by Allie Able
I sigh and roll my eyes. “Whatever. I’m going to talk to your brother, weirdo.”
She snorts. “Have fun with your friend, Katie,” she calls out as I walk away.
I shoot her a look over my shoulder and she dissolves into giggles. I shake my head, as I walk towards Nick. We are just friends and it’s going to stay that way, but as I get closer I can’t help but notice how his shirt stretches across his broad shoulders and the way his big hands hold his beer. He is just so large compared to me. I stand at about 5’4” and he has to be over 6’3”. I wonder if he is big everywhere? Good Lord, Katie, stop it! Just go talk to him. He is your friend and you have missed him. Don’t make this weird!
I walk up next to him and his smell immediately hits me in the face. Oh God, why does he have to smell so good, too.
“What are you so deep in thought about over here?” I ask, trying to sound cool, calm and collected.
Chapter Two
Nick
I CAN’T BELIEVE MY BEST friend, Grant, is head-over-ass for a girl. In the 20 years I’ve known him, I have never seen him like this. To be honest, it’s a little pathetic. I have to admit, she’s hot as hell, not that I’ll make the mistake of telling him that again. I thought the dude was going to knock me out the first time I told him. Watching him sweat like a pig tonight was entertaining. I honestly thought he was going to chicken out of proposing to her tonight. After all they’ve been through, it’s good to see them happy, even if it is a little disgusting.
I look around the crowded room and see Grant dancing with Summer. I shake my head and take another healthy drink of my beer. I’ve got to go back overseas in just a few weeks, and this time I’m dreading it. I’m tired of the fucking desert. I love my job and I love serving my country, but this shit is starting to wear me down.
I feel someone nudge my side and I look down.
“What are so deep in thought about over here?” Katie asks.
“Wondering how long it will take for those two to leave this time.” I nod my head towards Summer and Grant.
She laughs, causing my dick to switch in my pants. Obviously he hasn’t gotten the memo, that we are just friends. Katie is fucking gorgeous, with her flaming red hair and bright green eyes, and I would love nothing more than to take her to bed, but she has stuck me firmly in the friend zone. Anyone who has ever been where I am knows, this shit sucks.
“I give them ten more minutes,” she says.
I look back over at the two love birds, in question, and shake my head. “Nope, I give them five minutes, tops.”
I look back down at her and see a small smile playing on her lips. God, what I wouldn’t do to know what those lips taste like. I need to get laid, but every time I even think about taking a woman to bed, all I can only think about Katie.
I met her at the birthday party Summer gave Grant, about six months ago, and I’ve been hung up on her ever since. Now who is the pathetic one?
“How long are you home for this time?” she asks.
“Three more weeks,” I respond, with a sigh.
Her eyebrows pinch together, as she searches my face. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and look around the room. “I just miss being home sometimes.”
She reaches her hand out and squeezes my arm. Just that little touch from her has my dick stirring in my pants, again. Jesus! She moves her hand away and I quickly change the subject.
“How is Abigail?” I ask. Just by looking at Katie, you would never guess she was old enough to have a daughter Abbi’s age, but she is the best damn mom I know.
A tender smile lights up Katie’s face, at the mention of her daughter. “Abbi’s perfect. She’s staying with my mom and dad tonight and tomorrow, and probably staying up too late and eating too much candy.” She laughs.
I chuckle in response. I’ve met Abbi a few times, but I haven’t really spent too much time with her. With her wild red hair and green eyes, she is the spitting image of Katie.
I finish off my beer and set it down on a nearby table. “It’s almost midnight. Would you like to dance, Ms. Fitzgerald?” I ask, extending my hand towards Katie.
She laughs and sets her wine glass down, before taking my hand. “Why, I would love to Mr. Sinclaire,” she says, using a dramatic southern accent.
