Phaze
www.phaze.com
Copyright ©2007 by Sage Burnett
Skimming her clammy palms down her snug black jeans, Chloe Kastle dragged in a deep breath before pushing open the door of Dot’s Café. Dot’s was the hub of Turner, had always been for as long as she could remember. Although the town had nearly doubled in sized since she’d left, the café never changed.
If her Google search had paid off, hopefully she would spot the no-good thief eating lunch, because everybody ate lunch at Dot’s. The café hummed with chatter, an occasional burst of loud laughter, dishes scraping together, pleas for refills of coffee.
Her gaze scanned the room, and she wondered if she would recognize him. Who was she kidding? Maybe it had been years since she’d last seen him, but her feminine instincts assured her she would know him.
Before she could do a thorough search of the large open room, Dot herself raced around the counter, a big smile lighting up her face.
Chloe grinned back and fell into her arms for a warm hug. Dot was still thin as she’d always been.
“Oh, Chloe, it’s so good to see you.”
“You, too, Dot.”
“I’m going to miss your mother, but I know she’ll be back to visit often.”
Chloe’s mother, Pamela, had turned over her business to her only daughter so she could retire to Arizona. “She’ll probably be back once a month because she’ll be missing all her friends so much.”
Dot smiled. “Lunch is on the house today.” She glanced around the crowded room. “That is, if you can find a place to sit.”
“I’ll just sit at the counter. I’ll be sure and stop by when it’s not so busy so we can talk.”
“We have a lot to catch up on,” Dot said.
Chloe hugged her mother’s best friend again before she wove her way through the tables to the counter. The last stool stood empty.
As she walked over to it, she did another quick scan of the room. Frowning when she didn’t spot the rat, she plopped her butt on the stool. A young waitress she didn’t recognize slid a glass of water and menu in front of her. “Thanks.”
“The cheeseburgers are still the best in the state,” a husky male voice said beside her.
The timbre of that voice resonated somewhere deep inside of her. Heart hammering, she turned to look at the man sitting on the stool. Ohmigod. . .
Her plan had been to catch him off guard, not the other way around. A seductive grin kicked up the corner of his full lips. Laugh lines deepened the corners around his mossy green eyes. The years had given his face a mature ruggedness with an almost dangerous look to it. Oh . . . he had been dangerous fifteen years ago, dangerous to her heart. Judging by her reaction to him now, he still could be dangerous.
“Chloe. You don’t remember me?”
For fifteen years she’d carried his brand. “Ah. . .” She snapped her fingers only pretending to place him. Instead, she fought to buy time to gather her garbled thoughts together and calm her racing pulse. “Why, if it isn’t Nick Logan.”
Thick, mocha colored brows knitted together. While he stared at her, an uncomfortable feeling rushed through her. That he was onto her puny attempt at lying. After all, he was attorney now, so he had heard every con in the book.
“Sorry . . . it just took me a moment.” Chloe dropped her elbows on the counter, reminding herself of her mission. Squaring her shoulders, she tilted her head in his direction. “I didn’t know you were back in town.” She hating lying, but she figured the rat deserved it. “Just visiting?”
His brows relaxed, while he picked up the heavy white mug off the counter. “No. I practice here now.”
His voice had deepened over the years, too, lending a rakish, sexy tone to it. “No kidding?” Google had already supplied her with his change of address, but Google had been blind to his charm. “My mom never mentioned it.” Only because her mother had never known about her and Nick. She’d kept her silly teenage infatuation close to her heart, not even confiding her feelings about Nick to her best friend, Cindy. She’d never told a soul what happened that summer night years ago.
He took a lazy drink of coffee, all the while his gaze remained locked on hers. “Just got back a few weeks ago. Sam Ramsey retired, so I took over his practice.”
She nodded and noticed the waitress standing across the counter from her, waiting for her order. Since she hadn’t even bothered to pick up the menu, she said. “I’ll have a cheeseburger with everything on it and fries.”
“Good choice,” Nick said. “I heard your mother retired.”
Needing more time to pull herself together, she picked up her water glass and took a small sip. “Mmm . . . That’s right. I’m taking over her business.”
“What happened to Seattle?”
How had he known she’d lived in Seattle since she graduated from college ten years ago? Had he by any chance been keeping tabs on her, like she had done with him? Get real, she told herself. The inhabitants of Turner still thrived on gossip. A person could move half way across the globe, and the town residents would still know his or her whereabouts. “Mom wanted me to take over the shop, so I said I’d give it at try.”
When he leaned closer to her, the scent of his minty aftershave drifted under her nose. Tightening her grip on the water glass, she worked to ignore the heat going straight to her brand new red bikini panties under her snug jeans.
“Nice surprise,” he whispered.
Currents of electricity shot through her like a power surge caused by a careless driver smacking into an electric pole. Oh, somehow she’d been kicked into the deep end of the pool. She was drowning and fast. Nick Logan still held that potent power over her, after all this time. Glaring at her water glass because her self confidence seemed to be unraveling, she set it on the counter.
Refusing to act pleasantly surprised, she turned and studied him for a few moments. “Where’s your power suit?”
A deep chuckle rumbled from him. “I left it back in Chicago. You know Montana. It’s all about casual.”
Then why did casual on him over heat her body like a car engine depleted of anti-freeze? His jeans were so worn; she expected the knees to split any second from the pressure of his muscular legs. The light blue checked flannel shirt over a navy tee shirt strained across his wide shoulders. “Hmmm.”
She had a B.A. in Business, with a decent vocabulary, but her language skills had somehow gotten lost in his scent and his large body so close to hers. He not only smelled good, but his presence reminded her of a predator, patiently waiting to take down his prey. Just like he’d done to her all those years ago.
Feeling her spine stiffen, Chloe picked up her glass and drank more water.
When the waitress returned with her lunch, Nick snaked a fry off her plate.
“How about we get together?” He took a bite of it, still watching her with those compelling eyes of his. “Have dinner?”
The simple act of his lips chewing the French fry sent more heat sailing through her. Damn, her plan was backfiring at a steady, rapid pace. “I’m really busy with taking over the business.” Another blatant lie. She and her mother had been corresponding for months. Every I was dotted and every T crossed.
Nick snatched another fry off her plate? “You can’t sneak away one night for dinner?”
Make him sweat. Make him beg. Chloe lifted a shoulder. When she reached for a fry, his fingers brushed against hers as he grabbed another off the plate. A few drops of sweat trickled between her breasts at that simple touch.
“Lunch is on me.” Nick picked up his coffee mug.
“Sorry. Dot beat you to it.”
He circled his stool around, his knees pressing against her thigh. Now she would have to go straight home and wash her new lingerie.
“I have to get back to work.” He stood up and looked down at her. “I’ll drop by the shop so we make dinner arrangements.”
No matter how hard she tried those dark green eyes of his wouldn’t allow her to glance away. “Now, wait a min—”
Suddenly his lips brushed over her cheek, literally leaving her speechless. The brief touch of those lips of his against her skin weakened her resolve.
“See you, Chloe.” Wheeling around, he sauntered over to the cash register at the opposite end of the counter.
Leaning back on her stool, she smacked her lips at the sight of his delicious buns in his tight jeans. She quickly turned back to her lunch, suddenly losing her appetite for food. Nick Logan had managed to whet her appetite for every naughty thing not included in the four food groups.
Her mission had just been thwarted because she needed to be in charge. Things had to be on her terms, not his. Time for a back-up plan. A plan to get even with Mr. Nicholas Logan.
She’d have him panting and begging in no time at all. That is, as soon as she figured out Plan B.
Chloe nibbled on a fry, struggling to forget his scent, the feel of his lips and his tight buns.
* * * * *
Holy shit. Chloe Kastle in the flesh.
He was striding down the main street of Turner, his swollen cock pressed against his jeans. Since he was out in public there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about his discomfort. Irritation at being aroused by her after all these years had him crunching his back teeth together. Not to mention the heavy burden of guilt that sat squarely on his shoulders. Jaw tight, he jaywalked across the street to his office. When he dug the keys out of his pocket, he dropped them to the sidewalk. “Dammit.”
His irritation increased as he bent to retrieve them. Chloe had always been a looker, even at eighteen with big blue innocent eyes and jet black hair. Now she wore it shorter, in a tangle of midnight curls framing her head. Her nipples, hard and erect against her long sleeved red blouse, had more than contributed to his throbbing dick.
“Shit.” He swung open the door instead of kicking it open like he really wanted to do. Stomping past his receptionist’s empty desk, he slammed into his office. Since Tracey wasn’t back from lunch yet, that gave him a few minutes to get his act together.
So, he had told her a little white lie that he didn’t know she’d be taking over her mother’s gift shop. The gossip train still ran at full bore through Turner. He doubted that would ever change.
Sinking down into his plush desk chair, Nick leaned back, steepling his fingers together. Feeling slightly punch drunk from his reaction to her, he scowled at nothing in particular. He’d had women out the ying yang and one short lived marriage. Why the sudden lusty attraction to Chloe?
What he felt for her should have died years ago. Running into her at Dot’s brought back memories of that sultry summer night. When he’d first noticed Chloe, she’d been too young for him. She’d been the new girl in school that autumn. He’d been a senior in high school while she’d been a sophomore. Plus he already had a steady girlfriend, Serena. Attending college out of state, he’d looked forward to seeing Chloe on school vacations and summer breaks.
The truth was, he’d always had a thing for her. Over the years, she would inadvertently pop into his thoughts, always causing him to wonder, what if?
The bright October sun filtered through the windows of the gift shop. Leaning against the shop’s counter, Chloe stared out at the brilliant Indian summer day. The Rocky Mountains reaching for the sky, in the background, their uneven high peaks dusted with snow. A gentle reminder that winter was just around the corner.
Her thoughts hummed like a fast fingered banjo player.
Her plan was to surprise him. To catch him off guard, rip his eyes out, claw her fingernails down his finely chiseled cheeks. Maybe she needed a more subtle plan of attack. Perhaps, she needed to reconsider his dinner invitation.
White hot anger should have boiled inside her body when she bumped into him at the café. Instead, her panties had moistened, while carnal lust had pumped through her veins.
Normally she rolled with the punches, but where Nick Logan was concerned, she’d always had a tough time shrugging off her feelings for him. Why was it so important to her to get back at him?
Unable to find a reasonable answer to her question, her thoughts were interrupted when the chimes over the door tinkled. Chloe straightened away from the counter. A middle-aged couple walked into the shop. She forced herself to act cordial. “May I help you?”
“I think we’ll just browse for awhile,” the woman said as she glanced around the small room. “Is everything handmade?”
“Yes, just about everything. There’s lots of talented local artists in town.”
The woman smiled, while the man wandered over to the wall with paintings of the Rocky Mountains, various wildlife and other native scenes.
Picking up a stack of papers on the counter, she sorted through them, trying to act the part of a cool, calm, and collected shop owner. As it turned out, that was nearly impossible because sweet revenge raised its ugly head.
* * * * *
Chloe bounced around on the balls of her feet, the phone pressed to her ear. She could barely hear the dial tone over her thundering heart.
“Logan’s Law Office,” a woman finally said. “How may I help you?”
What she really wanted to say was please go punch that slime ball of a boss of yours in the nose for me. “Is Mr. Logan available?”
“Who may I ask is calling?”
The grim reaper. “Ah . . . Chloe Kastle.”
“One moment please.”
“Hi there.”
Two words from the scoundrel and her pulse already felt over stimulated. “Hi. How are you?”
“No complaints. How’s the gift shop business?”
Dwindling. The few straggling tourists weren’t enough to keep her busy. Business wouldn’t pick up until Christmas, and then it would lag again until early spring. “I’ve got my hands full.”
“Yeah, same here. I’ve got two fender bender accident cases looming over me.”
Nick’s tone was dry, meaning he was about as busy as her. She wondered why he’d left Chicago and returned to Turner. Big city life in Seattle had been exciting for her in the beginning, but as time passed the drudgery of too many people, traffic jams, and crime had worn on her.
“Chloe, are you still there?”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve been rethinking your dinner invitation.”
A long pause followed. Had the rat only been polite two days ago at the café?
“Any time,” he said.
Clenching the phone tighter, she paced back and forth behind the counter. “How about I cook? Say, Saturday?” She’d considered adding a dose of arsenic to his food, but in the end common sense had won out.
“Hey, sure. Nice idea.”
Unexpected annoyance shot through her at Nick’s hesitation. “You do remember where my mother’s house is.”
Another long pause from his end. Now the needle of her revenge factor notched up higher.
“I remember.”
Jabbing her hip on the corner of the counter, she gritted her teeth. “Does seven work for you?”
“Works fine for me.”
“See you then.” Chloe dropped the phone into its cradle.
Rubbing her hip where she’d clipped the counter, her plan at last would be set into motion. Nick’s hesitation nagged at her, though. The other day he’d been eager to take her out to dinner. Why the sudden change of heart on his part?
“Until Saturday, Nicholas Logan.”
* * * * *
Nick circled his chair around and stared out the window of his office. A few clouds drifted across the vivid blue sky. Chloe had been on his mind constantly since seeing her at Dot’s. He’d hadn’t dropped by her shop like he’d told her he would because. . .
Ever since attending law school, he had learned to think with an analytical mind, but when it came to Chloe all bets seemed to be off. His ex-wife, Amanda, had accused him on more than one occasion of just that. He still carried the guilt about Chloe. Which didn’t make a hell of a lot sense to him because he’d left other girls high and dry with empty promises way back when.
The two of them alone at her house spelled trouble, because he knew damn well his brain wouldn’t be doing the thinking.
