by Vivian Arend
He wouldn’t. “You’re not going to tell my brother-in-law about my disastrous date.”
“Right again,” Troy said, wrapping his hands around her hips and pulling her into his lap. “I won’t tell him, you will.”
Not fucking likely.
“Sweetheart, you need to let your brother know what happened, even if it’s just for the sake of the women who work with the jerk.”
Shit. She hadn’t thought about that.
“He’s not a criminal,” she insisted.
“No, but, he’s an asshole, and he didn’t stop right away when you said no.” Troy reached up and brushed a finger over her cheekbone. “You’re strong, and you’re smart, and you’ve got just enough don’t give a damn to get out before things got dangerous. Someone else might not be as lucky.”
She nodded, letting out a long unhappy breath before leaning toward him and resting her head on his chest. She snuck her arms around his torso. “That is going to be one hell of an awkward conversation.”
“If you want backup, let me know,” he offered, curling his arms around her and holding her tight.
It felt right to be wrapped up together with him. For the first time since she’d walked out on Jordan, she felt as if she could breathe. It took a few minutes, but some of the tension in Troy’s body faded. He’d been so worked up, and it was good to know he was returning to a normal state of mind as well.
“Thank you for coming to get me.”
He stroked her hair, the familiar touch soothingly good in all the ways she needed at that moment. “Anytime, babe. Anytime.”
Chapter Seven
Nicole slipped into the passenger seat of Laurel’s teeny car. “Sorry I’m late.”
“You’re on time,” Laurel assured her, heading down the road toward Traders. She glanced over. “You look pretty.”
“I feel like an idiot,” Nicole protested. “I couldn’t figure out if I was supposed to dress up or dress down or what. Speed dating. Ugh.”
“I doubt it matters the specifics what you’re wearing. You get, what? Five minutes at a time? The guys won’t notice more than your smile and your boobs, not necessarily in that order.”
Nicole laughed. “I can’t tell if you say these things on purpose to shock me, or if it’s part of your natural charm.”
Laurel made a rude noise. “Trust me, the inappropriate comments come naturally. I’m trying really hard to turn over a new leaf and stop speaking before I think.”
“I’m trying to cut down on swearing,” Nicole confessed. Along with the whole lot of other bad habits, but even as they headed toward another step in her dating adventures, Nicole wasn’t sure this was the right decision.
Her run-in with Mr. Handsy the other day had been a very unpleasant wake-up call. It wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d hoped to change her path. Her sisters had made it look easy, but then, Nicole hadn’t been paying much attention when they’d starting dating—she probably hadn’t noticed Cyndi and Jodie dealing with bullshit until they found their Mr. Rights.
She was committed to at least try the evening.
A quick peek at Laurel made her pause. “You don’t look as if you plan to take part tonight.”
Laurel’s pale cheeks flushed. “I changed my mind. I’m not looking for anyone to date.”
“Oh, really.” Nicole twisted in her seat, interested in what was causing her friend’s blush to continue to rise. “Is that because there’s someone you’ve got your eye on?”
Laurel indicated a turn, her full attention on the road.
“You do. You have the hots for someone already,” Nicole teased.
“Have you ever tried speed dating before?” Laurel asked.
“Nice try, but changing the subject isn’t going to work. Who is he?”
A low melodic whistle began as Laurel pursed her lips and ignored the question again.
This was getting fun. Nicole leaned an elbow on the dash and grinned. “Come on, you must tell me.”
“Get used to disappointment.”
“We could double date,” Nicole offered enticingly.
Nothing worked. They were pulling into the parking lot at the pub, and Laurel still hadn’t shared a name.
Nicole was impressed. “You might be a lousy liar, but you’re good at keeping secrets.”
Laura flashed a smile. “Give me a call when you’re done, and I’ll come get you.”
“You could’ve told me to drive myself, you know.”
“Are you kidding?” Laurel passed Nicole an envelope, leaning across the passenger seat to offer it.
“What’s this?” Nicole asked, shaking it lightly.
“A list of questions to ask. I did a Google search for you.” Her smile widened. “I figured you might not have thought about preparing.”
Nicole checked the first couple of questions. What do you do for work? Where are you from?
It looked innocent enough. “Thanks. Great idea.”
“You’re welcome. And I expect all the dirt when you’re done.”
It was good to know the evening would be entertaining for one of them, no matter what. “Troublemaker.”
Nicole passed through the doors on the side of the pub that held the pool tables and dartboards. Usually the room was set up with a mess of tables scattered everywhere for people to sit and chat while they drank. The dance floor and more active entertainments were on the opposite side of the building, separated by a wall.
Tonight the owners had rearranged everything, pulling every small table they had into a wide circle. Two chairs were arranged on either side so that each couple would have a moderate amount of privacy during their short opportunity to talk.
Low music played in the background, and the lights were dim enough all Nicole could see from the corner where the men had congregated were tall outlines and broad shoulders.
“You must be Nicole.”
