The salesman took a pad and pen from the pocket of his shirt and began writing. “There’s a ten-day delivery,” he said.
Nick picked a credit card out of his wallet and handed it over. The salesman walked off to the counter to ring up the sale.
“How do you know I like this bedroom suite best?” Joy asked. “I haven’t commented about any of them.”
“I saw it in your eyes.” Nick gave Joy a knowing look.
“You really should have brought Diana along. She’s so much better at decorating. She can picture it all in her head. I can’t. What if this set is too big for the room?” His wanting to please her taste thrilled Joy while at the same time it made her crazy.
“If it doesn’t fit right, I’ll take a piece out and put it in another room. Okay?”
Joy punched Nick’s arm. “You gave that salesman the impression we’re lovers.”
“We are.” Nick quirked a seductive smile. “Even if it’s still just in name only.”
Joy scooted away from him rather than tackle that comment. “Are we going to look at furniture for the rest of the house?” she asked instead.
“Just housewares for now and we can call it a day.”
“Housewares?” Joy asked, strolling with Nick to the cash register as their salesman motioned them over.
“Pots, pans, dishes, silverware, glasses. Oh, and a blanket. Where would they have blankets?”
Joy was taking notice of a suspicious look in his blue eyes. “What do you need a blanket for now? You won’t have the bedroom set for ten days.”
“We need a blanket for the picnic we’re having tonight. I want that meal you’ve been promising me, even if I’m not officially moving in yet. Can’t wait any longer, babe,” he said, grinning into her eyes.
“What am I supposed to cook?” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. She didn’t need him to tell her that a meal wasn’t all he was after.
“Steaks. Baked potatoes. Salad, which I will cut up for you. I’ve already shopped and its all just waiting for your special touch.” He’d purchased everything he could think of to make the meal complete, including a bottle of wine.
“Uh-huh,” was all Joy could think to say, as Nick handed the signed charge slip over and received his copy. There was little she could do to combat him.
They unpacked together in the kitchen of Nick’s new home, putting away everything they’d purchased that day except what they were going to need for their meal. Nick had signed the lease on the house just a few days ago. And, as he had discussed with Joy, he had indeed selected house number three—the Victorian.
“Mmm,” Nick murmured, stealing a taste of marinade Joy had selected from the department store’s gourmet shop. She was busily laying out the ingredients for their steak dinner.
“Will you make yourself scarce?” Joy pleaded. “I can’t cook with anyone watching me.” It was watching him lick his lips that had gotten to her—not that she wasn’t already wildly unnerved. How long did she think she could play with fire and not get burned? Right, Joy Mackey! So why are you here?
“Let’s have some wine first,” Nick said, taking the bottle out of the refrigerator.
Joy understood now why he’d insisted on adding a set of wineglasses to his purchases. He’d neglected to mention that he already had the wine. She washed and dried two glasses, while her eyes flitted his way as he dipped a hand into the last shopping bag and brought out the blanket. The kitchen, Joy told herself, with its brightly lit fixture was hardly the place for a seduction. That thought quieted her rapid pulse some.
“Bring the glasses,” Nick said, taking off with the bottle and the blanket.
“Why don’t we just have the wine in the kitchen?” Joy asked nervously but trailing after him with the glasses.
Nick put the bottle down on the hardwood floor in the living room and spread the blanket out.
“Sit,” he ordered.
“I’ll stand.” Joy’s eyes skittered down to her unsteady hands holding the wineglasses. “I want to put the steaks on. You’ve got to be hungry. All we had for lunch was that hot dog in the mall. I know I’m starving. You must be starving. I can’t believe that one hot dog has held you till now.”
Nick sat down on the blanket with his eyes raised up to assess her. “Sit with me for a minute. Have a couple of sips of wine and then I’ll help you get dinner on. You’re not afraid of sitting down next to me, are you?”