He could still feel her soft, supple naked body under his. Nick shook his head, fighting to toss away that long ago image of Chloe so eager and willing. Standing up, he paced behind his desk for a time before he reached for the phone.
When she answered, the sound of her smooth voice kicked up his pulse. “It’s Nick. I’ve been thinking.” Old habits were hard to break. “I invited you out to dinner, so I’d like to stick with that plan.” Safer for all concerned.
“Pardon me?”
“Yeah, I invited you. I’d like to buy you dinner.”
“Well . . . sure. Okay.”
Why did Chloe sound so uncertain about going out to dinner? Hell, she’d just called him less than five minutes ago wanting to cook for him. He hoped he hadn’t hurt her feelings since he had no idea what kind of cook she was. “You can cook another time.” Now he’d set himself up for another date with her. Shit.
“That’s fine by with me.”
Her voice sounded strained, which in turn bothered him. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“See you then.”
The line went dead.
Nick lowered the phone, and scowled at it. Instead of all these dinner plans, maybe the two of them should just steer clear of each other.
That day at Dot’s, the look in Chloe’s eyes had spoken volumes. Something still lingered between the two of them.
Nick had shot down her plan of a cozy intimate dinner to hell when he’d called her back the other day. She dropped the hair brush on the bathroom counter and frowned at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed with anticipation of spending the evening with him. How was she supposed to exact her pound of flesh when her stomach fluttered at the mere thought of being with Nick for a few hours?
She should just drop her entire plan and instead enjoy a pleasant evening with him before she called it a day. But some crazy, irrational emotion lodged deep inside of her wouldn’t let go of wanting Nick Logan to pay. She’d given him a precious part of herself.
When the front doorbell rang, she raced out of the bathroom, but quickly reminded herself she needed to act nonchalant. Two old friends getting together for dinner to catch up on old times.
Chloe paused and drew in a calming breath before she opened the door. The soft glow of the porch light illuminated the planes and angles of Nick’s face. He’d always had a rugged look to him, even back in high school. The deep green button down shirt under his leather jacket nearly matched the color of his eyes.
“Hi,” he said.
While his gaze perused her body, her panties dampened again. Her low-cut black clinging long sleeved top suddenly seemed too low cut as his eyes lingered on her breasts for one burning moment.
He leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. “Ready?”
Besides the sexual gleam in his eyes, she couldn’t read his expression. She supposed that came from practicing law. “Ah . . . yeah. Just let me get my things.” Chloe grabbed her fleece jacket from the closet and picked up her purse and keys on the way back to the door.
She fumbled to get her keys into her purse without dropping them. Hopefully a glass of wine with dinner would calm her jitters. Nick placed his hand on the small of her back as they walked down the steps to his truck.
“How’s business?” He opened the passenger door of his Chevy sport utility for her.
Did he have to be such a gentleman? “Slow.” Chloe climbed inside and waited with mixed emotions for Nick to stroll around the front of his truck.
Once he was settled inside, the cozy warmth of the interior and Nick’s clean manly scent wrapped around her. Bittersweet memories of that summer night tumbled through her. She elbowed those long ago memories aside as she hooked her seat belt.
“I thought we’d go to the new steak house in town.” Nick turned on the ignition.
“That sounds nice.”
“You’ve changed, Chloe.”
She tilted her hand in his direction, but he was eyeing the rearview as he backed out of her driveway. “How so?”
“You were always cute, but now you’re a knockout.”
She remembered him whispering in her ear how cute and sexy he found her. When she felt the flush spreading across her cheeks, she shifted on her seat. Time to turn on the charm. “Thanks. You’re looking pretty good yourself.”
After he pulled onto the street, he glanced over at her. “You think so, huh?”
“Oh . . . yeah. . .” For once she wasn’t conning him.
Several minutes later they arrived at the restaurant. The hostess seated the two of them next to a window in the corner. Candles glowed on the tables in the softly lit room.
Chloe ordered a glass of red wine, while Nick ordered a beer from the waitress. She slipped off her jacket, and didn’t miss the quick look he gave her breasts again. When the memory of his lips closing around her hard nipple washed through her, she wished the waitress would hurry and return with their drinks. She needed the wine to equalize her metabolism.
“I still can’t believe you left Chicago.”
“It’s really elementary. I was a high powered attorney for a prestigious law firm. I got tired of the game, the rat race, and everything else involved with the deal.”
Funny, how they both grew tired of city life. Nick had always been ambitious, though. He’d been president of the student council, captain of the football team with near perfect grades. The list was endless. “Are you going to find small town life as stimulating as Chicago?”
Before he could answer, the waitress returned with their drinks and took their orders.
He picked up the long necked bottle of beer. “Depends.”
Chloe grabbed on to her wine glass like a life line. “On what?”
“On what happens here.”
His eyes fixed on hers. Since she had no idea what he was implying she didn’t answer. But an unnamed emotion glinted in his eyes that she felt related directly to the two of them. If he was looking for more, he was definitely driving in the wrong lane. Maybe he was just into another one nighter again. After she got sweet payback, Nick Logan would be history.
So far they had avoided the subject of their one night together. She had no intention of bringing it up. Chloe leaned forward, and rested her elbows on the edge of the table to show some cleavage to him. By the gleam in his eyes, she knew she had a definite affect on him. “High school seems like a lifetime ago.”
“No kidding.” He glanced out the window for a moment before looking back at her. “Why aren’t you married?”
“Is there a law that say says a woman has to be married at thirty-three?”
He glanced at her over the beer bottle before he took another swig. “No, there isn’t.”
“I could ask the same of you.” Although she already knew the answer.
“I’m surprised you never heard. I was married for three years. I’ve been divorced for a couple of years now.”
Over the years, her mother had kept her informed on the local gossip, her school chums whereabouts, marriages, births, and divorces. So far no presidential candidates or Oscar winners had came out of Turner. “Let’s see.” She tapped her forefinger against her bottom lip. “As I recall, my mom may have mentioned you getting married. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” She might be out for revenge, but she wasn’t cold-hearted.
Nick shrugged. “It seems like you always learn after the fact, you weren’t compatible in the first place.”
She and her ex-fiancé were a case in point. At least, they figured it out before the wedding day. Nick didn’t seem that upset about his divorce. Not that she had been that tore up over her own broken engagement.
The waitress delivered their steaks and baked potatoes. Conversation dwindled as they ate. She happened to catch Nick watching her, his fork halfway to his mouth. It was almost as if he was struggling to read her thoughts. No way, was he clairvoyant. The man might be shrewd, but he couldn’t read her mind.
“What?” She set down her fork. “Do I have a milk mustache or something?”
“No.”
When he didn’t elaborate, Chloe finished her steak, and kept wondering what was on his mind.
* * * * *
While Chloe unlocked her front door, Nick fisted his hand at his sides. Keeping his hands off her proved to be harder than he first figured. “Are you going to invite me in?”
She pocketed her keys before turning to face him. “Hmmm . . . it’s late and I have to open the shop in the morning. But,” she placed her hand on his chest. “We’ll have to get together again. Soon.”
Nick draped his hands over hers, loving the feel of her soft skin against his. He wanted more of Chloe Kastle. Years ago, he’d only had a taste of her. Tilting his head he slid his mouth over hers. When he heard her quick intake of breath, he coaxed her lips open. His tongue barely touched hers when she drew back, ending their brief kiss. “Ah . . . what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She stepped back and smiled at him. “We wouldn’t want to get carried away.” Trailing her fingers down his cheek, she studied him for a moment. “Now, would we?”
Carried away is damn well what he wanted. His hands slid around her waist to pull her closer to him. Just close enough so his cock brushed her sex, but she wriggled out his grasp.
“Good night, Nick, and thanks.” Chloe circled around and disappeared inside.
Scowling at the closed door, he cursed under his breath. One elusive kiss produced a whopper of a hard-on. “Damn.”
Nick stomped down the steps and over to his truck. After he turned on the ignition he sat and stared at her house. Lights started coming on in all the rooms. Shoving the gear shift into reverse he backed out of her driveway. He figured he’d need the old cold shower routine by the time he drove to his place.
Neither one of them had mentioned one word about their night together. He’d considered apologizing to her for never writing or calling. But she acted like she didn’t even remember that night or didn’t give a damn.
One kiss, if it could be called a kiss, and his blood felt like it was on fire.
The taste of him still clung to her lips as Chloe stared out the kitchen window and watched the tail lights of Nick’s truck disappear from her view. She’d been that close to melting against him and sucking his tongue into her mouth. She reached up and touched her lips.
“Close call.” Her body felt flushed like she’d woken up with a bad case of the flu as she shrugged out of her jacket. She tossed it on a chair, and leaned back against the counter.
She now realized executing her plan wouldn’t be easy. Discipline. She needed a case of discipline and restraint delivered to her front door. In fifteen years not one man had ever came close to turning her into a quivering mass of female flesh like Nick managed to do to her.
He definitely wanted to get inside her pants again. She’d felt the hard length of his cock pressed against her, if only briefly. He wanted her, like she had wanted him.
Like she still wanted him.
Running her hands through her hair, she questioned her motives. Why was it so damned important to her that she get back at him? If they both hadn’t ended up back in Turner, the opportunity never would have arisen. She’d dated some decent guys in her life, but she always found herself comparing them to Nick.
For God’s sakes, she’d given away her innocence to him one sizzling summer night. And the guy hadn’t even followed through on his promise to stay in touch with her.
For her own peace of mind, she’d better carry out her plan and fast. Then she could move on with her life.
* * * * *
“Hi, handsome.” Chloe wedged the phone between her shoulder and ear as she sorted through the mail at the shop the next morning. Nick couldn’t see her, but she needed the pretense of acting casual to steady her nerves.
“Hey there.”
His deep voice still carried the remnants of sleep in its tone. She imagined the dark stubble on his face, and his hair all tousled from sleep. Her fingers tightened around the phone. “How about we get together tonight?”
His voice lowered a notch. “What do you have in mind?”
“Oh, we could drink some wine and watch a movie at my house. Or maybe you have another idea in mind.”
“Your idea sounds good to me. What time?
“Seven-thirty. Why don’t you bring the wine and I’ll pick up a movie on my way home later.”
“We’ll do.”
“Till then. . .”
Her conscience nagged at her as she replaced the phone. She ignored her conscience as she finished sorting through the mail.
Tonight everything would come to a head.
* * * * *
Chloe took her time choosing just the right outfit for the evening. Under her short black skirt she wore a black silk thong. A silky black bra that barely held her breasts in was covered by a hot pink clingy top. It was a proven fact men loved black lingerie. She dabbed extra perfume behind her ears, wrists and knees. Not that Nick would have the pleasure of sniffing behind her knees.
The doorbell rang exactly at seven-thirty. She supposed he deserved a half point for being prompt. She strolled to the front door like she had all the time in the world. Only her hand trembled as she turned the knob.
When his dark eyes narrowed to slits as his gaze perused her body, a smug feeling of satisfaction mushroomed inside of her. Ignoring the sexual burn that ignited to life inside of her was damned hard to do.
His eyes slowly traveled back up her body and met her gaze. “Wow.”
Ah . . . her outfit did have an impact on him. He held a bottle of red wine in his hand. “Looks like we’re set.” Smiling at him was easy because he looked so good.
Nick sauntered in wearing new blue jeans, a black button down shirt, and a well worn black motorcycle jacket. The man wore casual like some men wore tuxedos. To calm her quaking nerves, she snatched the wine bottle out of his hand and sashayed toward the kitchen, at the last minute remembering to put some attitude into her hips.
Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed how his gaze lingered on her butt. She quickly looked away and walked over to the counter. She dug a corkscrew out of the drawer, attempting to open the bottle, but her hands trembled too much.
Out of nowhere, two strong hands covered hers, removing the bottle and corkscrew from her hands.
Nick cocked his head for a moment as he worked the corkscrew. “Nervous, Chloe?”
“Nervous?” She laid a hand on her chest. “What could I possibly be nervous about?”
He twisted the cork out of the bottle. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
Lordy, was she that obvious? She needed to get her act together and fast.
She grabbed two wine glasses out of the cupboard. Nick leaned close to her, his shoulder pressing against hers. At the feel of his hard strength she almost dropped the glasses. Damn him. His subtle cologne reminded her of clean mountain air and rugged male. Double damn him.
He leaned a little bit closer. “You smell good.”
Lowering her lashes, she looked at him. “Why thank you.” If she blew this, she would never forgive herself.
Nick poured the wine, while she sauntered over to the fridge and took out a tray of cheese and crackers. As she walked back over to him, Nick checked her out again with a long, lazy look. Sexual heat washed over her. It had always been that way; since the first moment she had spotted him swaggering down the hallway in high school. “Let’s go into the living room.”
He picked up the glasses and followed her.
Suddenly her silky thong felt terribly uncomfortable. She never wore the damn things in the first place, but the thong was part of her plan.
Remembering the hip attitude she angled over to the couch and set the tray down on the coffee table. Nick held a glass out to her. As she took the glass from him, lust smoldered deep in his eyes. Chloe trailed her fingertips over the back of his hand.
Watching him, she realized Nick had no idea the nights she dreamed of him or the hundred and one ways to murder him she had systemically planned. Of course, she had no intention of murdering him, her goal was to make him suffer and cry uncle.
Now if he apologized to her . . . she might consider letting him off the hook. An apology would certainly change the dynamics for her.
