For a split second, Nick couldn’t find his tongue. A priest for God’s sake. He compensated with a full smile. “William Wallace. How are you?”
Shelby nudged him hard under the table and glowered. “William and I are trying to have our dinner and finish up some business.”
“Go ahead. I’ll have my drink while you two hatch a plot.” Nick wanted to shoot a right cross to William's nose. “So, Wallace. What’s your game?”
“I’m a priest. Shelby’s designing a new daycare center and cafeteria for Saint Peter's school."
Shelby gave him a knowing smile. “Yes, William's a good friend of Dad’s. And mine.”
She took her hands off the table and put them in her lap in an obvious attempt to show him the blueprints for the new facility.
“I see.” Nick shook William's hand again and stood up. “The waitress is looking for me. Better go pay my tab.”
He leaned over to kiss Shelby’s cheek and whispered against her ear. “I’ll order a big helping of crow to-go on my way out.”
Nick wanted nothing more than to leave, but managed to walk back to his table and toss a couple of bills on it first.
Chapter 9
Her period was late. Not days, but three and a half weeks late. That coincided with her last night with Nick. Had she been fertile then? The situation had no place in her plans and definitely not in his. She couldn't stand not knowing for certain. "Great," she mumbled. There was only one way to be sure without a trip to her gynecologist. She picked up her purse and hurried out to the reception area of her office.
“Kate, I’m going out for a few minutes.” Shelby punched the lobby button of the elevator. “I’m stopping at the drugstore. Need anything?”
Kate glanced up and shook her head. “No thanks. I’m fine.” She smiled and went back to the busy switchboard.
The chain drugstore was several blocks away and Shelby’s heart thumped with anticipation during the short trip. What had she been thinking, stopping her birth control just because Nick had dumped her? Well, she sure hadn’t planned to have sex with anyone else and it had become just one more aggravation.
Inside the crowded drugstore, Shelby checked the overhead signs for the feminine products section. Of course they would be jammed in the middle of the tobacco and liquor where lots of men hung out. She tucked her chin and cut a path through the male populace picking out their pleasures.
The condom packages glistened under the overhead lights like a dance hall strippers. The pregnancy test kits had been tucked between sanitary napkins and douche products. How fitting. And yes, the half dozen rows of condoms to remind you that if you had bought them, you wouldn't be hunched over the pregnancy test kits.
Someone shouldered her and she winced. She finally reached tentatively toward the kits. But, which one? They all looked the same. A young male clerk smiled at her and she yanked her hand back as if it had touched a hot coal. Guilty. Of what? Her blood hammered in her ears while she made her choice. Clutching it in her hand, she turned to leave and ran straight into Nick.
"What are you doing here?" She couldn’t help it if her head swiveled like a screech owl’s when she heard his voice. His grin was sweet, not accusatory, but she shivered with desire to sink through the floor. He tried to see what she had in her hand and she hid it behind her back in a gesture reminiscent of a guilty child.
"Loading up for the weekend?" He tried to catch her hand. "What's that?"
"My God, Nick." She dropped the kit in the bin behind her and grabbed a box of tampons. "Have some decency."
"I thought you might be getting rubbers." His grin spoke volumes of his devilry. "Extra large for me, remember?"
She wanted to lean against him because her knees began to feel like a wet sponge. To cover her former appearance of guilt, she took half dozen packages of condoms from the display. His stunned expression well worth the long stares she got from every man in the vicinity. She handed them to Nick and smiled angelically.
"Is that enough, or will you be needing more?"
He jumped on the moment with a loud guffaw. "You know I always leave that up to you, sugar." He took her in his arms and planted a noisy kiss on her mouth. "Let's get out of here and go start having fun."
Her mouth set in a deep grimace as he walked her to a quieter corner of the humming store. "Nick, you have to learn I am not a toy to play with whenever the urge hits you. I have things to buy and then I'm going back to work."
