Return of the Jerk (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 2) (45 page)

“Babysitting?” Nathan stares at her, incredulous, from across the table of the infamous Mexican restaurant where she drank too many margaritas. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Can’t believe this.”

Blair picks up her Diet Coke. No margaritas this time. She doesn’t want to get close to anything even resembling truth serum. “Tori called, and I promised to watch the boys while she volunteers at an animal shelter during the evenings next week, starting Wednesday.”

“Those aren’t boys,” Nathan points out the obvious. “They’re just dogs.”

“She doesn’t want to leave them alone. I can still stay with you until then. I’m just not bringing my stuff back yet.”

He shakes his head and lets out a frustrated breath. “Swear to God, my sister . . .” He rolls his eyes, but doesn’t finish his sentence.

“It’s only a little longer. And besides, you’re flying to San Francisco anyway.” Fiona has another morning show interview lined up for Nathan next week.

“I want you all moved in when I get back.”

“Okay, though you and Fiona need to make sure everything is cleaned up first.”

“No worries, babe. Already got that covered.” He digs into his macho burrito with enthusiasm.

She watches him eat. This is the fourth time they’ve had Mexican food in a week. It’s clear Nathan could eat Mexican food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With a bowl of cereal for dessert.

“What do you mean ‘covered’?” she asks. “How?”

He chews his food, nodding. “I’ve hired a cleaning crew to come in. Do the whole place.”

Her brows go up. Her first thought is to wonder whether any cleaning crew could possibly meet her exacting standards. Although, her standards have certainly slipped.

“Planning to give Fiona half the bill when they’re done,” he says, chuckling. “Can’t wait to see her reaction.”

“Do you think she’ll pay it?”

“Going to threaten her with telling Sachi if she doesn’t.”

Blair laughs now, too. “That should be fun. Have those two finally worked out their problems?”

“Yeah, looks that way,” he says, picking up his glass of water. “Haven’t told you the latest, though. Fiona told me this morning she’s planning to move to Seattle—God help us.”

“Seriously?” Blair dips a tortilla chip into her refried beans. “I guess she finally decided to make the sacrifice for love. I take it there’s no more weeping?”

“Nope. In fact, she’s going to be gone again tonight. We’ll have the place all to ourselves.” He gives her a long, meaningful look.

“
Fine
.” Blair pretends to act put upon. “I’ll come over, but only because you’re a famous TV star now.”

His television interview earlier went so well that emails and texts poured in afterward. Nothing but positive viewer response. Apparently, his blog numbers went up, as did his sales on Amazon. Fiona already has him scheduled to go to Portland later this week for a show and then the one in San Francisco next week.

“Just doing whatever it takes to get laid,” he says then laughs when Blair kicks him under the table.

“My parents are having a party this Saturday. It’s an annual BBQ they have to kick off the summer.” She picks up her Diet Coke again and tries to act nonchalant. “Do you want to come?”

Nathan stops chewing. “To your parents’ house?”

She nods.

Their eyes meet across the table.

“What do they know about us?”

Us
. A frisson of joy runs through her. “I haven’t told them much,” she says, being honest. “My mom knows we’ve been spending time together, and I told her about what’s been happening with your book.”

Nathan takes this in. “Guess it was inevitable I’d have to deal with them, huh?”

“They don’t hate you.”

He smirks. “Now who’s a lousy liar?”

“I just mean they aren’t stuck in the past. And they admire what you’ve accomplished.” This much is true, or sort of true. Her parents both respect it when someone works hard and does well.

He doesn’t say anything more, just goes back to eating his food. She knows he doesn’t want to go on Saturday, but if they’re going to be together, he’s right. Her parents are an inevitability.

Nathan winds up spending two days in Portland. His interview went even better than the one in Seattle, and Blair leaves directly after work on Friday to pick him up from the airport. As it turns out, Sachi is there to pick up Fiona, too.