Joy lowered herself to the blanket. She sat Indianstyle with the two glasses gripped forcefully in her palms. “Is that mistletoe?” she asked, gazing upward at a sprig dangling from a dimly lit Victorian fixture above her head.
“’Tis the season,” Nick grinned.
Joy scooted over to get out from being directly under the sprig.
“Too late.” Nick shook his head.
“It’s not too late,” Joy argued, her pulse skyrocketing through the roof. How would she ever get over him if she didn’t put an end to it now?
“It’s too late and way too long,” Nick whispered. “Do you know it’s been an entire week since I’ve kissed you?” He pried both glasses out of her hands and put them down next to the bottle on the hardwood floor.
Joy quickly got to her feet. He looked up at her with mystified eyes. Bending at the waist, Joy plopped a kiss on his mouth and straightened back up.
He grinned at her boyishly. “Is that it? I risk life and limb to climb up a ladder that I found in the basement—and which is missing three rungs, might I add—to hang mistletoe, and that’s all I get?”
“Poor baby,” Joy laughed, already making a dash for the kitchen. “You should have bought a new ladder,” she commented over her shoulder.
He chased after her, catching her easily. Hands to her elbows, he raised her up off her feet at the doorway to the kitchen.
“Put me down!” Joy demanded, laughing as he lifted her even higher, demonstrating his strength.
He let her down, but he didn’t let go. “Kiss me right first, and I’ll behave for now.”
Joy put her lips to his. Keeping her mouth closed, she kissed him lightly. A fleeting smack.
“I’ve got to tell you, I’ve had better,” Nick taunted, still not releasing her.
“From Diana?” Joy brought up the specter between them, though she knew perfectly well that wasn’t what he’d meant.
He let go of her then. Silence ticked along for several seconds, then Nick asked quietly, “Do you really believe that?”
Joy turned away. What she believed was that she was much too near making an utter fool of herself and losing her heart forever in the bargain.
Nick’s hands circled her upper arms and forced her to turn back around. “Are you using Diana to erect a barrier against me? Are you afraid to trust any guy? Is that what this is all about?”
“I—I’m afraid to trust you,“ Joy confirmed.
He watched her face, looking for a lessening in her position while he dropped his hands. “If Diana is between us, it’s at your insistence, not mine.”
Joy’s determined gaze met his. “I know if Diana decides she wants you instead of Kevin that will be it for me.” All she had to do was look in a mirror to evaluate that she wasn’t any competition.
The hair bristled at the back of Nick’s neck, and his shoulders tensed. “Do you realize you’re not giving me a way to prove myself to you? What happens after Diana and Kevin get married? Am I off the hook then?”
“I don’t want to be second-best,” Joy said belligerently.
“You are hardly second-best,” Nick returned tightly. “If you don’t know that, if you can’t feel it, then I can’t show it to you or say it to you in any better way than I already have.” Nick jammed his hand through his hair. “I’ll cut up the salad. You can put on the steaks. If you’d rather, I can put the steaks on, as well.”
“Nick…” Joy said shakily as he started to walk into the kitchen. She really didn’t want to push him away. She kept doing it, but she didn’t wan
t to.
He came right back to her, the anger in his blue eyes falling away with amazing speed, to be replaced by gentle sensitivity.
“I don’t know how to reach you,” Nick groaned. “Do you know that?”
Joy’s head bobbed up and down. Her bottom lip was quivering. “Could we just start this evening again?”
A smile wiped the pained expression off his face. “How about one more little kiss to bring peace back between us?” He brought his head down to place his mouth within easy kissing reach.
Giving him more than the price he asked, Joy put her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the feeling inside of her, taking from him everything he gave back.
Nick smiled as their lips parted. “Now that’s a kiss. Are you sure you want dinner?”
“Yes,” Joy lied sprightly.
He gave her a suggestive head-to-toe scan. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to make a believer out of you yet.”
Joy raised a tentative hand and ran a finger across his mouth. “Keep trying, okay?”