Chloe took a small sip of wine. No getting tipsy tonight. Her objective was to be stone cold sober when she carried out her plan. She slowly stretched like a cat after a long nap before she sat down on the couch. Her skirt slid high up on her thighs which caused his eyes to lower and linger. Score another point for her.
She patted the couch. “Sit down and get comfortable.”
Nick studied her with a dark probing gaze before he sat down next to her. She felt the couch shift under his weight.
He took a few sips of wine before he turned to look at her. “Are you trying to seduce me, Chloe?”
She struggled to keep her expression innocent. “Now why on earth would you ask that?” Feigning surprise, her eyes widened. “We’re just old friends catching up on old times.”
“Uh . . . huh. Last night you barely let me kiss you. Why the sudden change of heart?”
By the look in his eyes he knew what she was up to. Not possible. He believed she only wanted to seduce him. There was no way he could be onto her because she was sure she’d given nothing away since running into him at Dot’s.
When she didn’t answer, he laid his hand on her thigh. “You’re dressed for seduction. Not that I mind.”
The feel of his rough palm on her bare flesh tested her will power. Chloe glanced down at her top and skirt. “These old clothes. They were handy.”
“Liar.”
She took another tiny sip of wine, and focused on her vow to stay sober. Leaning forward, she put her glass on the coffee table and picked up the tray. She held the plate in front of him. “How about some cheese and crackers?”
“No thanks. That’s not what I have a craving for.”
“Oh . . . what do you have a craving for Nicholas?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
Chloe set the tray down again, wishing Nick would bring up that long ago night. Not one word from him about the two of them. Instead he swung his arm on the couch back and continued to watch her with deep sexual interest and taking an occasional sip of wine.
As she leaned back she noticed he sported a hard-on under his jeans which in turn caused intense pressure low in her belly.
Nick reached across her and slid his glass on the end table next to the couch.
When his lips brushed over hers like a soft whisper, she cursed herself for so easily falling under his spell. Staring into her eyes, he gently brushed his lips over and over hers again before he moved in for the kill. His tongue assaulted hers with a swift motion. Her eyes fluttered closed against her will.
Feeling slightly heady from the taste of wine on his lips and his touch, she fought to swallow the crazy little moans tumbling from her. His arms circled around her, and pulled her tight against him.
Nick’s lips and tongue continued to entice her even deeper under his spell as he cupped her breast and gently squeezed. An unbearable fire billowed inside of her when he rubbed his thumb over her hard nipple.
She tore her lips from his. “Wait.”
He blinked. “Wait? I know I didn’t get the wrong signal.”
Get it together and fast. “Ah . . . no.” Untangling herself from his embrace she stood up. Her body hummed with liquid heat, and her heart pounded so hard that it felt like her most vital organ was ready to explode. She moved away from the couch and looked over her shoulder at him. She watched confusion knit his thick brows together. “Follow me.”
She’d never seen a man move quite so fast. In a nanosecond he was next to her. He draped his arm over her shoulder and leaned down to nibble her neck. Chloe pulled away from him again, but not before giving him a sultry look.
As she sashayed down the hallway, she shrugged her top over her head, and let it drop to the floor behind her.
“Jesus, Chloe. Are you trying to torture me?”
Oh, yeah. At the side of her bed, she circled to face him before unzipping her skirt. She toed off her black flats before she slowly slithered out of her skirt.
Nick stopped a few feet back from her, his hot gaze scorching her senses. Reaching behind her, she unclasped her bra. She slowly eased it over her shoulders and off her breasts. With one finger, she let it dangle in front of her.
His eyes had turned almost a jade green they were so dark with desire now. “You want to play?” Chloe dropped her bra to the carpet.
One eyebrow arched, while an expression of anticipation spread across his face. “What do you have in mind, lady?”
She circled around, and bent over to give him the perfect view of her butt. She took two long black silk scarves out of the drawer of her night stand.
Taking her time straightening up, she turned back to face him. Feeling surer of herself when she saw the reaction she had on him, she unraveled the scarves. “This.”
“You want me to tie you up? Because if that’s your idea of fun, I’m with you.”
Chloe tossed one scarf over her shoulder. She trailed the other black scarf across her naked breasts. The smooth feel of the silk added to her sexual agitation. “Oh, no. I want to tie you up.”
“You’re full of surprise, aren’t you?” His voice lowered to an even deeper pitch.
If only he knew. She tilted her head slightly “How about it?”
Again, she had never seen a man move fast. Before she could blink, he was down to his black briefs. When he pushed them down, her breath caught inside her throat as she stared at his hard, swollen cock.
Nick advanced on her and when he tried to grab her, she flattened her palm against the crisp dark hairs of his muscular chest. “Lie down.”
A deep throaty chuckle rumbled from him. “If you think I can get comfortable with you standing there in nothing but a thong, you’re crazy.”
His hands reached up, skimming the sides of her breasts. No backing down now, she reminded herself. “This is all on me.”
“What did I do to deserve this?” His fingers moved to a nipple, pinching it between his thumb and forefinger.
Biting her lip, she looked into his eyes. They were now hooded and flooded with raw desire. She almost crumbled and said the hell with her plan. Gathering her strength, she pushed his hand away. “Are you going to lie down, Mr. Logan?”
He leaned in for a quick hard kiss first. “If you want to be the boss. . .”
Moisture wet her black thong as he climbed onto the bed, showing her his firm buttocks. He flopped on his back, his legs spread. She couldn’t seem to drag her eyes away from his swollen cock. Even now, she still remembered the feel of him inside of her.
Swallowing the dryness inching up her throat, Chloe climbed onto the bed and straddled him. His hands immediately cupped her breasts. While he squeezed and massaged them, an intense burning need to mate with him flared to life again.
“No touching,” she scolded.
“Damn, Chloe. Like I said before, you’re torturing me. I love your breasts.” His thumbs rolled over her sensitive nipples.
“Raise your hands.” If she didn’t get him tied up and soon, her whole plan would be blown to smithereens.
Nick raised one hand to the bed post, while his other hand slyly pushed between her legs. If he didn’t know before how turned on she was, he certainly would now as he palmed her wet crotch. Nearly choking on a moan, she quickly cinched the black scarf around his wrist and bed post.
When his finger slipped under the thong, and fondled her clit, she closed her eyes. Who was torturing who?
As his finger rubbed harder, and started to dip lower, she fought to recover her resolve. She opened her eyes, and glanced down at Nick who stared up at her with heated fascination. Moistening her dry lips with her tongue, she removed his hand from between her legs.
“Damn. . .” he murmured.
Quickly she tied his other wrist to the bed post. She scooted down his belly until she sat square over his crotch. The feel of his cock wedged between her legs clouded her thinking and judgment. For a moment they simply gazed into each other’s eyes.
Chloe had to clear her throat because it was clogged with emotion and desire for this man. Feeling hesitant about her plan for revenge, she caught herself floundering under his burning gaze. “Ready?”
“Kiss me.”
In this moment of truth she knew without a doubt her willpower was seconds away from disappearing. One kiss had started the wheels in motions when they had stood by river, and gazed up at the stars on that crystal clear August night. No more kissing because she knew it would be her undoing. Chloe shook her head.
“Then let me suck on one of your nipples. They’re driving me nuts.”
She almost leaned over him to give him access to her aching breasts, but instead she shook her head again. She skimmed her fingertips over her nipples to heighten the tension between them.
When she fondled herself, Nick raised his hips, trying to push his cock inside of her. She scooted down until she sat on his thighs. Too much temptation lay spread out below her. A broad muscled chest, husky thighs, and long legs. Leaning down she flicked her tongue over the tip of his cock. The dark thatch of his pubic hair beckoned her to run her fingertips through it, but she managed to keep her hands off of him. Slowly, she circled her tongue around the tip again. Touching him with her tongue filled her with the taste of him.
She heard his low growl of pleasure. “Come on, Chloe. I want inside of you. Climb on top of me.”
She ignored his plea by sucking the head of his cock into her mouth. She had never tasted this part of him, not even that one night. Tightening her lips around him she pulled him deeper into her mouth. She felt his hips thrust upward while another growl rumbled from him. Now that she had him where she wanted him she didn’t want to stop. He tasted too good. He tasted like a man should taste, clean, musky and with a touch of masculine sweat. One last pull on his cock and she raised her head. If she spent any more time caressing him she wouldn’t be able to stop. If he came inside her mouth, her plan would be ruined because he’d be satisfied.
His brows knitted together in a frown. “You’re really into teasing me, aren’t you? But a man can only take so much teasing. Come on, baby, just climb on top of me.”
She scrambled off the bed so fast she felt slight dizzy. Shaking her head to clear it, she started pacing beside it.
“What the hell is going on, Chloe?”
She drew in a big breath in an effort to calm herself, if that was possible. Several moments passed before she stopped and faced him. A dangerous scowl had drawn across his face while she’d fought to pull herself together. “Do you remember fifteen years ago?”
Nick struggled against his silk restraints briefly, his scowl deepening. “You’re referring to the time we made love in the back seat of your car.”
Heart racing, her sex throbbing, she nodded.
“Dammit, Chloe.” He closed his eyes. “We were young and impulsive.”
Planting her hands on her hips, she glared at him. He must have sensed her anger because he opened his eyes. “I gave myself to you. I was a virgin.”
The scowl on his face was quickly replaced by an expression of confusion. “No way.”
“You didn’t know that? I screamed because it hurt.” She started pacing again. “You probably thought I screamed because I was in the throes of passion.” Her scream had been brought on by some pain and a ton of passion.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me that? I’d had a few beers that night or else. . .”
She glanced over at him and kept pacing. “Oh, you’d had more than a few beers. I’m surprised you remember at all we were together that night.”
“I remember. I wasn’t that drunk.”
Chloe refused to look at him, the old memories and hurt swamping her emotions which threatened to push her to the verge of tears.
“Untie me.”
She choked back her tears, and clenched her teeth together.
“Come on, honey, untie me.”
“Don’t call me honey.” She stopped pacing. “How does it feel to be left hanging? Two days later you went back to college. You said you would call and write to me.”
“Ah, shit.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m sorry. I was a young, selfish guy raging with hormones. And you were too damn irresistible.”
Looking into his eyes, she wavered again because his expression and tone of voice did seem sincere.
“I really am sorry.” He let his head fall back on the pillow. “Believe it or not, I do remember that night. And I do remember the empty promises I made. Will you untie me, so we can talk about this?”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I fulfilled my mission.”
An animal sounding groan tore from his lips as he struggled against the restraints. Fisting his hands, his arm muscles rippled. A few moments later he managed to free his left hand.
Damn, she knew the second tie hadn’t been as tight because his fingers between her legs had distracted her. Leveling her with a look, he used his free hand to undo the scarf. Nick rolled off the bed and wrapped his hands around her hips. “Now let’s get dressed and talk like civilized adults.”
She tried to break free of his hands, but he only tightened his grip pulling her closer until the head of his cock nudged against her pussy.
“Or,” he paused. “Let’s finish what we started. Then we talk.”
“No.” She glanced away for a moment. “I’m not getting back in my bed with you.” At least she knew how to side step a catastrophe.
Anger gleamed in his eyes. “You damn well made your point. I said I’m sorry.” Narrowing his eyes, he stared at her. “For God’s sakes, why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin? If you had, I would have backed off.”
Chloe tried to squirm away from him, but he only tightened his hold. Why hadn’t she told him? Because she’d wanted Nick to be the first. She’d been so in love with him. “You expect me to believe that? You already said you were selfish with raging hormones.”
Nick shook his head, but kept quiet.
Lifting her chin, she looked straight into his eyes. “I accomplished my goal. We’re finished. End of story.”
The muscles of his jaw hardened before he finally dropped his hands and stepped back. “This isn’t the end of the story and we are not finished.” Nick bent down, and snagged his clothes off the floor.
Chloe crossed her arms over her chest and watched him dress as fast as he had undressed. A jumble of confusing emotions rolled through her, clogging her ability to think straight.
As he buttoned his shirt, he moved up close to her again. “This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
Nick wheeled around and stomped out of her bedroom. Several seconds later, she heard the front door slam behind him.
Chloe covered her face with her hands, wrestling with her anger and conflicting emotions. She should be gloating, instead of choking back tears. And now she felt like a first class bitch.
With tires squealing, Nick punched the gas pedal of his Chevy SUV and peeled away from the curb in front of Chloe’s house.
Teeth gritted together so tight, his jaw ached. As he accelerated, his emotions battled with each other, like a half dozen drunks duking it out in a barroom brawl.
A couple of blocks down the street, he heard the wail of a siren approaching behind him. He glanced in his rear view mirror. Blue lights swirled in the black night. The cop was right on his butt. “Shit.” He slammed the steering wheel with his fist.
He cruised to a stop on the side of the road. Rolling down the window, he watched the officer approach. Just fucking great.
The officer bent down. “May I see your license and reg-Nick, is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me, Tom.” Nick had gone to high school with Tom Bradley. They’d had lunch together at Dot’s a few weeks ago, catching up on old times. Their lunch had been pleasant, unlike catching up on old times with Chloe. In spite of his anger, he still sported a huge woody for her.
“Why in the hell are you speeding on a residential street?” Tom’s reddish colored brows scrunched together. “Jesus, man. You’re the town lawyer now.”
Guilt washing over him, he scowled at his windshield. “How fast was I going?”
“Oh, man. You don’t even know how fast you were going.” Tom shook his head. “Forty-five in a twenty-five.”
Nick cursed under his breath. “Write me a damn ticket.”
“You haven’t been drinking, have you?”
“I had some wine.” He’d hardly drank any at all, so eager to bed Chloe. “I’m not drunk.”