She turned to face the speaker. A pretty young woman dressed in a frilly blouse held a clipboard in front of her. Her blonde hair was held back in a ponytail, and a pair of frameless glasses perched on her nose.
“I am. Nicole Adams.”
The woman checked off her name then motioned her to the right side of the room. “I’ll be your hostess for the evening. If you’d like a drink, you’ve got about five minutes before we’ll be getting started.”
Nicole grabbed a glass of white wine, chatting with a few familiar women. All too soon they were corralled toward the chairs, ladies sitting on the inside of the circle. The position meant that unless she craned her neck all the way to the left or right, she couldn’t very easily see the couples on either side of her. Her main focus would be whoever sat opposite her.
She took another sip of her drink, replacing it carefully on the table. Butterflies danced in her stomach, so she grabbed the notes Laurel had made, unfolding the paper in her lap like a talisman, cool and smooth under her fingertips.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be starting the timer in two minutes.” Their hostess spoke quietly over a microphone, her pleasant voice breaking through the low murmur of masculine conversation. “Gentlemen, if you could please make your way to your assigned starting position. You’ll have five minutes with each date. I’ll ask the gentlemen to please move quickly when you hear the bell ring. You’ll know it’s time to change seats when you hear this sound.”
A light, pixie-like noise rang over the speakers, and Nicole fought to keep from giggling. It was too much like the children’s book she’d just listened to her nieces reading on their iPad. The one where Tinker Bell rang a bell when it was time to turn the page.
She was still grinning widely when an older man settled into the seat across the table.
The bell rang, and they exchanged names. Nicole glanced at her cheat sheet. “What do you do for work?” she asked.
“Farm.”
Nicole waited, but that was the extent of his answer. He seemed extraordinarily pleased with it, though, smiling across at her as his gaz
e drifted over her face then down the front of her shirt.
Boobs and smile. Nicole was going to hit Laurel hard the next time she saw her for putting the thought into her head.
It took forever before he spoke. “Do you like horses?”
“Not really,” Nicole admitted. “I like looking at them, but I don’t ride.”
His smile vanished. “Oh.”
Silence.
So much for the concept of speed dating. This was the longest five minutes of her entire life. Turning to see how everyone else was doing would be extremely rude, so she was stuck, desperately, for ways to make time pass quicker.
To the cheat sheet. “Was there something you wanted to tell me about yourself?” Nicole asked frantically.
He thought for a second. “I like horses.”
Of course he did. “Any type in particular?”
His eyes narrowed. “You making fun of me?”
“Oh, no. Honestly no.” If a hole had opened in the floor at that moment and swallowed her, chair and all, Nicole would’ve been eternally grateful.
Silence. Then, “Brown ones, I guess.”
She bit her lips to stop from laughing out loud. Tinker Bell finally rang the fucking bell, and Nicole breathed a sigh of relief as Farmer John rose, dipped his chin once then shuffled to his right, hat held in hands.
Only fifty-five more minutes of this scintillating, oh-so-entertaining evening to go.
She reached for her wineglass, drinking deeply before leaning forward to replace it on the table and meeting the eyes of her next date—
Troy Thompson sat center stage, eyes set once again to smolder.
It was amazing how suddenly a mind-blowing revelation could overtake a man.
There he’d been, just a few days ago. Holding Nic in his arms to soothe her even as he fought the temptation to go back and run over Jordan a few times with the tow truck. It seemed so damn stupid that no one in the entire town recognized exactly what a jewel they had in Nicole.
No one but him…
When he’d been about twelve years old, he’d been standing in the garage next to a tall stack of tires. For whatever reason, the entire thing had begun to lean toward him, and he hadn’t noticed until the weight was so far off balance, there was no time to escape. It had crashed down on him—inevitable and body-impacting.
Just like the truth did at that moment. There was no one in Rocky good enough for Nicole except…
Well, honestly, no one but him.
So here they were, in the middle of Traders, her staring back with just enough anger in her eyes to send a flush to her cheeks, and he was about to become her own personal set of tires.
So to speak.
“What the hell are you doing?” she demanded.
“Innovative question,” he said with admiration. “I’m currently taking part in a delightful endeavour called speed dating, where the goal is to ask questions to discover if the person sitting across from you is someone you’d like to get to know better for a meaningful relationship.”
“So fucking full of beans,” she muttered.
Full steam ahead. “What’s the most important thing to you in a relationship?” Troy asked.
“We’re not doing this,” Nicole snapped. “We’re not playing some bullshit game just because you want to.”
Troy pointed a finger at her. “Hey, I paid my money to be here, same as you. Seems as if you could at least try to be polite, and answer my questions.”
“Fine.” Nicole leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “Have it your way. I want a relationship where my partner knows family is number one.”
“Good to know.” Troy leaned his elbows on the table. “Personally, though, I’d put my partner first and family second. Because it’s got to be the two of us and what we need first. Family comes after that.”
