And Then He Kissed Me (7 page)

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Authors: Teresa Southwick

BOOK: And Then He Kissed Me
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“That explains it.”
“What?” she asked suspiciously.
“Why you told her no.”
“I should have known you'd take her side. It's up in the mountains, Nick. What if it's awful and she wants to come home? There could be snow on the roads. She could do herself bodily harm on the ski slopes. She's never skied before. What if—”
“Friends and snow and skis, oh my.”
“You're impossible.” She glared at him. “In spite of what she thinks, I don't always say no without giving the matter some thought.” She fiddled with the pencil in her hands. “I know she didn't mention that I suggested to her that I go along as one of the chaperones?”
“No.”
“See. You take her side without even hearing what I have to say.”
“Okay. I'll admit she momentarily got the sympathy vote. What did she say to your compromise?” He had a pretty good idea, but for the sake of diplomacy, he wanted to hear it from Abby.
“I love my sister, and I don't want her to get hurt.”
He folded his arms over his chest as he lounged in the doorway. If she kept skirting his questions, they could be here for a while. “I understand. But that's not what I asked.”
Abby sighed, a big dejected sound. “She said she would rather sprout a zit the size of Texas on her nose than have me along as one of the chaperones.”
“It's a shame that girl hasn't learned to speak her mind,” he said shaking his head sympathetically.
“This is nothing to joke about, Nick.”
“At the risk of upsetting you, I think it is. You need to lighten up, Ab. Sooner or later you have to let her try out her wings. What better way than with adult supervision? I don't understand what's bothering you.”
She set her elbows on her paper-strewn desk and rested her chin in her palms. The gloomy pose was very childlike in spite of all her adult responsibilities.
“Then I'll explain to you what's bothering me,” she said. “The mountains are several hours away by car. I don't like being so far away from Sarah in case she needs me.”
Nick decided not to point out that Abby was counting the days until Sarah went away to college. There was a better-than-even chance that big sister wouldn't be allowed to tag along. Then she would be forced to let go. He was concerned that if Abby didn't cut Sarah some slack, there would be rebellion more serious than hiding the fact that she was riding around with a recently licensed driver. Nick understood Abby's fear.
She'd lost both parents when they had left on a pleasure trip. But life went on. Under the circumstances, he had to agree with Sarah. His problem was finding a diplomatic way to tell Abby.
“Why don't you contact the trip coordinator to confirm Sarah's information?”
“I plan to,” she said. “But that won't completely ease my mind.”
“Where are they going?” he asked.
“San Bernardino mountains. Big Bear.”
“That's where the family cabin is.” He might just have the beginnings of a solution. “Why don't you use it that weekend?”
She looked startled. “I couldn't.”
Was Sarah right? Did Abby always say no without giving thought to the situation?
“Why not?”
“What about work?” she asked.
He looked down at the papers on her desk. “Isn't that the schedule you're working on?” When she nodded he said, “Mark yourself off.”
“I'm not sure that's fair. I—”
“If Sarah had agreed to your chaperone solution, you'd have had to. Why not throw caution to the wind and do it? You can quietly let the trip supervisors know where to reach you. It will give you some peace of mind and Sarah some independence. It's a win-win situation for everyone. Especially me. I get to be the guy who made two women happy.”
“Not so fast. I can't pay you for it. My budget is limited—”
“Who said anything about money?” A spark of anger sizzled inside him. “I offered it to you as a favor.”
“But that wouldn't be professional. You're my boss. People would talk.”
“Not even the world's largest roll of duct tape would stop that,” he said, peeved at her. She was throwing up hurdles where there didn't need to be any. “It doesn't matter what people say. There's nothing going on between us.”
Liar
, a voice in his head piped up. But he didn't want to go there. “I'm your friend.”
“I hope so,” Abby said.
Did she? He couldn't shake the feeling that she was trying to keep him from getting close. He continued to stare at her and noticed that her chin lifted a little, as if she were fighting some inner struggle.
She looked down at the pencil in her hands. “Sarah and I value your friendship, and it wouldn't be right to take advantage of that.”