Tom stuck his flashlight through the opened window and shined it on Nick’s face. “You don’t look drunk. You looked pissed, like you want to murder somebody.”
The anger boiling inside of him was directed at both himself and Chloe. “Yeah, I’m pissed, but not drunk.” He squinted against the powerful beam of the flashlight. “Would you mind turning off the light? You’re blinding me.”
“Oh, sorry.” Tom flicked off the light, and straightened away from the truck.
Nick expected him to ask for his license again, but he didn’t. Instead he rocked back on his heels and stared off into space for a time.
Finally Tom leaned back down. “Is this because of a woman? Because women have a way of doing this to level headed men such as ourselves.”
“Yeah, it’s because of a woman.” Why lie? He was already in hot water.
“Chloe Kastle lives down the street. She took over her mother’s business.”
Christ, now it would probably be all over town. He nodded.
“I always thought she was cute. I saw her walking down Main Street the other day. She’s even cuter now. But, don’t tell my wife that.”
Chloe Kastle was more than cute; she was a red-hot vixen intent on revenge. The image of her wearing only a black silky thong agitated the hell out of him, along with the promise of a speeding ticket.
Tom rubbed his jaw. “Tell you what. I’ll let you off with a verbal warning this time. But,” he pointed his forefinger at Nick. “Next time, if Chloe pisses you off and I catch you going over the limit, I’ll have to ticket you. Nothing personal, you understand. It’s my job.”
“Thanks, buddy, I appreciate it.” If Chloe ticked him off again, he’d deserve a ticket. He already deserved more for the way he’d treated her fifteen years ago.
“Okay, then. Drive safely, Nick. Catch you at Dot’s next week.”
Nick saluted him and pulled away from the curb. He kept a sharp eye on the speedometer for the remainder of the drive to his house. Tom had proved to be generous in not issuing him a ticket.
Chloe, on the other hand. . .
He swung his truck into his driveway, killed the ignition, and sat there staring at his garage. He’d stolen her virginity and given her empty promises. It was still hard to believe, he’d been her first. Yeah, he’d been drinking, but all the girls he’d been with before Chloe hadn’t been virgins. So he had automatically assumed she wasn’t.
At least, he’d had the foresight to use a condom. His car had been at the mechanics getting repaired before he drove back to Oregon for his senior year of college. Any evidence of Chloe’s first time had been left in her car.
“Fuck.” Nick elbowed open his door, and banged it closed behind him.
He let himself in the back door and switched on the light. Nick tossed his keys on the kitchen counter next to his cell phone. His hand hovered over the phone, but he let it drop to his side. If he called Chloe, what could he say? Sorry, that he’d been an insensitive twenty one year old bastard. That he’d stolen a precious thing from her. He hadn’t really stolen her virginity because she’d offered herself to him. That part, he remembered well. Too damn well. Is that why he hesitated when she called him the other day? Knowing that if he got involved with her it would lead to something more.
“Shit.” Shrugging off his shirt, he strode toward the bathroom. He needed to cool down and relieve himself.
His dick still throbbed when he imagined Chloe’s breasts. Her breasts had fit perfectly into his hands fifteen years ago and tonight they had fit just as perfectly.
* * * * *
Dressed in a pair of comfortable maroon sweats, Chloe sat on her couch nursing her third glass of wine. Nick’s wine. After he left, she’d immediately taken a long, hot shower, but the water and steam had failed to absolve her of her sins.
Her tactical action had been the wrong approach. Instead, she should have confronted him and then punched him in the nose. Instinct told her she would have felt more satisfaction. Throw in a big dose of sexual tension and her mood soured even more.
Nick Logan still held the power to turn her on as fast as flicking on a light switch. She fought to forget the feel of his hand between her legs caressing her. It was impossible to forget the feel of his large hand fondling her most intimate spot.
“Damn. . .”
Chloe downed the last of the wine in one long gulp, but unfortunately for her it didn’t help ease her rotten mood. Now she was back in Turner for an extended say and how in the hell could she avoid him?
The answer was, she couldn’t.
* * * * *
Bundled up against the below freezing October morning, Chloe locked her house and walked toward the main street of town. A restless, emotion filled night had prevented her from getting much sleep. Yawning, she increased her pace. Hopefully, she would beat the Sunday morning crowd for a solitary cup of coffee at Dot’s.
Ten minutes later, she opened the café door. Only a few customers sat at different booths drinking coffee and waiting for their breakfast to be delivered.
Dot stood at the counter, holding a mug. When she saw Chloe, she smiled. “Hey, hon, what brings you out so early on a Sunday morning?”
She walked over to the counter and slid on a stool. “I need some caffeine desperately.”
“Coming right up.” Dot circled around and grabbed a mug and glass carafe of coffee from the counter behind her. She filled the mug and sat it in front of Chloe. “You like it black, right?”
Wrapping her hands around the warm mug, she nodded. The same young waitress that had waited on her the other day pushed through the swings doors, carrying plates loaded with pancakes and bacon.
Dot studied her over the rim of her mug. “Bad night?”
Bad night was putting it mildly. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Do you feel like talking about it?”
Dot had been around the block with two marriages behind her. Her mother, on the other hand, had been a one man woman. She lifted a shoulder.
Dot circled around the counter and sat down next to her. “Okay, let’s see now. You used one of those home pregnancy tests and the color was not the color you were looking for. Hell, I don’t remember which color is which.”
Chloe glanced at her old friend. Dot’s short blonde curly hair, framed a pretty face. She wasn’t exactly sure of Dot’s age, but the woman still had it going on. “Nope. Not pregnant.”
“That narrows it down to man problems. Because you looked like you wrestled with the bed sheets all night. Alone.”
She blew steam away from her mug before she took a sip. “Yeah, I spent the night alone.” What would have happened if she and Nick had come together, without her little plan of revenge? Would a relationship develop or would another one night stand have occurred? Now she would never know.
She needed to clear her conscience if that was possible. “I did something I’m not very proud of.” She had never considered she’d feel ashamed and embarrassed by her actions.
“Ah, hon, we all do things we’re not proud of on occasion. That’s what makes us human.”
“I know, but this was deliberate.” Premeditated.
“You really have me curious now,” Dot said.
Taking another sip of coffee to fortify herself, she said. “I teased a man last night, which I’ve never done before.”
“Nick Logan.”
Chloe turned to look at Dot so fast, her neck popped. “How did you know?” She reached up and rubbed the side of her neck.
Dot laughed. “After running this place for over twenty years, I have eyes in the back of my head. I saw you two all cozied up at the counter the other day.” She seemed lost in thought for several moments. “Have Nick and you been in touch before you both moved back here?”
Chloe shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since the summer I graduated.” Somehow they had missed each other over the following summers. Because as she understood it, Nick had clerked in a law office in Portland for his summer jobs. And on all her visits home over the years, they had never bumped into each other.
Dot slid her empty mug on the counter. “Now that was really fast, considering you just got back in town. Even in my younger days, I didn’t work that fast.”
“There’s more to than that. We . . . um . . . kind of have a history.”
Dot’s brows drew together. “I don’t remember you two dating back in high school or after. Besides, he was older than you. Your mother never would have allowed it.”
Her mother hadn’t allowed her to date until she was sixteen. She hadn’t been super strict, just cautious about her only daughter’s well-being. Oh, yeah, her mother would have forbidden her to get involved with Nick at fifteen. Besides, when she first noticed him he already had a girlfriend.
Chloe’s fingers tightened around the mug handle. “We slept together right before he returned to school.” It was out. Her dirty little secret was out.
“Holy shi—, I mean holy whatever.”
“It’s okay, Dot, you can cuss in front of me.”
Dot laid her arm over Chloe’s shoulders. “Knowing you and the way Pam was, you had to have been a virgin.”
“Yeah.”
“Did he turn on the old charm and seduce you into bed?
Chloe tilted her head, looking at Dot and saw the concern in her friend’s eyes. “I never told him.”
“Wait a minute. You’re telling me, he didn’t know it was your first time?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Dot squeezed her shoulder. “Were you drunk? I know the kids liked to party by the river. Heck, they still do. How they get their beer, I have no idea.”
“I wasn’t drunk. I went to those parties, but I always drank Coke.”
“Was Nick drunk?”
If she could be honest with herself for once about him, she remembered he wasn’t drunk. The taste of beer had been on his breath. While making love he’d been gentle, passionate, urgent and steady handed. “No, not really.”
Dot dropped her arm, and jumped off the stool to get the coffee pot. She refilled their mugs before she returned to her stool. “I don’t understand why you didn’t tell him. A girl’s first time, especially a teenage girl, should be special.”
“I don’t know. I’d had the hots for him for years, ever since we moved here.”
Dot hooked two fingers around the mug handle. “So you went your separate ways until you saw him the other day?”
Chloe nodded. “He said he’d call and write, but he never did.”
Dot patted her hand. “You know that’s a standard line for young guys at that age. Hell, it’s a standard line for some forty year olds.”
“I know. I knew it back then . . . but it took years to get over him.” Now that she and Nick were in touch again, she realized she’d never really gotten over him. If she had, she wouldn’t be pouring her heart out to Dot and feeling miserable. Last night would have given her the satisfaction she’d hoped for. “I was really bad last night. I got him all hot and bothered, and then left him high and dry.”
“Uh . . . oh. Men don’t take kindly to that. It’s not really their fault. It’s just the way they’re wired.”
“Nick said it wasn’t over between us. I mean, when he left my house he was pissed.”
“I saw the way he was looking at you the other day. Looks like there’s more here than meets the eye.”
She didn’t have a clue as to how Nick felt about her. Oh, he definitely had the hots for her but as far as his feelings for her, other than sexual ones . . . “I don’t know how I’m going to manage to avoid him. Turner has grown, but it’s still a small town.”
“You can’t avoid him, hon.” Dot winked at her. “Besides, I thought you looked like a cute couple sitting at the counter together.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”
“Nick has a lot going on. He’s smart, accomplished, has money and he’s easy on the eyes.”
She didn’t care about Nick’s money, she had her own. Besides, it didn’t matter, since nothing was ever going to happen between them again. Chloe decided she needed to suck it up where Nick Logan was concerned.
Monday morning, Nick slowly cruised by Chloe’s gift shop. The store wasn’t on his normal route to his office. When he saw the closed sign in the window, he cursed under his breath and kept going.
Because of her he hadn’t slept for the last two nights. A cold shower and his hand Saturday night hadn’t helped much, either.
He wanted Chloe and bad. He’d never forgotten her after he’d finished school and moved on with his life. When he’d run into her at Dot’s, some illogical emotion had sprouted to life.
Rolling his truck to a stop in front of the café, he climbed out and walked inside. In dire need of strong coffee and a good breakfast, he sidled over to the counter. Before he made it to a stool his gaze landed on Chloe. She sat in a corner booth with her back to the room.
Surprised when his heart rate speeded up, he hesitated. The only time his adrenaline pumped was right before a trial, when he strode into the courtroom, briefcase in hand, ready to do battle.
Nick walked over to her booth and sat down across from her. Eyes widening in shock, she stared at him. “Morning, Chloe.”
Her hand holding the coffee mug trembled as she set it down on the table. “Are you here to serve me a subpoena?” Her voice quavered slightly, too.
Feeling the guilt wrapping itself around him again like a tight vice, he shook his head.
“Morning, Nick.”
He hadn’t even noticed Dot come over to the table with a pot of coffee in one hand and water glass in the other. Turning over his mug, he looked up at her. “Morning, Dot. I’ll have pancakes and bacon.”
“I can see you and Chloe have the same taste. That’s what she ordered, too.” Dot winked at him.
“What a coincidence.” Nick unzipped his jacket and took it off.
“Yeah, isn’t it?” Chloe skewered him with a look.
It was obvious she’d recovered from the shock of him joining her, but her expression revealed her irritation. While Dot hurried off to fill his order, Nick picked up his mug. “How are you?”
“I’ve never been better. And now that you’ve joined me for breakfast, uninvited, I might add, I’m floating on cloud nine.”
He leaned back against the booth. “Why the sarcasm? You got what you wanted the other night. Payback.”
Averting her eyes, she wrapped her hands around her mug. It was clear, he’d struck a chord with her. Any other woman that had pulled the tease stunt on him, he would have crossed her name and number out of his little black book. So why wasn’t he doing that with Chloe? Probably because he deserved it. She had managed to catch him off guard in more ways than one.
She took a small sip of coffee before eyeing him over the rim of the mug. “Now we’re even. Like I said the other night. End of story.”
Not if he had any say in the matter. “I’m of the opinion, the story hasn’t even been written yet.”
“Excuse me?”
“We had one night together years ago.” He lifted a shoulder. “And the other night. . .” Saturday night had been a bombshell for him. When she’d acted like she wanted to play, it’s a wonder he hadn’t creamed his jeans.
Setting her mug down, she leaned toward him. “The other night is history, too. Over, done, finished, kaput.”
He bent his upper body over the table almost touching her nose. “I don’t think so. Remember I had my hand between your legs.”
Immediately her cheeks turned crimson and Nick wondered if she might damn well spit in his eye.
Before either of them could say anything, Dot appeared with their breakfast.
“Soup’s on.” She slid a plate in front of each of them.
“Thanks.” He noticed how Dot’s eyes narrowed as she watched Chloe.
“Everything okay?” Dot asked.
“Just peachy,” Chloe said through clenched teeth.
Nick picked up the syrup bottle and offered it to Chloe first. “Yeah, everything is great.”
“Well . . . then,” Dot said. “If you need anything else holler.”
