“You know I hate that nickname.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. I just love the look on your face. Besides, you had to be the cutest Tinkerbelle ever.”
She licked her bottom lip. “I was ten and don’t forget your sister conned you into being Peter Pan. I could call you Pan. Do you really want to be reminded that you wore tights?”
His chuckle turned into a full laugh. “Awe, calm down. Don’t embarrass me in front of the guys.”
As she faced him, her breath caught in her chest. Could he be any better looking? Last night, sometime between cutting watermelon and making rice crispy treats, it hit her just how badly she would miss him this time around.
“No. I promise I won’t embarrass you,” Angela replied.
Their gazes met and her lungs revolted against breathing. She could drown in the deep blue of his eyes. Her brain repeated how much she didn’t need to lose Rebecca. She tried to remember the drama and trouble Rebecca had caused Nic’s previous girlfriends. Her heart struggled to care.
Pushing her desperate longing aside, Angela paused and nibbled at her lower lip, a smirk forming. “You generally need no help in that department.”
His eyes twinkled. “Nice comeback. It only took you half a minute to come up with it. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ang, or should I call you Tink?”
Angela turned away from him. She couldn’t risk losing herself again without risking doing something stupid.
“So. I. well.” Good. She was an articulate, pinning, nut-job. Before she could finish her thought, a tall skinny blond bimbo sidled up next to Nic.
“Nicy. I’ve missed you.”
Angela chuckled as Nic’s features went slack.
“Angela?” he said through clenched teeth.
She shrugged. “It wasn’t me. Promise.”
“Nicy, why don’t you answer my calls?” Josie asked. Her finger traced Nic’s jaw before he batted her away.
Angela was thankful at that moment for not having a drink; she’d have spit it out at the look on Nic’s face. She couldn’t watch this. As she turned, she whispered to him, “Blame your sister.”
Chapter Five
Nic rolled his head from one side to the other, trying to release tension. “Josie? What are you doing here?” He peeled her off his arm and grabbed Angela’s. She had let his sister do this, she’d help him out of it.
Josie glared. “Your sister and I ran into each other the other day. She mentioned this great little party over lunch. I had to say goodbye.”
Nic hadn’t a clue what was going through the girl’s head. “Yes, you could not have come. Break ups usually give you an out for not go to the other person’s party. A breakup is a pretty decent goodbye.”
Her thin lips stretched into a line. God, he hated her lips. He’s always felt like he was kissing a skeleton or something.
Nic glanced next to him, his eyes finding Angela’s mouth. Honestly, Josie was beautiful, but she would ever be Angela. He imagined the feel of kissing her, the warmth of her mouth against his. His pants seemed to tighten at the idea and he quickly envisioned kissing Josie again to tame the beast. Being around Angela, wanting her and not being able to touch, kept him in a steady state of frustration.
“Now, Nic. We both know you broke it off because of this deployment. I want you to know, though, that I promise I’ll be fine. I’ll wait for you. Really.” Josie shifted toward him and he stumbled back.
“Ouch! I’m still here, remember?” Angela started to topple.
He reached out and grabbed at her shoulder before Angela could fall over. “Yeah. Sorry.” He quickly took hold of her upper arm and pulled her in front of him.
Josie nearly ran into her.
“Oh. Gee’s, Nic.” Angela swatted at his hand on her arm. “Uh. Hi, Josie. Apparently, he just had a stroke. We should probably go get him some water or something. Nic, are you feeling dizzy?”
Keeping a straight look on his face, Nic went along with Angela. “Yeah. Dizzy. Water would be great.”
Josie looked like she’d just sucked a lemon, but she backed away. “Oh, okay. Well, come right back. I’ll be here.”
Angela turned around, forcing him to release her. She pushed him quickly away and toward the patio doors. Once inside, she turned on him.
“Don’t you ever put me in the middle, ever, ever again.”
Nic suppressed the laugh bubbling up inside. “If she comes over again, I need my buffer. So yes, I will literally be putting you in the middle each and every time. It’s your fault my sister invited my most recent stalker.”
