"We need to get back on our pedicure schedule," Natalie remarks and sighs as she dips her feet in the hot, fragrant water.

"Definitely." I kiss Olivia's head and pat her little diaper-covered bottom. "She's so sweet, Nat."

"I know," Natalie smiles at us. "Here, give me your phone, I'm going to take a picture."

"Oh, good!" I hand her my phone and smile as she takes our photo and then hands the phone back to me. "Oh, look at us, Livie. We're beautiful." Without hesitation I send the photo via text to Nate.

"Can we paint her toes, too?" I ask Natalie and she giggles.

"Sure. Let's do pink."

The nail tech finds the tiniest brush she has that she uses to hand-paint designs on nails, and paints each of Olivia's tiny toes baby pink. She sleeps right through it.

"Adorable."

My phone pings and I check the text from Nate. Gorgeous girls. Kiss her for me.

I sigh and show it to Natalie.

"He's very sweet. I'm surprised."

"I know. He can be rough around the edges, with his motorcycle, and the fighting, and the tattoos. I had no idea. But at work he's exactly the opposite, all professional and rich business man." I kiss Olivia's head and breathe in her baby smell. "And this weekend he was incredibly romantic and sweet."

"So, someone's in love." Natalie grins at me.

"Yeah, I won't deny it."

"I'm so happy for you."

"But it's so complicated, Nat." She frowns and tilts her head and I continue. "We can't tell anyone at work. Ever. We'd both lose our jobs. It's not easy to pretend."

"Don't pretend, just be you. You've always gotten along well with him at work, just keep doing that."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who wants to lick him every time you see him."

"Well, no, Luke might have issues with that." We laugh, and then she's serious again. "Just be who you are, Jules. Enjoy him. The rest will work its way out."

"I hope you're right." My phone pings again and I check the text message.

Hey baby, I'll be late tonight. Unexpected teleconference.

I frown but then shrug. Okay. Still coming over when you're done?

I'll be there.

Okay, see you later. xo "Nate's working late," I murmur and stow my phone back in my handbag. "Are we on for Friday movie night?" I ask, changing the subject.

"We are. Luke's mom, Lucy is going to watch the baby at our place. I'm a bit nervous to leave her for the first time, but she'll be in good hands."

"I'm so excited. A night out is exactly what we all need. Let's go to that newer bar by the theatre that has a live band on Fridays. We can dance, and the guys can shoot pool." Olivia starts to squirm, and I give her her pacifier.

"That sounds good to me. I'm warning you, though, I'll be texting Lucy all night for updates."

"I don't mind." I grin at her over Olivia's soft head. "I'm just thrilled that you're no longer pregnant and we can have a margarita."

"Or three," she smirks.

"You know, Nate's birthday is only a couple months away." I pat the sleeping Olivia's back as an idea forms in my head. "Since he's working late tonight, why don't you and I spend some time in the studio after we leave here?"

"Oh, that would be fantastic! I'm itching to get back to the studio."

"Then it's a plan." We grin at each other and sigh as the technicians begin to rub our calves and feet.

"I forgot how fun this is with you," Natalie murmurs and presses the shutter aimed at me. Luke met us at the house to pick up Olivia, so it's just Nat and I, like the good ol' days, playing around with pretty lingerie, makeup and her camera.

s.e.xy dance music is pumping through the speakers of the sound system, and I can't help but move my body with it.

"You're so good at this, Nat. I'm so proud of you."

"Okay, no mushy s.h.i.t tonight. Think s.e.xy." Natalie backs up and surveys the scene. I'm on her king-sized, white satin-sheet clad bed in the middle of the studio. Because it's dark outside, she has her lights on. My long blonde hair is down and wavy around my face, in that just-f.u.c.ked state that men find so s.e.xy. "Lie on your back with your head facing me and arch your back and put your legs in the air, knees together."

I comply, making sure my silver heart is nestled seductively between my cleavage and cross my ankles, legs straight up in the air. I'm wearing white thigh-highs with a while garter and lacy white push up bra.

"Nice, Jules, hold that. Put your hand up at the side of your face. Good." The shutter clicks some more and I close my eyes, imagining that Nate is looking at me, that he's the one behind the camera, and I start to move. Natalie comes around the bed, taking different angles of the same shot, then I turn over onto my stomach and flirt with her some more.

"Take the bra off now, but then keep your torso flat against the bed."

"Yes, ma'am." The sheets are cool and soft against my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and I feel my nipples pucker.

"Do you want some nudes as well?"

"h.e.l.l, yeah, it's his birthday." I grin wickedly and she presses the shutter.

"He's gonna go crazy when he sees these," Natalie grins and I giggle.