He nodded as Chloe snatched the syrup bottle out of his hand.
When she finished slathering syrup over the stack of steamy pancakes, her expression shouted she wanted to throttle him with it. He reached across the table, brushing her fingers as he took it out of her hand. Safer for him if the bottle was in his hand.
She raised her fork and pointed it at him. “There’s lots of empty seats at the counter.”
He also got the impression she wouldn’t mind stabbing him with the fork. “I’m perfectly comfortable here.”
Since he was an attorney, he was well schooled in how to read people. Chloe had been out for his blood the other night. The thing was she’d been just as turned on as him. Anger and vulnerability showed in her expression and actions as she nibbled on a slice of bacon.
While Nick dug into his breakfast, Chloe merely picked at hers. The sexual tension between the two of them was so thick and heavy, he felt uncomfortable. Sexual tension had never bothered him before. In fact, he’d always enjoyed that part of a relationship with a woman. He glanced across the table at her. She glared back at him. “You can tie me up again and have your way with me.” He’d dreamed about Chloe having her way with him.” His cock grew at the thought of her actually doing just that.
Chloe shook her head. “Sorry, that’s not going to happen. Nothing is going to happen between us.”
“You can deny it till the moon turns green, but you want me as much as I want you.”
Her answer was to snatch the last piece of bacon off her plate, all the while pinning him with a murderous glare.
“I didn’t lose very many cases back in Chicago,” Nick said.
“Bully for you.”
A grin tilted up the corners of his lips. He’d never known that young, innocent girl pumped such fire through her veins. Hell, he’d hardly known her at all, just that he’d found her cute and sexually desirable, always dressed so neatly with every hair in place. Problem was, he wanted to get to know her now in every sense of the word. The Biblical definition being first on the list. “Why don’t we go back to my original suggestion?”
She waved the strip of bacon in front her. “First suggestion? What in the hell are you talking about? I didn’t know there was a first suggestion.”
Oh, he’d definitely had her agitated which made him grin again.
“What’s so damn funny?”
He polished off his breakfast first and let her fume. After he finished, he pushed his plate to the side and propped his elbows on the table. “You’re sexier than hell when you’re pissed. And my first suggestion was you can tie me up again and have your way with me.”
“No deal.”
He lifted his mug. “Remember the night we hooked up? At that party out at the river.”
Chloe lifted her chin. “That night is tainted history.”
“I mentioned to you that my car was in the shop and you offered me a ride home.”
“I was merely being a good Girl Scout.”
Nick leisurely sipped his coffee. “And when I suggested we pull over near the river to look at the stars, you lost some tread off your tires. You were so desperate to get in my pants.”
Her fork clattered to her plate. “What— what?” When she shook her head so fast and hard, her black curls bounced every which way. “You obviously have a very flawed memory.”
“Nah, I don’t think so.”
“You were drunk.”
“Sorry, to disappoint, Chloe, but I wasn’t that drunk. I remember everything about that night. I think you wanted to lose your virginity to me.”
Her face colored a deep red again. “You’re so full of it.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me I was the first?”
“We’ve already been over this.”
“Not good enough. You were ready, willing and able.” He lowered his voice. “And wet, just like you were Saturday night.”
The look on her face changed to a hurt expression and he realized he’d pushed too far. Damn, he wasn’t in a courtroom drilling a witness. He was sitting across the table from Chloe, a woman he thought he’d forgotten and now a woman he couldn’t get out of his mind. “I’m sorry.”
“Save it.” She scooted out of the booth, reached down for her purse and hiked it over her shoulder. “Breakfast is on you.”
Spinning on her heel, she marched away from him and out of the café. He might feel like an S.O.B., but her ass in her snug faded jeans made his blood run hot. “Fucking A.”
* * * * *
Chloe scurried around the shop like a mouse with a cat on its tail. The shop was closed on Mondays, but she decided it needed a good and thoroughly cleaning. No matter how hard she dusted and polished, the impromptu breakfast with Nick followed her like baby ducklings trailing after their mother. The last thing she had expected was to bump into him at the café. She’d figured breakfast would be safe. Since she hadn’t taken the time to grocery shop, she’d decided she might as well give Dot the business. Yesterday, Dot’s sympathetic shoulder had helped ease some of her guilt and embarrassment.
The other night he’d given her the apology she so desperately wanted, but he hadn’t offered it up on his own.
She was her own worst enemy. Her body had betrayed her the other night just as her body had betrayed her fifteen years ago. She’d had a major crush and major hots for Nick for three years before they had made love that summer night.
The no-good man now knew she still had it bad for him. Her entire plan had backfired right in her face. Why had she fooled herself into thinking she could get naked or almost naked with him was beyond her? Her judgment had been clouded by wanting sweet revenge.
Oh, she’d had her share of boyfriends at college. She’d even been engaged for six months to Daniel, a co-worker, but the relationship had never heated up past lukewarm for both of them. By mutual agreement they had called it off.
She couldn’t be near Nick without her pulse racing, her heart beating faster and her panties dampening. God, was she still in love with him after all this time? Chloe paused and stopped polishing a wooden shelf.
It couldn’t be possible. It just couldn’t be. She knew there was still enough emotion that lingered in her heart for him. But still in love with him? He was a hunk of a man and what woman wouldn’t be attracted to him? Every woman he encountered probably had to deal with the panty problem.
And his accusation that she had been desperate to get inside his pants . . . perhaps there was a grain or two of truth in his statement. Guilt pounded at her conscience, like an insistent knock on a door. Why hadn’t she told him he was the first?
Shaking her head, she resumed her cleaning. Because she had hoped that one night with Nick would be the beginning of a relationship, not a one night stand. Or maybe she had been afraid he would have walked away. At eighteen she’d been so naive about life, love, and Nick.
She conceded that she might owe him an apology. They needed to declare some kind of truce. In a small town it was too hard to avoid each other. No apologizes today, Chloe decided. Since her nerves resembled strips of paper after having been stuffed through a shredder, she needed time.
This morning at Dot’s Nick had stated his intentions clearly. He wanted back into her bed. He even volunteered to let her tie him up again. Not that she was into bondage. She’d only proposed that idea because she knew it was the only way to get the upper hand on him.
As she moved to the next shelf and took down the handmade items so she could clean, she kept wondering how he really felt about her. Was he soured on relationships after his failed marriage? Or, was he the consummate playboy who had only given marriage a try out of curiosity? That theory didn’t jell with her. He must have cared about his ex-wife or he wouldn’t have gotten married in the first place.
Sighing, Chloe wiped off the shelf, working to untangle her extremely tangled emotions concerning Nick.
* * * * *
Pacing in front of his desk, Nick plowed one hand through his hair. It appeared he had Chloe-itis . . . No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get the woman out of his mind. His lunch sat untouched on his desk. Not in a sociable mood, he’d skipped lunch at Dot’s and ordered in.
Chloe had been a virgin. Those words had rolled around his head like a pinball in a machine the past couple of days. If she’d given herself to him that easily, she’d obviously had feelings for him. He knew he hadn’t gotten his signals crossed that night. When he’d kissed her, her arms had immediately wrapped around his neck. And when he’d slid his hand under her tee shirt to fondle her breast, she had moaned into his mouth and arched her back.
“Dammit.” Scrubbing a hand down his face, he angled around his desk and sat down. Unable to concentrate on the few cases he needed to prepare for court, he stared at the stack of papers in front him.
Things were different now. They were both older and hopefully wiser. It was now obvious to him that Chloe regretted her impulsiveness that night by the river. Being a normal horny teenager, he’d been straining at the bit to lose his virginity, but he’d learned over the years that women were different when it came to sex.
He picked up the stack of papers off his desk and forced himself to concentrate.
Nick looked up when he heard Tracey knock on the door. “Come on in.”
“Tom stopped by. He said he wanted to shoot the bull for a few minutes if you’re not busy.”
He needed a distraction and bad. “Send him in. And thanks.”
Tracey smiled and walked out of his office. Tom sauntered in, dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt.
“Hey, buddy, what’s going on? Have a seat.”
Tom sat down in the chair across from his desk. “I thought you might be at Dot’s for lunch. It’s my day off, so I stopped by there.”
“I had some paperwork to catch up on, so I ordered in.”
“Did you and Chloe mend your fences?” Tom asked. “Not that it’s any of my business, mind you.”
Tom had been an average guy back in school, second string on the football team, although he’d never groused about it. Rumor had it he was one of the best cops the town had ever employed. “I wouldn’t say that.”
Tom hooked his hands behind his head. “Is she playing hard to get?”
Oh yeah. For a moment, Nick wondered if that was another game on her part. No, she’d been upset when he’d joined her uninvited for breakfast yesterday morning. Maybe now that she’d paid him back, she didn’t want any more to do with him. “Not really. Things are sort of complicated between us.”
Tom smirked. “Things are always complicated when it comes to a woman. Hell, Sara and I have been married for ten years now, have two kids and I swear things get more complicated as time passes.”
“You told me the other day at lunch that you’re happily married.”
“Damned straight, but I don’t always get things right with Sara.” He chuckled. “She’s good at reminding me, though. According to her, I am more sensitive than when were first married. Women like sensitive men.”
Sensitive. Hell, he hadn’t been sensitive yesterday at the café. It had been all about the sex for him. Shit. Did he have something to prove to Chloe since she’d set him up for a fall?
“You might try flowers,” Tom suggested.
“Not a bad idea.” Although, he doubted flowers would make up for his insensitivity yesterday. On the other hand, it might be worth a try.
“You can’t order them.”
“Pardon me?”
“You gotta go to the florist shop so you can sign the card in your own handwriting.”
How many times had he picked up the phone and ordered flowers for women in his life? Come to think of it, he didn’t remember ever driving to a florist and picking out the flowers himself, not even for his ex. As he listened to Tom, he realized his sensitivity rating dropped lower and lower. “Good advice.”
“It’s also important if you know her favorite kind. Sara loves pink carnations. Good thing she doesn’t love roses because they’re damned expensive, especially for Valentine’s Day.”
Christ, he had no idea what Chloe’s favorite flowers were? “I’ll have to wing it on that one. I have no idea what she likes.”
Tom dropped his hands. “So you’re a gambling man?”
Nick rubbed his forehead. He’d never given this much thought to pulling his credit card out of his wallet and ordering flowers. “What kind do you think she likes?”
“Hey, Nick. I’m a cop, not a male hairdresser.”
“Humor me. Take a wild guess.”
“Holy crap, you really are desperate.”
By the humorous twinkle in his friend’s eyes, it was clear Tom was enjoying his flower dilemma. “I don’t see how you can go wrong with roses.”
Tom scratched his jaw. “Chloe lived in a big city for a long time. She’s probably got tons of roses. You need to be more creative.”
Good God. Buying flowers for a woman should be simple, not this damn complicated. He frowned at the stack of papers on his desk.
“Go down to Penny’s shop and she’ll fix you up,” Tom said.
Maybe he should just skip the flowers, but he needed to do something for Chloe to get back in her good graces. All he had to do was put more thought into buying them and he should be good to go.
“Thanks,” Nick said.
* * * * *
Chloe stared at the lovely arrangement of flowers sitting on the counter inside the shop. “Hmmm. . .”
An assortment of mums, sunny yellow, white, deep red and pale orange were clustered together in a tall crystal vase. So far she hadn’t read the card. She supposed they might be from Dot to cheer her up, but she didn’t think so. Plucking the tiny boxy envelope from its perch inside the stems, she noticed that her hands shook slightly as she opened it.
Nick. Her heart fluttered.
Oh . . . dear, not good. And why had he sent her flowers? She’s the one who had pulled that low down stunt on him, which she regretted more and more with each passing day.
Her lame attempt to stop mooning over him proved hopeless. He consumed her waking thoughts and slithered into her dreams every night. She wanted and needed to get on with her life. She’d made her point and now it was time to move on.
She supposed he deserved a thank you for his thoughtfulness.
She picked up the phone and dialed his office. And why did she want to hear his voice so much? Another bad sign. When his secretary answered, she told Chloe he was out for awhile. A mixture of relief and disappointed trickled through her.
“Ah . . . can I leave a message for him?”
“Would you like his voice mail?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Now that she had the impersonal machine waiting for her to speak, she found herself at a loss for words. Keep it simple, polite and to the point. “Hi, it’s Chloe. I just received the flowers. Thanks, they’re lovely.” She paused and then decided against saying anything more. She hit the off button on the cordless phone and battled to calm her emotions.
Chloe picked up the vase and carried it into the office. Old friends and neighbors had been popping in over the past couple of days to say hi and welcome her back to town. The last thing she needed was to have to explain the flowers, especially to the ladies that dropped by. Women always went ga-ga over flowers.
She had thanked Nick and that was end of that.
Nick bounced around on the balls of his feet. The impatience rumbling around inside his body made it hard to stand still. He fisted his hand and knocked on the door. The flowers he’d sent to Chloe had generated a message from her on his voice mail. Nothing more. He knew it wasn’t her fault, he’d been out when she called.
Chloe finally opened the door and looked at him with both a surprised and suspicious expression. She immediately crossed her arms over her chest which in turn hiked up the short blue tee she wore. That creamy white patch of skin above the waistband of her jeans stirred his blood. “Hi.”
“Hello, Mr. Logan.”
Okay, the welcome committee must be out to lunch. “Come on, Chloe. Can I come in?”
“Um . . . I’m busy.”
An unexpected wave of jealousy rolled through him. He looked over her shoulder, and hoped like hell there wasn’t another man in her house. “Company?”
Chewing on her bottom lip, she shook her head.