Angela’s eyebrows shot up, and she poked her finger into his chest. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re the one leaving a trail of broken hearted woman behind you. I told your sister you wouldn’t want her. It’s not my fault you didn’t tell her that yourself.”
He backed up into the counter and stopped, leaning against it. Fighting with Angela was always amusing. “Right. Because I had any indication my nut-job sister would decide inviting an ex was a great idea. Aren’t you my wingman?” Nic regretted his words as he watched the light in Angela’s eyes dim.
What the hell had he done now?
“Wing man. Right. Of course. I was supposed to tell you when your sister did something stupid, or help you at the bars. Right. Got it.”
She backed away from him slowly, babbling. She only did that when she was hurt or nervous.
Nic reached out, and she sidestepped his grasp. “Ang. What did I do now?” He pulled back his arm and rubbed the horrible tightness behind his pecks. That woman could drive him insane and he hated to see her upset. He could handle the riled up Angela, the one who spit fire. He couldn’t handle the version that made him realize he’d failed to protect her.
“Ang, I’m not sure what I said, but yes. That’s what friends do. You’re pretty much the best friend I’ve ever had.” His eyes caught movement at the door.
“Hell. You’re way better looking than Banks here,” Nic nodded to the door.
Angela turned to greet one his brothers. Nic had served with the hard-ass for more years than he could count. He trusted the SOB with his life until he saw the look on Banks’ face when he saw Angela.
Nic stopped and assessed what he’d missed. Angela wore a strappy, yellow number with some kind of pink flowers. There were a few buttons that drew his attention to her cleavage, an area he’d tried to avoid, along with her butt, her hips, her mouth, her eyes, and her hair. Crap, he sucked at this platonic thing. Clenching his jaw, he attempted to squash out the pain growing in his groin and the heat settling in his stomach.
“Banks. Don’t you have somewhere else to be? There’s a tall crazy blonde out there that you are welcome to.”
His friend laughed. “Yeah. I saw her and then I saw you duck in here with this one.” He flashed Angela a smile that made Nic’s blood boil, the heat in his stomach racketing up a few notches.
“Angela, maybe we can finish up the conversation we couldn’t at the bar last time you came down.”
Nic studied her face; he didn’t want to see anything there but indifference. He knew it was wrong to stop her from meeting a guy that might actually be good for her. Guilt should have hit him every time he talked down any guy she dated. He’d been the cause of a lot of breakups, but what would he do if she dated Banks? His brother in arms and one of the best men he knew. He’d seen something at the bar and had an easy time ignoring it. What the hell could he do here, though?
Angela smiled at him and gave Nic a sideways glance. “You are such a flirt, Banks. Go grab a couple of beers and we’ll be right out.”
A searing pain shot through his skull as Nic watched her reach up and whisper in Banks’ ear. Nic had no idea how long he’d stood there when Angela’s face appeared in front of his.
“Nic? Breath. You’re not breathing. Why aren’t you breathing?”
He shook his head and stood straight. His biceps ached, and he realized he’d tensed his entire body.
“Let’s go back out to the party,” was all he managed to say.
Angela turned to the door, sliding the screen aside. “Come on. It’s your party. After you.”
He rocked his head side-to-side trying to release the pressure in his muscles. “Yeah. Right. Sure.”
Chapter Six
Nic took a long pull from the bottle. The icy cool beer flowing down his throat hadn’t done anything for his mood after the first three bottles and, odds were, the next this one wouldn’t help either. He’d probably hurt tomorrow. Might as well let his body feel the way his damn heart would if Angela didn’t turn away from Banks.
All rational thought came to a halt as he watched her shapely legs run around the party. She’d been catching his attention ever since he’d been stupid enough to actually notice her tonight. At least she wasn’t with Banks anymore.
He knew she was beautiful inside and out, but no one else was supposed to see it. The fact she’d been his little sister’s best friend up until the last few years and then crossed into being his friend as well should have made him stop wanting from wanting more. The trouble was, they were treading some gray waters. She was the person he called any time he was bored, tired, excited, anxious, or hell, just anytime.
