by Jean Oram
The social events were going to work.
She turned in Todd’s loose embrace, giving him a brief hug. “Thanks for your help.”
He met her eyes. “Anytime,” he said softly, brushing a wisp of hair off her face.
“Anytime? I think I’ll hold you to that,” she said, giving his chest an affectionate tap.
The group grew silent behind them. Nicola turned to find a wall of friends grinning at her, coming at them as one.
“We’re done for!” she shrieked, laughing, clutching Todd as if he could save her. The crowd descended, prying her backpack off her before lifting them both, carrying them to the lake’s edge.
“I have my phone in a pocket!” she hollered. “Don’t throw me in!”
“We’re both robots!” Todd added.
Laughing, the group called their bluffs and tossed them into the freezing water.
Nicola came up gasping. Todd, all grins, swam over and pulled her into his arms.
“It’s so cold!”
“Refreshing, but I’ll warm you up,” he said, his lips so close and tempting she had to look away so she didn’t try to claim them with her own.
He continued to hold her, his body heat slowly warming her core. “This is fun,” he said quietly. “We should do it more often.”
She met his somber gaze and a shot of something powerful plunged through her chest.
Suddenly this was feeling way too real and like something they both wanted.
* * *
Nicola had hightailed it out of the lake so fast she’d just about fallen over as the water drained from her clothes. She’d wrung herself out, trying to act casual as she hurriedly set up a picnic along the shore.
Her hands had been shaking badly not from the cold, but from pent-up desire. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t.
Or was this where they were supposed to step out of the way to let love reign like the justice of the peace had said during Amber’s wedding ceremony? Was this where it was all supposed to happen?
Still feeling edgy and uncertain despite the long hike back down to the trailhead, she paced beside the van that would drive the group back to the center of town. She’d end the outing there, say goodbye to her test subjects as well as Todd.
When would she see him again? Any meetups from here on out would be just the two of them. Unchaperoned. She’d felt something in the lake, wrapped in Todd’s warm embrace. Something she could easily get caught up in, get her heart broken by.
He wasn’t the type to settle down, and if she was going to date, she was planning to throw her heart into it. She was on a quest for a happily ever after.
In other words, it was a good thing she hadn’t stepped aside to let love do its thing. That would have been a disaster.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts, and realizing she was still wearing the picnic backpack, shoved it into the back of the van. She’d known Todd had felt that surge in the lake, too, but he hadn’t freaked out. What would have happened if she’d stayed there in his embrace?
No, stop thinking.
She glanced around the corner of the van. What was he doing? He was flirting with Jill, tugging a strand of hair that had fallen from her waterlogged ponytail, and laughing all the while.
Nicola chewed her thumbnail and resumed pacing.
“Why the death stare?” Amber asked, slowly handing her the keys to the van.
“What?” She quickly looked away from where her gaze had drifted—to Todd—and slammed the van door shut.
Amber followed the direction of her gaze. “Ah. I see.”
“He’s just going to hurt her. She’s a nice person and deserves better than a man who’s going to take off once she starts to feel something.”
“Sometimes it’s worth the risk. Especially when he comes back to the one he loves.” She raised a brow at Nicola and Nicola replied with a huff. She didn’t know why it bothered her that Todd flirted, using his charm and charisma to make friends.
Because she was jealous.
Oh, man, was she ever.
And yet, for a playboy, he hardly ever took a woman home. Why was that? And if that disqualified him as a playboy, what did it make him? A tease?
She slammed the door that Amber had opened, receiving a tentative, worried look from her friend.
Nicola shook off her mood and straightened her shoulders. She needed to wrap up this party, thank her friends, go home and drown her mixed-up sorrows in chocolate tequilas in hopes that it put her head back on straight again. Todd could flirt with whomever he wanted. And him doing so was nothing more than a reminder that she needed to ignore those stupid fizzes of pleasure that sank their fangs into her like rabid beasts every time his body came in contact with hers.
He was not her type.
He wasn’t what she was looking for.
They would never last.
Jill’s tinkling laughter echoed in her ears and Nicola let out a slow breath, like a fighter heading into the ring.
It didn’t matter. None of it mattered.
Todd glanced over and winked, making her body hum in that special way it only did for him.
Stupid body. It needed to listen to her brain or it was going to be responsible for her broken heart.
She gathered her group, dropping them off in the downtown area minutes later. “Thanks, everyone. You’re a big part of what makes Blueberry Springs so awesome, and I appreciate you helping Jill and me test these things.”
“Thank you!” Jill piped up from where she’d been comparing hand sizes with Todd. Nicola forced herself to smile over the urge to lock the woman away for, oh, the rest of her reproductive years.
“We really appreciate your help,” Nicola said, stepping forward, gift bags in hand, “so we got you all a little something.”
“It was all Nicola,” Jill insisted, smiling as she came up to help hand out the gifts.
Why did Jill have to be so bubbly, helpful and generally wonderful? It was difficult to hold on to a feeling of evil jealousy when the receiver was so darn nice.
