Vacation Crush, page 8
Nine
Jonathan and his younger siblings, Jayden, Alexa and Caitlyn, gathered at their family home later that afternoon. It wasn’t unusual for the entire family to be in one place. There was nothing his mother loved more than having all her children present so she could be in full mother hen mode.
One of the big reasons she was thrilled was because Alexa had come home permanently. Originally, his sister had visited for Victor Grandin Sr.’s funeral, but after Layla Grandin asked Alexa to stay on and help with Heath Thurston’s claim, she had remained in town. That’s when she met and fell in love with her former school rival, Jackson Strom. Now she and the CEO of the PR firm were head over heels in love and engaged to be married. Jonathan couldn’t believe that both his sisters had been struck by Cupid’s arrow. He refused to go down that road again. He would be happy with his casual affairs.
I wonder what Natalie is doing?
Dammit, he had to stop obsessing about Natalie and instead focus on enjoying family time.
* * *
After everyone dispersed, Jonathan stayed behind because he wanted to talk to his mother. He’d been mulling this over in his mind since his return and he was certain he was doing the right thing.
“Jonathan, I thought you’d gone,” his mother said when she came into the kitchen and found him raiding the cookie jar. Like him, she liked an evening treat and he’d banked on the fact that she would grab a snack before she and his father headed upstairs to bed.
“You know I can’t resist your oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.”
She beamed with pride. “No one knows the secret to making chocolate chip cookies taste amazing is the extra bit of oatmeal.” She went to the commercial-sized fridge and pulled out a jug of milk. She poured herself and Jonathan a glass.
“But something tells me that’s not the only reason you’re here,” she said, handing him his glass.
“Thanks.” He took a large gulp of milk, uncaring he had a milk mustache. “And no, it’s not.”
“What’s on your mind?” She reached over and with her thumb wiped away the milk.
“I wanted to know if you’ve selected a marketing firm to help take your culinary products to the public.” Despite the chilly reception Natalie gave him earlier, he still believed in her talent.
His mother shook his head. “No, not yet. I’m still entertaining offers.”
“Could I be bold and make a suggestion?”
“I’m all ears.”
“Natalie Hastings. She and her business partner own a marketing firm here in Royal,” Jonathan said. He glanced in his mother’s direction, but her expression remained neutral. “If you’re looking for a local firm, I don’t think you can do any better than Natalie’s company.”
His mother tilted her head to one side and her dark brown eyes pierced his. “Is that so?”
“You sound doubtful.”
“Not of Natalie’s firm. I’ve heard of them, and I’d be happy to entertain a proposal. I’m more curious about why you’re making the recommendation.”
“I don’t follow.”
“C’mon, Jonathan,” his mother said, chuckling, and he could see he wasn’t fooling her for a second. She was on to him. “Don’t act dense. If you recall, the entire family was there last month at the Texas Cattleman’s party. We heard Natalie’s declaration and know you’re the object of her affection. And suddenly you think she’s the best thing since sliced bread. What gives?”
Damn. His mother wasn’t going to let him off the hook easily. He had to give her something. Throw her a bone. “I recently got to know her and found her to be a charming and talented woman.”
His mother smiled at that statement. “That’s high praise coming from you, considering you haven’t brought a woman home to meet the family since Anne.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes upward. That name was persona non grata in this house. “Please don’t bring up my ex.”
“With pleasure. She’s one of my least favorite people,” his mother replied. “And I’ll give your Natalie an audience, but she’d better bring it. I don’t give out handouts.”
He doubted she was “his Natalie” anymore. The lady was mighty upset with him. “Thanks, Mom.” Jonathan strolled over to her and, grasping her by the shoulders, kissed both her cheeks. “I appreciate it.”
Jonathan quickly exited the kitchen before his mother could pepper him with more questions about how and when he’d gotten to know Natalie. Because he knew he hadn’t fooled her for a second. She knew something was afoot and she would use her powers of persuasion and the rumor mill of Royal to find out the truth. Lucky for him no one knew he and Natalie had become lovers and that’s exactly the way he intended to keep it.
* * *
“Natalie, baby girl, it’s so good to see you,” her grandmother said when Natalie stopped by her childhood home to check on her grandparents that evening. They’d raised Natalie after she was dropped off unwanted by her biological mother.
“Hey, Mimi,” Natalie said, using the affectionate name she’d given her at two years old. She kissed her cheek as she stepped inside the three-bedroom home located in the center of Royal. “I brought you over a caramel cake from the diner.”
“Thank you, sweetie. You didn’t need to do that.”
“It’s no bother. I thought it would go great with whatever you were cooking up for Sunday dinner.”
“I made the usual, some baked chicken, fried cabbage and some corn bread. You hungry?”
“If that’s what’s for dinner, then that’s an absolute yes. Where’s Granddaddy?” Natalie dropped her purse and glanced around the room.
“Oh, he went over to help give the neighbor a jump. He’ll be along shortly. Come on in and sit for a spell. We can catch up about your trip to Galveston. Was it the getaway you needed after the hoopla of the last month?”