Begging wasn’t his style. She either wanted to talk to him or not. “You can’t spare a few minutes to talk?”
She lifted one shoulder like she didn’t have a care in the world. “I suppose.”
Nothing like a woman showing her enthusiasm at seeing him. Nick walked inside and waited for her to close the door.
His silver coated tongue had always served him well in the courtroom. Now, looking into Chloe’s guarded eyes, the right words escaped him. If this woman could make him speechless then he was in more trouble than he first thought. “We need to talk. It’s been a week now, so we’ve both had time to think about things.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Again her lack of enthusiasm jerked his chain. The unbelievable urge to kiss her had him moving closer to her.
Chloe stopped him with a hand on his chest. “You said you came to talk.” Her voice quivered.
“Ah . . . yeah, right.”
Crossing her arms across her chest again, she leaned back against the door. So she wasn’t going to invite him to sit down and offer him a beer or a cup of coffee. At least, he was in. “I was pretty damned pissed when I left here last week. You threw a curve ball at me.”
When her tongue traced her lips, his dick sprang to life. Jesus. What kind of power did she hold over him? He wanted to skip the talking and go straight for the good stuff. Fucking both their brains out. “I don’t blame you for what you did to me last week.”
Chloe pushed away from the door and brushed past him. He circled around, but she had her back to him as she combed her fingers through her dark hair. He clenched his fists at his sides, to keep from reaching out and grabbing her ass.
Spinning around to face him, she blew out a long breath. “It was childish and I guess I could say mean.”
“Oh yeah, it was mean. I stormed out of here with the hard-on of the century.”
A delicate hint of pink colored her cheeks which just made him want her more.
“Okay,” she said. “You made your point. I’m sorry. Can we just bury the hatchet and . . . just be friends.”
Just being friends wasn’t good enough for him. Nick shook his head. “I don’t think we can just be friends as you put it.”
“Why can’t we?”
“Because there’s more to us than the platonic side.”
She lifted her chin. “Speak for yourself. I’m more than willing to be platonic friends.”
“I think you’re willing to take it beyond platonic only you won’t admit it.”
Chloe held both hands up in front of her. “Sorry, but the sexual part of our relationship is over.”
“Say it like you mean it, Chloe.”
Her tongue flicked out again and ran across her top lip. Nick grasped her hand, and hauled her up against his chest. He ignored her shocked expression as he slanted his head. It wasn’t a gentle, sweet kiss. He pushed his tongue deep into her mouth, and then gathered her flush against his body.
The last thing he wanted to do was talk, although that had been his intention when he’d arrived. He hadn’t been able to think straight for the past week. A strong, carnal need burned inside his body, a need he had fought to control without much success.
She pushed against his chest, but she opened wide for him, as tiny moans slipped from her. Breaking the kiss, he whispered in her ear. “Don’t fight it, Chloe.”
She drew back and stared at him, her face flushed with desire, her breathing erratic. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for another kiss. Feeding off each other’s lips, they tore at each other’s clothes. Her top came off, followed by his shirt. Chloe skimmed her fingernails down his bare chest, then bent and flicked her tongue over one of his nipples.
A deep groan tore from him as he swiftly unclasped her blue lace bra, dropping it between their feet. Before touching her, he gazed at her plump breasts. The rosy pink of her nipples made him harder.
Cupping both of her breasts in his hands, he lowered his head, sucking one nipple between his lips. Her back arched as she dug her fingers into his hair, her hands holding his head him in place. As he gently tugged on one taut nipple, he listened to her moans of pleasure with a great feeling of satisfaction.
And then she was fumbling with the snap on his jeans, the zipper sliding down. Her hand slipped into his boxers. When Chloe’s hand sheathed his cock, Nick groaned again, tugging harder on her nipple. He squeezed her breasts as her hand worked his throbbing cock.
What he needed was to be inside her wet pussy. He knew she was ready without even having touched her sex. Nick stopped caressing her breasts, to get her jeans and panties off. When she stood naked in front of him, her nipples pointy and hard, he palmed her pussy, feeling the slick dew on his hand. He tangled his fingertips into the black crisp pubic curls. Then he lowered the palm of his hand to her clit. She gasped as he pressed firmly against it.
Nick stepped back to strip off his clothes, quickly undressing while he kept his eyes locked on hers. She started to reach for him, but he dropped to his knees in front of her and pressed his face against her musky heat. He loved the scent of her arousal.
“Nick. . .”
Slowly he raked his tongue over her clit, feeling her hips start a slow, seductive gyration. His hands cupped her ass, as he stroked her slowly with his tongue. He found that he savored each stroke of his tongue as it glided over her. Nick quickened his strokes, wanting her to come in his face. Her hips gyrating against him which made him fight to keep his control.
A sharp, little scream tore from Chloe as her pussy convulsed against his face. He leaned back and looked up at her. Her eyes were closed as her fingers slowly trailed across her pussy where his head had just been seconds before. Nick stood up, and French kissed her. He hoped like hell he could keep it together long enough to pleasure both of them. The taste of her, the taste of the two them. . .
He rubbed his cock against her wet sex, knowing he couldn’t hold out much longer.
When he drew back and looked into her eyes, what he saw only made him hotter, needier, and more lusty. Nick spun her around and nipped her shoulder. “I love your ass.” He massaged a soft, firm cheek with each of his hands.
Chloe moaned as she raised her arms, spreading her palms against the door. He wedged his cock between her legs. He spread her soft cheeks with his hands, and then drove himself into her. When her mysterious heat surrounded him, he bit her shoulder again. She shuddered and moaned.
He trailed the tip of his tongue up her neck to her earlobe. “How do you like it, Chloe?” Pumping himself slowly in and out of her, he circled her lobe with his tongue. “Do you like it hard and fast, rough? Or slow and easy?”
Sliding his hand around her he tugged on a nipple. “Tell me.”
Her sharp intake of breath had him gritting his teeth together.
“Hard,” she murmured.
“Do you want me to fuck you hard and fast?”
She was silent for a few moments before she whispered. “Yes.”
That’s exactly how he wanted to take her. Hard, fast, and rough. Nick slowly pulled out of her, then with a powerful thrust entered her again. Another sharp intake of her breath and he repeated his hard rough plunge deep into her. “Did you like that?”
“Oh . . . oh . . . yes.”
Nick lowered his hands, and placed one on her clit, while he trailed his fingers of his other between her cheeks as he pounded himself up into her. Chloe pushed her butt tight against his groin as he roughly pumped his cock into her.
After he gently pinched her clit, he removed his hand and spread her cheeks. He fondled her crack with his hand until he quickly pushed a finger into her ass.
Her deep, throaty scream of pleasure almost made him come right then and there. Slowly he pushed his finger deeper into her, her hips responding with quick movements. She pressed her ass against him, while she clenched herself tight around his middle finger.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, as he took her with his cock and his finger.
“Oh, Nick. Make me come,” she begged.
Abruptly, Chloe’s body shuddered against him, her throaty moans echoing in his ears. He was a goner and he knew it. With one final hard lunge into her dark, wet heat, Nick came.
* * * * *
Chloe leaned her forehead against the door, and clawed her way back to reality. How in the blazes had Nick known how she liked her sex? A bud of panic formed inside of her because she realized he had too much control over her. His cheek nuzzled her neck, but she found herself stiffening.
This had been about payback. Losing her virginity to him at the young age of eighteen had always been a thorn in her side. Now that she had opened herself up to him once again like a foolish woman, she’d placed herself in a vulnerable position. Her heart was on the line here.
“Chloe, honey. What gives?”
She waited several moments for her breathing to settle down before she turned to face him. When he leaned in for a kiss, she turned her head slightly, causing him to just catch the corner of her lips.
A frown furrowed his brows together. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“This was mistake.”
“What?” He blinked as a look of shock spread across his face. “What the hell?”
“This shouldn’t have happened. Just like it shouldn’t have happened the first time.”
His jaw tightened before his expression slowly lost emotion, like a curtain being drawn across a window. “We just had mind blowing sex, and you’re telling me it shouldn’t have happened?”
Chloe nodded. “That’s right.”
Nick placed both of his hands on either side of her on the door, which blocked any hope of escape for her.
“You’re in denial,” he said. “There’s something happening between us. Something happened the first time between us.”
“The only thing that happened is I lost my virginity.”
“What happened this time?”
She’d given control to him, just like the first time. Then again, she’d let him control her for the past fifteen years. At least, the memory of the two of them together had controlled her. “I want to get dressed.”
“You’re not getting off that easy. Is this another tease job?”
Chloe averted her eyes for several moments. “You got you want you wanted, so you should be satisfied.”
“Oh, I was baby, until you went postal on me.” His eyes narrowed to mere slits. “You loved every second of our lovemaking just as much as I did. Tell me, I’m wrong.”
She might be a hopeless fool when it came to Nick Logan, but she wasn’t a liar. She’d done enough lying and conniving over the past week. Time to face the truth and be honest. Lifting her chin, she said. “Why would I deny it? We had another one-nighter.”
Nick shook his head, and dropped his hands before backing away from her. “I like you Chloe. I like you a lot. I can’t get you out of my mind. I deserved last week. I thought we had this straightened out. This was a chance to get to know each other like we didn’t when we were kids.”
“We certainly know each other in the biblical sense, but that’s as far as it goes.”
“Jesus, Chloe.” He bent down and picked up his clothes. As he dressed he kept his eyes glued on hers.
Not bothering with her clothes scattered about on the floor, she walked out of the room to get her robe. When she returned to the living room a few minutes later, Nick was gone.
And so was a big slice of her heart.
* * * * *
Anger tensed and balled inside his muscles as Nick kept to the speed limit on his drive home. He’d gotten off last week with a warning but he wasn’t about to push his luck.
After making love with her, he’d experienced the first real satisfaction in over a week. His plan had been to regroup, then take Chloe to her bedroom for round two. What the hell was with that woman? He’d had a feeling she’d like it rough and hard, because she’d been a wildcat in the back of her car all those years ago. Now, she acted as if she could care less, which really pissed him off. Tonight she hadn’t been teasing. Tonight had been the real McCoy for both of them.
“Shit.”
Just like the first time, they’d ripped each other’s clothes off and went at it full bore. Why couldn’t Chloe just give into the inevitable? The two of them were dynamite in the lovemaking department.
Is that all he wanted from her? Mind blowing sex? A hot, passionate, and no-strings attached affair? Still soured on marriage he’d steered clear of deep meaningful relationships with women the past couple of years. Nick eased up on the gas as he approached a stop sign. After he came to stop, he sat there, mentally scratching his head.
What did he want from Chloe besides sex? He’d told her this was a second chance for them to get to know each other. Yeah, he liked to get to know the women he was intimate with, but that didn’t mean permanent was on his agenda.
Chloe was the first in a helluva long time that he couldn’t get out of his mind.
When a horn tooted behind him, Nick frowned and accelerated. Under his breath, he cursed a blue streak. Instead of feeling satisfied after making love with Chloe, now his emotions churned like a swift ocean under tow.
* * * * *
Bobbing the herbal tea bag in the mug of steaming water, Chloe leaned against the kitchen counter. Another long hot shower after Nick left, just like the previous week. Last week the shower hadn’t washed away her sins. Five minutes out of the shower, and wearing her old comfortable flannel robe, his touch still lingered. And the feel of him deep inside of her sex taunted her.
It all boiled down to zero willpower on her part where Nick was concerned. All he had to do was touch her and she turned into a wanton mass of quivering female flesh.
Now that he’d gotten what he wanted from her, she figured it would be over between the two of them. Nick had a strong male ego and understandably he needed to prove himself. Maybe she deserved tonight after what she’d done to him last week.
But he’d said this could be a second chance for them. As far as she was concerned she and Nick had been doomed from the beginning. A one nighter, fifteen years ago without any communication or contact until recently, what could possibly develop between them? Okay, they had the major hots for each other. She didn’t even know his favorite food or color. The things she did know were he was a successful attorney, returned home for a simpler way of life. That he had been married and was now divorced.
Chloe dumped the tea bag in the trash can under the sink. She blew at the steam billowing from the mug before she took a sip. No, they really didn’t know each other, except in the physical sense. Damn, why did they have to be so good together?
She took another sip of the hot tea. A heavy feeling of disappointment and regret sat right smack in the middle of her heart.
Sitting at her desk in the shop’s office, she sorted through the monthly bills. Not a word from Nick in three days, and with each passing day her mood dipped to a new low. She regretted her move back to Turner. Her deal with her mother was for a year. If Arizona didn’t work out for her mother, then she would return home. She didn’t think she could handle twelve months of trying to dodge Nick or running into him on occasion. She stood and rounded the desk when she heard the shop’s door open.
“Dot, hi.” Her mood lifted because she knew Dot would cheer her up.
“Hi, hon. I’m off today, so I thought I’d stop by and see how you’re doing.”
“Come in the office. As you can see, the shop is basically a tomb.” The lack of customers this morning had added to her gloomy mood. “You want some coffee or something else to drink?”
Chloe sat down in her chair while Dot sat across the desk from her.
“No thanks,” Dot said. “I’m all coffeed out.” Her blue eyes narrowed a bit as she stared at Chloe. “Are you coming down with something? You look drug out.”
She shrugged. “No. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Is it because of Nick?”
How did her friend know these things? What was the point in lying? “Yeah.”
“You must have seen him again.”
Chloe slumped in her chair. “Saturday night.”
“You two went on a date?”
No, they went at it in her living room. She shook head. “No, he stopped by and things basically got worse between us.”
Dot unbuttoned her jacket and settled deeper into her chair. “I’m sorry, hon.”