"Here's hoping."

I sit at the side of the bed and remove the stockings, the garter, the thong, with Natalie all the while taking photos. I know that when she edits them she'll make them look incredibly seductive. A woman taking her clothes off for her man.

"Okay, naked girl, on your back again."

I lay down and arch my back, looking to my side at the camera, cup my b.r.e.a.s.t.s in my hands and bend my knees, pointing my toes.

"G.o.d, Jules, if I swung that way and wasn't married to the hottest man in the free world, I'd so do you right now."

I laugh at Natalie, completely at ease with her, and we move about the bed and the room in different poses, trying on different pieces of lingerie and jewelry.

Natalie's studio is a blast for a girly-girl like me.

When we're finished and locking up the studio, I see lights coming on in the main house.

"Nate's here, we'd better get inside so he doesn't know what we've been up to."

Natalie smiles. "That was fun. We should do it more often."

"I know, I've missed you. Playboy called this past weekend. They want me to pose in an anniversary issue."

"What did you say?" Natalie asks as we walk through the back door and into the kitchen area.

"I told them I'd think about it, but then I called them this morning and declined." Nate walks in the room, clearly looking for me and smiles widely at me before pulling me in his arms and kissing me deeply. "Well, hi hot stuff."

"Hi. Did I hear you say turned them down?"

"Yeah, this morning."

"Good. Hi, Nat."

"Hey." Natalie grabs her camera, purse and jacket and kisses Nate on the cheek as she pa.s.ses by.

"What have you two been up to?" Nate asks, eyeing Natalie's camera. "And where's the baby?"

"Luke came and got her so Natalie and I could indulge in some girl talk." I smile sweetly at him and bat my eyelashes, but he narrows his eyes, seeing through me.

"Uh, huh," he responds.

"Well, speaking of Livie, I'd better go. See you guys on Friday." She waves and then is gone.

"What were you really doing?" he asks.

"I can't tell you."

"Why?" He kisses my cheek and then my ear and I lean into him with a sigh.

"Because you'll find out soon enough. You aren't allowed to ask questions like this within three months of your birthday."

"What?" he pulls back and grins down at me. "What do you mean?"

"No questions so close to your birthday, ace. Just trust me, we were having fun and I was thinking of you."

"Well, that's all I can ask, baby." He kisses my forehead and pulls out of my arms, takes off his suit jacket and rolls his sleeves, exposing that s.e.xy tattoo.

"Are you hungry?" I ask.

"Starving. Come on, I'll make you dinner and you can tell me about your day." He heads for the kitchen and I grin. Nate cooking is a sight to behold.

"You already know about most of my day." I sit at the breakfast bar and gratefully accept a gla.s.s of white wine from Nate.

"Did you and Nat have fun getting your feet done?" he asks.

"Definitely. It was a good treat, both the pedi and seeing her and the baby."

"She's getting big already," Nate comments and seasons two steaks to place under the broiler. "The picture you sent me was beautiful."

"She's awesome," I murmur.

"Thank you for turning Playboy down, Julianne," Nate says softly and my gaze shoots up to his hot gray one. He's cutting up baby red potatoes, and his face is serious.

"I told you I was going to."

"I know." He sighs and shakes his head as if shaking off a mood and then shoots me his s.e.xy grin. "How do you want your steak, baby?"

"As soon as possible so I can get you naked."

Nate laughs. "I can do that."

Chapter Twenty Five.

Nate smacks my a.s.s, making me jump. "What did I say?"

"Stop talking about hot dudes," he growls and I giggle. We've just left the movie theater after watching Luke's newest movie, Never Surrender with Hugh Jackman. We're walking on the sidewalk toward the bar.

"What's the big deal? If you told me that you thought Scarlett Johanson was a hot piece of a.s.s, I'd agree with you." I push my arm through his and lean my head on his shoulder as we walk. Natalie and Luke are walking ahead of us, hand in hand.

"Besides, you're the only hot dude I want, ace."

"Gee, I'm so happy to hear it," he mutters dryly, making me laugh again.

"Has Lucy turned her phone off yet, Nat?" I call to her. She's texted the poor woman ten times already.

"No, smart a.s.s. But she just sent me the cutest picture of Liv and Sam sleeping on the couch." She shows it to me and we both ooh and aah over the sweet photo.

"I need a beer," Luke says. "Nate, can I buy you a beer?"

"Yes, please. I need it too."

"You both know you love looking at that baby," I smirk.

"Yes, but we're men, Jules. We keep our feelings to ourselves." Luke nuzzles Natalie's neck and I make a gagging noise in my throat.

"Keep your hands to yourself, pal, and we'll be fine. Jesus, why do I come out with you?"