Chapter 11 #2
She glanced toward the table and couldn’t shake the feeling that Nick seemed uncomfortable.
Didn’t have his usual easy-going demeanor.
Did it matter that he clicked with her friends?
She hadn’t thought about it until now. She handed dessert plates to Mia then tucked an assortment of polka-dot candles into the chocolate raspberry cheesecake she’d bought at a local bakery.
“Okay, Jack, you’re up,” Kat said as she placed the cake on the table. Jack was a Wall Street guy by day but also played in a band on the side. He began singing “Happy Birthday,” and the others chimed in.
While her guests oohed and aahed over the dessert, Kat pondered the rest of the evening.
Should she suggest they go out as a group, let everyone get to know Nick better?
As far as she was concerned, he fit right in, could easily be one of them.
He might not have the NYC intensity of Jack or Brendan, but he obviously had high career aspirations.
She took a sip of her champagne and let out a soft sigh.
Unfortunately, the fact remained—Nick lived in Colorado.
She stole a sideways glance, and her chest fluttered. But here he was. In New York . With her .
* * *
Nick stood and stretched as the others pushed in their chairs and got ready to leave.
He picked up his coat and draped it across his arm as goodbyes were said.
He even inched toward the door with the others, giving the impression that he was right behind them.
But he hovered awkwardly. He’d pictured having a private toast with Kat, and he still wanted that.
Wanted her to himself. So much for surprises.
Obviously, he should’ve called and made a plan.
But he’d gone over their texts from earlier in the week in his mind.
He’d specifically asked what she had going on for the weekend. She never mentioned a dinner party.
When the others looked back expectantly, he gave a nod and a casual wave, determined to have at least a few minutes alone with Kat. He waited while she walked her guests to the door—and saw Brendan bend down close to her. Was he whispering in her ear? Did he kiss her cheek?
Nick tried not to stare. Looked like Mia and Jack might be a couple, but he didn’t know where Brendan fit in. He’d been kind of intense in his questioning, and Nick couldn’t help wondering if the guy had hopes of romance with Kat.
As soon as she closed the door, he tossed his coat aside.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he studied her flushed face.
He wanted to know why she hadn’t mentioned the dinner, and who Brendan was, but he didn’t want to appear jealous or suspicious.
Not exactly the way to win a woman’s heart—or an invitation to stay longer. Instead, he found himself apologizing.
“Hey, listen, I’m really sorry about showing up on your doorstep unannounced. I should’ve called, but I–”
Kat waved a hand and shook her head. “No. Don’t worry about it. I don’t think I mentioned I was having guests.”
“I’m a little confused about that. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Kat pushed away from the door, tucking her hair back from her face.
“Oh, gosh, I had a crazy busy week, and it didn’t seem important.
It never crossed my mind that it would matter.
Obviously, I had no idea you’d be in town.
” Plus, one thing she’d learned from Nana was that you didn’t talk about a party to a person who wasn’t invited.
She smiled as she moved toward him. “Really, it’s not a big deal.
I’m glad you’re here. I want to know all about the HomeBuilders offer. ”
“Tell me about Brendan.”
“What?” She cocked her head and shrugged. “Longtime friend.”
“Have to say it looked like dinner for two couples.”
Kat shook her head. “Nick, that wasn’t it at all. There were other people here earlier, but for one reason or another they couldn’t stay for dinner. Don’t read anything into it. The four of us have been friends for a long time. We used to be part of a bigger group in college.”
“Oh, okay. It’s just…” He gestured toward the door. “Kat, it looked like he–”
“He gave me a peck on the cheek. He wanted to make sure I was okay with them leaving. And, he said you seemed like a great guy. Okay? We’re just friends.”
“Got it.” But that word. He couldn’t help wondering if it applied to him, too. Maybe they should put their cards on the table. “What about us?” he asked quietly.
“Us?” she echoed. “I don’t know. What about us?
Are we dating? Is this a relationship? I mean, really Nick.
I live in New York. You live in Colorado.
I’m never there.” Her voice rose, and she twisted her hands together.
“I don’t want to be there. I– I’ve enjoyed our time together.