She stopped and seemed to consider what he had said. “Huh.”
“Surprised?”
“Yes. I didn’t know jackasses could talk.” Nicole ignored his chuckle, instead glancing into her lap. She brought a piece of paper to the edge of the table, reading rapidly. “What’s one thing about you that you’d like me to know?”
“I’m exactly the man you’re looking for.”
A choked gurgle escaped her. “Can you be serious for even two seconds?”
“Baby, I’m serious as hell. Ask another question.”
She glanced down. “How long did your last committed relationship last?” Her head jerked up, and a tight, condemning smile appeared. “Answer that one, Thompson.”
He reached across the table and caught her fingers in his. “Since January, I’ve been involved with an amazing woman. I haven’t seen anyone other than her since then, so that makes it over six months and counting.”
Her jaw dropped slightly, lips hanging open. “We’re not in a relationship, Troy.” She jerked her fingers free from his grasp. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because out of all the people you’ve been considering in your plot to move on to the next great thing, you forgot to consider me.” Troy shrugged slightly. “It was a natural mistake, since I’m so shy and retiring, I just thought I’d help you come to your senses.”
“Come to my—?”
The buzzer went off to signal the end of the session, and Nicole leaned back as if she’d gotten a reprieve from a death sentence.
Only Troy wasn’t going anywhere.
He glared at the man who stood waiting beside his chair. “I’m not done yet,” Troy said. “Take the next seat.”
“But that’s not how—”
“I said take the next seat,” Troy snarled before turning back to Nicole and giving her his full attention. Speaking with utter politeness. “Next question on your list.”
She glanced around to see if anyone was watching them. The guy Troy had commandeered his spot from had listened, moving on to chat with the woman beside them.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to prove here, Troy, but it’s not funny.”
“Do I look like I’m laughing?” Troy lowered his voice. “Sweetheart, I’m serious. I think you and me could be damn good together, and I want you to give us a shot.”
She stared at him, something in her eyes giving him hope for a split second before she stiffened, pulling out her notes. “Do you want to get married?” she read off the sheet.
He really should have resisted. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“Troy.”
He grinned. “Yes, I want to get married. I used to think getting married wasn’t necessary, but then I realized it was the actual wedding part that sucks.”
She lost her sarcasm for a moment. “Really? Marriage is okay, but it’s the wedding that’s bad?”
“Pretty much. It’s stupid to spend that much time and energy going crazy for one day, when you’d be better off saving your money and putting the effort into something that’s supposed to last a lifetime.”
Hazel-green eyes stared unblinkingly.
“Ask me the next question, Nic.”
She swallowed. “What do you like to do for fun?”
“Sex is good.”
She glanced around before glaring again.
He kept going. “But not just any kind of sex. My favourite kind is the spur of the moment, where I lose my head because I’m so into you and giving you pleasure. Like, it’s not enough for me to hold you while we watch TV. I want to stroke your skin and play with your hair. I’d touch you over and over, and when you sigh and start to relax into me, I’d roll you to the couch and start kissing you everywhere. Kissing, licking, and nibbling until you’re screaming with pleasure—”
“Troy, stop it this instant,” she hissed.
He pressed his hands to the table and leaned in closer. “I’d be watching, just like I’m watching now. Because your body would tell me what you want more of. The pulse in your throat beating so hard I can see it, your breathing picking up. I’d run my finger down your naked body and ask you if
you wanted me, and you’d say yes.”
The buzzer rang.
This time all it took was a glare to make the next guy keep walking so Troy could get back to convincing Nicole he was all she needed.
The momentary pause had been enough to let her rally her control. She sat straighter, her expression full of confidence. “I see what you’re doing, but this isn’t going to work, Troy.”
“No?”
She shook her head. “Because all I need to do is ask you one specific question off this sheet, and you’ll run for the hills with your tail between your legs.”
“Hit me with your best shot.”
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
“Small house somewhere here in Rocky. Hopefully on the edge of town so it’s quiet, but still close enough to get to the garage where I work with my family.” Her expression didn’t change, but he hadn’t gotten to the good part yet. “We’d be together for nearly six years by that point. We’d have at least two kids, and probably a dog, and—”
Nicole rose to her feet, grabbed her purse and left.
Troy raced after her, ignoring the questioning glances from the other couples at the tables. He waved away the organizer, rushing out the door to discover Nicole standing at the edge of the stairs, her arms wrapped around her body as she stared into the parking lot in frustration.
He stepped in front of her.
“Go away,” she ordered, voice brittle as if she were holding back tears. She looked to the side, avoiding his eyes.
She was trembling. He pressed his hands to her upper arms to steady her. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Of course you’re not. You’re just going to get in my face and keep hounding me even though you know it’s not what I want.”
“You really want to do this here? Right out in the open where anybody could run into us?”
“No.” The word snapped at him like a wet towel.
Neither did he. He needed time and a quiet place so he could convince her he’d made the most important decision of his entire life. “I’ll meet you at your house.”