Chloe threw her hands up in the air. “I have no willpower where he’s concerned. I didn’t when I was eighteen and at thirty three I still don’t.”
“Oh . . . dear. You did the nasty with him.”
Chloe nodded.
“Some men are capable of bringing a woman to her knees. My first husband, John, was like that. Twenty years later and I still have a soft spot for him.”
Another twenty years of mooning over Nick. Chloe didn’t think so, at least she hoped not.
She heard the door open again.
Dot glanced over her shoulder out the office door, and then quickly looked back at Chloe. “Speak of the devil.”
“Tell me you’re kidding.”
“I’m not. He’s here in the flesh.”
Her palms suddenly turned clammy. She stared at Dot, and hoped her friend would have an answer for her. Part of her wanted to jump up and bolt out of the office to greet him. The other part of her wanted to climb under her desk and hide so she wouldn’t have to face him.
Dot stood up. “I’ve got some errands to run.”
Panic raced through her. “You can’t leave. I mean, I need moral support.”
“I’ll only make it more awkward. He obviously wants to talk to you or he wouldn’t be here.”
Dot buttoned up her jacket as she walked out of the office. Chloe found herself dragging her feet as she walked out of the office, too.
“Hi, Nick. How are you doing?”
“Dot, good, thanks. How about you?”
“Just great. I stopped by to say hi to Chloe. Now I have to run and do my errands.”
Chloe leaned her shoulder against the doorframe of the office and watched Nick nod before his gaze caught hers. Oh, how she wished she could read his expression, but unfortunately for her his face gave nothing away.
“See you two later,” Dot said at the door.
“Bye. Thanks for dropping by.” Chloe raised a hand.
“Yeah, catch you later.” Nick said.
If she had thought the shop was quiet as a tomb before the arrival of Dot and Nick, now the thick, uncomfortable silence seemed to bounce off the walls.
“You look tired, Chloe.” Nick walked over to her, and stuffed his hands in the front pocket of his jeans.
Why did he have to remind her of the sleepless nights she endured since last seeing him? “Maybe a little.” Nick look a little frayed around the edges, too. Dare she believe he’d lost sleep over her, too?
“Looks like a slow morning.”
“I keep busy.”
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Nick. . .”
He dropped his hand to his side. “I came over to talk again, and now that I’m here, I’m not sure what to say.”
“What happens if you run out of things to say in the courtroom?'
“That never happens. I’m fast on my feet in a courtroom.”
Was he here to blow her off? Or was there something else on his mind? Telling someone to get lost could be hard for both men and women, no matter how articulate they were. “So,” she paused. “What’s up?”
“You feel like taking a drive out to the river? We could pick up some coffee and doughnuts?”
No, no, no. He wanted to return to the scene of the crime. Her throat clogged with emotion. She shook her head, and struggled to hold his gaze.
“It’s a great morning for a walk. Cool and sunny out.”
“I don’t do doughnuts.”
Nick’s jaw line tightened. “Actually neither do I. We could get muffins or something else.”
She shook her head for the second time.
“Come on, Chloe. Help me out here. I thought if we both got some fresh air maybe we could talk things out.”
A tiny ray of hope shone inside of her heart for a moment, but she cautioned herself to tread lightly. “What do we really have to talk about?” She noticed a muscle tick in his jaw now.
“Why are you being so obstinate about this?”
“Me? Obstinate?”
“Yeah, I can see you have a stubborn streak.”
“I made three mistakes with you. Do you think I’m foolish enough to make another one?”
“All I suggested was some coffee and a walk by the river.”
She had to admit he had a point. And he hadn’t put the moves on her. Apparently, she was the one assuming things. Perhaps, she needed to be tested. If she could spend an hour with Nick without him stripping her panties off, then she might be able to begin the slow process of getting him out of her system. “Okay. Let’s do it then.”
Chloe didn’t miss the quick flash of surprise cross his face. “I need a few to gather my things and lock up the shop.”
Nick nodded, his solemn unreadable expression back in place.
* * * * *
Damn, talk about awkward moments in life. Nick finished off his coffee, and then crumbled the plastic cup in his hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Chloe sip on hers while she stared out at the river. He’d driven to the picnic area next to the river because he didn’t think the secluded spot where Chloe and he had made love that night would go over good with her. They sat on a weathered wooden bench facing the wide, lazy flowing river. One lone fisherman stood on the bank. He kept casting his line out and coming up empty handed every time he reeled in.
The conversation between the two of them on the drive from town had been stilted to put it mildly. “You about ready to walk?”
“Sure. Why not?”
Nick gathered up their garbage and tossed it into a nearby trash can. He wanted to take her hand while they strolled by the river, but instead he stuffed his hands into his fleece jacket pockets.
Chloe took the lead down the narrow trail that ran parallel with the river. Distracted by her shapely butt in her snug blue jeans, Nick kept glancing away so he wouldn’t get hard. A slight morning breeze tossed her black hair as they walked. She wore gloves so she swung her arms as her sides. Nick wondered why she was in such a damned hurry. So much for a leisurely stroll and a chance to talk.
The impatience that ate at him finally got the best of him. He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. Her cheeks were flushed from the brisk morning air which added to her sex appeal. “What’s the hurry?”
Her eyes widened. “I was slightly chilled so I was trying to warm up my blood.”
This was the time, when he would normally come back with a sexual come on, but he ground his back teeth together to keep the tone away from the sexual zone. Because he sensed that’s what Chloe needed. Hell, he might need it, too.
Being with Chloe always blew his analytical mind right out of the water. “Okay, we’ll walk fast then.”
One of her brows lifted a fraction, but she didn’t respond. Nick dropped her arm. Chloe spun around so fast; he wondered why she didn’t lose her balance. Was she really cold or was she purposely keeping her distance from him?” “We’re only going to talk today, Chloe,” he said behind her.
She slowed and glanced over her shoulder. “Why that comment?”
“I get the feeling you’re trying to get away from me?”
Chloe stopped and turned to face him. “Why would you think that?”
Nick saw the challenge in the set of her chin. He stopped, too and lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
Chloe took a step toward him and poked him in the chest with a finger. “We both know we have this sexual thing going on between us. Every time we’re together, it’s like a pack of bees or whatever a bunch of bees are called buzzing around and between us.”
He wanted to grab her finger and suck into his mouth. “And your point is?”
“My point? Excuse me? My point is we don’t have anything else in common.”
Nick glanced down at her forefinger still resting against his chest. That simple little touch with Chloe standing so close to him tested his willpower. “The only way to find out is to start talking.”
She dropped her hand, jutted one hip out and said. “Start talking.”
Usually he spent some time on the phone schmoozing with a woman, then asked her out for a date where they proceeded to get to know each another. With Chloe, it didn’t seem to work that way. “Do you have a guy back in Seattle?”
She immediately frowned. “No.”
“How long have you been without a man in your life?”
“You’re getting personal.”
“We’ve already been personal.”
She seemed to consider his question for several moments. “It’s been awhile since I’ve dated anyone.”
For some reason, that made him want to whistle. “Your turn.”
“What was your ex-wife like?”
His failed marriage continued to be a sore spot for him. He didn’t like losing. “She was a tall, leggy blonde that was really into nesting.”
“You mean she wanted kids and you didn’t?”
He hadn’t given kids much thought over the years. Yeah, someday he’d like to have one or two when the time was right. “I guess at the time I wasn’t ready for the minivan, late night feedings and a soccer mom wife.” His ex’s biggest complaint had been the hours he’d spent at the office and with his clients. Insensitive popped into his mind again, which he shoved aside.
Chloe tapped her hiking boot on the ground. “What’s your favorite color?”
“My favorite color?”
“Yeah, your favorite color?”
“Hell, I don’t know. Black, blue. I’ve never gave it much thought.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “You never gave it much thought. Everybody has a favorite color.”
He’d never been much of a shopper. After he graduated law school, and on a tight budget, he’d bought the cheapest suits he could find. Once he started making good money he hired a personal shopper. His favorite color seemed important to her so he did a swift mental inventory of his closet. “Blue.”
“It should be green because of the color of your eyes.”
“I can make it green.”
She rolled her eyes again. “What’s your favorite food?”
He’d had more personal questions in mind, not generic questions like food and his favorite color. “I like just about anything and everything. I’m not a picky eater.”
“Okay, then . . . that about covers it.”
Nick’s brows knitted together. “What do you mean that about covers it?”
“I was curious about your favorite food and color.”
“That’s it.”
Chloe chewed on her bottom lip, while she glanced over at the river.
A bud of desperation sprouted inside of him. If he didn’t get her talking how would anything ever develop between the two of them? “Hit me with some more questions, Chloe.”
She looked back at him. “I think that’s enough for today.”
“No way is it enough.”
Her eyes were cloudy with emotions as she watched him. She blew out a long breath. “Okay, then, let’s go for broke. What do you really want from me? Besides sex?
Nothing like going for the jugular. He had hoped they could discuss politics, religion, their life philosophies. The only thing he knew for sure was he couldn’t get her out of his mind. His hesitation obviously upset her because she spun around and walked down the trail.
“Hey, wait a minute.” He caught up with her and reached for her arm again.
“All you want from me is sex.” She didn’t turn around and face him.
“That’s not true.”
This time she tilted her head in his direction. “I think it is.”
His gut tightened when he saw her vulnerable expression. “I’d like to get to know you. I haven’t made a pass today.”
“Maybe you’re waiting for the right moment to strike.”
The sarcasm in her voice bothered him more than he wanted to admit. The way things were going between the two of them; there wouldn’t be a right moment to make a pass. “I’m not going to make a pass at you today. My plan was for us to talk.”
He could tell by her doubtful look that she didn’t believe him. He even doubted himself because if the timing had been right, he would have kissed her and probably tried for more. “Are you ready to go back?”
Chloe nodded.
* * * * *
Handing the wrapped painting of a Bull Moose grazing in a mountain meadow to the young man, Chloe smiled. “Thanks so much and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.”
The young woman, her arm tucked through his said. “It’s going to have a place of prominence in our living room to remind us of our honeymoon in Montana.”
Chloe smiled again, feeling unexpectedly wistful. The couple was only a few years younger than her and by the looks of them were floating on a cloud of pure bliss. They thanked her again and left the shop. She walked over to the door, and hung up the closed sign.
To her surprise she’d been busy with lots of browsers and buyers this afternoon, which had helped keep her mind off this morning at the river with Nick.
She walked back to the counter, opened the cash register and counted the money. Nick kept wiggling into her thoughts like a persistent mouse trying to get through a tiny hole in a house wall.
He had made somewhat of an effort to talk to her. She, on the other hand, hadn’t been that forthcoming. As far as she was concerned the two of them stood on shaky ground. If she opened herself to him emotionally, where would that leave her? Unfortunately for her, she had already opened herself physically to him. Just by making love with him, her emotions had come into play, too.
Chloe stuffed the stack of bills into the money bag and zipped it close. Sighing, she wandered around the shop, lowered the lights, and set the heat before she gathered up her purse and jacket.
She dreaded the evening alone with nothing but thoughts of Nick to keep her company.
* * * * *
Nick stepped out of the shower and snagged the towel off the rack. A two mile run before night settled in hadn’t helped his sexual frustration or his frustration in general where Chloe was concerned. Instead of feeling relaxed, the run had keyed him up causing more restlessness to course through his body. After he dried himself he dressed in clean jeans and a blue and black flannel shirt.
According to Chloe he should be wearing a green plaid flannel shirt. Her determination to find out his favorite color was an attempt to keep him at arm’s length. But hell how could he blame her? She’d been fishing for his real feelings for her today. Unless he sorted out his own jumbled up feelings, he knew he wouldn’t get to first base with her again.
Nick walked out of the bathroom, grabbed a jacket, his keys and headed outside to his truck.
Ten minutes later he knocked on Chloe’s door, trying not to fidget like a bored kid sitting on a church pew. His heart raced enough to irritate him when she opened the door. She wore ultra faded jeans and a zip-up blue hoodie over a white tee shirt. He’d never seen her dressed in anything but jeans since she’d returned to Turner. Not counting the black thong. The image of her bending over in her black thong made his cock throb. He was an ass man and Chloe had an unforgettable ass, so shapely and soft to the touch. “Hi.”
“Hello.” Her tone was cool and guarded.
“Are you busy?”
“No. I was reading a book.”
“How about some company?”
If she told him to get lost, Nick wasn’t sure how he’d react to that. Without a word, she backed up so he could come inside.
Nick shrugged out of his jacket and hung in on a coat tree near the door. While Chloe walked over to the couch and plopped down on it. He joined her, but made sure he gave her some space.
On the drive over to her house, he’d decided no more games. He settled back against the couch and turned to look at her. She stared straight ahead, her hands clasped in her lap. “I can’t get you out of my mind.”
He watched her lips press into a tight line. Finally she shifted enough to face him.
“I think we need to be friends,” she paused. “No more than that.”
Another bout of frustration tore at his nerves. He plowed a hand through his hair to give himself something to do. “We’ve been over this before. Do you really think we can be just friends? Besides, friendship doesn’t work for me. Not with you anyway.”
“You know what I think?” When he didn’t answer, Chloe continued. “I don’t think you know how you feel about me. Oh, it’s crystal clear you’ve got the hots for me.”
He couldn’t or wouldn’t deny he had it bad for her. Sitting so close to her, he had a damned hard time thinking straight. Why did his cool always fly out the window when he was near her? “I’m not going to deny that. I’d be lying if I did.”
This time Chloe didn’t respond.
