One Special Christmas & Home for the Holidays (28 page)

The thought had crossed her mind, and she flushed guiltily. It was almost as if he'd sensed her impulse to flee, and now he was asking for a promise to stay. But as long as Sam was here, what could be the harm? “Yes.”

He smiled at her. “Good. I'll be right back.”

The moment he was out of earshot Laura turned on Sam. “Sam, how could you? First you invite him to
join us, then you ask personal questions. I'm not only a nervous wreck, I'm embarrassed.”

“Why?” Sam asked innocently. “He didn't seem to mind. And you should thank me. Now you know for sure that he's available,” she said smugly.

“So what? Available and interested are two different things.”

“Oh, he's interested,” Sam said confidently.

“How do you know?”

“Because.”

“That tells me a lot,” Laura retorted.

“Look, he came over here because he thought it was you. The man wasn't exactly trying to avoid an encounter—he arranged it. And when he talks to you there's a soft, gentle look in his eyes that makes me feel mushy inside,” she said dreamily. “Yeah, the man's interested.”

“Well, maybe the woman isn't.”

“Oh, she's interested, too.”

“What are you, a mind reader?”

“No. It doesn't take a sixth sense to pick up the vibrations between you two. Laura, you're scared, right?”

“Yes.”

“And why do you think you're scared?”

“Because I haven't been around a man for a very long time.”

“Nope. Wrong answer, kiddo. Not just any man could make you feel like this. It's Nick. Because you're attracted to him, too, and for the first time in years you sense a threat to that insulated existence you've created for yourself. You're not scared because he's a man. You're scared because he's Nick—a very special man.
And by the way, I approve. He's not only a hunk, he's got a great personality and a good sense of humor.”

Nick chose that moment to slip back into the booth, giving Laura no time to respond. She had been about to protest Sam's quick assessment, but in retrospect she had to admit that maybe Sam was right.

“Did you miss me?” Nick asked with a grin.

“Oh, were you gone?” Sam asked, feigning surprise.

“Well, that's a surefire way to deflate a man's ego,” Nick replied good-naturedly.

Laura listened with envy to the exchange. Sam was so at ease with Nick, while she was a mass of vibrating nerves. She couldn't even think of any witty remarks to add to the repartee. Miserably she stirred her iced tea. The ice was slowly melting and diluting the color, washing it out to a pale image of its former self. Sort of like her, she thought. Sometimes, emotionally, she felt like an empty shell of the woman she used to be.

“…so I'll leave you two to carry on.”

Laura's attention snapped back to the conversation and she realized that Sam was sliding out of the booth.

“Sam!” There was panic in her voice. “Where are you going?”

“I knew you were daydreaming,” Sam declared. “I've got to go, kiddo. I have to show a house very early tomorrow morning and I want to be thinking clearly when I meet the client. He's only in town for the weekend, so it's now or never for the sale. Nick, it was nice meeting you.” Sam extended her hand and Nick stood, taking it in a firm grip.

“Can I walk you to your car?” he offered.

“I'm parked right at the door,” she assured him. “Besides, I just spotted someone at the bar that I know and I want to stop and say hi. But do me a favor, will you? Walk Laura to hers when she leaves, no matter what she says. She's at the far end of the lot.”

“Done,” he said with a smile.

Laura suddenly felt like an idiot child, being talked over instead of to. “Sam, I'm quite capable of taking care of myself,” she said stiffly.

“Now don't get all huffy,” Sam said. “If you're with a gentleman, let him act like one. Good night, Nick.”

Nick watched Sam leave and then slid into the booth again next to Laura. “I like her,” he said with a smile. “Her candor is very…charming.”

“I can think of another word for it,” Laura muttered.

Nick chuckled. “Come on, be nice. She's obviously a good friend. She's graciously bowed out, leaving you alone with me, and she's made sure you get to your car safely. What more could you ask?”

“That she butt out?” Laura suggested. “Look, Nick, you don't have to keep me company. Actually, I was thinking about heading home. This,” she said, gesturing around the crowded, noisy room, “isn't my style, anyway.”

