CHAPTER 9 #3
Jannie blinked, stunned by her own reaction. Just yesterday, she’d been irritated to see him, but in less than twenty-four hours, she found herself upset at the thought of him leaving.
He motioned toward the mess of food, paper plates, and plasticware. “You done eating?”
She nodded, watching him begin to clean up. “You don’t have to do that.”
He smiled. “I know. Do you have a trash bag?”
She did. Several sizes. She opened a drawer and pulled out a white Hefty bag, her mind racing. Soon, he’d be out of her house and maybe out of her life. He’d fly home, and she …
She’d be alone.
Unless Blake showed up again. Her stomach turned at the very thought. Once, she had looked forward to his fly-by visits, but now …
Jannie watched Nick make short work of gathering up the leftovers, tying off the bag, and wiping the counter with a microfiber cloth he found by the sink. A man who cleaned up without being asked. She didn’t know they existed.
Now that she had someone here with her again, she realized she missed the company. She could practically feel the emptiness and heavy silence that would descend as soon as Nick walked out that door, and she’d be alone in this huge house full of memories, dashed hopes, and broken promises.
Well, OK, and with Rolf, but he couldn’t talk.
Nick abruptly stopped polishing the counter, his gaze catching hers. “I have an idea.”
“And what is that?” She waited.
He put down the cloth, then braced his hands on the counter and leaned forward. “Come with me.”
“To Vegas?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?
She stared at him. “I can’t just up and leave. I have to work.”
“You can’t take some time off?”
“Well …”
Technically, she could. But—
“Would you agree you need a reset?”
She couldn’t disagree. Jannie looked into Nick’s handsome face and saw no pity in his eyes, only hope and something so powerful, it sent a jolt through her middle.
“Can you take some time off?” he asked again.
“I don’t know.” She’d returned to work two weeks after her miscarriage, wanting the distraction. Maybe it was too soon? Maybe … “I do have some vacation time,” she said.
“How much?”
“Four weeks.”
“Then how about using some of it to get away for a while?” He resumed wiping the counter. “If you need a place, you can stay with me.”
Was he serious? “With you?”
He nodded.
She looked at his bearded profile. “Why?”
“Why not?”
Her heart rate accelerated. She couldn’t. Could she? No, of course not.
“Um …” She scrambled to find a way to refuse that would spare his feelings. Her gaze settled on Rolf, who was intently watching two white egrets fly overhead.
“Rolf,” she said.
“What about him?”
“I’m not leaving my dog.”
“Who said you had to?”
“You have a yard?”
He grinned. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” She tipped her head. “Where do you live now?”
A lopsided smile. “One-bedroom condo.”
She laughed. “I’ve never seen a condo with a yard.”
He caught her gaze and held it. “For you, I’d get one. And anything else you need.”
“You can just get a yard?”
“I can find one.” A corner of his mouth kicked up. “Believe me, there’s a will.”
“Well …”
It sure was tempting. But then, she couldn’t stay with Nick; she barely knew him. Plus, he lived in Vegas. She might run into her family there and then have to endure their smothering sympathy. She wasn’t up for that.
Not yet.
“I can just stay at a hotel that allows pets.”
“You could.” He winked. “But I’m more fun. And you would still need a yard.”
As if to prove that point, Rolf bounded up to him, the dragon in his mouth. Still smiling, Nick took the toy, waiting for the dog to sit before throwing it in a wide arc across the yard. Jannie tried not to ogle his impressive arm muscles as he did it three more times.
She shook her head in wonder. Rolf had never taken to anyone else the way he’d taken to Nick. Conversely, he’d been aloof with Blake, undoubtedly sensing the man’s lack of interest and resentment for costing him his dream beach house.
Dogs were good judges of character, she knew, and she also knew that if she were going to do this wild thing, go to Vegas and stay at a hotel, she’d have to board Rolf.
Jannie watched the play of Nick’s hard muscles as he threw the toy, and she licked her lips, recalling exactly how he looked without that shirt.
Tempting. So very tempting.
She had never acted impulsively in her life.
Perhaps that had led her here, where each day brought unhappiness and felt like an exercise in frustration.
Recently, work had become extremely stressful, filling her with dissatisfaction.
How many times had she fantasized about escaping?
Taking a break might be good for her mental health.
“Would this yard come with an extra bedroom?” she found herself asking.
He threw the toy. “As I said. Whatever you need.”
And suddenly, getting away from here and spending time with this man felt like an enticing prospect. Her heart took flight as she considered the possibility.
“Let me sweeten the deal,” he said.
She looked at him expectantly.
“I’ll throw in an endless supply of Dr Pepper.”
Well, that made her laugh. “How can I possibly pass that up?”
His eyes gleamed as his gaze dipped to her mouth. “You can’t.”