“That’s why I wanted to see you today. So we could talk.”
Chloe studied him for several moments. “And you want to talk tonight, too?”
Talking wasn’t the only thing on his mind. He wanted to strip her bare and lay with her.
“Nick?”
He caught her eye and held it. “I want to make love with you.”
The pulse in her neck pounded, while she moistened her lips with her tongue. She wanted that, too. “That’s as honest as I can be. My gut tells me, that’s what you want, too.” He lowered his eyes and saw that her nipples were hard and pointy under her hoodie.
Chloe looked away from him. So far she hadn’t send no. He inched closer to her. With two fingers he tilted her chin in his direction. “Let me take you to your bed.”
“I don’t want to want you.”
“Some things are bigger than us,” he whispered before he touched her lips with his.
His arm slid around her shoulders so he could pull her closer to him. At first, her body stiffened against his when he nudged open her lips and slid his tongue inside. To him, it seemed like a nanosecond flew by before she melted against him. Chloe gave her all to their needy rough kiss, which raised his hopes for the two of them.
When he couldn’t breathe, he broke the kiss. The sight of her pink cheeks and swollen lips sent electric thrills straight to his dick. Nick stood up and held his hands out to her.
She hesitated before placing her hands in his. In silence he led her down to her bedroom. The night light next to the bed bathed the room in a soft glow as they walked toward the bed.
Memories of that first night in her bed, tumbled back to him. He itched to get her clothes off to see if she wore that black thong again. His hands fumbled with zipper of her hoodie as he slid it down. “Tell me you’re sure about this.”
“I’m not sure about anything when it comes to you.” Chloe peeled her hoodie off and tossed it on the floor. “I want you beyond sane reasoning. And for me, this is totally insane.”
Practical and sensible didn’t seem to fit into the equation between the two of them. Fifteen years ago had been an impractical lusty whim on both their parts.
“Don’t think, honey.” Nick helped her out of her tee shirt. Under it was a white lacy bra. He realized the white bra turned him on as much as her black bra had. Maybe it had nothing to do with sexy lingerie and everything to do with the woman.
He nibbled her lips while he reached behind her and unhooked her bra. When her breasts spilled into his hands, he groaned and lowered his head to taste. Chloe tugged at the buttons of his flannel shirt. He had to tear his lips from her hard nipple so she could get his shirt off. Her hands slipped under his black tee and her warm skin felt like smooth satin against his chest. Something had shifted between them. Chloe skimmed her fingertips down his chest, until using one finger, she circled his belly button. This time they needed to explore each other. No going at it like two dogs in the street.
His cock, hard and swollen, begged to be free of his tight jeans. Nick let go of Chloe so he could undress. She reached for his cock as he kicked his clothes aside. Again she skimmed her fingers up and down the length of it. Nick removed her hand so he could get down to the business of stripping off her clothes.
While he pushed her jeans and white lacy panties over her hips, he looked up at her. The expression in her eyes made him pause. This was more than sex for her. It was written all over her face. “Chloe? Do you want me to stop?”
If they made love, he knew with a sudden jolt of clarity they would be crossing a line this time. “Chloe?”
“No,” she whispered.
A feeling of relief and wariness swept through him. Besides her body, Chloe’s emotions were in his hands, too. He finished undressing her and stood back up. It was damned hard not to touch her perky breasts and or cup the soft flesh of her ass between his hands.
He framed her face with his hands. “You’re beautiful. You were fifteen years ago and now you’re even more beautiful.”
“Do you really mean that, Nick?”
“Yes.” He brushed soft kisses over her lips, and her cheek before he nibbled the lobe of her ear. Then he laid her down on the bed, while his eyes savored her curvy body. The dark thatch of hair between her shapely thighs made his cock ache even more.
Nick lowered himself on top of her. She rubbed her warm flesh against him like a graceful cat. Staring into her eyes he dipped his head and captured her lips. He felt her hand wrap around his cock as their kiss deepened. For the first time he tasted the genuine sweetness of Chloe. Overloaded with hormones fifteen years ago, he hadn’t taken the time to savor the young woman who had lain beneath him.
As his blood in his veins boiled, he took his time exploring her with his tongue. He moved his hand to one of her breasts and teased her nipple with his thumb. Her tiny moans and sighs sounded like music to his ears. Nick ended the kiss and gazed down at her. Chloe’s eyes slowly fluttered open for him.
His desire grew for this woman as he looked into her eyes. But his self-control bordered on the edge. As he slid down her body, her hand fell away from his cock. Not liking that one damn bit, he suckled one nipple into his mouth. He needed to pleasure her for his own selfish reasons. Not to prove he was the world’s greatest lover, but to prove to himself he could be sensitive to Chloe’s needs.
Her fingers tangled into his hair as her back arched up asking for more from him. He complied by gently tugging on her nipple with his teeth. The taste of her was unique and all woman. He kneaded her other breast with his hand. Chloe rubbed her pussy against his belly. Feeling her wetness clinging to him, he fought to keep control.
“Now Nick,” she whispered above him.
He raised his head. “Not yet.” His voice sounded rusty to his own ears.
“Please. . .. I need you inside of me.”
Her need was written all over face. He saw the yearning in her eyes and heard it in the tone of her voice. If that’s what she wanted, that’s what he would give her. He battled with urge to take her from behind again. But an even stronger need to watch her face as she came won in the end. He positioned himself over her while her hands helped guide his cock into her midnight heat.
With a quick thrust he entered her, feeling her pussy tighten around him. He groaned loud and long at the hot feeling of her sheathing him. Pushing both hands under her, he dug his fingers into the soft flesh of her ass. Chloe rose up to meet him as their rhythm matched each other’s. Clenching his teeth, he closed his eyes for a time to savor the feel of her as he pumped himself in and out of her pussy. Their rhythm increased as Nick drove his cock harder and deeper into her. He opened his eyes to watch her. Her eyes tightly closed, she caught her bottom lip between her teeth, while her head lolled to the side. Little moans still escaped her tightly drawn lips.
Damn, he wanted to watch her come. And soon because he knew he couldn’t hold on to his control much longer. He pulled his hand from under her and caressed her clit with two fingers. Her eyes flew open as she met his gaze.
“I want to watch you come.”
“Oh . . . oh. . .”
With his forefinger he fondled her clit. Her hands clutched his shoulders, her fingers digging into his skin.
Nick plunged hard and deep into her and suddenly she screamed with pleasure. As her body convulsed around him with her orgasm, he closed his eyes and rode her until his own body gave into sweet, satisfying release.
* * * * *
Nick collapsed on top of her, his cock still buried inside of her. While her breathing slowly settled back down, her heart didn’t. She felt like it would burst from the swelling of emotions inside of it. He nuzzled her neck. The weight of his relaxed body felt right. Making love with Nick also felt right which scared the hell out of her. She still didn’t know his real feelings for her.
Not wanting to spoil the moment, she closed her eyes and slid her arms around his sweat-slicked broad back. The problem was every inch of him felt right to her.
Nick raised his head, and then planted a lingering kiss on her lips. “This time was special.”
Was there even a tiny shred of hope that Nick felt even half of what she felt? This time she couldn’t argue with him. “Yes.”
A lazy grin spread across his rugged face. “Are you going to let me stay the night?”
They had never spent the whole night together. She elbowed aside her conflicting her emotions. “Yes.”
He kissed her again.
Nick clawed his way out of a heavy sleep, only to discover he was alone in Chloe’s bed. He listened for the shower water running or any other noise inside her house. But he didn’t hear a damn thing. Frowning, he turned his head and glanced at her digital alarm clock and saw that it was after eight. He never slept this late. He sat up and scrubbed his hands down his face, before he climbed out of bed. “Chloe?”
Scratching his chest and fighting to ignore the uneasy feeling eating at him, he wandered toward the kitchen. He walked over to the window over the sink and looked outside. Her car wasn’t in the driveway.
“Dammit!”
He’d never had a woman run out on him from her own house before. Why would she just take off without even saying goodbye? She’d agreed last night had been special for the both of them. He glanced around the room and noticed the empty coffee maker on the counter. And he didn’t spot a note on the table.
She couldn’t run far. Not in this small town.
Nick strode back to her bedroom. Ms. Chloe Kastle had some explaining to do.
* * * * *
The pounding on the front door of the shop startled her. She dropped the pencil holder to the floor by her desk. Pens and pencils scattered around her feet. She’d been methodically arranging the writing instruments to steady her hands. She didn’t open the shop until ten a.m. She knew without a doubt it wasn’t an impatient customer wanting to shop.
It was Nick.
Hopefully he would just go away, but when the pounding grew louder, she knew he wouldn’t. The man hadn’t reached his level of success by giving up that easily. Taking a deep breath, she straightened the collar of her cocoa brown turtleneck.
Chloe walked out of the office and saw Nick’s head cocked to the side so he could see around the closed sign hanging on the glass of the door. When he spotted her, anger burned in his eyes.
Her heart pounded as loud as his pounding on the door when she angled over to it. After she unlocked it, she slowly opened it.
Nick pointed a finger at her. “This morning was a first.”
“A first?”
“Yeah, a first. I’ve never had a woman run out on me from her own house before.”
Was that why his eyes blazed with anger? Because she’d run out on him? No doubt a woman had never run out on him before from anyone’s house. “Well, pardon me.”
“I want to know why I woke up to an empty bed this morning.” He shouldered past her and pushed the door closed behind him with his hand.
“Won’t you please come in?” She didn’t try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
“Real funny, Chloe.”
No, there was nothing funny about Nick’s obvious anger or her own cowardice. She’d loved cuddling up to him last night as they had slept, but as dawn approached she’d felt she couldn’t face him in the morning light.
Nick moved close to her, so close she considered him right in her face.
“Why the hell did you run out?” he demanded.
“I had work to do here.”
He shook his head. “I already told you, you’re a lousy liar. I’ve been trained to spot a liar a mile away.”
Okay, so maybe he had her on that one.
Nick planted his hands on his hips as he frowned at her. “Why do you run out this morning?”
The moment of truth hovered between them like a hawk over its vulnerable prey. “Because,” she paused. “You’re dangerous to my heart.” She had finally admitted it to him.
“And you don’t think you’re dangerous to mine?”
Chloe blinked, not at all sure she had heard him right. “Your heart?”
He fisted his hand and thumped his chest. “You don’t think I have a heart?”
“Well . . . no. It’s not that.”
“Then what the hell is it?”
Oh . . . dear. He appeared to be getting more pissed off with each passing second.
“I think our relationship, if you can call it that, might be slightly one sided.”
“And how did you reach that conclusion?”
“For starters, you’ve never once told me how you feel about me. Fifteen years ago, you told me I was hot. Last night you told me I was beautiful. But since catching up with each other, you have never once said how you feel about me.”
“Okay, Ms. Kastle. It’s a two way street.”
So he made another valid point. Damn him for being an attorney anyway. She placed her hands on her hips, too, mimicking Nick’s stance. “You go first.”
“No, ladies first.”
Chloe shook her head. “Sorry, no can do.”
“You’re the one that ran out this morning? I would say that means you’re the one with issues.”
“Issues?” Her voice rose to a loud pitch. “You’re talking to me about issues?”
“Yes, ma’am, I am.”
“Of all the nerve.”
Nick’s gaze bored into her as they faced off. What was the point in hiding it anymore? She could still hold her head up high. There was no shame in having feelings for a man, even if the man didn’t return the feelings. Gathering all of her strength and Lord knew, she didn’t have much where Nicholas Logan was concerned, she met his gaze. Win, lose, or draw, she could at least get the burden of how she felt about him off her chest. “I think, I mean . . . I think I’m in love with you.”
His expression immediately softened, so much that it offered a glimmer of hope for the two of them. “Ah . . . hell, Chloe.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“You make me want to be more sensitive.”
What in the blazes did he mean by that? “Pardon me?”
“I’ve have it pointed out to me too many times that I’m not the most sensitive guy on the planet.” He reached behind him and scratched the back of his neck. “I should have asked you if you were a virgin that night. And I didn’t. I shouldn’t have assumed. And again I apologize.”
The apology from him that she had so desperately needed produced the salty taste of tears in the back of her throat. “I should have told you.”
“We both screwed up that night.”
“Yeah, we did.”
Nick started pacing. “I think about you all the time. I can’t sleep, I can’t concentrate at work. I walk around with a perpetual hard-on even when I’m not with you.” He stopped and faced her. “For a man, that’s a tough one.”
“Try the panty problem.”
A complete look of confusion clouded his face.
“Forget I said that.”
Nick eyed her for a moment before he started pacing again. “If all those things add up to being in love, well then I’m your man.”
Surprise bolted through her. In a roundabout way, he’d told her he was in love with her, but she needed him to say it. “Let me get this straight. Are you saying you’re in love with me, too?”
Nick’s jaw worked as he glanced away for a second. He looked back at her. “Yeah. I am.”
She reached out, grabbed his jacket front and pulled him close. She didn’t have to pull hard because he came willingly.
Nick placed his hands on her hips. “So do we wipe the slate clean and start fresh from here?”
“You want to just erase last night?”
“Nah, I can’t forget the times we’ve been together. Hell, I don’t want to forget them.”
Chloe kissed him. “Neither do I.”
Nick hugged her tight against him and kissed her with such passion she had to lean against him for support.
He ended the kiss, barely moving his lips from hers. “I’m now positive I’m in love with you, too.”
The past drifted away as Chloe looked toward the future. “Kiss me again and again.”
Sage Burnett lives at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Mountains in northwest Montana. Visit her alter ego online at www.patriciaparkinson.com.