“Mine, neither. And as for keeping you company, I wouldn't have come over here if I hadn't wanted to see you.”

“That's what Sam said,” Laura admitted, her eyes searching out her friend, who was now carrying on an animated conversation with an attractive man at the bar.

“Well, Sam is very insightful.”

“But why?” Laura turned her attention back to Nick, truly bewildered by his interest.

Nick placed his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers, staring at her pensively. Then he shook his head. “You amaze me, Laura. I told you last night. You're an extremely attractive woman. I admire your determination. You are a great conversationalist and fun to be with when you're not totally stressed out, which you seem to be tonight. Is it me?”

Laura shifted uncomfortably. “I'm not stressed,” she lied, avoiding his question.

In response Nick reached over and captured her fingers. “Your hands are trembling.” His thumb moved to her wrist. “Your pulse is rapid. With any other woman, Laura, I might attribute those symptoms to something else,” he said bluntly. Then his voice gentled. “But you're just plain scared, aren't you?”

Laura snatched her hand away and groped for her purse, making Nick realize he had pushed too hard.

“Laura, I'm sorry. Forget I asked, okay, and don't run off. Besides, there's something I want to ask you.”

Laura looked at him uncertainly. “What is it?”

“Jack and his wife, Peggy, are giving a little party next weekend. Sort of a pre-Fourth-of-July barbecue. I wondered if you'd like to go.”

It took a moment for the invitation to register, and then Laura realized that Nick was actually asking her for a date. A real date, not an unexpected, spur-of-the-moment get-together.

“When is it?” she asked.

“Saturday. About four.”

“I work on Saturdays, Nick.”

“All day?” he asked with a frown.

“Sometimes.”

“Maybe that's one of the reasons you always look so tired,” he said gently, reaching over with one finger to trace the shadow under one of her eyes. “Everyone needs some fun in their life.”

Laura swallowed. “I don't have time. I'm a one-person operation, Nick. Saturdays are a good time to get caught up on the books. Besides, I'm going home for a long weekend over Fourth of July, so I need to make up the time.”

“We could go to the party late,” he offered.

“I don't want you to miss any of it because of me,” she protested.

“Laura, to be perfectly honest, I'd rather be at
some
of the party with you than
all
of it alone,” he replied with a smile.

“Well…” Nick was being completely accommodating, and there was no reason to refuse. Besides, she liked Jack. They would be in a crowd, so what could happen? Sam was always telling her to make an effort to improve her social life, and this was a good opportunity.

She looked toward the bar again, just in time to see her friend heading for the door on the arm of the man she'd been talking to. Sam never seemed at a loss for male companionship. Maybe there was a lesson to be learned here, Laura thought. Her best friend had more dates than she could handle and was always telling Laura to spice up her social life. Perhaps, Laura reasoned, the Lord had put her in this uncharacteristic setting tonight so that she and Nick would cross paths. It seemed like an awfully strange coincidence to have happened purely by chance. There must be a message
here. And maybe it was simply that if Sam could go out with dozens of men, she could at least go out with one. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Nick. “Okay,” she agreed.

Laura was rewarded with an ecstatic grin. “Great! I'll call you this week to firm up the plans.”

“All right.” She withdrew her keys from her purse. “I really have to go, Nick. It's been a long day, and frankly the smoke in here is killing my eyes.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” he concurred. He thought of suggesting a quieter lounge nearby, but decided against it. He'd already gotten more than he expected out of the evening when she'd agreed to go to Jack's party with him. He wasn't about to push his luck. “I'll walk you to your car.”

“It's really not necessary. Sam's just overprotective.”

“A promise is a promise,” Nick said firmly.

“Well, have it your way,” she capitulated.

Nick signaled the waitress again and quickly settled the bill before sliding from the booth. He reached for her hand, and, short of rudely ignoring it, Laura was left with no option but to take it. Once on her feet, she assumed he'd release it, but Nick had other ideas, tucking it into the crook of his arm. Laura's heart went into fast-forward at the protective gesture. Calm down, she told herself sharply. Nick probably treats every woman he's with the same way. You're nothing special.