I walk out onto the dance floor and pull her body close to me. She’s so damn tiny compared to me, but her body fits perfectly against mine. With her this close, I can smell her perfume. She always smells like sunshine and flowers and it makes me want to bury my face in her hair. Yeah, that wouldn’t be creepy at all. As we sway to the music, I look over and see that Grant and Summer are trying to sneak out. I laugh and look down at Katie.
“I won,” I say, nodding towards the door.
She looks over at them and smiles. “They’re so predictable.”
I nod my head in agreement. She looks back up at me and seeing her face so close to mine is like a punch in the gut. “You look so beautiful, Katie,” I whisper.
Shock registers on her face and I want to kick my own ass, for that slip-up. Why can I not control my mouth around this woman? She has made it perfectly clear that she’s not interested in me. Before she can respond, the countdown for the New Year begins. I’m still staring down at her and I see something shift in her eyes, some emotion that I’m not even sure I could name. Her hands suddenly come to the back of my head and she is pulling me down to her mouth. I’m so shocked, I’m not sure what is happening, but at the first touch of her lips against mine, instincts take over and I pull her closer to me. I don’t know if this was supposed to be just a friendly quick kiss, but I’m not wasting the opportunity to finally taste her. I open my mouth and swipe my tongue along her bottom lip. She gasps and, like the asshole that I am, I take full advantage. I slip my tongue into her warm mouth and I can taste the sweet red wine she was drinking earlier and something else, that is uniquely Katie. Her hands fist in my hair, holding me to her mouth and her tongue tentatively touches mine. I can’t help the groan that escapes me.
After a few minutes, I finally pull back and use my teeth to nibble on her bottom lip. We are both panting and I’m harder than I have ever been in my life. Damn, the things this woman does to me.
I rest my forehead against hers and I watch as she slowly blinks her eyes open. She looks up at me in awe and it’s a serious boost to my ego, to know that she is affected by me just as much as I am by her.
“Shit. I’m so sorry, Nick,” she says, her voice trembling.
Well, I wasn’t expecting that. She pulls herself out of my arms and turns to walk away, while I stand there completely shocked. What in the hell just happened and why is she running away? I know I haven’t been with a woman in awhile, but surely my kiss wasn’t that bad.
“Katie, wait!”
I walk quickly through the crowd of people, trying to catch up to her. She doesn’t stop and if anything she actually speeds up as she walks through the doors that lead outside. I follow her into the parking lot and I watch as she gets into a cab and rides away. What in the fuck was that? One thing is for sure, I’ll give her until tomorrow and then she’s going to have to explain.
Chapter Three
Katie
I BLINK MY EYES OPEN against the harsh morning light shining through my bedroom window. Even when Abigail isn’t home, I’m still an early riser. When I think about last night, I immediately want to bury my face back under the cover.
Oh my God, I all but climbed Nick last night, in the middle of The Sand Bar! What the hell was I thinking? Nick is my friend, but I know exactly what I was thinking. Its been ten years since I’ve really dated, let alone had sex, and the one terrible blind date six years ago definitely doesn’t count.
When Nick told me I looked beautiful, in that deep voice of his, my body took over without much thought of what would happen next. Shit! Of course I’m attracted to him, who in their right mind wouldn’t be? But getting involved with a man is dangerous.
They have the ability
to rip your heart to shreds and stomp on it. I learned that lesson the hard way and I’m not ready for a re-do anytime soon. Now I’ve made things awkward between us. How am I supposed to look him in the eye and pretend everything is fine, when I practically mauled him last night, for everyone in the damn bar to see.
I sigh, and roll out of bed. Lying here worrying about it isn’t going to do any good. I have the day to myself before Mom and Dad bring Abbi home tomorrow. I had planned on giving the house a thorough cleaning today and maybe that’s just what I need to do to get my mind off of Nick and his talented mouth.
I make my way towards the kitchen to start my coffee. I love my little house. It’s one of the older homes in Cape Isle, but it was updated recently. It has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, a large kitchen and living room, and my favorite part is the sun room.