The beer grew bitter the longer the night went on. Her yellow dress now scorched into his corneas. No matter where she was, he knew and, at the moment, she was once again with Banks. Angela laughed and her hand touched his chest. This wasn’t going to work for Nic. Not even a little.
“Nic, are you okay?”
He studied the pair a few seconds longer before turning to the voice behind him, another of his brothers in arms. “What? Yeah, sure.”
The guy chuckled and slapped him on the shoulder. “Does Banks know your attempting to murder him with telepathy?”
“Man, what are you talking about?” Nic tried to brush off the idea that someone had noticed what he was doing, whatever it was. Jealousy that accurately described the wretched nausea. He was so damn jealous, he should have been a dark shade of green.
“Why don’t you just go tell her?”
Nic licked his bottom lip and took another sip of beer. The attempt to reign in his frustration, fruitless. “Mind your own damn business.”
His brother clapped him on the back one more time and mumbled, “At least tell Banks, and try not to kill him before we lift off. We need his ass.”
“It’s not his ass that is going to be in trouble if those hands don’t remain on the beer,” Nic grumbled.
His friend laughed unchecked and Nic’s face heated to a boiling point.
Chapter Seven
Out of the corner of her eye, Angela caught movement. She removed her hand from the solid man in from of her. He was a warm body, a very good looking warm body. There was no sense of loss after she stopped touching him, though. There hadn’t been a lot of comfort either. She turned in the direction she’d seen the blur, the last thing she needed was someone getting sick on Rebecca’s plants.
Her eyes flew open as a very pissed off male charged at her. “What the—?”
“Angela, I need to see you.” Nic reached for her arm. Surprise and confusion flooded her as his hand clamped down forcefully on her wrist.
“Ouch. Nic. Let go.”
He grunted a few words and loosened his grip a bit. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
This wasn’t a Nic she recognized. “Okay, Nic. Sure. Uh, Banks I—”
Nic cut her off abruptly. “Banks, she has something to do. Go over and get some feel good hugs from someone else.”
Angela stumbled as Nic gave a tug for her to follow.
What is the heck was wrong with him?
Fear replaced surprise. Did he just get bad news about his deployment? Had his ex done something stupid? A myriad of questions raced through her head and she forced her feet to keep up.
Nic stormed into the kitchen. “What are you doing with him?” His voice practically shook.
Angela paused several steps behind him. “What? Who?”
Nic ran his hands through his hair, his back still toward her. The muscles so tense, they showed through the dry-fit shirt he had on. Moments passed.
Hesitantly, she approached him. “Nic? Are you okay?”
He turned to her, his face red and his eyes, the beautiful eyes she’d memorized, appeared sadder than she’d ever seen. “Banks? What—” He stopped himself and took a deep breath. “What do you think you are doing with him?”
Angela never got angry, but the idea he was questioning her about a guy, about Banks. Someone he swore was one of the best guys he knew, really hurt. He wasn’t allowed to act like a brother. She didn’t want a brother, but he couldn’t be anything else.
“Nic. You aren’t my guardian and you aren’t my brother. I’m an adult and you’re a big boy. I think you can figure out what I’m doing.”
If she didn’t know him so well, she’d have missed the rage that flashed across his chiseled features.
“Don’t you talk to me like that, Angela.”
She eyed him, his fists clenching continuously by his sides.
“Oh, my God. Back off. You’ve always told me what a great guy he is, but what? Is it that I’m not good enough for him? What am I, too much a train wreck for someone like him? Your sister seems to think so, why not you? Fine. You know what? Whatever. I’ll leave him alone.”
Her jaw started to ache, forcing her to release the muscles clenching her molars.
“What the heck are you talking about, Angela?”
