Perfect Together (12 page)

“I think I can manage to keep him busy,” Macy said. “Come on, big boy. Let’s go get dinner. And maybe dessert.”

“Macy, let’s see what everyone else is doing first.”

“Why, when I know all the good places to eat in this burg?”

She hooked her arm through Tyler’s and began pulling him toward the car.

And Tyler, though he grumbled, went along rather than jerk his arm back from Macy and be rude. The woman was a true dynamo, unique among people Nicole had met. In a good way, unlike some other pushy women she’d known.

Macy led Tyler to her car and soon they were gone, leaving Nicole alone. She was grateful Macy could help her out, but she’d have to make sure the other woman knew Tyler wasn’t a simple guy to date—without revealing everything she knew and involving Macy in her problems. Even if Tyler was a free agent, he came with other baggage and expectations. And Macy didn’t seem the type to bend to someone else’s needs and desires.

Nicole caught a glimpse of Tyler’s back and the stiff, obviously new denim. The Tyler she knew did not own faded light jeans, which meant Macy had prodded him into the change. Instead of jealousy, Nicole felt pure amusement and a sense of hope that Macy could help Tyler see reason. She already
had him changing his way of dress, and he’d allowed her to drag him away from the sole reason he’d come to Serendipity.

Despite all the potential problems, Macy could be good for Tyler, Nicole thought. She just wished she knew if Tyler could be good for Macy. Or if he’d take his head out of his parents’ expectations that he’d marry well and into a connected family long enough to look at the treasure that was Macy Donovan. They’d just met, which meant it was way too soon to even think that way, but Nicole liked the thought.

“Hey.” Sam came up to her, looking sexy in his dirtstained uniform caused by numerous slides around the field.

“Hey yourself. Great game.” She smiled at him, happy he was here—and they were alone.

“Thanks. Where’d your friend go?” he asked, his tone turning dark.

“Macy took him out to eat.”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “That bother you?”

“Should it?” she replied.

He blew out a long breath. “Not if you’re telling me the truth, no.”

She set her jaw, determined not to get into an argument with him about her ex. But there was one thing they needed to get straight now. “Either you trust me or you don’t. And if you don’t, we call this off right here and now. But if you do? No more digs about truth and honesty, all right?”

He blew out a deep breath before answering. “Fair enough,” he said, a surprising smile lifting his lips. “I have an important question.”

“What?” she asked warily.

“Did you enjoy your pizza the other night?”

She let out a loud laugh. “No, I didn’t. I was too upset.”

“I
thought so, and me neither. Pop’s really does make the best pizza, so I thought we could head on over there and try again. There are some things I think we need to get clear between us.”

She nodded, knowing he was right. “I’d like that.”

He hefted a bag higher on his shoulder, and she realized he was hauling around a lot of weight.

“That looks heavy. Where’s your truck?” she asked.

“There.” He pointed at his SUV a few feet away. They headed there and stored all his gear in the back. He turned to her, sweaty and dirty from the game in the night heat, and he’d never looked better to her. Hotter. More sexy.

“I didn’t think this through . . . I’m filthy,” he said. “How about we go to your place over Joe’s so I can at least wash up. I keep a change of clothes in the trunk, and then we can walk to Pop’s down the street.”

She nodded, okay with whatever he suggested.

Less than an hour later—because who cleaned up faster than a man—they arrived at Pop’s Pizza. They settled into a booth and Sam reached across the table for her hand, causing excited flutters in her belly.

“So we both like pepperoni.”

She grinned. “Something in common.”

“Look, since it’s quiet and we can talk, I—”

Before he could finish, the restaurant door opened and Macy and Tyler walked in.

Nicole closed her eyes and groaned.

“What’s wrong?” Sam turned in his seat and stiffened. “Son of a bitch.”

Tyler pulled Macy right over to their table. “Funny running into you here.”

“Not
laughing,” Sam said.

Nicole met Macy’s apologetic gaze. This truly was a coincidence, she knew.

“Tyler, let’s have Chinese next door,” Macy suggested.

“Good idea,” Sam muttered.

He shook his head. “I’m allergic to MSG.”