“I’ve heard so much about you!” Blair says. ”It’s great to meet you.”

Sachi laughs. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“I’m really glad you and Fiona have worked things out.”

Blair can’t resist studying Sachi a little, and can see Nathan was right—Sachi is not what she expected. For starters, while she’s attractive, she’s nowhere near as beautiful as Fiona. She has short, dark hair and doesn’t wear any makeup—her jeans and T-shirt are definitely non-designer.

Sachi has a great smile, though, and Blair senses an underlying toughness. Plus, she seems down to earth and unlikely to put up with any nonsense. She imagines it’s good for Fiona to be with someone who can help keep her grounded.

When Blair and Nathan arrive at her condo, the cleaning crew has come and gone.

“I
guess
it’s okay,” she says, looking around. All the take-out boxes have been thrown away and most of the mess is picked up, though Fiona’s suitcases are still there. Apparently, she plans to pick them up this weekend, so that’s a relief. Everything appears to be vacuumed and tidied. Blair can smell the remnants of some kind of lemon-scented cleaning solvent. She doesn’t bother to open her cabinets or fridge, can only imagine what a mess they are. Everything out of order and misaligned. In the past, she wouldn’t have been able to resist the urge to fix them right away.

So maybe I’m making progress.

Nathan tosses his bag on the floor then flops down on the couch. Mr. Maurice immediately jumps onto his chest. “Hey, pal,” he says, petting him as the cat purrs loudly.

“Looks like someone missed you.” Blair stands next to the couch, watching the two of them.

Nathan’s green eyes flash up to hers with a playful gleam. “Anybody else miss me?”

“I suppose.” She tries to give him a haughty look, but is so glad to see him she can’t pull it off even as a joke.

“Come here.” Nathan pushes the cat aside and reaches for her hand so Blair can take Mr. Maurice’s place.

She lies on top of him, soothed by the steady beat of his heart. Blair sighs with happiness. His hand is stroking her back and eventually she lifts her head to face him. “Just so you know, I missed you way more than Mr. Maurice.”

“Sorry, babe, doubt that’s possible. You’ve seen how much this cat loves me, right?”

She scoffs. “Please, that’s just a boy crush.” She points at herself. “This is the real thing.”

“Is it?” His eyes roam her face.

“Yes, it is.” She reaches up to stroke his jaw covered with blond stubble. “It’s the real thing.”

“I missed you, too,” he acknowledges, then lowers his voice, his hand sliding down to her ass. “Missed all of you. Can’t wait to taste some of that cinnamon snatch.”

Blair stills for a moment before gawking at him. “
What
did you just call it?”

Nathan chuckles. “Too dirty for you?”

“You can’t say . . . that!” she sputters, pushing on his chest. “Ever!”

He laughs. “Okay, how about petting the illustrious red beaver?”

“No!”

“Going to bronze beaver town?”

She sits up partway, looking around for a weapon of some kind. “Where are you getting these from?”

“Fire bush canal?”

Blair grabs a couch pillow. “I’m going to murder you with this pillow just to shut you up!”

He’s laughing so hard now he’s having difficulty catching his breath. “Wait,” he holds up his hand to fend off the pillow. “I’ve got it! How about this—my favorite red lunch box.”

Blair breaks down and laughs now, too. “Please, stop.” She groans. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but let’s just stick with Red Willow Valley.”

“Yeah.” Nathan chuckles some more then lets out a deep sigh. “You’re right, that’s still the best of the bunch.”

“The bunch?”

He nods. “Thought them all up on the plane ride home.”

“I don’t believe it.” Blair rolls her eyes. “
This
is how you spend your time?”

“Hey, I was sitting next to Fiona. Had to listen to her plot my entire career—hell, my whole life. Could only take so much before I tuned her out.” He grins and takes her hand, intertwining their fingers. “Needed something real pleasant to think about, like,” he gives her an earnest look, “your crimson curlies.”