As they threaded their way through the crowd, Laura wasn't even aware of the glances directed her way from the bar. But Nick was. He looked down at her, noted that her eyes were focused straight ahead and realized that she was oblivious to the admiring glances. She
was a woman with absolutely no conceit, he thought. Actually, she went the other direction in terms of self-image, which wasn't good, either. Why? he wondered for the hundredth time.

As they stepped into the warm night air, Laura drew a deep breath. “I hate those kinds of places,” she said vehemently.

“Then why come?”

“Sam likes them. She drags me along occasionally because she thinks it will enhance my social life,” Laura joked, sorry immediately that she'd made such a revealing comment. She knew Nick was too attentive to let it pass unnoticed.

“If your social life is lacking, I can only believe it's by choice,” he said.

Laura shrugged. “The business keeps me busy,” she said noncommittally.

They had arrived at the corner of the parking lot, and Nick finally released her hand, making no comment. He leaned against the side of her car and folded his arms across his chest, apparently in no hurry to leave. Self-consciously, Laura fumbled for the right key and unlocked the door.

“Well…thank you for walking me to my car,” she said breathily.

“No problem. I would have, even if Sam hadn't asked.”

“I know.” And she did. Nick's impeccable manners seemed inbred.

Nick gazed at her shadowed face and his throat tightened painfully. She always seemed so alone, so in need of loving. Without even stopping to think, tired of weighing the consequences of every action, he reached
out and drew her toward him, looping his arms around her waist. Laura seemed stunned by this unexpected action and stared at him wide-eyed. Because he was leaning against the car, their eyes were on the same level, and his held hers compellingly, searchingly. At last he sighed. “Laura, what are you doing to me?” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. He moved a hand up to cradle the back of her neck, rubbing his thumb gently over her skin as he spoke.

“Nick…I don't… You can't…” She drew in a sharp breath, tears of frustration hot behind her eyes. “Look, I'm scared, okay?” she choked, wanting to find a hole and crawl in.

Nick tightened his hold in a manner that was comforting, not threatening. “I know,” he whispered hoarsely. “I just don't know why. I would never do anything to hurt you.” He pulled her close, and she found herself pressed against the hard planes of his body as his hand guided her head to rest on his shoulder. He could feel her trembling, and gently he stroked her back, hoping she would relax in his arms. He felt as shaky as she did, and he forced himself to take deep, even breaths.

With her cheek pressed against the soft cotton of his shirt, her ear to his chest, Laura could hear the thudding of his heart, could feel his breath on her forehead. She knew she should pull away. Warning bells were clanging inside her head. But it felt so good to be held like this. So good. She would take this moment, take what was being offered, with no questions. A moment to enjoy being held in strong but gentle arms, that was all she asked.

Nick felt her relax slightly. Not much, but it was a start, he told himself. Whatever demons were in her
past were powerful, and he'd have to be patient. If he wanted Laura, it would have to be on her own terms and in her own time.

As her trembling subsided, he eased her back, smiling at her with an achingly tender look in his eyes. “Laura, I'm going to kiss you good-night,” he said softly. “I want you to know that this warning isn't part of my standard goodnight spiel,” he admitted with a quirky smile, “but I don't want you to be scared. Okay?”

Laura hesitated, and then realized she was nodding. It had not been a conscious choice.

His eyes held hers for a moment longer, and then his lips gently closed over hers. Slowly, coaxingly, they began to explore, seeking a response. Her lips were stiff and uncertain at first, but when at last he felt them begin to yield, he intensified the kiss, pacing himself, allowing the embrace to progress only in small increments. Without intending to, without wanting to, she found herself responding to his touch as he fanned into life an ember of passion that had long lain dormant.

Laura didn't know how long they kissed. She just knew that the flame of passion Nick had ignited in her was more intense than any she had ever experienced. His caresses were knowing and sensitive, designed to draw the deepest possible response from her. Laura was not accustomed to such a tender touch. Joe had been her only lover, and she his. Together, through trial and error, they had learned about making love. But long before they had discovered all the things that made it so special, their marriage had started to turn sour.