Suddenly my phone chirps with a text.  It’s from Natalie.  At two a.m.?

Can’t sleep.  So uncomfortable!  Are you awake?

I smile and call her.  I’ve missed her so much since she moved out of our house and into Luke’s house just up the street from me.  I don’t get to see her as often as I used to.

“So, you are awake?” she asks dryly when she answers.

“Yes, can’t sleep.  You?” I take another bite of cake.

“I’m so damn uncomfortable.  This baby has something against letting me breathe these days.  And she thinks my bladder is a trampoline.”  I can hear the joy in her voice and I grin.

“I can’t wait to meet her, Nat.”

“Me either.  Only a few weeks left, can you believe it?”

“No, it’s gone so fast.  Are you excited for the shower next weekend?” I ask.

“I’m excited to see the family, but you know I hate it when you guys spend money on me, Jules.  We don’t need anyone to give us gifts, you know that.”

I roll my eyes.  I am never going to win this argument with her.  She makes me crazy.  “We love you, Luke and that precious baby girl.  We want to spoil her.  So shut up and be grateful.”

“Don’t be a bitch,” she responds, making me laugh.  “How are you?”

“I’m fine.  But I have a confession.”  I have to tell her.  She’s my best friend.

“What?”

“I’m at Nate’s apartment.”

“What?” she squeals.

I explain about his email this afternoon and dinner in his office and how I ended up here.  There is just silence on the phone and I think I’ve lost her.

“Nat?”

“I’m here.  Fuck, Jules, do you know what you’re doing?”

“I know that I like him, Nat.  I don’t know what’s going to happen, but frankly I’m so tired of pretending that I’m not attracted to him.  It’ll work out.” I bite my lip and push my cake away from me.

“I hope it works out the way you want it to, sweetie.  Just be very careful.  This could have disaster written all over it.”

“Trust me,” I respond sarcastically, “I’m aware.”

I hear Luke’s deep voice in the background and Natalie’s response.  “I’m fine, my love, just can’t sleep.  Jules, I’ll call you this weekend.  Luke’s awake now.”

“Good, I do not want to hear you two go at it over the phone.” I roll my eyes again and exhale.  “I love you, girl.”

“Love you too.  Goodnight.”

I put my phone down and rest my head in my hands.  I told her the truth, I am tired of pretending.  I’m not a great actress.  But I’m going to have to continue to act at work like there is nothing going on between us.  Can I do that?

Do I have a choice?

“Julianne!  Fuck, Julianne!”

Chapter Five

My heart slams into my throat as I twirl at the panicked shouts of Nate in his bedroom. I hear him lunge off the bed and his feet are hitting the ground hard as he runs into the great room.  He comes to an abrupt stop when he sees me across the room on the stool, his eyes are raw, feral, and he’s panting, standing there in all his naked glory.

He plants his hands on his naked hips and takes a deep breath.

“I thought you left,” he murmurs.

Holy shit.

“I’m here, I just couldn’t sleep.”  I cross to him and wrap my arms around his waist, linking my fingers at the small of his back and lean my cheek on his chest. “I didn’t think it was really that big a deal if I got up for a while.”

I feel his lips move against my hair, and I think I hear him whisper, “You have no idea, do you?” but when I lean back to gaze up into his gray eyes, his face is calm.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“I’m fine.  I raided the cheesecake and spoke to Natalie for a minute.  The baby is trying to kill her.”  My hands are running up and down his strong arms, soothing him.

“Trying to kill her?” he raises an eyebrow and I’m relieved to see the humor in his eyes.

“She’s forty-seven months pregnant.  She can’t breathe or lay down and has to pee every three minutes.  She texted me and asked if I was awake so I called her.”  I lean in and kiss his sternum and he kisses the top of my head.  This, being here with him, feels so good.

“Forty-seven?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

“She’s been pregnant forever,” I respond defensively.  “I miss her,” I murmur and shrug, looking back up at him.  “I don’t get to see her very often these days.”

“You’ll get to see her next weekend.”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun.  And as of this week I’m on call twenty-four-seven.”  I grin up at him.

“Why?” He cocks his head to the side and hooks a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

“Because I get to be there when the baby is born.  Someone’s got to keep Luke sane.  Poor guy.”  I bounce a little and clap my hands, grinning.  “I can’t wait.”

“What if she needs an I.V.?” Nate asks.

“Jesus, you’re mean.  I never would have pegged you for mean.”