“Oh, my God,” Blair groans, and laughs some more. “That’s definitely the
worst
of the bunch.”

They wake up the next morning to dark clouds in the sky. It’s Saturday, the day of her parents’ BBQ, and Blair took the day off. She’s letting Ginger and Carlos handle the wedding cake deliveries. It’s not easy, but she’s trying to be less of a control freak. After all, delegating is part of being the boss. The truth is she’s never taken a single vacation since they opened La Dolce Vita.

“What if it rains?” Nathan wants to know. “Will they cancel their party?”

They’re still lying in bed, his warm body wrapped behind her as they study the gray sky through her bedroom window. Blair should feel cozy and relaxed, especially after the wonderful night they had, but unfortunately, her sense of unease has returned.

Maybe it’s just those dark clouds.

“No, they won’t cancel. They’ll just move the party indoors.” She rolls over in bed so she’s facing him. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I’ll understand.”

They study each other. Nathan’s face is so handsome and familiar in the morning light. Love surges through her.

“I want to go,” he tells her firmly. “Need to clear the air. Let them see what I’m made of.”

Blair nods. “Okay.”

They spend the rest of the morning futzing around, each doing their own thing. Nathan is mostly holed up in front of his computer working on his blog, while Blair looks over the sketches for Kiki’s cake—the wedding coming up in only a couple of weeks.

She tries to shake her disquiet, wonders if it’s related to bringing Nathan to her parents’ house, but can’t imagine why. Yes, they were unhappy with what happened years ago, but her parents wouldn’t be rude to him now. Plus, her mother has decided to hire Fiona, and is apparently impressed enough with the humorist Fiona introduced her to that there’s talk of a book in the works.

By the time they’re ready to leave, Blair’s unease is so bad she considers canceling, but knows she can’t. Not only are her parents expecting her, but she suspects Nathan would think she was canceling because of him.

They take Isadora, stopping at La Dolce Vita on the way so she can pick up the cakes she set aside yesterday for the party. Nathan helps her carry them to the car, and after some thought, Blair decides to strap two of them in the backseat, while she holds two more balanced on her lap.

“That’s a lot of cake, babe.”

“My mom asked me to bring them. I was supposed to bring cupcakes, too, but we sold out before I could put any aside.”

She tied a coral scarf in her hair before they left, and Nathan slips his hand to the back of her neck at one of the stoplights. “You look real nice, princess. Like the scarf. Sexy.”

“Thank you.” She smiles.

He’s still watching her, and even when the light turns, seems reluctant to turn back to the road.

The sun has come out and though it’s turned into a warm day, they keep the convertible top up as they drive. Nathan’s never been to her parents’ house, which seems weird now that she thinks about it. She married him, and yet no one ever thought to invite him to the house?

Including me?

There are already quite a few cars parked in her parents’ circular driveway, and Blair instructs Nathan to just park wherever he can. Her parents live in an upper middle class neighborhood, the houses all large and well-maintained.

She can see the way Nathan looks around, his laser focus turned on as he helps her carry the cakes inside. Blair tries to see her parents’ house from his point of view and realizes it probably does look like she was a princess living in a fairytale castle.

Their eyes meet for a few seconds. She’s not sure what to do with the grim determination she finds behind his.

Blair has him follow her around to the backyard. The party’s already in full swing, and she sees the buffet tables lined up near the house with food, so she heads in that direction.

“Blair.” Her dad is coming out one of the French doors which lead into the house.

“Hey, Dad. I come bearing sweets.”

“Your mother will be relieved. She’s already worried we’re going to run out of food.” He laughs, motioning at the long table loaded up with everything from salad to seafood. “Though I don’t see how that’s possible.”

Blair laughs, too, notices an open spot near the desserts her mom must have left for the cakes. She’s ready to say something about Nathan, but her dad’s already noticed him.

“We haven’t seen you in a while, Road,” her dad says, his tone serious. “Though, I understand you go by Nathan now?”