Chapter 29: Chapter 29

LUNAR'S P.O.V

I watch the two candles as they burn and melt beyond half of their height and I sigh.

Maybe I should light another one.

Again?

It was time to accept it. Nathan was going to miss our anniversary dinner....for the second time.

Wednesday last week was the actual date for the anniversary but he had this huge, important meeting about his restaurant and some sponsors and totally missed it.

I sigh and draw invisible circles on the table as I remember waiting in the restaurant that I had made the reservation.

Waiting.

And waiting.

Waiting.

Until I had almost emptied an entire bottle and they had to close.

I think of Nathan's face filled with remorse when he came back. How he had apologised and promised to make it up to me.

I had tried not to blame him. His restaurant had kicked off right after he won the award for the Youngest Successfully Entrepreneur and it had franchises now in over 20 states.

It wasn't exactly his fault.

But he had promised to clear his schedule this evening.

For us.

We were lacking quality time and I'm beginning to feel like a lovesick puppy.

Personally, my career wasn't demanding so I couldn't say I completely understand. Being an author of psychology books had it's moments...but it wasn't as serious as Nathan's considering he was the CEO of a seriously, developing business.

I watch the clock as the ticking fills the silence of the dining room.

11:48 pm.

Sighing, I gather the rest of the candles and put them back in the drawer. Then I kick of my shoes as I sit back down on the chair.

The food was already cold, and I lost appetite the minute I knew he wasn't coming.

Why eat dinner alone?

Could it get sadder than that?

I force away the tears that threaten to cloud my eyes as I fold my arms on the table and rest my head on it.

At least I know he isn't doing it on purpose.

He wouldn't.

Right?

The candlelight dims as one of the candles reaches its end and goes off, leaving the second candle that was already dwarfed to light the room.

I can't light another.

Won't light another.

I'd lit six already....he wasn't going to come.

Sleep threatens to shut my heavy eyelids but I force them open, focusing on the door leading to the living room.

Come on Nathan.

Walk through that door.

Please.

But it was hopeless.

NATHAN'S P.O.V

By the time I hastily park outside our penthouse apartment, it's 12:30.

The lights are turned off and I know I'm more than late.

The bloody emergencies had taken up all my time.

A kitchen burning, a customer having food poisoning.....And it was by luck we didn't face any charges at all.

She would probably be asleep.

Silently, I open the door and lock it once I'm inside.

"Lu?" I call out as I drop my suit and head to the dining.

It's dark and I turn on the light with the remote, exposing the wide room and guilt grips me when I see her.

Sleeping quietly on the her folded arms on the table. Her heels are next to her and the candles are out.

As I walk closer, I notice she is wearing a new dress.

That she must have bought for the dinner.

God, I'm an idiot.

Her makeup is still visible on her charming face and I gently place a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm so sorry, baby."

LUNAR'S P.O.V

I feel his gentle lips press on my face and then I hear the words.

"I'm so sorry baby."

I blink my eyes open to see,

"Nathan. You're here." I say and he stares at me with remorse clouding his eyes.

"I am so, so sorry." He says and I bite my lips as I stand up and look away so he won't see the tears in my eyes.

It's not his fault.

It's not his fault.

I tell myself over and over as I clear the table.

"Its fine. At least you're home safe." I say avoiding his eyes from across the table.

The pasta I had prepared, with the shrimp cocktails had long gone cold and I slide them into the wide fridge inbuilt to the wooden wall.

"Baby." He rounds the table to me but I move out of his reach and head for the bedroom, taking off my jewelry.

"Lets just go to bed." I say but he catches up with me and gently turns me to face him.

"Baby---"

"All I wanted from you was two hours." I say now, unable to hide it as the tears come.

"I know...I know. I got caught up---"

"You always get caught up, Nathan." I cry and look up at him now, caring less about my ruining make up.

"Something always comes up and then.....And then you put me at the bottom of your list." I say in tears but he is already shaking his head.

"No. Nothing is ever above you on my priority list. Ever." He says firmly.

"Then why couldn't you show up for me? Why?" I say and burst into tears and he pulls me into his arms.

"You have no idea how much I wanted to be here baby. I know I messed up and I feel terrible. I've been trying to just be very attentive to the business---"

"And leaving me lonely in return?" I cry to his chest and he sighs.

"Please, forgive me baby. I hadn't realised how bad it was affecting you." He says and I hold on to him.

"I just miss you so much these days." I say and he plants a kiss on my hair.

"You have no idea how much I miss you. I do. Everyday. Look at me." He says and tugs my chin up to look at him.

"I promise to do everything in my power to make it up to you. To show you how much you mean to me," He says and raises his hand, "Scout's honour."

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from laughing.

He knows how bad it gets to me when I remember he was a scout.

He knows I tease him about it till I'm clutching my sides.

"We scouts sing our honour. Do you want me to?" He asks, the corner of his lip twitching, struggling to stop the smile that threatened to break.

