“I was just imagining the picture we’d make if someone caught us right now,” she said.
He zipped up, bent to grab her jeans. “A damn good one. Give me your foot.”
She extended her leg. He pulled her pants over one foot, then the other, easing them up until they reached her thighs. She hopped out of the truck to wiggle them the rest of the way up. Nick knelt to help her with her boots.
“Do you always think in pictures?” he asked.
“Not all the time, but it’s such a huge part of who I am sometimes I can’t help it.” He stared at her like she’d offered the answer to a question festering inside him for a long time. She put her hand on his chest. “You’re wrong, though. It would have been a damn fantastic one.”
“Which begs repeating.” He took her wrist, kissed her knuckles. “Only at your place.”
“Inviting yourself over?”
Apology, greed, longing, all flashed in his eyes. “I’m not ready to let this go yet.”
Neither was she.
She could handle this. Manage a little more time with Nick. More sex. More walking on the wild side with a man who couldn’t—wouldn’t—hurt her on purpose. Right? “Pizza sound good?” She climbed into the driver’s seat.
He got in the truck on his side. “As long as there’s nothing green on it.”
“Not a pepper guy?”
“Not a pepper guy.”
And not a relationship guy, but she quickly extinguished the thought or she’d ruin the happy hum in her body. Her keeping him at arm’s length had backfired. Her emotions were involved. But she’d mastered shutting them down after Michael and she could do it again. Only this time she’d get to keep happy memories.
A few minutes later, they got to the Stop ’n Go so Nick could pick up his car. He walked around the hood of the truck and leaned his arms over her open window. She took her hand off the steering wheel to play with his fingers. “I’ll follow you to your house,” he said.
“Okay.”
“Nick?”
He turned his head. Cass looked over his shoulder. Paige stood behind him, a curious look on her face. “Hey, sorry to interrupt but I noticed you and wanted to be sure you were still heading to Rocco’s tonight?” Paige’s eyes slid to Cassidy. “Hi, Cass.”
Cassidy smiled at…Nick’s Thursday night date. She slipped her fingers from Nick’s to get going, but he squeezed her wrist. Stay.
Nick straightened to give his full attention to Paige. “Sorry, no. I’m not going to make it.”
“Oh?” Paige said with a definite question mark.
“I never actually said I’d be there. You threw out the invitation and assumed I’d be available, but I’m not. Have a good time, and congratulations again.”
Paige stared in disbelief. Despite her self-centered personality, she didn’t get rebuffed very often, if ever. “I guess I’ll see you around then. And thanks.” She cast a quick inquisitive glance at Cassidy before she turned on her high heels.
“It’s okay if you want to—”
“Really?” Nick challenged, his eyebrows raised. “It’s really okay with you if I go to some work thing with Paige instead of going home with you?”
Cassidy slowly shook her head. “No,” she mumbled.
“Good. Because if you blew me off for someone else, I’d want to break the guy’s face.”
That was the nicest thing any man had ever said to her. A closed mouth, overjoyed smile took hold of her face.
Nick blessed her with the grin that made even the most standoffish women want to get friendly. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Later, too?” she prompted before he’d stepped too far away.
“While you’re on your hands and knees.”
She sank into the car seat, squeezed her thighs together. A few suggestive words from him had her throbbing with excitement. Fired up.
Falling hard for him whether she liked it or not.
Chapter Ten
Nick scanned the hotel ballroom full of photographers seated for dinner. More people filled the space than he’d anticipated and it bothered him once again that he’d had to meet Sid rather than arrive together. If the guy she’d wanted to avoid had tried anything…Nick shook off the unwelcome thought, continued his search. The lively conversation and laughter grated on his nerves for no other reason than he’d yet to locate his date.
Not a date, he reminded himself. This is a simple return of favor for saving his ass at the bachelor auction. After tonight they had no reason to keep in touch any more than they did normally. Sid was a complication he didn’t need or want. Stick to simple, short-lived, he reminded himself for the hundredth time. He’d learned the hard way that anything more than that resulted in loss.
The numerous crystal chandeliers lighting up the room sparkled, but not half as brightly as the gorgeous face that smiled at him when his gaze landed on the right table. Nick hated clichés, but swear to God, time stood still as he soaked Sid in.
She wore an ice blue gown with small cap sleeves and a neckline that pushed her breasts up. She’d swept her long hair to the side in a loose knot under her right ear. Her lips shimmered with pink gloss.
“If you’re looking for an empty seat, I’ll make room for you next to me for the rest of the night.” A woman to his side offered. And it was an offer, her voice carrying the unmistakable pitch of interest he’d heard numerous times over the years. There was a time he would have been flattered and flirted back, but the only voice he wanted in his ear tonight was Sid’s.
He turned to the attractive woman. “Thanks, but I’ve got someone keeping a seat for me.”
“Lucky girl.”
“Luck’s got nothing to do with it.” He stood there because of a business transaction. Which, given his gruff response, bothered him even more than he’d cared to admit over the past three weeks. What a selfish idiot he’d been to put it put that way.
“Oh, well if you find yourself wanting a new seat mate then, come find me.”