Nicole would have rolled her eyes, except he was telling the truth.

“Then let’s take a table in the back.” Macy tugged on his arm.

Tyler met Sam’s steely gaze. “We’re all adults and clearly this is a small town, so we’ll be running into each other. Might as well get friendly.”

Before he could slide into the booth next to Nicole, Macy whipped around him and inserted herself there instead. Tyler eyed the long bench Sam sat in the middle of.

“Hell no,” Sam muttered, and shoved himself out of the booth. “Macy, out.”

Nicole stared at Sam, who was acting in a way she’d never seen before.

Obviously responding to the authority in Sam’s voice, Macy immediately scooted out of the seat.

“Sam, we’ve already ordered, so let’s just eat and then we’ll go,” Nicole said, not because she wanted to stay but because it was the polite thing to do.

“Did you order yet?” Sam asked Macy. Obviously he wasn’t speaking to Tyler.

She shook her head.

“Then enjoy.” He held his hand out to Nicole.

Without thought, she placed her hand inside his larger
one, savoring the feeling of skin against skin as he helped her out of the booth.

“You’re being rather rude,” Tyler said.

Macy glared at him. “Shut up.” She glanced at Nicole. “I’ll talk to him. I promise.”

“Still here,” Tyler muttered. But he didn’t argue anymore about Nicole and Sam leaving.

Nicole blinked.

She’d never spoken to Tyler that way, and she doubted he’d take it well if she had. But this was Macy’s personality and she’d decided to take charge . . . and he’d allowed it. Still, she’d done it as if she and Tyler had known each other longer than twenty-four hours.

“Amazing how quickly you two became close,” Nicole said, curious about this new relationship.

Macy chuckled. “I wouldn’t call us close, but I’m the only almost-friend he’s got in this town.”

“Quit talking about me like I’m not here,” Tyler said, more insistent this time. “I’m not an idiot. I just believe Nicole and I have too much in common to let things go so easily.”

Nicole narrowed her gaze. Too much at stake. Too much in common, and he didn’t sound like he meant pepperoni pizza. What was going on?

Sam tugged on her arm.

“I already told you where I stand,” Nicole reminded Tyler. “We’re leaving.” She nodded to Macy, turned, and let Sam pull her out of the pizza parlor and onto the street.

Anger
and annoyance beat through Sam until he
reached the sidewalk and fresh air, putting Nicole’s ex behind them. “What the hell?” he asked her.

She stared at him with wide eyes. “I honestly wish I knew. He was never that possessive when we were together. All I can think of is that maybe his family is putting pressure on him to fix things with me,” she said, her eye twitching as she spoke.

Sam studied her. “Why?”

“Can we go somewhere and talk? Instead of doing this here?”

He nodded. Her hand was still in his, so he merely tightened his hold and led her back toward Main Street and the gazebo where they’d shared their first kiss.

She waited until they were settled in the seats there before speaking. “My father and Tyler’s are partners in an investment firm in Manhattan. Our families have known each other
forever. In fact, Tyler and I practically grew up together, so when we started dating, it seemed . . . meant to be.”

He nodded, processing the fact that they’d had such a long-standing relationship. That they shared a bond. He fucking hated it. A sentiment way out of bounds when he didn’t want more than a casual relationship with her, no matter how strong the desire.

“So they’d naturally want you two together,” he said, pushing down the emotions that rose with her story. Jealousy was okay. Annoyance that her family thought her destined for someone else was not.

She bit down on her lower lip. “That’s part of it,” she murmured.

“There’s more?”

She looked down at her hands, which now ran up and down her thighs. “I’m not sure.”

“But you think so. Why?”

“It’s complicated,” she said, still not meeting his gaze.

He’d seen her in an interrogation room, and she’d been at turns feisty and scared but she’d always looked him in the eye. He shook his head, beyond confused by her words and demeanor. To the cop in him, she was hiding and avoiding, yet he couldn’t deny there was truth in much of what she said. She just hadn’t said everything.

“Can I ask you something?” Now she met his gaze head-on.

“Sure.”

“What did you mean when you said you overreacted when you found out about Tyler because of your past?”

