“How tipsy?” Nick asked, clearly amused, though his eyes had taken on a sultry look.
“You don’t have to worry until my eyes cross,” Joy answered, getting impudent with him. It was as good a way as she could think of to cover her nervousness.
“You’re too far away for me to check that out for myself.” His fingers circled her neck, while his other hand slid around her waist where her hands were girded together. He towed her slowly toward him until the gearshift between their seats held him back.
“Are they crossed?” Joy asked breathlessly. She knew it wasn’t her eyes he was interested in playfully exploring. Oh, she was such a weakling.
Nick slowly shook his head, and then he smiled that damnable sexy smile of his.
The instant his mouth settled onto hers, Joy’s eyes closed and her lips parted for him. She felt his tongue reach toward her own, felt hers respond.
He released her neck, taking her into his arms to pull her closer against his leather jacket. She gave him permission as her hands unwound from the fortress she’d made in front of her waist.
Joy wrapped her hands low around his hips. Her tongue was moving along with his in sensual circles within her mouth. He put a few inches between their bodies to bring one hand to the front of her coat. She sensed that he’d finished opening the buttons even before his hand came over one breast to cup her gently against the fabric of her blouse and bra. Her imagination—and it had run creatively rampant—had in no way prepared her for what it would actually feel like to have him touch her this way. Joy thought she’d actually stopped breathing. She was completely unaware she was moaning. Or that his other hand had slid inside her coat and was tugging her blouse out of her skirt. Lost in passion and emotion, Joy initiated her own racing need to touch. Tentatively Joy brought a hand up inside his unzipped jacket to his chest, moving his tie aside to slip a trembling finger between the buttons of his blue shirt.
At the realization of what she was attempting to do, he stopped kissing her and leaned back just enough to give her more access.
“Go ahead,” Nick whispered raggedly, his breath whisking across her face as he finished tugging her blouse out of her skirt.
Joy didn’t feel what he was doing with her blouse. The only thing she felt was his shudder as she opened a button of his shirt. Remembering the way he’d looked without a shirt, his chest entirely exposed, Joy opened another button. It was too dark in the car for her to see all she wanted to see, but touching was no problem at all. She pressed her palm to hard muscle. Her fingers fanned out. She found a nipple and timorously touched the tip.
His breath was painfully constricting but neither hell nor high water could have kept Nick from lifting up her blouse now. He bunched the hem in his hand and brought it up.
A guttural groan came from his throat. He sought the clasp of her bra and released it. “I love you, Joy.”
His words broke through the fog that was Joy’s mind.
“Really?” Joy asked sarcastically, knowing the truth. He was trying to do exactly what Eddie had suggested. He wanted to use her to make Diana jealous.
“Yes,” Nick said simply, stock-still now, trying to understand the inflection of her voice.
Joy yanked her blouse out of his hand. She couldn’t even blame him for what had been going on. It was her own fault that she’d allowed him to take advantage of her vulnerability.
“What’s wrong?” Nick asked, bewildered. Wasn’t the declaration he’d given her the declaration every woman wanted to hear? Was she thinking he just bandied the words around?
Giving no response at all, except to glare at him, Joy finished backing herself up against the passenger door.
“Don’t you believe me?” He was able to make out that she was trying futilely to hook her bra. “I really do love you.”
Joy grimaced. She’d have to be even more stupid than she already was to fall for that. God! He even had the right tone of voice!
She was all disheveled. Her coat was in her way. She couldn’t hook her bra. “‘You can fool some of the people…’”
At that, Nick cut her off. “Could we leave famous quotes out of this? What do you want me to do? Write it in blood?”
“That’s a thought,” Joy said furiously, then used an expletive under her breath when she still couldn’t get her bra clasped. Joy angrily pulled her coat up from under her and tried again to fasten her bra.
Nick pulled in a breath that covered the range from impatience to frustration. “Turn around and I’ll do it for you.” He had a knee rammed hard against the gearshift. You can fool some of the people, Nick repeated antagonistically in his head.