"Its not gonna work." I say to him as my smile breaks loose.

"No?" He asks

"Uh-uh." I say and he starts singing.

My defiance melts and I burst into a fit of laughter, causing Nathan to laugh too.

"Better?" He asks as my laughter dies down and I look up at him.

"You're still not off the hook." I say and he leans close.

"It was never about me. It was about making my baby smile." He says and kisses me, saying, "I love you baby. I'm sorry for everything." and I sigh against his lips.

"Its okay. I know you're trying. All I want is some private time together." I say and he moves back a bit to look at me.

"I know just the thing."

*****

"Okay...you're forgiven." I say as I relax my back against Nathan's body in the Jacuzzi and he chuckles,

"Thank goodness." He says.

The wide Jacuzzi tub was partially made of strong glass and the blue lights from the inside of the tub lit it up, giving it an enchanting look.

Especially with the bathroom lights turned off.

In the silence of the night, the Jacuzzi bubbled temptingly around our bodies, wafting us with the scent of scented oils, making me crave more than the massage he was giving me.

I moan as Nathan's hands massage my shoulder blades and his thumbs caress the back of my neck.

He definitely knew how to use his hands that was for sure.

"You know what we need?" He asks as his hands move lower and massage my back.

"Hmm?" I ask, barely paying attention as I close my eyes to the relaxing feeling.

"A vacation." He says and my eyes pop open at those words.

"Yeah, wouldn't that be nice?" I chuckle sarcastically and he turns me in the tub to face him.

"I'm serious." He says and my eyes search his.

"What about your restaurants?" I ask and he chuckles.

"I'm the CEO remember? It won't be a big deal." He says as his hands travel lower to my butt. "Besides, there are a lot of things I want to make up for, and I want to start now."

I bite my lip, excited by the thought of a vacation.

"Where would we go?" I ask and he shrugs.

"How about The Bahamas? My mum is having a big dinner there for her 50th birthday. We'll rent a beach house and attend it while we're there." he says and I sit up a bit.

"Seriously?" I ask and he frowns a little, like I would doubt the fact that he is being serious.

"Of course." He says and I smile.

"You want me to meet your mum?" I ask and he smiles,

"Why not? I've met your dad. And we're now living together. It's time you met my parents." He says and I feel happy at his honest interest in me meeting his parents.

He was right. He had met dad after he got out of prison last year and we'd all had an amazing dinner together.

"Wait, so if I'm meeting your parents---"

"Baby." He says huskily, cutting me off as his hands come up to my waist which is now visible above the water, and grasp my breasts gently in each hand.

"We're naked in a Jacuzzi in the middle of the night. The last thing I want to hear from your sexy mouth is my parents." He says and I lean close, feeling his prominent erection.

"Then what's the first thing you want to hear?" I ask, my mouth inches from his,

"You moaning my name." He says gruffly before kissing me.

*****

"Oh, my God. Look at this place." I say as some men carry our luggage into the beach house Nathan rented and a lady standing at the entrance offers me an orange-pineapple smoothie in a long glass with a slice of orange on the rim.

"Its beautiful." I say after I sip from the straw of the drink and I hear Nathan chuckle behind me.

"You like it?"

"I love it." I say and he takes my hand, leading me to the back where there is an excellent view of the beach.

"Now, this is the perfect place for a vacation." I say and move into his arms and he kisses me.

"I'm glad you love it. This vacation is all about us. No business, no emergency meetings, just us."

"Promise?" I ask with a raise of my eyebrow and he nods.

"Promise. That is excluding my mother's birthday dinner party tonight." He says and the shock of the news makes me move back a bit to stare at him.

"That's tonight? Why didn't you say so?" I ask him and he blinks, confused.

"Didn't I mention it was tonight?" He asks with an exaggerated, shock expression and I roll my eyes at him.

"Nathan, come on. This is serious, I'm not ready. I haven't bought a gown or thought about my hair--"

"Lu, it's all right. I did. I got a gown for you already. It should be in the bedroom. The hair stylist is coming in later and I got us a ride to the cruise ship for the dinner party." He says casually and I don't even know where to start.

"First of all, what? You got me a gown? And there's a stylist coming? And the dinner is in a cruise ship? Nathan, you can't just throw sudden news at me everytime. I need to know these things, I need to be in the loop and--"

He shuts me up with his heavenly lips on mine and for a brief moment, the kiss drives away my panic.

"I know. I know and I'm sorry I didn't tell you. You've been so uptight and panicky about meeting my parents and I just didn't want you to stress. It's still our vacation and I owe you a lot of stress-free private time, remember?" He says in that convincing voice of his after the kiss and I scrunch my lips to the side to prevent myself from smiling at how thoughtful he is.

"Is the gown nice?" I ask even though I know I didn't have to. He usually got me dresses from a fabulous designer.

He chuckles at my question.

"Why don't we go upstairs and you can see it for yourself?"