I like you. Our face chats are great, but how will we even see each other? How–”
“Just a minute.” Nick held up a hand. “We’ll come back to that question.”
He stepped toward her and pulled her to him, his hands sliding up her arms and across her back.
He touched his lips to hers in a long, lingering kiss.
It took a minute, but she finally relaxed in his arms. When he trailed kisses along her jaw line and down her throat, he was rewarded with a soft sigh as she wound her arms around his neck and held tightly, kissing him back when his lips met hers again.
“Nick.”
Her breath whispered like a feather across his skin and ignited a fire inside him. “Hmm?”
“I think you made your point.”
He grinned against her lips before he pulled back to look at her face. Luminous smoky blue eyes gazed into his.
“Good,” he said softly. “So, back to that question…is this a relationship?”
She laughed. “I guess it better be.”
With a chuckle, he claimed her lips again.
Nick held her close, rocking her slowly. Over her head, he surveyed her apartment. It was a complete mess. Used dishes and linens were still on the table and empty wine bottles and remnants of food preparation were scattered across the counter.
With effort, he set her slightly away from him. “Let me make a pit stop, then let’s get this cleaned up.”
“What? No way. You’re not helping me clean up.”
“Oh, but I am.” He moved toward the kitchen, still holding onto her hand.
“Nick, really. I’ll deal with this tomorrow.”
“Right. Because it’ll be so nice to wake up to.”
Her cheeks colored slightly as she looked at him, and he realized it wasn’t the best choice of words. Now all he could think of was what would be nice to wake up to.
“Did you already check in at the hotel?” she asked.
Apparently, it was on her mind as well. He held his breath a beat before answering. “Not yet.” He’d been in a hurry to get to her place.
With a nod, she lifted a plate from the table.
“Hey, have a seat and finish your champagne.” he told her. “I’ll be right back.”
He couldn’t help the way his glance strayed toward her bedroom when he slipped into the bathroom.
He’d just finished washing his hands when he remembered Kat’s mother’s words about meds.
Letting the water run, he quietly opened the medicine cabinet above the sink and scanned the shelves.
No prescription medicine bottles—just a lone packet of birth control pills.
Completely normal. If that’s where she kept those, wouldn’t she keep all meds there?
A twinge of guilt rippled through him, and he blew out his breath then shut the door and turned off the water. And still wondered what her mother’s comment was all about.
Kat was in the kitchen already working on clean-up when Nick returned. He gathered the remaining dishes from the table and joined her at the sink.
When she reached across and removed a napkin from one of the plates, softly brushing her arm against his, Nick’s pulse hammered.
He grabbed a plate and began scraping into the disposal with quick movements.
He was barely even aware of what he was doing as his glance kept snapping back to Kat.
She’d taken off her sweater, leaving the lace blouse to hug her curves.
He scraped harder, until her hand stilled his arm.
“Nick, I think that’s good enough.”
Surprised, he looked up and saw the humor in her eyes. With a short laugh, he expelled his breath, relieving the tension that was building between them. “Okay, then. Here you go.” He handed her a plate. “You wash, and I’ll dry.”
He leaned against the counter just as she turned on the water. The stream hit the handle of a pan and splashed them both. Kat let out a shriek and quickly turned off the water, and in the next second they were laughing and reaching for towels.
Nick found one first and began blotting the droplets off her face.
He wiped them off his arms, then she caught the end of the towel and drew it against her chest, where the water left tiny dark spots as it soaked into her shirt.
Nick’s hand came with the towel. After a moment, he released the towel to Kat but kept his hand where it was.
Her eyelids fluttered up at him.
With a low groan, he brushed a hand over her exposed skin.
His lips met hers as she murmured softly.
The kiss deepened, and his heart slammed against his ribs, beating wildly.
He let his hands move slowly across her back, exploring the smooth flesh.
He turned and leaned against the counter, pulling her closer.
Her hands twined around his neck and into his hair, sending thunderbolts through his system.
When one of her hands dropped to his chest, he closed his own around it and bent his knees enough to look into her eyes—to give her the opportunity to slow down or slam on the brakes. “We leaving this mess in here, babe?”
Her soft smile turned to a grin just before she stretched up to meet his lips again. “I think the dishes can wait.”