“I can do it myself,” Joy retorted.
“Fine.” Nick sucked in another frustrated breath.
Joy finally got the clasp hooked and began vehemently pushing her pink silk blouse into the band of her black wool skirt. “Should I find someplace to call for a taxi? Or are you planning to drive?”
Her voice snapped at him like a rubber band.
Biting down on his lip, Nick started the car and slid the heater level to its highest setting. He was almost tempted to take her up on her dare. She had him that nuts!
Nick opened his door and slammed out of the car. Joy saw his face again a second later as the arm of his leather jacket swept through the snow across the front window. The winery was lit up outdoors.
For the fraction of a moment, blatantly irritated blue eyes met conspicuously angry gray-green eyes.
Joy opened her door and got one foot out. Her high heel sank into the snow.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Nick blocked her way in a flash.
“I’m going to help clear the windows,” Joy answered acerbically.
“No, you’re not!”
“Yes, I am!” Joy got her other foot out of the car nearly kicking Nick in the shin as she did so.
“And you’ve called me obstinate!” He put his hands to her hips to get her seated again.
“Believe me, you are!” Joy fired back. “Will you let go of me?”
“If you don’t sit back down, I’m going to pick you up and sit you down!”
You and who else? was the retort that came into her head, but Joy had just enough sense left to keep from saying it out loud.
“I’m going to give you to the count of three. One…” Nick began.
Joy sat back down just as he reached three. She stamped her high heels to the carpet under her feet and bent forward to rub circulation back into her ankles and insteps.
“Turn the wipers on,” Nick requested tersely, when she straightened up.
Joy reached out and flippantly turned the wipers on. Nick closed her door, not all that gently.
When Nick got in behind the wheel, his hands were almost frostbitten. He steepled his fingers together in front of his face and blew into his palms, then he held his hands to the blower of the heater.
“I could drive,” Joy volunteered, barely louder than a whisper, feeling very upset at how much his hands must be stinging. It required all her teethgritting strength not to reach for his hands and rub them between hers.
Nick tossed Joy a vexed look. “No, thanks.”
“Okay.” She used the same nasty voice he’d used on her.
Nick put a hand to the wheel and the other to the gearshift. He backed out of the parking slot with the tires spinning, his fingers still cold, but his disposition steaming.
The half hour trip to the house passed in tight, strained silence.
Nick braked on the driveway and turned the motor off. His car was behind Joy’s car, which was in back of Diana’s car. It was still snowing, and what had already come down had covered the asphalt and the lawn.
“Tell me where your boots are. I’ll go in and get them for you.”
Joy mulled over his thoughtful suggestion for a second. Only she was too angry to give him as much as an inch. Besides, his offer hadn’t been delivered all that politely.
With her head tilted at
its most stubborn angle, Joy countered, “I can make it without boots.”
Joy had her car door opened and was gingerly stepping out and into the snow when Nick reached her.
“You’re going to fall if you try to walk on your own in those shoes.” He adamantly fixed his arm around her waist, forcing her to lean into him.
“I don’t need your help!” Joy tried spiritedly to free herself.
“If you don’t quit fighting me, I’m going to lift you up and carry you into the house.” Nick held onto Joy even tighter.
“Pul-eeze…Not the Tarzan bit!” Joy rammed her elbow into his flat abs, trying to get at him through his jacket. It was that expenditure of temper that sent her feet sliding. She went down on her rear end, which was luckily padded by her coat. Nick went down with her.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Nick questioned anxiously.
“No,” Joy replied limply. She doubted he was inquiring about her heart. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” Nick responded, rising up on one knee. “Move your legs a little. Just a little. Let me know if you feel any pain.”
Joy moved her legs like a pair of scissors, looking them over as she did. “Oh…” she moaned.
“What?” Nick gasped.
“My nylons are all shredded.”