Natalie chucked inwardly. How could she forget professing her adoration for Jonathan live in front of the entire town? It all seemed like a moot point now, given they’d become lovers. He may not have been into her before, but he hadn’t been able to get enough of her during their vacation.
“Yes, Mimi, it was exactly what I needed to put the past behind me,” Natalie responded. Maybe that would be all the closure she would get. For a brief moment, she got to have her heart’s desire, and now she knew Jonathan was bad for her.
“That’s good. Because I wouldn’t want you to get hurt and think the Lattimore boy would be interested in you when he’s never approached you.”
Ouch. Is that how everyone saw her? As some desperate female?
“It’s over now. I’m moving on.”
“So, you’re willing to date someone else?” her grandmother asked. “If so, I know a great young man from church who’s been dying to go out on a date with you.”
“No, thanks, Mimi. Really, if you don’t mind, I’d like to focus on my business.”
“You’re not getting any younger, my sweet. If you want a family someday, you can’t wait around. It’s not so easy for women to get pregnant these days. You have to take the bull by the horns if you want to meet a good man.”
Natalie chuckled. “I do want a family and kids, but it doesn’t have to be right now. H & W Marketing is doing so well now. We can’t lose momentum.”
“All right. Well, you can’t blame a mother for trying, can you?”
Natalie grinned broadly from ear to ear. He grandmother didn’t often refer to herself as Natalie’s mother, so it was great to hear because Natalie felt the same way. Claudette and Carlton Hastings were her parents, and she loved them.
Seconds later, the back door opened and her grandfather walked in. “Baby girl!” He swept Natalie into his arms and any negative thoughts she had instantly melted away in the safety of his arms. He’d always had that effect on her. Even when she was a little girl, there was nothing her daddy couldn’t do.
“Hey Pop-pop,” Natalie said when he finally placed her back on her feet.
“I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“Spur-of-the-moment thing,” Natalie replied.
“She brought one of the diner’s famous caramel cakes.”
Her grandfather rubbed his belly. “It’s going to taste great after the meal you prepared, sweetheart.” He rushed over to give his wife a quick peck on the lips. “Are you staying for dinner, Nat?”
“Yes, sir.”
Natalie wouldn’t miss this for the world. A chance to be with her family, with people who truly cared for her. Her mimi was right. She had to stop wishing things might be different with Jonathan, because they weren’t. He made his intentions clear when he didn’t contact her. Whatever they might have shared was over. She was moving forward with her life and if that didn’t include Jonathan Lattimore, so be it. She refused to be his booty call.
Ten
“You won’t believe this,” Brent said when Natalie came into H & W Marketing the next morning and he stopped by her office. “Guess who is publishing a cookbook and looking for a marketing firm to help with the launch of a corresponding product line?”
“Who?”
“Barbara Lattimore.”
“Really?” Natalie fiddled with papers on her desk and tried to act like she had no idea, but Jonathan had mentioned his mother was branching out into culinary products.
“She asked to meet with us,” Brent replied enthusiastically. “She’s sent out a request for proposal, but apparently she’s already found a publisher for her new cookbook and her agent indicated she wants to get into spices and homemade baking mixes. I’m told eventually this could lead to cookware and bakeware.”
It was fantastic news and normally Natalie would be excited, but it could potentially put her in Jonathan’s orbit and after their last foray at Priceless, she wasn’t keen on a repeat performance.
Brent frowned. “Why aren’t you more excited?”
“You do remember I was outed in front of the entire town for having a crush on her son?” Natalie replied. “Or did you forget?” She had never revealed to Brent who she had a tryst with while on vacation.
“Of course I haven’t. But this is business. We can’t let emotions get involved. Snagging a campaign like this in its infancy stages could put us on the map.”
Natalie took a deep breath and tried to be more excited. “I’m sorry if I’m being a Debbie Downer. I don’t mean to be. This is great! And yes, we will absolutely put together a proposal for Mrs. Lattimore—one that will knock her socks off.”
Brent touched her nose. “There’s my girl. I need your fighting spirit on this one. And who knows, this could be exactly what the older Lattimore son needs to finally get off his horse and ask you out.”
If he only knew, Natalie thought as he left her office. She and Jonathan shared a connection in Galveston, but did she really know him? A relationship took time, and they’d only been together less than a week. There was probably a lot about him she didn’t know. At times, her heart wanted to know what secrets and hurts lay hidden beneath the real reason Jonathan preferred casual hookups, but her mind warned her to protect herself. And instead find a man ready for love.
Later, after they worked on the RFP, Natalie left the office for the Texas Cattleman’s Club. She was meeting Chelsea there for lunch. While she drove, she tried not to think about what having Barbara Lattimore as a client would mean.
Surely, if she was at the main house working with Jonathan’s mother, she would hardly see her son? If she recalled, Jonathan handled the ranch’s administrative functions as well as operational duties with his brother, Jayden, which kept him plenty busy.
Natalie had only met Barbara Lattimore a few times in passing. She was warm, bubbly and never met a stranger; she easily conversed with everyone.
