by Cari Quinn
And the hours since? A lifetime.
She smiled, remembering their kiss goodbye. He hadn’t palmed her ass or shoved his tongue down her throat like Ramon used to do. He’d kissed her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Maybe he felt as she did, that any hours spent apart increased the likelihood their dream would end. Any minute now she’d wake up to realize her life didn’t consist of anything more than The Edge and waiting for Ramon.
Before she’d even stepped onto the dance floor, she heard an unwelcome voice.
”Baby, you came back.”
Her heart picked up speed. Uh oh. She turned her head, startled to see Ramon lounging against the arm of the couch beside her. He clearly needed the support.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Each word was slurred. “Aren’t you gonna dance with me?”
Panic tickled her throat as the strobe lights of the club seemed to shine directly in her eyes. A moment ago, she’d been relaxed and anticipating Nicky. Now she couldn’t breathe. “Where’s Caycee?”
For an instant, she had the horrifying thought he’d say “Who’s Caycee?” Then she’d know she’d imagined last night completely. Nicky hadn’t been here with her.
They hadn’t been together outside and she hadn’t made love to him all night in his very plush bed. He hadn’t pored over her photographs with appreciation in his eyes at lunch and they hadn’t embraced like long- term lovers when parting for the afternoon.
She hadn’t been given a chance to redeem herself. She was Alana, the unlovable bitch, and she always would be.
“Yo!” Ramon lurched close enough she could smell the beer on his breath. “You ignoring me?”
“Where’s Caycee?” she repeated a little desperately.
His lip curled in disgust. “Who knows?”
Thank God. She hadn’t dreamed any of this. Nicky was real. How he made her feel was real.
“Women like her live to dick a man around. But not you.” He leered. “You give it all up, don’t you?”
Not to you. Never again. “Why don’t you go sober up?”
“C’mere, sweetness. Give me a little of that brown sugar.” When his hand closed around her breast, she didn’t think. She bunched her fist and swung her arm, her blow landing right on his chin. His yelp of pain was immediately followed by a demented squeal.
Alana’s eyes widened as Caycee hustled over. She cradled Ramon’s head against her ample chest and glared accusingly at Alana. “I know you’re heartbroken he’s moved on but how could you strike him?”
Obviously Caycee had missed her lover’s boob grab. “You two deserve each other,” she muttered, prepared to stalk outside to wait for Nicky rather than remain anywhere near these two.
But when she turned away, she looked straight into the face that had dominated her thoughts all day long.
“Nice job, killer.” Nicky’s voice wrapped around her as warmly as the arms he linked around her waist. “I was going to step in when things got dicey,” he aimed a narrow- eyed glance at Caycee and Ramon, who were cooing to each other like wounded birds, “but you don’t need my help.”
Alana cupped his cheek and brought his gaze— and his mouth— front and center.
The relief that poured through her when his lips touched hers was overwhelming.
“Wrong answer.”
He returned her kiss but she felt his hesitation. Finally she eased back and sighed.
“Is the honeymoon over already?”
“Did we get married and I slept through it?” His fingers brushed her cheek.
“Wouldn’t surprise me. You wore me out last night.” “And this morning,” she added.
He glanced over as Ramon and Caycee slunk away. “Yeah.”
She struggled not to panic. He’d probably just had a rough night at work. It wasn’t that he’d reconsidered everything. Reconsidered her. “What’s wrong, Carter?” His eyebrows rose.
“I don’t think you’ve ever called me anything but Nicky. Well, except that one time at the dance, when you asked me to please get away from you.” She turned her head away. Would the stench of her past behavior ever stop shadowing her like moldy garbage?
No. Not until you fix it.
She couldn’t have this conversation here. Not where half- naked people gyrated five feet away while others did a whole different kind of bump- and- grind entirely.
Alana leaned up to stroke his jaw, savoring the prickle of stubble against her palm.
She’d never ached for a man the way she wanted him, and that was saying a lot since guys were pretty much her favorite dessert. “Can we go somewhere?” Even in the shifting strobe lights, she saw his shoulders tense. “The steam room you mentioned?”
“Would you go up there for your story? Or for me?”
“I have enough for the piece. It’s just an overview of one hot new club in town and exactly how hot it gets. I’m not looking to get this place shut down.”
“So take the story out of the equation. If I wanted to go all the way in front of everyone, are you game? I know this isn’t exactly your scene.”
“If it’s yours, I’ll give it a try.” He released a strained chuckle. “Not like I won’t get something out of the deal, right?”
She bit her lip at the quiver in her chest. If Carter Nicholas were any more of a keeper, she wouldn’t have a chance at convincing herself he belonged in her life.
Or worse, convincing him.
“Let’s go outside,” she said. “I want to talk to you alone.” He gripped her hand to lead her through the booty- bumping crowd. Longingly, she glanced at the bottles of alcohol as they passed the bar. If only she could down a little liquid courage first.
Kelly was nowhere in sight. She didn’t know if that was a good thing or not— or what had gotten into her best friend tonight— but she’d be sure to question her in detail tomorrow.
First she had to stake her claim.
They stepped into the humid, airless night. She gripped Nicky’s hand as they walked behind the club. She was fine, good even, until she glanced at the spot where they’d … come together.
What was wrong with her? She wasn’t some love- struck chick. She just liked sex.
Making it more in her head was a recipe for disaster.