His gaze paused on her lips, then swept quickly over her face and body before coming back to meet her steady appraisal "You didn't ask what I shopped for."
"I don't care."
"It was for you." He held on to her arm and caressed it with his thumb.
"Oh please, don't feel you have to include me in your condom and sensitive jump-start lubricant shopping." She rolled her eyes in a show of disgust.
His laugh tickled from her nipples to her stomach and down to the cotton crotch of her panties.
"Shel, baby. You never needed lubricants if memory serves me right.” He made a soft growling sound in his throat and drew her closer. "Kate told me where she thought you would be. There's a little thing we need to settle."
Her nerves crackled. She had a few things to say to Ms. Kate when she got back to the office. What new agony did he have to spring on her now? Now that she might be carrying his child. Little Nick. "What little thing would that be? We've settled everything as far as I'm concerned."
He tilted his head and put his arm around her waist, turning her away from interested bystanders. "It's time we sold River House. I'm going back to Sedona when this complex is finished. I can't be running back and forth because of some little cabin by a creek."
Why did everything have to be so damned complicated? All she had wanted had been to find out if she could be pregnant and now he made it clear he wanted to sever the final tie with her.
"Do you need money? I'll swing a loan for you." Her insulting jab about loaning him money hadn't pleased him judging by the scowl on his face. She shrugged. "I don't care what you do with River House." He needn't know how dearly she loved the cozy cottage in the Ozarks. But, because they owned it jointly, she had to care.
"All right. You bring the papers and I'll sign them and be done with it."
"No. It can't be done that way. We both have to sign with witnesses, and the deed is in a lockbox in the bank. Remember?"
"That’s your fault. Leaving before the paperwork could be finished." She glanced around his shoulder at the test kits and wished he would move on with his aggravating self. "Just sell it. I don't care."
He tilted his head to look in her eyes. "Come with me to River House. It's only an overnight trip. Isn't it worth it to be finished with everything?"
She gave in, more to get him out of the store than because of interest in the sale of property. "Okay. I'll meet you down there."
"Forget that. I won't have to stop to fix your flats if we travel together. Pick you up at seven?"
She thought about the times he had said those words to her in the past and could hardly bring himself to walk away. Now he directed her away from the condom aisle and looked for the exit. He must be seeing another woman. Why else would he be so indifferent to the fact she obviously appeared ready to scream in frustration? She inhaled sharply and tried to sound unconcerned.
"Sure. There are some things I want to bring home." Shelby sighed, thinking of the sweet house perched on a hill above a clear stream. She had known complete happiness there. "Don't be late. I want to get this over with."
When he leaned down to kiss her mouth, she shook like a leaf in the wind. The kiss meant nothing to him, but her heart sang every time he touched her. Damn it. Doomed to spinsterhood because there was no other man for her besides Nick.
By the time Nick had finished with his convincing reasoning and left, everyone for six aisles around had tuned into their conversation. No way would she pick up one of those test kits now. Time enough for that when she got bac
k home. She grabbed a box of assorted bandages and hurried to the cashier to pay for them.
* * * *
The next evening a few minutes before midnight, Nick drove through the small town that sat a few miles from their property. The streets were deserted except for the lone beagle that trotted along the side of the road. Nick checked the gas gauge and signaled to turn off the highway into a brightly lit service station.
Shelby had been sleeping for the last fifty miles and leaned heavily against him. She made a sleepy protest about the bright lights. He touched her ear with the tip of his finger and smiled.
"Want to use the ladies room or get something to eat or drink?"
She squinted into the visor mirror and groaned at her reflection. "I think I'll visit the ladies room." She unbuckled herself and opened the door, sliding out of the seat. "I would like some coffee. The new walnut honey crème and two sugars and three creams."
Nick knew how she liked her java. Lots of everything but coffee. "You got it." He frowned when he noticed the attendant gawking at her. "Hey, buddy. Mind checking the radiator?"
The attendant bobbed his head and seemed to have gotten his mind back on his job. "Sure thing."