“I won’t need any new company,” he said, turning his head back in Sid’s direction. “But thanks for the offer. Have a good night.”
“You, too,” the woman said before taking off across the room.
Nick took a step, but stopped when he noticed Sid no longer sat at the table. He searched left to right and back again, but no luck. His heart rate sped up. Why was his pulse pounding? She had to be around somewhere.
“You’re late.” The soft whisper floated over his shoulder, raising the hairs on the back of his neck in awareness.
“You’re stunning.”
“Good answer.”
“It’s the truth.” He did a one eighty. Seeing Sid up close, he almost high-fived the waiter who walked by. Cassidy took graceful beauty to a whole new level. But beyond her exterior, she had an inner glow about her that he wanted to bask in. She outdid the sun and the moon. What would happen if he stayed in her orbit?
He took her hand to lead her out of the ballroom.
“What are you doing?” she asked with reluctance.
Yeah, he shouldn’t be dragging her away from her event, but he needed a minute alone with her. A minute to tell her this wasn’t impersonal for him. That he wasn’t here because he owed her one. He wanted to be the man by her side tonight.
“Having you to myself long enough to do this.”
She stiffened and sucked in a surprised breath when he cupped the back of her head and kissed her, hard, but a second later she melted against him as he pushed his tongue inside her mouth. His free arm went around her waist. Her arms went around his neck. The hot, deep, compulsive kiss rooted him in a really fantastic moment. Something only her kisses did. The press of her hand to his tuxedoed chest made him reluctantly break contact.
With her high-heeled shoes, they stood nose to nose. Her well-kissed lips enticed him to lean in for another taste, but she leaned back to say, “That was unexpected.”
“Because we’re in public?”
�
�Yes.”
“Hard to help myself when you look the way you do.” He angled his head to brush his lips against her neck, inhale her scent. “And smell the way you smell.”
“You look pretty handsome yourself.”
“I’m glad you think so. Should I behave myself from now on?”
She searched his eyes. Looking for his true feelings? He didn’t share those anymore, but he’d hauled her out here to concede something. “I will if you want me, too,” he said. “But it’s no hardship making this a real date, Sid.”
“Nick…” Something caught her attention over his shoulder, but before anything else was said, she palmed his nape and smashed her mouth to his. No words were good. He could handle no words all the time. The kiss ended—far too quickly—when someone behind him cleared his throat.
“Jesse, hi,” Sid said, acting surprised by his arrival, but Nick had a feeling the brief molestation of his lips had to do with her catching a glimpse of the guy she’d been worried about seeing. Nick had no problem with that. Sid could be as demonstrative as she liked.
“Hey, Cassidy. I was hoping I’d run into you tonight.” Dude definitely looked at Sid with undisguised appreciation.
“I thought I’d see you here,” she said amicably.
Jesse cut a quick glance his way so Nick extended his hand. “Nick—”
“Oh, sorry. Nick this is Jesse. Jesse, Nick.”
“Sid’s boyfriend,” Nick added, complicating matters by making his and Sid’s relationship more serious than it needed to be to keep Jesse at bay. But for some reason Nick felt staking his claim without any room for misinterpretation the best strategy here.
“Nice to meet you,” Jesse said. Then to Sid, “I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”
“It’s new,” she mumbled.
“So there’s a chance I can steal you away.” Jesse’s rude and inappropriate candor made Nick want to introduce his fist to the guy’s face.
Instead, Nick put his arm around Sid to bring her flush against his side. It killed him to feel the tension in her body. Her anxiety had him reconsidering the fist thing. If this douche was so out of line with her boyfriend present, what kinds of things had he said to Sid in private?
“Not a chance in hell,” Nick said.
“Hey, man, I was just joking. But can you blame me? Look at her.”
Nick was looking at her. And by the way his stomach churned, he didn’t want anyone else to.
Jesse seemed to realize his inappropriate compliment was an asshole thing to say. He opened his mouth to continue, but Sid spoke up first.
“Thanks, Jesse, but you know what? I’d really appreciate it if you kept your thoughts to yourself. I’ve tried to make it clear I’m not interested, and if you can’t respect my wishes then you need to keep your distance.”
“Cassidy, I didn’t mean—”
“Maybe not. But what you think is charming can be really off-putting. I have no problem with remaining friends, but only if you accept nothing will happen between us whether I have a boyfriend or not.”
“I apologize if I came off the wrong way.”
“Thank you.” She turned in Nick’s arm. “You ready to go back inside?”
“In a minute,” he said.
Jesse smartly took that as his cue to leave and with a “See you later,” walked away.
Nick faced Sid. “Nice job. You didn’t need me here at all.”
She gave him a smug smile. “You’re right. I didn’t need my boyfriend to help me put Jesse in his place. What in the world possessed you to say that? I mean, I know I asked you to help me, but that wasn’t what we agreed on and I didn’t like being caught off guard. I’m already…” She trailed off.
“You’re already what?” Feeling as unsure about things between them as he was? He wanted to protect Sid, but as she’d just proved, she could take care of herself. So what did he want from her? What did he want to be…to her?
