Salvation (7 page)

Just as I dashed across the road, my mobile rang. Keeping an eye on where I was going, I dug it out from my bag, careful not to spill my grande cappuccino, and answered the unknown caller.

“Kara.”
The dulcet rasp of Nate’s voice swirled its way down into my core, dragging all my concentration to the warmth now spreading up to my chest.

“Hi,” I spluttered, shocked to hear from him again.

“Hi,” he replied softly. I could hear his smile. “How are you?”

“Good…thanks.” I shook my head, hoping to clear the alcohol fuzz.

“I’m glad you’re all right. You should’ve let me take you home the other night. I worried about you.” His concern made me unsteady on my feet. After a beat, with his voice low and teasing, he added, “Taking a ride with me would’ve been far more enjoyable.”

“I imagine so,” I replied dreamily, forgetting to engage the slightly inebriated brain as an image of a very
different
ride came to mind.

“How’s the weekend so far?” Nate asked cheerfully.

“Fantastic!” I giggled at my over-enthusiasm.

“You sound happy.” I stopped and squinted up at the Chateau Marmont hidden behind the trees opposite. I
was
happy. Because I was talking to him.

“I’ve just had lunch with a friend. It usually entails alcohol.” With another sip of coffee, I headed towards home.

“You’re not driving are you?” he demanded.

“Of course not!” I was startled by the authority and concern in his voice, unsure why he deemed it necessary to ask.

I heard him sigh with relief. “Good. Any plans for tomorrow?” he asked in a tone far too composed for my liking.

“No. I might spend all day in bed.” I rolled my shoulders, realising how tiring the past week had been. Right now, I could think of nothing better than not getting out of bed for the day.

“Sounds like heaven. Let me keep you company,” he murmured gruffly. The tone rippled through me, my skin breaking out in goose bumps.

“You’re very persistent.”

“Do I strike you as being easily deterred?”

I remembered the steely determination in his eyes from before. “No.”

“So let me pursue you.” An image of his face from Thursday night flashed through my mind, reminding me of how, with one momentary lapse in composure, he’d appeared so bare and susceptible. As much as he wanted to bed me, I’d seen a glimpse of something deeper hiding beneath the surface. The pounding of my heart confirmed I liked what I’d seen.

“What are your plans? Apart from trying to gate-crash my private slumber party?” I grinned, unable to resist flirting.

“That depends.”

“On?”

“You. You’ve turned me down more times than I care to admit, but I hoped you’d reconsider my offer?”

“What offer?” I tossed my empty cup into a bin and pushed up the sleeves of my white shirt.

“Of dinner.”

I damn near fell over my own feet. “Are you serious?”

“Kara, never doubt me. I mean every word I say.” The seriousness in his tone reinforced his statement. My stomach twisted desirously, as I imagined his inexorable gaze sliding over me. “If not dinner, maybe something less formal instead?”

“Like what?” I asked, nervously.

“If tomorrow afternoon works for you, I’ll pick you up at one-thirty.”

“I need to know what to wear.” That sounded pathetic, as if I cared more about my appearance than what we could be doing.
Together.

Nate laughed quietly. “Casual’s good.” Was he expecting whatever I wore to end up discarded on the floor?

Two men passed me, holding hands as they walked a beautiful Schnauzer. They flashed me matching mega-watt smiles. I sighed. Why did everyone make being in love seem so easy?

“C’mon,” he coaxed playfully, “no dinner. I promise.”

“Why do you want to see me again?” Over the past year, I’d been racked with insecurities, concluding I wasn’t good enough for anyone, let alone someone like Nate Blake.

“You really have to ask?”

“Yes, I told you I’m not interested in what you’re offering.”

“I know, but…” He sighed quietly. “I can’t keep away. I have to see you again to know if what I felt the other night was real.”

Hearing that he’d sensed the odd connection too made my pulse race. Neither of us could walk away from something that wasn’t what either of us was looking for. I wanted him, more than I’d wanted any man in a long time, irrespective of what he could or couldn’t give me. A small smile curled my lips as victory swirled low in my belly. He wanted me just as badly.

“So long as it’s casual,” I found myself agreeing. If Nate could hear the slight fluctuation in my voice, he’d have his answer as to how badly he affected me.

“This is my private number,” he confirmed. “Add it to your contacts.”

“Okay.” We both stayed silent for what seemed like forever, and it was strangely comforting. Eventually, I said, “See you tomorrow.”

Staring in bewilderment at my phone after I’d hung up, Mai’s words returned to haunt me. Maybe Nate
wasn’t
used to being rejected. Perhaps this was all simply a game to him?

Deciding a slightly merry, alcohol laced disposition wasn’t the right time to dissect the inner workings of his puzzling actions, I swapped my phone for my keys and let myself into my building.

It didn’t even cross my mind to question how he’d obtained my number. Or how he’d know where to find me tomorrow.

“
IT
’
S NATE.
”

The sultry tone of his voice over the intercom sent a charge of excitement rushing through me.

“
I
’
ll be down in a second.
”
I replaced the handset and returned to the bedroom to finish up. He was ten minutes early, but I was pretty much ready. In keeping with the natural look of my make-up, I
’
d left my hair loose and wavy.

I sat on my bed and buckled up my black leather sandals. After accessorising with silver jewellery, I put on my wide-brimmed sunhat and headed through the lounge, collecting my tote and sunglasses off the kitchen counter. With shaking hands I locked up, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach as I carefully took the stairs.
Breathe, Kara.