He blinked, startled by the change in subject. He wanted more information about her ex but sensed she’d told him the
truth when she said she didn’t know why Tyler was pushing so hard to get her back. Oh, he didn’t doubt she knew more, but that more wouldn’t change things between them, and he had enough faith in his skills to know he’d get the information eventually. And since Jenna, at least this time he knew better than to invest his heart in any woman, but especially one with secrets. And Nicole had plenty.

They didn’t need full disclosure to have phenomenal sex and a great time together. They just needed enough of an exchange for there to be trust and a sense of comfort, and they could give each other that.

“I was engaged once too,” he told her.

She sucked in a surprised breath.

“What? You can’t imagine someone wanting to marry me?” he joked, because when discussing this part of his life, which he
never
did, he had to deflect somehow.

“Sam—”

“I’m kidding. But I was engaged. To my high school girlfriend. We stayed together through college, and honest to God I thought my future was set.”

“What happened?” Her blue eyes remained steady on his, full of compassion and curiosity.

Pity, he didn’t want, but so far she seemed far from that emotion. “She dumped me for my best friend,” he said bluntly. “The morning of the wedding.”

Nicole winced.

“And that’s why I reacted so harshly to the news that you broke it off with Tyler. It’s also why I understand where the guy’s coming from, even if he’s a complete pain in the ass,” Sam muttered.

She
straightened her shoulders defensively. “Tyler and I hadn’t set a date yet, and I did not and would not cheat.”

“I didn’t say you would.”

“You painted me with that same brush.”

“For a little while,” he allowed. “And I apologized.”

She nodded. “You did. But I sense you’re still holding it against me.”

He shook his head. “No. It’s just that you need to understand what that did to me and my ability to trust—”

“Anyone. You won’t let yourself fully trust anyone.”

He inserted his hands into his pockets, letting her words speak for him.

She sighed. “Okay, now I know. Is there anything else?” she asked.

Sam groaned, knowing he was screwing this up badly. “Just that I don’t want any unrealistic expectations between us.”

Her full lower lip came out in a pout. “What was it I said at the fund-raiser? I’m not looking for complicated or serious myself. So . . . tell me your problem again?”

Put like that, he didn’t have one. Although he was surprised by how much he disliked her easy acceptance of his demands. And for the first time with a woman, after making sure they were on the same page, he wasn’t comfortable suggesting they head home for sex. She deserved more respect from him than that, also a new thought for him. Usually if a woman was willing to go to bed, so was he.

She cocked her head to one side. “Sam? Are you still thinking about things?” she asked, her voice a husky purr as she stepped closer. “Because I’m thinking we’re talked out, thought out, and in agreement about what we want to come next.”

It
wasn’t like Nicole to be forward or brazen, but she forced herself now, sensing that any step they took next hinged on her convincing Sam they were on the same page. Not having him was unacceptable. Especially when she knew, from how angrily he’d dragged her away from Tyler, he desired her as much as she did him.

True, her experience with men was limited to Tyler and one other, but her realm of flirting was much broader. She knew how to schmooze a man in order to get him to loosen his wallet for a good cause. How different could it be to get Sam to relax and trust that she wouldn’t push for more than he wanted to give?

She braced a hand against his T-shirt, feeling his heart beat through the thin cotton fabric. “Don’t you want to pick up where we left off the other night?”

He grasped her wrist with a low growl. Next thing she knew, he’d pulled her against him and sealed his lips over hers. So much simpler than she’d anticipated, Nicole thought, before his tongue darted out, swiping over her lips, and she stopped thinking at all.

She already knew Sam was a master kisser and he didn’t disappoint now, taking control of both her and the situation. And she gladly ceded power. He devoured her with his mouth, ravished her with his tongue. Their bodies came together and he rolled his hips against hers, slowly, methodically, over and over until flames lit her up from the inside out.

Together they created a raging inferno—there were no other words for the heated passion flaring between them. When he lifted his head and she looked into his eyes, they sizzled with the same urgency thrumming through her.

“Home?” he asked.

She
managed a nod, thrilled with the knowledge that she’d broken through the last of his reserves. Now she hoped she didn’t get crushed in the dust when he was through.