“It's not taking advantage if I offer.”
“Then why does it feel that way?” she asked.
When did it get to be a major pain in the butt to do something nice for a friend? “Would it make you feel better if I have Luke dock your paycheck by five dollars a week for the next two years?”
“If I could spare that five dollars, it would make me feel a lot better. But I can't, Nick.”
“Then consider it a bonus for my most valued employee.”
“I don't take charity.”
He shook his head as if trying to clear it. “Excuse me? When did you stop working?”
“I haven't. But what does that have to do with anything?”
“Employee bonuses are a common business practice. Happy workers are productive workers. Charity is a handout.”
“You're making that up, or at the very least stretching the facts.”
“I'm not. Scout's honor,” he said, holding his hand up, palm out. “In fact, you would be doing us a favor. The place doesn't get used much anymore.” He was making
that
up. “Someone needs to go up and check that the roof hasn't fallen in and the plumbing still plumbs.”
“Really?” She didn't look completely convinced, but she was weakening.
“Yeah,” he said confidently.
“If you're sure, it would be a lifesaver. Sarah really wants to go on the trip. And I'd feel a lot better if I was close by.”
“Consider it done.”
“Thanks, Nick. I really appreciate it. I'll call Sarah in a few minutes. She'll be so excited. The bus should have let her off at home by then.”
He wondered if he should tell her about Sarah's actual transportation indiscretion. He decided against it, but made a mental note that during his next conversation with the teenager in question, he would make her promise to fess up. Since he had a feeling the schedule of a teenage driver might allow for more side trips than public transportation, he didn't want Abby to find that Sarah wasn't home yet. Big sister would worry.
He thought of the perfect way to distract her. The beauty was that it was reason number two for his visit.
“So, now can we talk about what almost happened at the party?”
Chapter Five
“W
hat would that be?” Abby asked.
“Very funny, pal. I think you know very well what that would be,” he said.
Her heartbeat went from normal to off the scale in a split second. She
did
know all too well what he meant. The exact moment when he almost kissed her. Since intimate encounters for her were nonexistent, creating a long lonely dry spell, near-kisses tended to stand out. Which, she rationalized, was exactly the reason she'd thought of little else since that night.
But she would rather have walked barefoot on hot coals than tell him as much. He'd been good to her and Sarah. Case in point: his offer of the family cabin so she could keep a watchful yet distant eye on her sister. That was above and beyond the call of duty for a boss.
What he wanted to talk about was the kiss that never was. More important—it never could be. Things might be different if she had the time, but she didn't. Not
right now. And, if there was a God, eagle-eye Marchetti would not notice the blush that had crept into her cheeks when he'd mentioned the party. No way did she want to talk about that night. It would be too easy for the information to slip out that she had wanted him to kiss her.
So badly it had taken a very long time for the ache to go away.
When she continued to make herself stare at him blankly, he stopped leaning casually in the doorway and moved toward her like a determined predator stalking his prey. He passed through the invisible wall of her comfort zone, then had the nerve to sit on the corner of her desk. It was a blatantly masculine pose that tweaked every feminine response within her. She reminded herself again that his charm didn't affect her. Never had; never would.
One of his dark eyebrows lifted. “You're putting me on. You don't know what almost happened?”
“You mean at Sarah's party?”
“Of course I mean at Sarah's party. You. Me. A Twister mat.” He snapped his fingers. “Anything coming to you yet?”
Did it bother him that she might have forgotten? Or worse—that she hadn't noticed? What would he think if he knew her mind drifted back to that moment countless times a day? No way would he drop the subject.
That's
what he would think!
“Of course,” she said, as if she'd just remembered. Keep it light, she told herself. “Lesson number two of Footloose and Fancy Free 101. I forgot to thank you. My apologies, professor.”
“You don't seriously think that's what this is about?” he asked frowning.
She nodded enthusiastically. “And I want you to know how much I appreciate it. A girl like me can't have too much preparation for the constantly changing dating scene. I still have a while yet before becoming an active participant. But when I need a crash refresher course, I'll be sure and let you know.”