Nate was leaning against the wall outside with his back to the doors. Stone coloured long shorts displayed etched calves, and the hem of his white cotton shirt sat on the curve of his pert arse. Clearly it wasn
’
t only suits that made him look amazing. He wore the casual look equally as well. I opened the door and startled him into turning around.

“
You
’
re early, Mr Blake,
”
I teased. He scanned me appreciatively up and down, his mouth parting slightly. My pulse quickened as his gaze lingered, his iridescent iris
’
sparkling in the sunlight.

“
And you, Miss Collins, are stunning.
”

I sensed my cheeks flush at the compliment. I was only wearing white skinny jeans with a loose charcoal v-neck t-shirt.

“
After you.
”
Nate indicated for me to lead the way down the path.

“
Nice car,
”
I smirked, eyeing the gleaming convertible Bentley parked at the kerbside. Dark grey with a hint of smoky blue, it was the colour of a stormy sky. Sporty, sleek and exquisitely honed
—
much like its owner.

“
Thank you.
”
He smiled graciously and opened my door, waiting whilst I slipped into the cream leather passenger seat. Nate rounded the car and climbed in beside me. I watched avidly as he smoothed his hands around the stitched leather steering wheel, imagining them running over me with the same admiration. His shirt allowed a glimpse of muscular, sun-kissed forearms and a quietly understated Bremont watch on his right wrist.

“
British designs are visually stunning.
”
Nate glanced sideways, a smile teasing his lips.
“
I haven’t found an exception to that rule yet.
”

“
My father would love it,
”
I said, quickly buckling up my seat belt, hoping to hide my no doubt flushed cheeks.

“
What does he drive?
”
he asked, starting the engine.
Damn.
Even his car purred sexily.

“
A 1970s Aston Martin.
”

“
Ah, a man after my own heart.
”

I slipped on my sunglasses as Nate did the same, hiding those glorious eyes behind a pair of Ray-Ban Aviators. They only served to accentuate the features I could still see. Cut jawline, covered once again with a light dusting of stubble, and unruly windblown hair from the drive over. He flashed a boyish smile, shifted the gearstick into drive and pulled into the road.

We drove through the city towards the coast and it was a good twenty minutes before I asked where we were going.

“
I thought we could go to the beach.
”
He smiled uncertainly.
“
Sound good?
”

“
Sounds lovely.
”
The beach wasn’t too formal and perfect for such a sunny day.

We didn
’
t talk much more for a while. I watched, dazed as countless SUV
’
s and sports cars swarmed around us. The volume of traffic on the roads, even on a Sunday afternoon, never ceased to amaze me.

Eventually, we reached the Pacific Coast Highway and headed north. The car accelerated with a surge that pushed me back into the seat and had me holding onto my hat. Nate
’
s carefree laugh made me smile. The ocean stretched out to our left as far as I could see, glinting as the sun caught the rolling waves. I took a sly glimpse of Nate as he concentrated on driving. Young and relaxed, his thick hair blowing in the breeze, so different from the slick, polished image portrayed at work.

We pulled off the highway onto a side road, following its twists and turns past increasingly opulent mansions. Nate swung the car through solid wood opening gates, up a sweeping driveway and straight into the double garage nestling beneath three-storeys of million dollar modern beach house architecture. A mountain bike hung on a whitewashed wall, and a couple of surfboards on another, but otherwise it was empty.

Nate silenced the engine and removed his sunglasses. He appeared nervous, giving me a tight smile before climbing out. He moved gracefully around the front of the car and tried to open my door.

“
Sorry.
”
I quickly unlocked it, blushing furiously as I stepped out, mentally chastising myself for my OCD safety issues.

Nate smiled but said nothing. I removed my sunglasses and tossed my hat back into the car whilst he took a brown paper grocery bag out the boot. Had he actually brought me to his home?
To his bed?
The idea was as unsettling as it was thrilling.

“
Follow me,
”
Nate said, brushing past and heading through a door at the rear. I waited in a small hallway whilst he switched off the alarm then followed him upstairs.

The vast open layout I found myself in spanned the entire length and width of the house. It was pleasantly cool, a welcoming respite to the sun that had beat down on me during the journey. The distressed white oak floor and off-white painted walls gave the spacious room a clean, bright, airy feel. There was an abundance of natural light streaming in from a double-height window to my left, and skylights in the soaring vaulted ceiling over the dining area.

“
Come on in.
”
He made his way to the contemporary galley kitchen and set the bag on top of a large island. A grand timber dining table faced the kitchen, and in the centre, a huge fishbowl filled with shells and pebbles.

“
These photos are fantastic.
”
Twelve assorted sized black and white images of inanimate objects hung in coordinated frames on the wall behind the table. Arranged in no particular order, the randomness created a stunning visual effect.

“
Thanks.
”
Nate offered a shy smile as he removed two wine glasses from one of the high gloss wall units.

I headed to the sunken lounge, leaving my belongings on the table. A large sofa faced a giant flat-screen television fixed above an open fireplace, with built-in shelves on either side stacked with books and a few family photographs.

The cool blues, whites and silver of three large canvases hanging behind the sofa picked up the furnishings and accents. Two oversized armchairs faced out towards floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.

“
Is this your home?
”
I called, not taking my eyes off the view. The immaculately manicured lawn lined either side by tall cypress trees that ensured total privacy, stretched to the cliff edge before disappearing into the dramatic backdrop of the ocean.

“
I have a place in the city that suits my needs during the week. I like to escape here on weekends. It
’
s more me.
”