Page 22 of Full House

Debbie took it one step further, pulling Victoria into a hug. “I didn’t think I’d ever live to see the day.”

Breaking from the hug, Victoria gave her a quizzical look. “To see what?”

“Nathan bringing a girl home.”

She stepped past a stunned Victoria and out of the kitchen. So knocked for a loop by Ms. Reed’s—Debbie’s—statement, it took Victoria a full minute to remember she was supposed to have collected the vacuum.

≈≈≈

Nate heard a burst of laughter as soon as his foot hit the last step of the staircase and followed the sound—and the scent of bacon mingled with coffee—to the kitchen.

The first thing his eyes landed on was Victoria, sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of coffee cradled between her two hands. She looked beautiful first thing in the morning—her face scrubbed free of makeup, her hair in a tangled, sexy disarray, and her oversized t-shirt not disguising the fact he didn’t think she was wearing a bra.

Their eyes met, and she gave him a cheery smile. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

His mom turned from the stove. “There’s my boy.”

She set the spatula down and came in for a hug. He wrapped her up tight, giving Victoria a smirk over the top of her head, which she returned with a grin of her own.

His mom stepped away, keeping hold of his biceps. “It’s been too long.” She looked at him with a critical eye. “You’ve lost weight. You’re not eating enough.”

He heard Victoria try to smother a chuckle, and his eyes shot back to her. He gave her a knowing grin, rolling his eyes. He truly loved his mom but sometimes she forgot he was thirty-five.

“It’s only been two months, and I’m the same weight as I’ve always been.” He kissed the top of her head before strolling to the cupboard to take down a mug for some coffee.

He set his mug down on the table before capturing Victoria’s chin and tilting her head so he could lean in for a kiss. “You’re up early.”

Her lips were soft and warm, and he couldn’t wait to find out what else was soft and warm about her first thing in the morning. Preferably when they were waking up in bed together.

He took a seat, lifting his mug to sip his coffee, ignoring the wide-eyed look Victoria was giving him. He raised a brow, smirking. “Cat got your tongue?”

She took her time, raising her own mug, and taking a sip before answering. “On the contrary. I’m just sitting here, wondering how you could have slept through all the commotion this morning. Seems your mom’s not the only one who sleeps like the dead.”

He heard his mom’s low chuckle but didn’t take his eyes off Victoria as he hooked the rung of the empty chair beside him with his foot, pulling it closer to stretch his legs on it, crossing them at the ankles, so he could slouch back in his chair. He shrugged. “What can I say, I’ve learned to get my sleep while I can get it.”

A frown marred the spot between Victoria’s brows. “Do you ever get tired of it? The life, I mean. The long wacky hours at work. Always having to be on while in public for your fans and the paparazzi. The absence of any kind of privacy.”

“Sometimes.” From the corner of his eye, he saw his mom turn from the stove, paying attention to him as he spoke. “More so lately than any other time in my career. I find myself wanting some of the simpler things in life. Going on a date and not having it turn into a media circus. Going to the supermarket so I can pick out my own produce. Going for a walk down the street just for the hell of it.” He sighed and shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking because I think it every time I get these ideas in my head. What can someone so rich and successful, have anything to bitch about. And you wouldn’t be wrong, I should be thankful for everything I have.”

Victoria reached out and placed her hand over his. “No, I get it. My mom might have been retired from the business for a while before I was old enough to understand, but her life was never normal. We couldn’t go anywhere without someone recognizing her, wanting her autograph or to take a picture with her.

“She couldn’t go to my school open houses or plays.” She laughed, but Nate saw a sadness she couldn’t hide. “She would have a professional come and videotape everything, so she could watch it at home.”

Nate flipped their hands around, so he was now holding hers and laced their fingers. “With the way you grew up, I’m surprised you wanted to become an actress.”

She shrugged. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Guess it’s in my blood. Did you always want to be an actor?”

His mom chuckled before looking over her shoulder to say, “Let’s see, while growing up, Nathan wanted to be a firefighter, policeman, astronaut, veterinarian, and a race car driver.”

Victoria laughed. “That’s quite a list.”

Nate smirked. “Guess it’s the reason I became an actor. So I could be all those things.”

Holding a platter of eggs and bacon, his mom walked to the table, setting it down in the center. “Eat before it gets cold.”

“Thank you, Debbie, but I wish you would’ve let me help you.”

Nate leaned toward Victoria, whispering confidingly but loud enough for his mom to overhear, “She doesn’t like anyone else cooking in her kitchen.”

His mom huffed. “No, I just don’t let you cook in my kitchen. You’re a walking disaster.” She turned to Victoria. “Do you know, he set fire to the toaster once? He thought it was okay to butter the bread before toasting it.”

Victoria ducked her head, and Nate asked, “Are you laughing over there?” She refused to look up, hiding her expression, but he saw her shoulders shaking. “What she neglected to tell you, I was only six at the time.”

Looking up, eyes glassy from suppressed laughter, Victoria said, “So, what you’re saying is, if you’d been seven, you’d have known better?”

Nate picked up a piece of bacon and tossed it Victoria’s direction.

She just shrugged, picking up the bacon and taking a large bite.

His chest constricted at the sight, and he knew right then, without a doubt, she was fucking perfect.

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