“Good,” he said, a slight edge to his voice.
“Actually I'm glad you're here. I've worked up those ideas we talked about—”
Just then the beeper on his belt started a piercing wail. He pressed a button and checked the number.
“A crisis?” she asked. “Someone need rescuing, Superman?”
He frowned. “It's my mother. Can I use your phone?”
“Sure.”
He came around the desk, stood beside her and placed his call. Abby moved her chair back, something she hoped looked like a polite attempt to give him space. In reality, it was the closest she could get to a full retreat. Running far and fast to a place where his warmth and masculine scent wouldn't start a fluttering in her stomach like a battalion of hummingbirds. What a pitiful attempt. She would need at least a county between them to do that.
“Hey, beautiful. What's going on?” he asked.
Abby watched his face. His tone was teasing and flirtatious. But his features softened with warmth and fondness that she somehow knew was reserved for his mother. Their conversation was short, then he said his goodbyes and hung up the phone.
Nick looked at her. “I have to go. I'm taking my mother to lunch. That was my reminder.”
“You'd forget a lunch date with your mother?”
“No. But she says when you've raised someone from birth, it's hard to forget the times they screwed up.”
“You're lucky,” she said wistfully.
He wrinkled his brow. “That I messed up?”
“That you have the opportunity to spend time with your mom.”
His face softened with sympathy. “I sometimes forget that the two most important people in your life were suddenly taken away. You still miss your parents.” It wasn't a question.
“Yes.”
“You can borrow mine,” he offered. “Take the heat off the Marchetti brothers. We'd thank you for it.”
“Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.”
“Why don't you join us for lunch?” he asked.
A second invitation for a meal with him and another woman. Why did he feel obliged to include her? Probably just pity. The thought rankled, but this time she was tempted. Except the last thing she needed was to watch Nick, up close and personal, being nice to his mom. She read all the women's magazines. The articles said a man who was good to his mother was the best kind of husband material. Abby wasn't looking for a husband, and had no intention of becoming a wife before she'd had a chance to find the right guy for her. She had seen what happened when a relationship was rushed. Her parents had been each other's first, and they'd had to marry.
But this was first-hand confirmation that the articles were right about him being irresistible. There was nothing sweeter or more appealing than a guy who took his mother to lunch and was actually looking forward to it.
She shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, but I can't.” Before he forced her to come up with a phony excuse she said, “So, are you going to tell me why you dropped in?”
“Actually I needed to talk to Rebecca about something.”
Her manager. So, he hadn't come to see her at all. She stifled her momentary pang of disappointment. She told herself that it truly was for the best that he didn't want her. If she said it enough, she might actually believe it.
“I'm sorry, Nick. She's not here.”
He frowned. “I thought she was coming in a couple of days a week to get back in the groove.”
“She is. But mother and baby had a bad night. She's coming in tomorrow. Shall I try her at home?” she asked, gripping the phone. It was still warm from his touch.
Nick shook his head. “Don't bother her. It can wait. I'll call her tomorrow.”
“I'll let her know you stopped by,” she offered.
“Thanks, Ab. I'm sorry I don't have time right now to discuss your ideas.” He looked at his watch and shook his head. “But drop by my office and we can talk.”
“Okay.”
He snapped his fingers. “Any day but Thursday. I've got meetings all day.”
“Okay.”
“See you soon.” He smiled, a look that would make ice a goner. Then he was gone.
She really wanted to discuss her plans with Nick. The last time had been exhilarating. She'd never known work could be so much fun. But every time she saw
him, Abby had more and more trouble recovering her professional detachment. She hadn't worked her tail off just to watch her career fall apart because of one slip on a Twister mat. A slip that had made her aware of him in ways she'd never been before. Maybe if they'd actually kissed, she would be able to put it in perspective. And forget about it. But they hadn't, and she had to put it, and Nick, out of her mind.
If it was the last thing she ever did, she had to straighten her politically correct mask and get back on business track. She would treat him like a boss. Deferential distance. Piece of cake, she told herself. If only she believed it.