Nick released the breath that had gotten hung up in his throat. She was impossible! She was obstinate to the umpteenth degree. Frustrating beyond belief. And he was wild about her.
Nick squatted on the balls of his feet. “Are you going to stop giving me a hard time and let me help you into the house?”
Joy weakly nodded her head. The fall had knocked the verve out of her.
Without giving her a chance to change her mind, Nick spread his hands and stood, then scooped Joy up in his arms.
“I didn’t mean this way,” Joy said, though she didn’t move to fight him this time.
The lights over the garage and the front door threw quite a bit of light on the driveway. She could see Nick grin and she tried to shoot him a killing look. But she was expending all her effort trying to ignore the flush going through her entire body and the riotous feelings that went along with the compromising position he had her in. It wasn’t fair that he was so sexy. Or that his gallantry overwhelmed her. It was punishingly unfair of him to say he loved her!
“Put your arms around my neck,” Nick demanded, his smile still in place. He looked into her adorably gorgeous face and waited, without moving, for her to obey.
Joy’s arms went around his neck, but she gave him another shoot-to-kill glare.
“I think the Tarzan bit does work on you.” Nick quirked a grin, sparring expertly against the look he was getting from her.
“I am not at all impressed,” Joy mumbled, avoiding his eyes by turning her face into his jacket. It was easier for her to lie when she wasn’t looking at him.
Treading slowly, Nick carefully carried Joy across the driveway and up the stairs of the front porch, putting her down on her feet at the door.
“Don’t I get a thank you?”
“Thank you,” Joy said through her teeth. She went to turn the knob of the door, but Nick put his hand to hers, stopping her.
“I’m not taking back what I said to you before,” Nick murmured gruffly, gazing into her vibrant gray-green eyes.
Joy flipped her head aside. “You can say it all you want. It’s not going to work for you.”
“What’s not going to work?” His breath mingled with hers in the air.
“I am not going to let you use me to try and make Diana jealous.” Joy spelled it out for him, though she didn’t think it was necessary for her to do so. It did salve her pride some that she could tell him she knew what he was up to.
“You’ve got it all wrong.” He brought his face down to her face and said it close to her mouth.
For a second Joy thought he was going to kiss her again. Her heart jumped excitedly into her throat. But he didn’t.
Nick lifted his head and held her eyes with his. “I’m going to tell you one more time. The only interest I have in Diana is as my future sister-in-law. I’m in love with you. And I know you’re at least attracted to me.”
“Where’s a lie detector when you need one?” Joy asked sassily, trying to save herself. Speculating on the possibility that he really meant that he loved her was ludicrous. She’d lost her heart, but she hadn’t lost her mind. “And don’t be so sure I’m attracted to you. I’m not! It was the wine. I must have had one taste too many.”
“Like hell.” Nick bent his head again and this time he did kiss her. Thoroughly. And, weakling that she was, Joy responded right back.
“Do you want to tell me again that you’re not attracted to me?” Nick asked, pulling slightly away from her.
“It’s still the wine.” Joy fiercely turned the knob of the door and pushed it open. She knew he had a smile on his face as he stepped inside after her.
“You!” Diana came whirling into the front hallway with her finger pointed at Nick.
“What’s the matter?” Joy asked, her eyes wide.
Emily Mackey was coming down the stairs, carrying towels. “Diana, let’s all go into the kitchen. Joy and Nick, you can take your coat and jacket off in there and dry your hair. Then you can all talk.”
With the towels in her hands, Emily Mackey started the parade off for the kitchen. Diana threw Nick another riveting look before following her mother.
“What did you do to Diana?” Joy asked Nick in an anxious whisper as the two lagged behind.
“Beats me,” Nick whispered back, lost out in left field for the second time this evening. Had someone hung a sign on his back and declared open season?
Joy was working at the buttons of her coat with frozen fingers but sweating palms, as she took off after Diana and her mother.