Shelby had turned to look back at him and gestured toward the small store inside the service station. "Nick. Be sure to get some coffee and sweet rolls for in the morning."
"I won't forget." Nick finished filling the tank and went inside the little convenience store to settle up.
The attendant took his credit card and questioned Nick. "You folks from around here?"
"We're here on business."
"Won't be no business here till Saturday."
Should he ask, or wait for the bomb to drop? "And why is that?"
"Town’s shut down for Founder's Day. Nothin’ open but some grocers and eating places."
Nick figured his timing couldn’t have been worse, but he wouldn't cave for fear of what Shelby had to say to him. "That's just great," Nick muttered. "You sure about that? Half day, maybe?"
"Nope. All day."
Nick weighed his options. Tell her now and be forced to drive a screaming woman back to Kansas City that night. Don't tell her and suffer the consequences later. What difference did it make when he told her? It wasn't his fault. And he damned well would rather be at home watching a movie and crawling into his big bed. Alone.
Bullshit. This had to be the happiest he'd been since the night he took care of Shelby and her black eye.
Nick walked out to the van, balancing her highness's cup of hot walnut honey crème and a bag filled with things she liked.
"Here you are, Shel." He handed her the cup of coffee, then tossed the bag of groceries into the back seat. She slid a long glance his way and wore a hint of a smile. He recognized her gaze of suspicion. He climbed into the van and met her cool blue gaze. "The guy inside says this burg of a town is closed down all day tomorrow."
She sipped her coffee and shrugged. "Really?"
"You must still be asleep. Did you hear what I said?" He grinned and prepared for the storm. "That's all day. Tomorrow."
She dabbed a napkin to her chin, looking slightly pissed. "I heard you. It can't be helped."
He got the van moving toward their cozy nest before looking at Shelby several times as a barometer of her true feelings. The five miles to the cottage seemed like fifty to him.
What the hell could she be thinking? He had just told her she would be in his company a lot longer than she had planned. His sidelong glance collided with her open cool appraisal of him. Sure, that was it. She pretended to be all right with it, but he knew she still fumed. He would do well to steer clear of her until Saturday morning. He received a warning glance when his hand brushed her thigh. Yeah, it would be a bumpy night in River House.
He switched the radio on, instantly reversing his action when her expression of distaste made it clear she was in no mood for music. Damn. He wanted that woman and she laughed up her short skirts over his forgiving nature. He scoffed at himself. Instead of driving her to River House, you should be taking her to court.
"Nick, I think we missed our turnoff.”
"Oh, yeah. It's been a while."
The screech of brakes and smell of hot rubber on the asphalt shattered the lovely country night silence. He backed up and quickly made the turn into their graveled driveway.
Shelby lowered her window and took a deep breath of the fragrant air. "Still looks the same at night." She smiled at him. "So lovely. Such a shame to let it go."
Nick didn't reply. He was too wrapped up in wondering what had gotten into her. He pulled up in front of the cottage and popped the cargo door. “Let's get the luggage."
She hopped out of the van and stood at the front door before he had finished his sentence. He began gathering up the various weekenders and garment bags she had brought along. He compared the excess to the lone duffle he had packed. "Want to help here, Shel?"
"No."
He shook his head and grinned at her impertinence. "Gotcha."
Two trips later, he tested the water in the kitchen. It still had the taste of iron and minerals. His ladyship would never drink it. He brought in the case of spring water from the van before she ventured into the kitchen. He jumped with a start when she spoke.
"It smells like a Christmas tree in here." She eyed the bottles of water on the counter. “Water still nasty?”
"It wouldn't be up to your standards." He noticed she had changed into a pair of white cotton pajamas and fashioned her long hair into one chunky, gleaming braid. He wondered if she knew her nipples were visible through the thin material. “Are you cold?”
“Not at all. What makes you ask?”
Damn. She’d turned it around on him and now he looked stupid for mentioning the condition of her nipples. Stupid man should be quiet.