 
Thursday afternoon, Nick cancelled all his meetings after receiving a phone call from his mother. He headed for his brother Joe's office to tell him about the conversation and started to push open the door when he heard a woman's voice.
“Thanks, Joe. I needed that.” Abby?
Why was she in his brother's office? More important, what had Joe given her that she needed? Maybe most important, why had those simple words tied him in knots?
“You're welcome,” Joe said. “Don't worry, Abby. It'll get easier.”
What? Nick's irritation clicked up a notch. Abby had promised to come and see him. Why was she there on the day he'd told her he would be tied up? What was she doing with his brother? The restaurant where she worked was only a few miles from the corporate office so it was reasonable for her to drop in any time.
“I don't know if it will get easier, but thanks for listening,” she said.
“I'm always available. Come here.”
Not only was eavesdropping slimy and underhanded, it didn't set well with a man of action. Nick walked through the doorway. The knot in his gut tightened when he saw Joe holding Abby. His brother was a big man, as tall as Nick. She seemed to disappear in his arms. Nick hadn't felt like this since his wife had dumped him for her old boyfriend. He'd done his best to keep the feelings from ever kicking up again. But here they were. Because of his brother. And Abby.
Joe was a people person, a good thing since he was the Director of Human Resources for Marchetti's Inc. He looked over Abby's blond head and smiled. “Hey, Nick.”
Abby glanced at him. “Nick!” Quickly she stepped away from his brother.
Nick didn't miss her guilty look or the pink in her cheeks. “Hi, Abby.”
He studied Joe. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but his brother had had a lot of experience with women. Abby had none with men. If Joe decided to put the moves on her, she hadn't acquired the know-how to deal with the situation. But Joe wouldn't take advantage of that. Would he?
Joe's grin faded. “You look as if you'd like to yank the head off a doll. What's up?”
“That's what I'd like to know.”
Abby tucked her hair behind her ear. “Is something wrong?”
Nick met her gaze. “You tell me.”
Tell me what you're doing here with my brother when I specifically told you I was unavailable today.
Nick realized a couple of things in one of those moments of crystal clarity. He didn't want Abby alone
with playboy, confirmed bachelor, charming, outgoing Joe Marchetti. His second thought was that no way did he want another man hugging Abby, not even his own brother, especially his irresistible brother. His third was that he had no right to entertain thoughts number one and two. Unfortunately, that was the world's smallest thought and didn't diminish his testosterone surge one bit. Apparently his protective instinct for Abby was on overdrive. What else could it be?
He cleared his throat as he tried to get a grip on his anger. “What are you doing here?”
Abby glanced up at his brother, another quick, guilty look. “Rebecca looked over the quarterly report and was worried about the numbers. We discussed some of my ideas, and she agreed that they could generate business at the restaurant. She sent me over here.”
Nick's feelings took a detour into something territorial. She had first broached that subject with
him
.
Joe rested a hip on his desk and folded his arms over his chest. “She's got some dynamite plans, Nick. Two-for-one coupons, poor-but-hungry Tuesday, and—”
“All-you-can-eat family night,” Nick finished.
Joe nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah. So she talked to you about this.”
“Some,” he answered.
Abby looked at him, worry creasing her forehead. “You were in a meeting, Nick. I was looking for Luke to run the numbers by him, but he's not around. Joe saw me in the hall and called me in. He was kind enough to listen to everything, including my whining.”
Nick couldn't erase his mental picture of Abby in his brother's arms. “So what was the hug for?” he snapped.
“Just company T.L.C. Abby isn't used to being a
manager,” Joe said. “She doesn't like calling off employees.”
Nick knew he was being a jerk, but couldn't seem to help it. “Is that right?”
“Absolutely.” Joe had that I-know-something-you-don' t-know look on his face.
Nick didn't like it any better now than he had when they were kids. “Well you're wrong. It doesn't get easier.”
Nick hadn't felt this irrational since that summer he'd spent in Phoenix. But there was no connection between what happened then and Abby. She was his friend. He hated it when rational thought returned. The bad part of a testosterone surge was picking up the pieces after he'd shot off his mouth. How could he salvage the situation?

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