Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Night.” She grabbed her pillow and curled into a ball, facing away from him.
She heard the click of the lamp and the bed dipped and moved as he got comfortable, but he didn’t bridge the distance between them. A painful lump formed in her throat, but she forced herself to breathe slowly, and soon, she fell asleep.
* * *
Sam woke up with the same heavy feeling in his chest with which he’d fallen asleep. He also knew why. He’d botched last night, mishandling everything with this trip and hurting Nicole in the process. He really thought bringing her here would be good for them both. An under-the-radar place to stay and a chance to see his goddaughter. Why hadn’t he realized all the questions that would come up just by being here?
Because, as his sister Erin often said, he was such a guy.
Which meant he’d screwed up and now he owed Nicole an apology as well as an explanation. He could handle the apology better than the other, and that was saying something. He reached out only to find the other side of the bed empty. And cold.
With a groan, he swung his legs over the side. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw it was 10:30 A.M. Sam couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept so late. Sara would probably be gone with Sammy to the little girl’s gymnastics lesson, so if he wanted time alone with Nicole, he needed to hurry.
He showered quickly and headed to find her. She wasn’t in the kitchen, although he did manage to grab a peach on his way out the back door, eating in a few bites. He opened the sliding glass doors and stepped outside, and his breath caught—having nothing to do with the damp humid air.
Nicole lay outside in a bikini, displaying a body that made his mouth water. Just because he’d seen her before didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate the view all over again. He started toward her, reacquainting himself with her long legs, curvy hips, breasts that more than filled his hands, and a face that stayed with him from the moment they’d met. Was it any wonder he was struggling with distance?
“You’re blocking my sun.” She pushed herself up to a sitting position.
He inhaled and caught the scent of coconut sunscreen. It was a scent he’d liked as far back as childhood. He liked it even more now, and his body responded to it in very adult ways.
He sat down on her chaise, taking up her sun and her personal space. He finished off the peach he’d been working on and rolled the pit into a napkin on the table before sliding in closer.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I need to talk to you before Sara gets back.”
At the mention of the other woman’s name, Nicole stiffened and pushed her back against the chair, away from him.
He hung his head. “And that’s why I’m sorry. If I’d told you about Sara before we came here, if I’d explained, you wouldn’t be so defensive now.”
“I’m not defensive.” She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze. “Fine. I am defensive. But do you blame me?”
“Not in the least. So hear me out?” He reached out and tugged on a lock of her hair. “How else can I apologize?” Being rational and truthful was the only way to get through to her, he thought, waiting for her to come around.
* * *
Nicole sighed, feeling herself softening toward Sam. He was here with the answers she wanted and the apology she hadn’t expected. “Okay, fine.” She relaxed and hugged her knees to her chest, giving him more room on the chair.
“First things first. Last night, when you said you were sorry you brought so much drama to my life?”
She nodded. “I was serious. We’ve gone from dealing with my sister stalking yours to money laundering and threats. I’m the reason we’re hiding out here for the weekend.”
He braced his hand around her ankle. “I don’t need an excuse to hang out with you, so no apologies. And as for the drama, do you think I chose my career because I like peace and quiet?” he asked on a laugh.
She smiled. “I didn’t know that meant you like it invading your personal life too.”
He squeezed her leg tighter. “I like you invading my personal life.”
“Liar,” she said softly.
His lips quirked in a grin. “Okay, you’ve got me there. But I’ll let you in anyway. No matter how uncomfortable it makes me.” He drew a deep breath. “Back in high school, there were four of us. Four best friends. Me, Jenna, Brett, and Sara.”
She leaned closer so she could absorb not just the story but his emotions about his past as well. “Were Brett and Sara boyfriend and girlfriend too?”
He shook his head. “Just friends. But after—after Jenna left me for Brett and they moved out of town, it was just me and Sara. Not in a romantic way or even a sexual one. We were really good friends.”