It has a perfect view of the sunrise. I love sitting out there in the mornings, with my cup of coffee. It’s the only part of the day, I feel totally relaxed. The only thing I don’t like about this house is not living directly on the beach, but it’s only a five-minute walk.
For years after Abbi was born, we stayed with my parents. They were a huge help to me, while I was finishing college. I don’t know what I would have done without them, but at the same time, it was hard. Being an adult and living with your parents, really isn’t an ideal situation.
Once I graduated and started working at the local Animal Clinic in my home town of Temple, Abbi and I moved out of my parents’ house and into a two-bedroom apartment. It was a step down from my parents’ house, that’s for sure, but I needed independence. I worked in Temple, S.C., for the last five years, until I applied for the Veterinarian job at the Cape Isle Animal Clinic. Not only did it pay more, but this town is somewhere I could see myself raising Abbi. Cape Isle is only two hours from my hometown, so it’s also close enough that my parents can still see Abbi and me pretty regularly.
The coffee pot beeps, pulling me out of my thoughts. I pour my cup and mix the right amount of sugar and cream in, before walking towards the sun room. As I’m passing through the living room, there is a knock at the door. I wonder who that could be? It’s still fairly early in the morning and its New Years’Day. Surely everyone I know is still sleeping off their hangovers. I look down at myself and see that I’m just wearing an old t-shirt and a pair of long socks. I can’t really answer the door, just wearing that. I turn to go towards my bedroom to change clothes, but a voice stops me in my tracks.
“I can hear you moving around in there, Katie.” Nick’s deep voice rumbles through the door.
What is he doing here? I’m not ready to face him, and certainly not before my first cup of coffee.
“Come on, Katie, answer the door. I brought breakfast from ‘Sprinkles’.”
Crap, he knows those muffins are my weakness. I reluctantly turn around and go answer the door. I crack it open enough for me to see him and I look down at the two cups of coffee and the box of muffins he’s holding. I put my hand through the crack in the door and reach for the box, but he quickly pulls it out of my reach.
“Nope, you don’t get the muffins unless you let me inside.”
I look up at him for the first time and my breath catches. How can he look so good this early in the morning? He is wearing a soft black t-shirt, that stretches across his massive chest, and a pair of grey board shorts. I can see one of his tattoos peeking out of the sleeve of his t-shirt and it makes me want to explore every inch of his body to see how many more I can find.
That thought right there is why Nick is dangerous to me. Since Abbi was born, she has been my entire world. I have not had any interest in a man, until Nick came strutting into my life, with his ridiculously handsome face and carefree smile.
I narrow my eyes at him, with a look that is meant to be intimidating, but it just makes Nick’s smile grow wider.
“Come on, kitten, let me inside. Please.”
What did he just say? “Did you just call me, kitten?” I ask.
He laughs at the look on my face. “Do you not like it? I think it’s pretty fitting, actually.”
“Give me my damn muffins, Nick,” I growl.
He makes a “tsking” sound. “They’re our muffins, kitten. Let me inside and we can share them.”
I finally give up and open the door wider, allowing him to walk inside. I leave it open and turn to walk towards the kitchen. Nick has been here a few times before, so surely he can find his way.
“I like your outfit,” he says with a laugh.
I immediately change directions and walk quickly to my bedroom. My face has to be flaming red. I completely forgot what I had on. God, that man is distracting!
After I’ve put on a pair of yoga pants and pulled my hair up, I walk back towards the kitchen. Nick has made himself at home and is sitting at one of my bar stools, eating. Without acknowledging him, I open up the box and grab a blueberry muffin. Nick looks me up and down and smirks, right as I shove a huge bite into my mouth.
“I liked what you were wearing. Why did you change?”
I roll my eyes at him, causing him to chuckle, and continue eating my muffin.
When we are both done, Nick stands up from his chair and throws away his napkin. He walks towards me, not stopping, until I’m pinned against the counter. My eyes widen and my breathe freezes in my throat.
“W-what are you doing?” I stutter.
He brushes a piece of hair off of my face and looks down at my mouth. “I want to talk about last night and why you ran away from me.”
