Author's note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed…I really appreciate you reading and giving me feedback, so keep them coming! I worked really hard on this chapter to I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 7- Things Aren't Always What They Seem

"There should be bathrobe hanging on the back of the door." Nathan yelled to Brooke as she was changing in the bathroom.

"Thanks, but I'm fine." Nathan turned around to see Brooke standing there in a very tiny red bikini.

"Um yeah, you are fine. I mean, good, I just wanted to make sure you didn't need anything." Nathan was definitely not applauding himself on staying cool. Brooke literally tore the words right out of his mouth. He had seen Brooke in a bathing suit before, but that was years ago. Brooke was curvier now, and without a doubt looking absolutely fine in that bikini.

"Come on Scott, pick your jaw up off the floor and get out here, I don't know how to work this thing." Brooke teased. She had no doubt that her bathing suit had had just the right affect on Nathan.

Nathan came out and fired up the jets took of his shirt and then hopped into the Jacuzzi with Brooke. "I haven't found a house yet in Miami but I do know that it needs to have one of these."

"Yeah, this feels great, just what I needed after a long hard day at work." Brooke was still in awe of that sight of Nathan without his shirt on. Brooke had seen this sight plenty of times before, it seemed like whenever he was at his and Haley's apartment he never had a shirt on, but those years of college basketball really paid off. Nathan was absolutely ripped, she thought that nothing could be hotter than his washboard abs but then she looked up and saw his chest and it was in fact better.

"And the best part," Nathan reached out of the Jacuzzi, "This little fridge that is built in to the side. Would you like another glass of wine?"

"Now Mr. Scott, are you trying to get me drunk?" Brooke asked playfully.

"Maybe, is it working?"

"Yeah, it is definitely starting to. But what the hell, I will have one more glass. But then I am cut off, remember some of us have to work tomorrow." Brooke knew one more glass wouldn't put her over the edge, and if she stopped after that she would be fine in an hour or two to drive home.

"I just want to say Brooke that I have really enjoyed spending time with you." Nathan decided it was now or never to let Brooke know he really felt.

"Me too, you are turning out to be a really great friend to me Nate, the only friend I have here." Brooke wasn't about to burst out that she wanted much more than to just be friends with Nathan.

"Friends, yeah." Nathan took a long drink of his wine. "Brooke, I don't want to just be your friend. Maybe I have made it seem that way, but it isn't. You have turned into this amazing woman, and honestly, I can't get enough of you. I kept trying to convince myself that these dinners were just dinners, with a friend, but the feelings that I am getting are not feelings that I normally get from someone who I am just friends with."

"Wow. I definitely wasn't expecting that." Brooke didn't know what to say.

"Sorry, I don't want to screw things up with us, but I don't want to hide it either. I am falling for you Brooke, even if you aren't falling for me, and I had to tell you." Nathan seemed a little disappointed, maybe he was reading Brooke all wrong.

"I am."

"You are what?"

"Falling for you. I have been thinking about it all weekend. I definitely have feelings for you, and not just friend feelings." Brooke decided if he was brave enough to say it she could be too.

"Now there is the response I was looking for." Nathan leaned in and kissed Brooke lightly on the lips, she grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him closer. She slowly opened her mouth and Nathan followed, she started lightly massaging his tongue. This went on for a few minutes until things started to get heated and Nathan pulled away.

"What's wrong?" Brooke wondered.

"I just don't want to take this too fast Brooke. I know your history, I know that you have had a lot of guys who were interested in you just because of your body, guys who were just looking to get a piece. I need you to know that this isn't about all of that. I want to know everything about you Brooke. I want to be with you, not just sleep with you." Nathan hoped Brooke didn't think that all of this was cheesy, but he had to let her know how he felt.

"Good, I'm glad. I don't want it to just be about sex either." Brooke was almost relieved to here him say that.

"If you feel that way why do you have a confused look on your face?"

"It's just that no one has ever treated me this way. No one has ever respected me that much to say hey, let's take it slow. It is a first for me for a boy to stop kissing me because sex isn't the only thing on his mind." Brooke was thinking of the endless boys who had thought of nothing else besides taking her clothes off.

"Yeah well get ready for a lot of firsts Brooke because I promise, I won't treat you like those other guys. So let's just take it slow, one step at a time."

"Okay." Brooke said as she slid over to straddle Nathan, she looked him right in the eyes, "One step at a time sounds perfect to me." Brooke kissed him again and then wrapped her arms around his neck and lay her head on his shoulder. Nathan took her lead and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"This right here, right now, is definitely enough for me."