Nick brought up the rear, trying to guess what might have gotten Diana all turned out. He hadn’t seen her since the evening before. There hadn’t been any problem then.
Emily gave Nick and her daughter towels after they’d hung their outerwear up on pegs next to the back door.
“All right, Diana. What is it?” Nick asked, after roughing his hair up with the towel, then stringing the towel around his neck.
Joy still had her towel plopped over her head, needing longer to tend to the mass of her hair.
“Eddie DeMarco called this morning,” Diana began in a very tight voice, like she was trying to keep herself from going ballistic. “He didn’t come to paint today. In fact, he’s not going to be able to finish painting. He quit Gillie’s, too, because he had to leave with his group for California immediately.”
Nick was watching Diana and listening. So far it was no major news. He’d been certain Teddy would come through. “Is this about Eddie not being able to finish the painting?”
“Why should that be a big concern?” Diana rejoined, near to hysterics. “I’m only supposed to get married here in less than three weeks.”
“There are plenty of painters around.” He felt like he was back in the middle of a war zone ducking bullets while all he had to aim with was his camera.
Diana’s blue eyes snapped. “I’ve been on the phone all day. There isn’t anyone available right this minute. Did you check that out, too, before you spoke to your friend Teddy?”
Joy finished drying her hair. “I don’t understand what Nick has to do with this. Who is Teddy?”
“Teddy Falco is a friend of Nick’s,” Diana responded. “He handles rock singers. Teddy Falco is the one who is giving Eddie and his group this big break after he came to see them open last night. Eddie just happened to mention the name of his new agent.”
“That could just be a coincidence,” Joy defended. “What makes you think Nick had something to do with it?”
“I’ll tell you how I know,” Diana said. “I just happened to walk into the kitchen Monday night after we got home from Gillie’s, and Nick was getting off the phone with Teddy Falco.”
“I’ll
finish the painting,” Nick said, beyond just plain exasperation. “I’ll do it Saturday. I can finish it all up in one day. You can take my word for it.”
“I’ll help,” Joy said, intending to make certain the painting did get done. Diana had been absolutely right to have been worried. Nick had looked for a way to try and mess up the wedding and found one.
Nick’s first thought was that Joy was offering her assistance because she wanted to be with him. The smile he turned to give her froze before it got to his mouth. From the militant expression on her face, it was abundantly clear that wanting to be with him wasn’t her goal.
Emily Mackey stepped in to give her motherly input to her oldest daughter. “I’m sure Nick was only trying to do Eddie a good turn, just as Kevin said. There was no need for you to get upset. It’s very nice of Nick to be willing to help out with the painting. I’m certain he’ll do an excellent job. Eddie was taking entirely too long, anyway. Call Kevin back and tell him that everything is fine. Joy and Nick, go upstairs and change. Dinner is ready. My goodness, Joy. I hope you didn’t walk around with your stockings in that condition all day.”
“No, Mom. It just happened.” Joy gave her head a little shake, hoping to clear it of everything else that had happened to her sitting in the car with You-Can-Take-My-Word-for-It Nick Tremain.
“I can explain,” Nick insisted to Joy, after they’d left the kitchen.
Joy spun around to him. “Are you going to tell me you were just trying to do Eddie a favor?”
“No,” Nick answered truthfully.
“Good. I wouldn’t want you to waste your breath.” Joy pivoted back around and marched upstairs.
Now, Nick concluded, was not the right time to try to reason with her.
Chapter Six
“I appreciate that you haven’t brought it up, Kev, but I feel I should tell you why I sent Teddy to see Eddie DeMarco.” Nick kept a firm grip on Maxie’s leash. “I wasn’t trying to do Eddie a favor.”
“I know,” Kevin responded, as the brothers walked along in the woods behind the bed and breakfast early Saturday morning, two days after the incident. “You sent Teddy Falco to get Eddie out of your way.”
About That Kiss Page 7