His eyes are so intense. I’ve never seen him so serious before. “I’m sorry, Nick. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I shouldn’t have kissed you. I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Bullshit, Katie.”
“Excuse me? Nick, I don’t know what you think happened, but it was a mistake. Now, I really have a lot of stuff to do around the house today. Thank you for the muffins. You can go now.”
“No,” he murmurs, still staring down at my lips.
“No?” I ask. What in the ever-loving-hell is happening right now?
“No, it wasn’t a mistake and I really want to know why you ran.”
“I didn’t run,” I scoff. Good comeback Katie.
“You ran like your ass was on fire, kitten.”
“Stop calling me that,” I demand.
“Why? I think it fits you perfectly. Your claws come out when I rile you up, but really you’re just a cuddly kitten,” he gazes down at me.
I have lost my ability to talk, so I just stare up at him. God, he smells good. I want to bury my face in his chest and take a deep breath. That wouldn’t be inappropriate at all.
The smirk falls from his face and he cups my face in his hand. “I’m going to kiss you again, Katie.”
I suck in a sharp breath, as his lips descend on mine. His are soft and hesitant, at first, as if he is waiting on me to push him away. He doesn’t have to worry about that. When he touches me, all common sense goes flying right out of the window. My hands clench his shirt at his sides, and I pull him closer. His runs his tongue along my bottom lip and I open for him. He explores the inside of my mouth, like he is trying to taste every part of me. His hand goes to the nape of my neck and he tilts my head, taking the kiss deeper. He moans into my mouth, before breaking away and kissing down my neck.
“You taste so damn good, Katie. I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”
His words cause me to come back to my senses. I push at his sides, trying to get him to stop his exploring of my neck.
He pulls his head back and looks down at me, confused. “What’s wrong, Katie?”
“Nick, I’m a mom,” I blurt.
He smiles down at me. “I know, sweetheart, I’ve met Abbi.”
I shake my head trying to get him to understand. “Nick, I’m not looking for a one-night-stand or a friends with benefits thing.”
“I’m not either, Katie. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’
ve wanted you since I first laid eyes on you.”
I sigh in frustration. “Yes, Nick, you may want me, but for how long? Look, Abbi is my whole world. I just don’t have time for dating.” That’s not a complete lie. I really don’t have time for a relationship, between Abbi and work. He doesn’t need to know all of my reasons.
He continues to study my face. His eyes are searching and intense, and I feel like they see more than they should. I fight the urge to look away. Finally, what feel like hours later, he shakes his head. I sigh in relief, thinking that he is just going to give up this ridiculous idea. I should have known better.
“That’s just not going to work for me. Let me take you out on a date.”
Shit! Why is he so damn persistent and why do I like it so much?
Chapter Four
Nick
I WATCH AS KATIE OPENS her mouth, but no words come out. A speechless, Katie, that’s a first. I knew when I came over here she wouldn’t give in easily to the idea of us going on a date. I don’t know why she holds herself back so much. As far as I know, she hasn’t been on a date since she moved here. Not for lack of male attention that’s for sure, but Katie can be a little intimidating if she wants to be. When I first met her, even I was intimidated and that doesn’t happen often. I don’t know the whole story behind what happened with Abbi’s dad, but I assume that’s why Katie doesn’t want to be in a relationship. I’m sure it is really hard for her to make time to date, like she said, but if she really wanted to, she would. I’m just going to have to make her see how great we could be together.
“Come on, kitten. Just one date,” I say, again.
Her eyes shoot daggers at me when I use the nickname and I have to struggle not to laugh. I love how fiery she can be.
“Nick, I swear to God, if you don’t stop calling me that stupid nickname, I’m going to punch you,” she says through clenched teeth.
I loose the fight with my laughter, as I pull her closer to me. I love how she feels against me. She may be tiny, but she fits me perfectly. I look back down at her and although I know she is trying to hold onto to that anger, her eyes have a soft look in them.