She swallowed to relieve her tight throat. Besides, her vacation was over in a few days and she’d be going home to Virginia. Far away from Nicky. Far away from love. Her family’s, her friends’. His.
As soon as she stepped into the shadows, he pulled her into his arms. This kiss wasn’t slow. Or gentle. His tongue swiftly separated her lips and swept inside, teasing her senses with the subtle flavor of crisp white wine.
He must’ve stopped by the bar on his way to meet her. Had he needed some courage of his own?
She wound her arms around his neck as she strained against the erection nudging her stomach. Hot and hard, that unyielding flesh only made her feel softer and wetter.
She ached to be spread open in front of him, giving instead of just taking.
Finally he tore his mouth away. “I’m sorry. I know you want to talk, but one look at you and I can’t think.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah.” She pressed her fingertips against her kiss- swollen lips. Catching herself, she let out a halfhearted laugh. “I’m not sure what I’m doing. Am I supposed to just enjoy how this feels right now? Am I supposed to exploit the hell out of your very attractive body,” she ran a hand down his muscled biceps, “while pretending that’s all I feel?”
“I want you to be honest.”
Only because she’d already become so in tune to the nuances of his reactions did she hear the little give in his voice she recognized as nerves. “Nicky, I live in Roanoke.”
“I know.”
“Long- distance things usually don’t work too well. I tried one with Ramon and look how that turned out.”
“We aren’t you and Ramon. And we’ve been building toward
this ever since the first time I saw you punch out that kid who tried to steal cookies off your lunch tray.” She laughed and covered her face with her hands. Soon the laughter turned to tears and she didn’t know where they’d come from or how to make them stop.
He gathered her in his arms and held her, supporting her until she could breathe without making completely inelegant snuffling sounds. She rubbed her cheek against his chest. “Your shirt’s all wet.”
“It’s worth it that I got to be the one who comforted you while you cried.” Alana closed her eyes. At least they were dry now. “I’m sorry I was such a bitch in high school.”
“It’s okay.”
His quiet understanding almost made her start to cry again. “No, it’s not. I liked you or I could’ve gotten to like you if I’d let myself. Kelly told me to give you a chance, but I couldn’t get past who you were.”
“And who I wasn’t.”
“Yeah.”
“I thought I’d moved past all that. It was eight years ago. But tonight when I saw your ex with his hand on your breast,” his gaze dropped to her cleavage and her nipples tightened, “I couldn’t help remembering James.”
“And you wondered if I was using you to make Ramon jealous like I did back then.”
He shrugged.
“No.” She gripped his chin until he looked at her. “Ramon was drunk. I don’t want to make him jealous. I don’t want him, period.”
“What do you want, Mac?”
It would be so easy just to admit everything whirling around inside her head. And her heart. But that wouldn’t be fair to either of them, not when she had a home to return to a long way away from here. “I care about you.”
“Care.” He smiled, but his posture stiffened. “That’s nice.”
“A lot. I know it’s quick but you matter to me. A great deal.” She kept talking to try to alleviate the frustration she felt pouring from him. “If I lived here—”
“What?” He grabbed her elbows then loosened his grip until his fingers barely encircled her arms. “What would be different then?”
“We could try seeing each other. See what happens.”
“We know what’s going to happen. It’s happening already.” He let her go, then threaded his fingers through her unruly curls. “I talked to the assistant Lifestyle editor at the Trib today.”
Fear and excitement trickled through her. “Why?”
“I showed him your website and some of the shots you took for The Edge. He’s interested to see what else you can do. He wants to see your portfolio.”
“If I want a new job, I can find one myself. I don’t need you pulling strings.”
“I didn’t say anything except I’d known you years ago and we reconnected. Your work said the rest. What does it hurt to contact him?”
“It doesn’t.” Excitement started to win out over fear, at least until reality sank in again. She had a lease. She couldn’t just move, even if the job worked out. Besides, she’d vowed never to chase after another man and here she was, lacing up her running shoes. “I don’t know.”
“Just talk to him. That’s all I’m asking.”
She smiled faintly. “That’s all?”
“No. I want to be with you. No doubts, no hesitations.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m also asking if you’ll spend every spare minute of your vacation with me. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
Could it really be this easy to fall for someone? Maybe if you’d started falling almost a decade ago it made things simpler.
She leaned up to cradle his cheeks in both hands. “I want to be with you too.” His chest swelled against hers, as if he couldn’t get enough air. She knew how he felt.
“I’m so glad you’re an exhibitionist,” he said finally, and she laughed.
“I’m not sure if I am. Maybe I’m not. Maybe I’m secretly shy.”
“Somehow I doubt that.” He smiled. “I just want you to be you. The real you. Whoever that is.”
“Me too. It helps to have someone who sees me.” Her voice wobbled. “Just me.”
“I see all of you,” he whispered, his voice taut with emotion.
“I see you too. Well, I will, once we’re inside again. And damn, baby, you look good.” She arched up to lay her lips gently on his.
The kiss deepened until he let out a soft noise of defeat and clasped her shoulders to draw her back. “I planned on taking you home to bed.”
Alana giggled— such a freeing sound— and palmed his erection. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you bed’s where you make it, Nicky?”
His crooked smile caused her panties to dampen and her heart to race. “I have a feeling you could teach me plenty, minx.”
“Wanna sign up for some lessons?”
“Yeah. Book me for the rest of your life. And let’s get started now.” He grinned and pulled her down to the grass.