“Okay.” Nick winked. “Now put those steaks on, woman, before I find that finger of yours too tempting.”
He hustled her into the kitchen before he could change his mind and lead her back to the blanket. “You know that expression about food being the way to a man’s heart? Does it work for women?”
“No,” Joy laughed, giddy and loose again.
“Give me time,” Nick grinned.
Joy smirked impishly, while in her head she prayed, Please let this be for real.
They worked together in companionable silence. Nick took care of the salad while Joy put the potatoes in the microwave and started preparing the steaks.
Nick nearly sliced his finger open, so intent on enjoying the sight of Joy being domestic that he’d let his attention wonder from the task he was performing.
“How do you like your steak?” Joy asked, finding his blue eyes already on her.
“Still pink inside.”
“Me, too.”
“Sour cream or butter for your potatoes?” he asked.
“Sour cream,” Joy answered.
“Me, too,” Nick said.
And for no reason either could imagine, that made them both laugh.
“What about salad dressing?” Joy still had a smile on her mouth.
Nick took out an oil and balsamic vinegar dressing from a cabinet above.
“Mmm,” Joy murmured. “I think I’ll give that a try.”
Smiling, Nick put the dressing on the counter. “Do you know you send shivers through me with that ‘mmm’ of yours?”
Joy rejoined, “You sent shivers through me when you said ‘Mmm’ before.”
“Mmm,” Nick murmured, giving it his best.
“Mmm,” Joy whispered back, trying to outdo him.
And again they both laughed.
It took no time at all for their dinner to be ready. They took their plates and bowls into the living room. Nick put his dinner down on the blanket and went back to the kitchen for silverware. Joy looked at the two as-yet-unused glasses and the bottle of wine. She gazed up at the sprig of mistletoe.
Nick came back with silverware and napkins and a can of soda, as well. “We don’t have to drink the wine.”
“I’d rather have the wine,” Joy said, her voice almost a whisper.
But she drank only half a glass to the two he had while they clumsily worked at cutting their meat in the plates set on their laps.
“Next meal we have at a table,” Nick grinned, breaking the tension that had crept back in.
Joy ate ravenously, though Nick finished his steak, potato and salad way before she did. He took the plate and bowl from her and set it next to his.
“More wine?” Nick raised the bottle, wishing he’d thought to purchase a stereo system. A tape deck. A radio.
Joy shook her head.
Nick smiled. “Can’t get you inebriated, huh?”
“No.” She matched his smile.
He put the bottle down, not really wanting any more himself.
“Nick…” She wasn’t looking directly at him as he lay there, stretched out and braced up on an elbow, while she sat with her feet curled up beneath her.
He heard the questioning tone in her voice. “If you want to ask me something, Joy, just ask.”
“Did you know that you had an allergy to shellfish?” Joy hated asking, but it was there in her head, though she’d managed until now to keep it squelched.
“No,” he replied somewhat impatiently before continuing in a calmer tone. “I haven’t had shellfish for quite some time. I didn’t have an allergy to it before now.” He glanced at her arms, crossed defensively over her breasts. “Can you try to believe me?”
Joy nodded her head jerkily.
“Are you warm?” he asked offhandedly, springing to his feet. “I set the thermostat all the way up this morning. I haven’t adjusted it at all.”
“Yes.” She saw the sheen of perspiration on his face and could feel the same on her own. Only it wasn’t just the heating system that had caused her to grow warm.
“You can take off your sweater if you want,” Joy said, trying to sound impersonal as he went to adjust the thermostat.
He sat back down next to her and ran a hand randomly through his hair. “I couldn’t possibly consider making myself more comfortable unless you’re going to do the same.”
Joy laughed, knowing from his teasing that he’d forgiven her for asking him about the shellfish. “What would you do if I took you up on that?”
“I could sit on my hands if you want.” He reached out to tentatively brush her breast.
