“Now are you finished?”
She gave him a sad, disappointed look, and then nodded.
“Good.” He sighed. Should he admit his dreams had turned to Emma and that’s what prompted the magazine idea? “You may have a point.” Her eyes lit up and she opened her mouth, but promptly shut it when he put up a hand.
He laid his head back again, thinking, grateful that Brenda respected his need for silence. Inside his head was a jumble of thoughts and emotions that made it hard to think. Guilt and shame were in there, for having screwed up Emma’s project, and then guilt for simply having so much when others didn’t.
Though that was nothing new, and he tried to make up for it through volunteer work. But Emma’s personal struggles drove the inequity home. She was an amazing woman. With each layer of her personality that peeled away, she became more incredible. And, dammit, he wanted to be there as the rest of the layers fell away. He wanted to be there for the long haul. If she’d let him.
“Bren, I have an idea that could fix everything.” He looked into his sister’s pleased face. “It may take a day or two and I might need your help.”
EMMA TRUDGED INTO THE back room of the lab, still lethargic after sleeping for most of yesterday. Nick had stopped leaving messages on her answering machine two days ago, so she was fairly confident he’d moved on and forgotten all about her by now.
The idea shouldn’t hurt. If she had half a brain in her head she’d feel nothing but relief. But even before she started studying psychology she knew love and logic often couldn’t occupy the same space.
Oh, God, she had to quit thinking about him, quit convincing herself that she’d fallen in love. She hadn’t even known him long enough. On top of that, he’d made a fool out of her. How could she possibly have any feelings for him at all?
Love was only a state of mind. By next week she’d have moved on, too. After some of the pain subsided. Time did help heal. She had experience in that area. But right now, it hurt so damn bad.
She stared into the small refrigerator, wondering what she’d been looking for. And then she remembered. Evian. For Brenda, who would be meeting her at any minute. But since Emma hadn’t been in for the past five days the fridge was nearly bare. Two other psych grad students used the place, too, but they rarely remembered to replenish anything.
She took out a carton of yogurt that had been there awhile and lifted the top. Immediately she held it at arm’s length until she got to the small sink. She didn’t have to sniff it to know it should have been pitched weeks ago.
It took a while for the sluggish stream of water to rinse out the carton, and she idly stared, wondering what was so urgent that Brenda insisted on meeting her here this afternoon. Not this evening or tomorrow, but this afternoon. When Emma had tried to put her off, Brenda had called in every favor, even tried shaming Emma into meeting with her.
The shaming ploy had worked. It wasn’t Brenda’s fault her brother was a snake…charming, good-looking, funny, but still a snake.
Oh, God, here she was thinking about him again.
“I’m not going to do that,” she said out loud. “I’m not going to do that.”
She finished rinsing out the disgusting yogurt, which probably would have made a great science project, and turned off the faucet. Without the noise from the running water, she heard something in the outer lab. Was it the door opening?
“Brenda?”
No answer.
“Brenda?” Emma cautiously poked her head through the door. No one was there. She laughed at herself for being so jumpy, and then saw the large binder on the desk. It wasn’t hers, and it hadn’t been there earlier.
She peered out the window before going to have a look. The parking lot was deserted.
Uneasy, she stared at the binder…large, black and totally unfamiliar. Odd. Of course one of the other students could have left it, but she would have noticed it before…
When she realized she was approaching it as though it might explode she had to laugh at herself. Until she saw the folded paper with her name in bold black letters. That definitely hadn’t been there earlier. She hesitated, trying to figure out if she recognized the writing. Not a clue.
Tentatively she picked up the piece of paper. Nothing was written inside; however, on top of the binder was a small tape cassette. She hadn’t even unlocked her drawer yet, and as she fumbled with her key, trying to get to her recorder, she flipped open the binder.
The top page read “Dreams by Nick Ryder.” She immediately sank to her chair. The next page was an index of dates and dreams going back to their third session. She flipped through the next fifty pages. There were narratives, diagrams and charts on feelings, written in the style of a journal. There were at least another fifty pages of the same, all neatly typed in chronological order with incredible detail.
How could this be? Had he kept notes all along? Was this another made-up batch of fantasies?
She leaned back and started to read the first narrative. When she neared the end, and referenced the journal entries, she realized the dream was about her. So were the next night’s recording, and the one after that. On one date, there was no entry, but the simple statement “No dreams, sleepless night.” It was the night of his reception, where under the moon beside the pond, everything had shifted between them.
Over two hours later when her neck and shoulder muscles started to cramp, she realized she’d read nonstop. Nick had put an incredible amount of thought and work into providing so much detail, but more importantly, he’d really laid himself open.
She swallowed, knowing how much he hated being this exposed, but he’d done it. To make amends, assuage his guilt, she reminded herself. This wasn’t about her.
Or was it?
