Free Be With Me in Silicon Valley: The Juliette Trilogy (The Princesses of Silicon Valley - Book 3) by Anita Claire Page B

General Store—a funky store dedicated to everything Mountain View—I grab his arm and drag him inside. “Since you’re now a local, you need to dress like a local” as I pull out a hoody with a fun retro Mountain View design. Nate laughs, “You don’t have the same hoody? I wouldn’t like to look like one of those couples, you know the type that wear matching clothes.” I shake my head and laugh, “Please, I’m not that geeky”.
    After purchasing a hoody we then head back to my place. As we’re putting our groceries away, Cassie makes an appearance. She struts into the kitchen in full charm mode. Wearing yoga pants and a yoga top with no bra, the outfit leaves nothing to the imagination and highlights her perfect body. She’s making sure Nate gets a good look as she struts around all sexy.
    My jaw tightens. Is he going to take the bait?
    She gives one of her sexy smiles to Nate, while raising an eyebrow and giving me a surprised look when she realizes this isn’t Zach. “I take it I didn’t imagine someone was having sex in your bathroom this morning?”
    Nate extends his hand and coolly says, “I’m Nate.”
    Cassie looks at his hand, then giving him a coy smile says, “I’m Cassie.” Then she turns her gaze on me. “I have sex-dar. I always know when someone’s having sex.”
    Chuckling, Nate rolls me into him, his arms cross in front of my chest, “Well, then your sex-dar must have been on high alert this weekend.” He bends down and kisses my neck.
    Cassie raises her eyebrows and gives me a sly smile. “I’m making a shake, want some?”
    The thought of that shake makes me shudder. “I’ll pass on drinking liquid grass. Where’ve you been? I don’t think I’ve seen you since last weekend.”
    Pulling out all her green stuff from the refrigerator, she says, “Mostly at Luke’s, I’ve been hanging with a couple of the girlfriends. I’m meeting them at noon for a little pre-game tailgating party.” She wiggles her butt. It’s obvious she’s acting ultra-sexy for Nate’s sake, which is pissing me off.
    Nate releases me and we start heading out of the kitchen, when Cassie asks, “Hey, have you heard from Jack recently?”
    Stopping, I cock my head as I think back, “It was after Thanksgiving, maybe Sunday or Monday. Why?”
    Rolling her eyes, “No one’s heard from him since before Thanksgiving. Since you two are pen pals, I figured I’d ask.”
    We head back to my room; Nate sits down on my bed and pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling his hips. He kisses me, then asks, “Who’s Jack?”
    “Cassie’s older brother. He’s in the army. Knowing him, he’s doing something ridiculously dangerous. We’ve been pen pals for years.”
    “Did you date Jack?”
    “Jack?” the thought makes me chuckle, “That would be like dating a brother. We didn’t even get along growing up. No, after he signed up I started sending him silly e-mails. He’s had a strained relationship with his parents, and Cassie isn’t much on writing, so I kind of keep him connected to home.”
    He considers this information, kisses me again and says, “A hike would be nice. Where can we go?”
    “Rancho’s the closest, it’s just the parking lot is a total zoo. There is a crazy protocol for getting a space. Be prepared to wait ten or fifteen minutes.”
    “Rancho it is.”
    As I crawl off his lap, I ask, “You run, right?”
    He nods his head, “yes”.
    “How about a trail run instead of a hike? If we get tired then we can turn it into a hike.”
    “That works, but we’ll need to stop at my place so I can get the right gear.”
    (Stopped at this point)

Chapter 19 – Running at Rancho
     
    As I pull out my running shoes, Nate picks one up. “Good,” he says as he checks out the wear. “Too many people wear the wrong kind of shoe, and don’t change their shoes often enough. It can lead to a lot of foot and knee problems.”
    Surprisingly, it’s the first time he’s said anything doctor