Joy removed his hand and held it down on the floor. “We’re just talking about it as a possibility.” It was all she could do to keep a straight face. It was all she could do to keep from moaning.
Nick dropped his head down to the blanket and used his other hand to circle the back of her neck. “You’re still under the mistletoe,” he whispered, before he pulled her down and captured her mouth.
Joy flattened herself on top of him while they both made sounds of frustrated passion. Suns and moons and every other excuse she’d ever come up with to explain her reaction to him flashed across her mind as she let her tongue and lips and hands respond to him. They were pressed together so tightly that not even a bedbug could have come between them.
The doorbell did that, jarring them both.
“Who the hell could that be?” Nick growled, letting the ring continue.
“I think you’d better go see.” Joy drew a deep, shuddering breath as she rolled off him. “Your car is in the driveway. Whoever it is will know that someone is home.”
He kissed her again, quickly, before he got up and went to the front door.
“Hi,” Diana and Kevin chimed as Nick opened the door.
Diana went on blithely. “Before she left for her weekend with her friends, Mom told me that you and Joy were having dinner here. We brought cake for dessert. We just had the worst meal ever. I’m absolutely certain now that we’ve picked the right caterer.”
“Diana insisted we come over,” Kevin said with just enough of an apology in his voice for Nick to pick up on.
Diana had already entered the house, and by the time the brothers caught up, she had handed Joy the cake box and was unbuttoning her coat.
“Where can we put our coats?” Diana asked Nick as Kevin was slowly removing his.
Back on, was the immediate response Nick had in his head.
“There are hangers in the closet,” Joy answered. “I’ll take them from you. Here, hold the cake.”
“Black Forest,” Diana enthused with the box back in her hand.
Nick didn’t try for an eager expression or even a polite one. Diana didn’t notice. She was eyeing the dinner plates and bowls still on the floor.
Joy returned and Diana said to her, “I’ll help you clean up. Then we can have the cake. I’m glad I’m wearing slacks. I didn’
t think about there not being a table and chairs. Oh, Nick, why don’t you show Kevin around.”
It wasn’t until Diana and Joy were alone in the kitchen that Diana took a closer look at Joy.
“Is something going on between you and Nick?” her sister asked.
“Going on?” Joy repeated, as she scraped off their dinner dishes.
“Have you and Nick gotten personally involved?” Diana put it more pointedly.
“Would it bother you if we were?” Joy returned, ruthlessly scrubbing the frying pan with a sponge she’d drenched in dishwashing liquid.
Diana contemplated. “I think it would.”
“Why?” Joy placed the clean frying pan on the. counter and began attacking the dishes. “You wanted to fix Nick up with Rachel.”
“That’s different,” Diana answered dismissively. “Is there a towel?”
“Paper towels,” Joy responded. “Why would it be different for Nick to be involved with Rachel?”
“It just would be. And you do work with him, that could be tricky.” Diana unwound a wad of paper towels and began wiping the pan. “You haven’t fallen for him, have you?”
“No,” Joy lied, feeling as if Eddie DeMarco’s prediction had come true. It was abundantly obvious that just the thought of Nick being interested in her had Diana jealous.
“Do you have small plates for the cake?” Diana asked.
“Yes.” Joy sluggishly nodded.
“How about coffee?”
“No,” Joy answered listlessly.
Diana walked to the doorway of the kitchen. “Kevin,” she called.
“Yes,” Kevin answered the summons, coming down from the second floor with Nick.
“Would you and Nick go out and get us all coffee? I think there’s a deli just down the street.”
“Do you want me to see if I can find someplace to get cappuccino?” Kevin asked.
“Regular coffee is fine for me.” Diana turned her head to Joy. “Would you rather cappuccino if Kevin can find a place?”
“No,” Joy said indifferently. She didn’t care what she drank. Her life was over.
“Joy, will you come with me tomorrow to pick up my wedding gown?” Diana asked a little while later as the two couples sat around finishing their dessert.
About That Kiss Page 11