When Natalie arrived at the club, she stopped at the valet and handed him her keys while she went in to meet her best friend.
She was waiting at the hostess station when she saw Jonathan exiting the restaurant with another man. They shook hands and the other gentleman departed. At first, she was considering not speaking because he seemed deep in thought, but then again, she would have to get used to facing Jonathan in public situations even though her heart rate ratcheted up a notch when they were in close proximity. “Jonathan.”
He glanced up when he saw her and blinked several times. “Natalie?” He looked surprised to see her. It was as if she was suddenly invisible to him again as she’d once been. How was that possible after everything they shared?
“Is everything okay?” she asked instead. She hadn’t seen him since Priceless, but she’d cooled down since then. Natalie refused to be one of those women who couldn’t take a hint after a hookup was over. She understood the rules of their fling, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. She wasn’t made of stone.
“Everything is fine. Just a lot going on right now.” He lowered his head and instead of looking at her, his eyes shifted restlessly back and forth.
“Anything I can do to help? I’m a pretty good listener.”
He shook his head. “No, but thank you. It’s a family matter.”
Natalie nodded curtly. “Of course. Didn’t mean to overstep. If you’ll excuse me.” She headed straight for the exit. If she stayed another minute and watched Jonathan act as if nothing ever happened between them, she was going to scream.
Every time they saw each other, the situation was becoming more and more awkward. She wanted to tell Jonathan he had nothing to fear from her, but the keep-away vibes he gave resonated. And she would do just that. Natalie was done wishing and hoping the situation would get better between them.
“Hey, where are you?” Natalie asked after dialing Chelsea’s number once she was in her vehicle.
“Sorry! I’m just leaving now. I’m running late. I was preoccupied with Nolan.”
“It’s okay. You’re newly engaged. How about I come there instead after work?”
“That would be perfect. Come on over. I miss you. We are overdue for some girl talk, and it’s easier to talk here than at the TCC anyway.”
“I hope you have some liquor, because I might need the hard stuff.”
“Only beer. Can you pick up some on your way over?”
“I’ll buy a big bottle and see you this evening.”
Natalie ended the call. She had been holding this inside for far too long. She hoped that by finally sharing her feelings with Chelsea, she could figure out how to get past making the biggest mistake of her life by becoming intimate with Jonathan.
* * *
Damn.
He’d blown it again, Jonathan thought, watching Natalie drive off. He hadn’t been able to get the risk his family was facing out of his head. Despite his grandfather’s failing memory, Jonathan suspected he knew more than he was letting on. It’s why he arranged to meet with the private investigator Jonas Shaw himself and go over the details. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Alexa, but every rock had to be overturned to ensure their family legacy would be preserved. Jonathan had worked too hard, given up too much of himself to the land, to let an outsider come in and take his inheritance.
But he hadn’t meant to be dismissive with Natalie. He was distracted by what was going on with his family. Was he using it as an excuse not to think about Natalie and all they shared? Hell yes! He hadn’t been able to get the curvy vixen out of his mind. Usually, after he was physically intimate with a woman, he turned his focus back to work, to the ranch he loved, but with Natalie, she made him feel things—happiness at seeing her face each morning when he woke up, relaxed when he was with her and excited at sharing a bed with her each night.
And he didn’t like it. Jonathan preferred not feeling anything because he knew how to handle that existence, but these emotions were too much. He didn’t know how to deal with them. And he certainly couldn’t give Natalie the relationship he knew she wanted.
It’s why Jonathan asked his brother, Jayden, over to his house later that evening. Maybe talking things out would help bring him some clarity.
“Bro!” Jayden slapped his back when he came into Jonathan’s. “Not that I don’t appreciate the invite, but what’s going on? You sounded stressed on the phone.”
“I’ve got a bit of female trouble.” As they passed by the foyer, Jonathan glanced at his piano. Usually playing helped, but it had done little to alleviate the insomnia he’d been dealing with since returning from his vacation.
“That’s what brothers are for,” Jayden responded, following him into his oversize living room.
“Thanks, Jayden. I appreciate it. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. I was hoping I could bounce it off you.” Jonathan flopped onto the sofa in front of the ninety-inch high-definition flat-screen television.
“Sure, but I admit I’m surprised,” Jayden replied, sitting in the armchair across from him. “You’ve always kept your feelings to yourself. You’re a hard shell to crack for your family. I can only imagine how someone else might receive you.”
“Thanks a lot.” Jonathan frowned.
“Listen, don’t be mad, but I speak the truth. You can be a little bit of a brick wall.”
Jonathan snorted. “Tell me how you really feel.”
Jayden laughed. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. Listen, we can go back and forth like this for hours. Why don’t you take it from the top and tell me what happened?”
“I slept with Natalie.”
“Whoa!” Jayden sat forward in the chair. “I wasn’t prepared for that confession, but just so I’m clear, is this the same Natalie who announced to all of Royal she had a huge crush on you and thought you were—” he put his hand up in air quotations “—the most amazing man she’d ever met? You mean that Natalie?”