Her gaze riveted to the first page. His dreams told a different story. She couldn’t ignore them. The dark-haired mystery woman in his dreams—he’d figured out who she was by the third night. He thought she was Emma.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She had to clear her head and concentrate. Be objective. What a joke.
She leaned back in her chair, trying to compose herself, and saw the tape. She’d forgotten about it. Quickly she slipped it into her recorder. The sound of Nick’s voice sent her pulse into overdrive. She closed her eyes and rested her head back while she listened.
“I’m sending this because I figured you wouldn’t talk to me,” he was saying. “I only hope that no matter how you feel about me right now, you’ll believe and use this information. I recorded my dreams each morning after so this isn’t from memory. It’s all fresh and accurate. And Emma, if you never want to see me again, I’ll respect your wishes.”
She kept her eyes closed, letting the tape continue, even though it appeared he’d had nothing more to say. He’d actually dreamt of her, and it had scared him. It was still no excuse for what he’d done but…
“I lied.”
At the sound of his voice again she jumped and opened her eyes. It wasn’t coming from the tape. Nick was standing in the doorway, unshaven, dark circles under his eyes, his hair a mess, clothes wrinkled, as though he hadn’t slept for days.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Don’t worry. I did shower and brush my teeth.”
Emma’s breath stalled in her chest. She cleared her throat. “What did you lie about?”
He shook his head as he came toward her. “If you don’t want to see me, I can’t respect your wishes.”
“No?” She tensed as he got closer, not knowing if she should stay put or run like hell.
“Nope.” He came around her desk, swiveled her chair so that she faced him. “I’m going to keep coming after you until you admit we’re good for each other.”
“But, Nick—”
He pulled her up into his arms and then forced her chin up. “I was going to tell you I love you on the tape, but you’d just call me on it and tell me how chicken I am.”
“But…” She blinked. Did he say… “Love?”
“I knew you’d figure it out from my dreams, but I also figured you’d want to hear it from me.” One side of his mouth lifted. “I love you, Doc.” He kissed her gently, briefly. “You’re going to have to tell me how it happened, because I sure can’t figure it out.”
“Nick…I…”
“What, Emma?” His expression turned serious. “Tell me.”
She swallowed. “Okay, I love you, too.”
He laughed. “Gee, I’m convinced.”
“You’re getting off too easy.”
“I know.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “On second thought, I never worked so hard for anything in my life.”
She smiled against his suddenly eager mouth, and then gasped when he slid his hand up her shirt. He pushed her bra up to expose her breast and then cupped her heated flesh, while deepening the kiss.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered against her mouth, his arousal confirmation as it pressed against her belly. He slid his free hand down her back and worked his way under her waistband until he palmed her buttocks, pulling her hard against him.
She moaned softly, wishing they could rip off their clothes and lie naked together. She managed to get her hands under his shirt and then went straight for his belt buckle. He pushed his hips against her, his breath coming ragged and quick.
A second later he stiffened. She froze, confused, and he slowly slid his hand out of her pants. He gave her breast a gentle squeeze, and then pulled her bra back into place.
“We’re going to have to put this on hold,” he said, his voice filled with regret. “I think we have company.” He kissed the side of her mouth, drew in her lower lip between his teeth.
Emma thought she heard something. The door?
“Yes!”
They both turned to the voice coming from the doorway. Brenda pumped her arm in the air, a big grin on her face.
Emma automatically moved back, feeling like a kid who’d just reached into the cookie jar. And then she realized her friend looked happy. “Brenda?”
Nick smiled at his sister and pulled Emma back into his arms. “And you thought I was the sly one in the family.”
“What’s going on?”
Brenda sauntered in, and slid a hip onto the corner of the desk. “Did I ever tell you I changed the topic of my thesis?”
Emma slowly shook her head.
“It’s called ‘Forbidden Fruit.’”
Emma frowned, not understanding at first, and then it dawned on her. All the warnings about Nick. Her gaze flew to him. “You knew about this?”
“Not until last night.”
She glared at Brenda. “You used us as guinea pigs?”
Brenda’s grin widened. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
Emma’s mouth dropped open. She didn’t know what to say.
“I think it is,” Nick said, and Brenda sighed when his mouth covered Emma’s.
Epilogue
Two years later
Dear Midnight Fantasy,
I never thought I’d be writing a letter to a magazine like this but I wanted to tell you about how I met my husband. It all started with my wacky sister-in-law, who thought we’d be the perfect match…
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0913-8
EXTRA INNINGS
Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holder of the individual works as follows:
EXTRA INNINGS
Copyright © 2011 by Debbi Quattrone
IN HIS WILDEST DREAMS
Copyright © 2001 by Debbi Quattrone
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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* Men To Do
** Do Not Disturb
†† Stolen from Time
‡ Spring Break
Table of Contents
Extra Innings
Prologue
Playing the Field
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Bringing the Heat
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
His Lucky Charm
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
In His Wildes Dreams
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
Extra Innings and In His Wildest Dreams Page 38