His voice sounded calmer to her. Too bad she was already too angry and hurt to care. He’d always steered her away from guys, always pointing out the bad choices she was making, but this time, she knew she’d made a good choice. He might not have caused butterflies to swarm her stomach like Nic did, but he was nice and safe and he was a warm body to fill the void.
“What? This time, it’s not me making the bad choice? This time, it’s Banks you should be warning off. I have to go do something.” She spun on her heel.
“What? What do you have to do? Get back here. I’m talking to you.” His voice echoed down the hall to her room.
She started to slam the door as a thud sounded against it.
“Damn it, Ang. That hurt.” Nic rubbed his head. His foot remained in place against the base of the door, keeping her from closing it.
“Oh, crap. I’m sorry.”
“Move over. Let me in,” he said, ignoring her apology.
Stepping away, she riffled around grabbing clothes off her bed and tossing them into the closet. She didn’t really care what Nic saw, he’d seen her room worse, but at the moment, she hadn’t a clue what to do with her hands.
“Ang, stop.” The door closed behind him. He approached her, determination in his step. Her heart beat against her ribs harder and harder with every inch. He moved in and grabbed her hands.
“Stop. Just stop.” The words a growl to Angela’s surprise. “I’m sorry. I’m not handling this right. I’m not doing anything right.”
She studied the lines of his face. Her fingers ached to trace and memorize the planes. “What Nic? What aren’t you doing right?” Her voice sounded breathy to her own ears.
He moistened his lips and her body reacted to the seemly innocent action, watering at the idea of touching her lips to his. She crossed her legs, attempting to stave off the sensations he invoked, trying to squelch down the feelings running through her body like a runaway train.
“This. Angela. You. I’m messing this up.”
The words made little sense to her. Her mind derailed for a moment and went down the less traveled path.
Does he think of me as more than just a friend?
“I’m sorry, Nic. What are you talking about? How does someone mess another person up?”
She bit her lower lip. Her eyes flitting across his face, trying to remember each line, every inch that made Nic handsome in his own way. Her heart ached know
ing this was goodbye again. She prayed it would only be for a few months and he would return home in one piece.
“I don’t know. Just us. Whatever us there is or could be. I don’t know.” He paused and her stomach twisted.
“I uh…I have something for you. I’ll be right back.” He turned and practically sprinted out of her room, hollering back. “Stay, Angela, I mean it.”
Angela’s gaze scanned the space. She was excited to move soon. She finally had a down payment and couldn’t wait to have a chance to start a life of her own. Not that she wanted a life separate from Nic, but she needed to get some space to finally see her life for herself, and maybe find someone. Rebecca was too close for her to discover what she’d really want in life.
Blowing out a breath, Angela flopped onto her bed, forgetting the idea of cleaning. She fidgeted with a loose thread on her bedspread, trying to wrap her mind around Nic’s crazy behavior. She’d never seen him act that way. Sure, they’d had fights, but this one had been different. He seemed the eye bulging crazy-mad, rather than just mad. She swallowed down hopes of what any of it could mean. He wasn’t hers and never could be. Rebecca made it very clear where she stood on Nic and Angela dating. It was off limits, or Angela would lose her best friend.
Nic seemed to jump back into the room and she instantly noticed the difference. The air was electrified by his mere presence.
Angela sprang up from the bed. Something was changing and she didn’t know what. Her heart, ever the traitor, beat out of control. The sight of him in the doorway, the boy-next-door with edge, always made her weak in the knees. He would forever be the man she’d compare every other man to. Nic was her fantasy.
The anger that had stained his face a moment ago had disappeared, replaced by something else. As he stepped closer to her, she noticed tenderness in his eyes. Her breath caught with each stride. The nearer he came, the harder it was to breathe. Time stopped. She couldn’t look away.
He reached out to her and traced the fingertips of his free hand up her forearm.
Chills pebbled her skin where his touch had been.
He cleared his throat and glanced down, breaking the spell. “Here.” He practically thrust a roll of fabric at her.
She blinked quickly and reached for it. “Okay. What is this? Am I supposed to sew you something for deployment?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Just open it.”
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