I whisper.

“I love you,” he whispers back, bends me back into a deep dip, and then circles me
more vigorously around the car. The song is swirling around us, the rest of the world
has stilled, and it even seems like the crashing waves beneath the cliff have quieted.

Oh how many times

Did I stare at your lips

Wishing I could feel

Them on me

When you’re so close

Baby, I forget how to breathe

When you smile

Your sunshine hits me

And the shadows in my soul

They are gone

When I run my hand

Over your perfect skin

I know you see me

And not what I’m covered in

My walls crumble… And crumble

So all you see is the me I need you to see

I can’t look away from his eyes. This is how he sees me. What did I do to deserve
him?

He cups my face in his hands and brushes my lips with his, gently nibbling and caressing
my mouth, and then sinks into me, kissing me with all he has as our song comes to
an end.

He pulls back, his stormy gray eyes happy and shining with lust, kisses my cheek and
then releases me to lean in the car and turn the radio off.

When he turns back to me, his face is uncertain.

“When did you record the song?” I ask, a little out of breath.

“Last week.” He shrugs and pulls me back into him, my arms under his jacket again
to keep me warm. “DJ and Gary came up from L.A. and we spent some time in the studio.”

“Was that your mysterious errand?” I ask and give him a mock-frown.

“Yes.” He chuckles and kisses my nose.

“I love it.” I kiss his chin and grin. “I really, really love it. Are you seriously
naming the whole album
Sunshine
?”

“Yeah, we are.” He rubs my cheek with his thumb. “It’s appropriate.”

I grin and then look around us at the water, the trees, the cliffs. “So, no house,
unless it’s wearing the invisibility cloak.”

“I didn’t know you’re a
Harry Potter
fan.”

“Sure.” I shrug.

“No house yet.” He nods and follows my gaze.

“What do you mean? Are you going to build a house on stilts?” I smirk and gesture
to the Sound. “Do you know how many houses fall into the water every year here?”

“So, here’s the deal.” He kisses my forehead again and pulls back, takes my hand,
and pulls me closer to the cliffs.

“This is as far as I go.” I plant my feet and stop. “I’m afraid of heights, remember?”

“Okay, scaredy cat.” He laughs and his eyes travel over the water. “Do you know how
much I wanted to live on the water when I first moved out here? I’d never seen the
ocean until I moved here when I was nineteen.”

He turns his eyes down to mine and squeezes my hand.

“You couldn’t find a house to buy on the water?” I ask.

“After the interesting afternoon with the last agent the other day, I thought it might
be easier to build.” He shrugs. “Plus, then you’ll get exactly what you want.”

“Leo.” I swallow and try to keep my panic down. “I told you, I’m not ready to live
together.”

“Me neither.” He laughs and turns to me, taking both my hands in his. “Do you know
how long it takes to build a house?”

“Yes, Isaac is a contractor.”

“Great, he can build it.”

“But…”

“Listen.” He kisses me, his smile still in place, and I calm, just a bit. “We don’t
even need to break ground until we both agree that we’re ready to take that step,
Sam. The land will be here.”

“But it’s so far out of town.”

“No, it’s not.” He shakes his head and chuckles almost shyly. “I took the scenic route.
I was trying to kill time while waiting for the radio to play your song.”

“How far out are we?”

“Only ten minutes from downtown.” He runs his fingertips down my cheek. “Think of
the closet you can build, baby.”

“Oh God, it’s not fair to bribe me with a closet.”

“I’m not bribing you.” He tosses his head back as he laughs. “I want you to have full
input on the house. You can have anything you want, whenever you’re ready.”

“Did you already buy it?” I ask, already knowing the answer. He looks down and frowns
nervously and then looks back into my eyes.

“Yes. For us. For when we’re ready. It’s gonna happen, sunshine. You’re mine.”

He’s right. And I love him for not pressuring us into jumping into it right now, but
rather letting things progress as they should.

“So, when we’re ready to move in together,” I clarify, “we’ll draw up plans and have
Isaac build us a house here, on a seventy-five foot cliff?”

“Or on the grassy part over there.” He agrees.

I look out over the gray water, covered in dark clouds with white seagulls flying
over it looking for food. A ferry is carrying people to one of the islands.

“It’s a beautiful view.”

“Yes, it is.” I glance over to find him staring down at me with serious eyes. “I want
to look at it for the rest of my life.”

Wow.

“Thank you.” I hug him tight, bury my face in his chest and breathe him in.

“For what, sweetheart?”

“My song. This place.” I lean back and look up into his handsome face. “Being so good
to me.”

“You’re welcome.” He kisses my forehead and leads me back to the car. “Wanna get take-out
and a movie on the way home?”

“And cupcakes.”

***

“Seriously, why do men think all this blood is cool?” I cringe as another poor bad
guy gets blown away on the big screen TV in Leo’s bedroom.

“Ask your brother, he’s the expert.” Leo laughs and takes another bite of his lemon
cupcake. I eye it longingly and he pulls it out of my reach. “Mine.”

“But I didn’t get lemon.” I bat my eyes at him and cup his dick in my hand. “Please?”

“You don’t fool me.” He smirks and pushes my hand away. “You’re a selfish brat when
it comes to cupcakes.”

“Meanie.” I pout and cross my arms over my chest. My cupcake was devoured long ago.

He smirks again as his phone rings.

“Nash.” He swallows his cake and frowns. “When?”

I don’t like the tone of his voice. He pauses the movie and sits up straight, checking
his watch.

“Okay man, don’t panic. I’ll call the airport and get the jet ready. You just get
your shit together and meet us there. Yeah, I’ll call the other guys too. Tell Lori
we love her.”

He hangs up and runs his hand down his face.

“That was Gary.”

“What’s wrong?” I immediately ask.

“Lori’s in labor.”

“She’s early.” I frown.

“Yeah, we thought we had time. Gary’s still here. We need to get him down to her.”
He jumps up off the bed and just looks around, his eyes worried, like he doesn’t know
what to do first.

“Okay, you make your calls and I’ll pack your bag.” I reach for his large duffle.

“Are you sure? You should come with me.”

I fold his jeans and a few tees and lay them in the bag. “I can’t, babe. I have interviews
and Luke called today while we were at the cliffs. He wants to chat.” I shake my head
and smile at him reassuringly. “It’ll be okay. Get Gary home; check on Lori. Tell
her I’m sorry that I can’t be there.”

“Okay.” His mouth is grim and I can see the internal struggle of taking care of his
guy and being here with me. “I don’t like it.”

“It’ll be okay.” I repeat and hug him tight. “Make your calls.”

“Thanks.” He kisses my forehead and gets to work, calling the airline first to make
sure the jet will be ready within the hour.

Must be nice to have a plane at your beck and call.

As he paces the bedroom, placing call after call, I gather his things and pack his
bag. His toiletries, socks, underwear. He really has great underwear. They’re all
the really short boxer-briefs, in black. Some say Armani along the elastic waist.
Some say Ed Hardy. God, they’re hot.