More than nothing, but less than something popped into his head. Because bottom line, he couldn’t commit, couldn’t open up his heart again.
“Outside my comfort zone.” At his frown she added, “I’m not really big on these black tie events and would have skipped it if not for the award.”
“Back up. What award?”
“I’m being honored tonight for one of my photographs.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her shrug told him plenty. She didn’t tell him because he didn’t mean anything special to her. He’d agreed to come tonight to help keep her safe, not celebrate her achievements. The distinction stung.
He’d done this to himself. Gotten closer to a woman than he ever had before and pushed her away at the same time.
“Congratulations.” He kissed her cheek.
“Thanks. So we should probably go sit down now.” She laced her fingers with his to walk beside him back to her table. “I am really glad you’re here with me tonight,” she said quietly as they took their seats.
Throughout dinner Nick rarely stopped touching her. He couldn’t help himself. This was their last night together. Her skin was soft and warm and every time his fingertips brushed the back of her neck, she shivered. No one asked the status of their relationship. No one questioned their familiarity with each other. Conversation flowed with ease. And hearing her receive accolades from her peers filled him with even more admiration for the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about.
“Here I’ve been following some guy on Instagram who posts pictures of turtles when I should be following you,” he whispered in her ear.
“Turtles?”
“They make me happy.” Not nearly as much you do, though.
She sighed with delight, like a child might when given some top-secret information. “Sea or land?”
“I’m an equal opportunity turtle guy.” He rubbed his nose along the slim column of her neck. “God, you smell good. Your pheromones are a definite mating call to mine.” Had he really just said that? Christ. Something was wrong with him.
“So talk of turtles also turns you into some Animal Planet weirdo?” She teased.
“Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
The rest of the evening carried on without any further awkward words on his part. Sid received her award and despite her nerves, looked beautifully poised as she gave her thanks. They hadn’t discussed staying overnight at the hotel, but as they followed the crowd out of the ballroom, a two-hour drive at ten o’clock at night sounded terrible.
That and he didn’t want to say goodbye.
Not yet.
With Sid’s hand securely inside his, he walked them toward the registration desk. She didn’t say anything, understanding what he meant to do. Recognizing this was the end to their arrangement, but not quite the end of them.
She let him go to make the reservation while she stood across the foyer. He kept one eye on her the whole time. Watched her undo her hair and shake her head to let the long waves fall down her back. Noticed her teeth sink into her bottom lip. Caught her green gaze and held it when she met his regard.
Room key in hand, he took her arm and they headed for the elevators. He wasn’t sure if he could trust his voice so continued to stay quiet. She broke the silence with, “Thanks for reading my mind.”
“Yeah?”
“As amazing as you look in that tux, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about seeing you out of it.”
“Did you picture me in my underwear when you were accepting your award?” He moved his arm to the small of her back as he leaned forward to press the button for the elevator.
“No! If I’d done that I would have screwed up my speech.”
“You’re a liar, you know.”
“What?”
“You were a pro up there. And you had our entire table hanging on your every word. I think your comfort zone is whatever you make it.”
She smiled at him. The unmistakable joy in her expression hit him in the chest and below his
belt. Seeing her happy stirred more than one reaction inside him.
“I think I have you to thank for a lot of my new found confidences.”
They stepped inside the empty elevator. Nick pressed the button for the twentieth floor. As the doors slid closed, he turned Sid so her back faced his front. Her quick, aroused intake of breath filled the small space.
He swept her long hair over her shoulder. Then he placed his hands on her waist and kissed the back of her neck. Softly. Gingerly. Like time didn’t exist. Like he could spend hours right here, loving the smooth, delicate flesh of her throat He dropped delicate presses up to her earlobe, reversed direction, and slowly moved his lips down, inhaling her scent and getting harder with every swipe of his lips and tongue on her skin. Her head tipped to the side when he kissed the sexy curve where her neck met her shoulder. His hands slid to her stomach, traveled up to her breasts. He palmed them through the material of her dress while he continued to lavish her where her pulse started to pound. Heat beat a path down his spine when she quivered and moaned in pleasure.
“I want your mouth all over me,” she murmured.
“Done.”
“And I want you in my mouth.”
“You’re killing me, babe,” he said, his open mouth brushing across her upper back, goose bumps rising in the wake of his kisses.
The elevator came to a stop. They both dragged in a breath.
Nick hustled them down the hallway, anxious to have one last night wrapped up in each other. They moved clumsily into the room, hands seeking, mouths colliding. And then because he couldn’t tell her, he showed her how much he cared.
*
Cassidy tiptoed around the dimly lit room trying to locate her panties. She could leave them, but the thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. It wasn’t like Nick would see her to return them. Well, she supposed he could, but it was better to make a clean break without any reminders of their steamy night together. Their temporary involvement was over now and next week he’d leave for a new job in Idaho…or somewhere else. She had a new life waiting for her in Los Angeles once she and Rowan figured out all the particulars. Life had them going in different directions. Literally.
Falling for Her Bachelor (Bachelor Auction Returns Book 2) Page 11