While he opened the window over the double sink, he could feel her gaze burning into him. He turned around and leaned against the counter. "What can I get you? Food, drink or entertainment?"
Her tongue tip darted out and flicked at the corner of her mouth. Her yawn appeared pretty damned phony to him.
“I’m going to sit outside on the patio for a few minutes.”
Nick caught her braid and flipped it playfully. “Okay. I’m off to the shower.”
She took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and walked to the back door. “If I’m not outside when you finish, I’ll be in bed.”
Had she been teasing him? Rubbing his forehead, he walked out of the kitchen and down the hall to the bathroom. He turned the shower on to cold and frowned at his image in the vanity mirror. Get a grip. She’s not horny. She’s sleepy.
A few minutes later, Nick stepped outside, glad as hell she remained sitting on the stairs in the moonlight. “There you are.” He wore comfortable lounge pants and no shirt. His gaze touched her elegant profile and kissed the soft pink curve of her cheek.
She yawned again and stood up to stretch her arms over her head, letting that cute little shirt creep up high enough to expose her dainty ribcage. He figured she silently dared him to slip his hand under that shirt, but he resisted to keep his sanity. He stood up to lay his arm over her shoulders and asked the question that burned in his mind.
“It’s come down to the moment. Where do you want to sleep?”
Chapter 10
This sure wasn't her apartment. Her gaze traveled over the cottage's flounced ruffled curtains at the triple windows and waxed hardwood floors. Shelby sat up and sniffed. The aroma of good coffee meant she hadn't been dreaming, that Nick was there and already out of bed.
The grumble of hunger in her stomach roused her from the comfortable mattress. She washed, brushed her teeth and smoothed her hair from her face, re-winding the rubber band that held her hair in a heavy braid. This would be her first morning with Nick in a long while that didn’t include being drugged and cranky. Before she left the bathroom, Shelby checked out her side view, pressing on her belly to gauge its bulge. Nothing.
There wouldn’t be any changes yet. Not enough time had passed.
With a small sigh of ridiculous disappointment, she sauntered into the kitchen and found the stainless steel coffee pot full of fresh brew. She licked her lips and selected a pastry from the platter Nick had laid out on the counter.
She took several big bites of the cherry Danish and sipped her coffee. A flopping paper taped onto the refrigerator caught her attention. Love note from Nick maybe? She grinned and read his scrawl. Gone to town for more food. Oh, and don't eat all the Danish. Nick.
She thumped the note with her fingers and helped herself to another pastry. To kill time, she walked through the house and poked around in drawers and closets. There was no way she could clear her personal things out on this trip. Damn it. What could be his reason to be in such a rush?
The sale could have waited. Something she didn’t want to wait on was getting a pregnancy test kit. She leaned around the doorway of the master bedroom where Nick had slept last night. Their room. The wedding ring quilt lay folded at the foot of the sleigh bed and the sheets pulled tight, military style. Four plumped pillows leaned invitingly against the sturdy headboard.
Curiosity drew her deeper into the room she should have slept in last night. The bed sure wouldn't be looking like a pristine snowfield if she had. The tall cherry stack chest took her attention and she began rummaging through the drawers. She found nothing of great interest until the bottom drawer revealed its contents.
She laughed aloud, delighting in her discovery. "My dress." The heavily beaded flapper dress had been found in a steamer trunk in the storage shed. How could she have forgotten about the beautiful creation? A red silk-fringed parasol lay next to the dress.
Shelby lifted the claret red dress from its tissue paper. Why not? She quickly stripped naked, and then slid the decadent little garment up her body, working her arms into the sheer sleeves. She shivered when the weighty fabric kissed her bare skin.
She hummed the stripper’s tune while unfurling the parasol into a pale pink, gauzy spread of elegance. In a burst of exhibitionism, she worked her shoulders in a hard shimmy, walking across the floor to check out her look in the full-length pier mirror. Not bad, but she needed music.
Hot For Nick Page 10