Next thing in the morning she’d find a boyfriend, Nicola vowed. Like, actually try. Maybe even take Devon up on his offers for a date. But…why did seeing someone feel so wrong? Devon was a nice guy. Handsome. Interesting. He didn’t sit around and play video games all day, and had a job as well as kept fit.
But he just wasn’t…
Her gaze drifted to Todd, who’d opened his gift bag and was chuckling. “This is awe. Some.” Two words. That meant he loved it. “This is so you, Nicola.” He held up the little trinkets that commemorated a couple of the events they’d helped with. A miniature zombie figurine for the paintball day, a deck of Blueberry Springs playing cards for poker night, and a cup with a photo of the lake they’d just hiked to were a few of the items she’d picked out.
“What?” she asked, worried the gifts were too corny. Because really, what resident wanted stuff with Blueberry Springs printed all over it, as if they might forget the place? They lived here.
Scott, Amber’s husband, waved his zombie, looking mildly amused. Why would an officer of the law want a toy? In his line of work he fought things bigger and worse—and real.
“It’s dumb, isn’t it?” She grabbed Todd’s bag, stuffing the items he held in his hands back inside.
Scott and Amber had started a zombie fight with their figurines.
“What are you doing?” Jill asked quietly, pushing the gift bags back into their owners’ hands as Nicola tried to collect them. She guided her away. “You okay?”
“I thought it was funny. But it’s lame.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Todd’s laughing at it. He thinks I’m—” No, don’t give Jill ammo to use against her.
What was she thinking? She was not in competition with Jill.
Nicola took a long, soothing breath. “Sorry. Too much stress.”
“You okay? Really?” Jill gave her a concerned look.
“Yeah, fine.” She tried for a
smile.
Jill tipped her head to the side, watching the man Nicola had focused on.
“Aw, honey.” She pulled Nicola into a hug, her voice laden with genuine sympathy. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“For what?” She tried to wrangle out of the woman’s hold, but apparently Jill was also some sort of master when it came to wrestling. Was there anything she didn’t rock at? “You’ve been awesome. I would have lost my mind ages ago without you.”
Jill squeezed Nicola before releasing her and quietly stating, “You really want to be with him, don’t you?”
“Who? Devon?”
“Todd.”
“Todd?” The man looked over and she waved him away, totally embarrassed. “We’re not. He’s not. It wouldn’t work. We’re just friends.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Jill pointed out. “I’d rather have you as a friend than interfere. So? What can I do to help, because honestly, I think he likes you, too. He flirts with me, but his heart isn’t in it.”
“It’s not?”
“These are great,” Todd said, coming over to give Nicola a peck on the cheek. She jolted, wondering how much he’d overheard. But as his lips met her skin, her body instantly broke out in longing that had her turning away to check the van for any forgotten belongings. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Jill backing away, giving her a thumbs up.
“You always put your love into the details,” Todd said, helping her.
“I’m a planner,” she said weakly, knowing that sometimes that made her irrevocably boring.
“You ready for the next step? The real thing?”
Next step? Real thing? She turned to him, eyes wide. It had felt real to him, too? That moment in the lake…
“The date nights?”
“Oh! Yes. All planned.” She was nodding too hard, acting and feeling like a total idiot.
“You all right?”
“Yeah, fine. Yeah. Yup. Just tired.” She hadn’t found any forgotten possessions in the van, and reluctantly backed out.
“Spreadsheets? Color-coded event schedules?” Todd asked, a smile playing at his lips.
“Of course.” She bristled, waiting for him to poke at her, make fun of her organizational skills, which generally toed the line of going overboard.
“Let go,” he said gently, rubbing a hand down her arm. It was like electric tingles working their way through her, faster and faster. She stepped back, licking her lips, ready to run away to anywhere but here, because if she stayed she was certainly going to mess up everything.
“Nicola?”
“Let go of what? The reins? Let whatever just happen?” She’d done that once and he’d basically stopped talking to her for months. “I like this job. I want to keep it. I want to help make this town better.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean, Todd?” She faced him on the sidewalk, waving to the rest of the group as they headed home, shooting the two of them wary looks as they went.
“Don’t forget to come out and play.”
“This is my job. My career. It’s not playtime. This is important.”
Todd’s movements became agitated, impatient. “I understand that, but you’re working too hard.”
Her bottom lip trembled as she fought for control. Anger, lust, frustration and so many other emotions were hitting her like giant balls of hail, knocking holes in her resolve to act like nothing mattered, like nothing bothered her.
Todd’s expression suddenly softened and he cupped her cheek, stroking a thumb under her eyes. “Look at the dark circles, Nic. You’ve got to take care of yourself.”
She felt herself start to cave. He was too tempting. Too close. Too caring.
“I take care of myself just fine.” Her conviction was gone, as was her fight as she sagged against him, craving his support.
“Am I going to have to sign up for these date nights to look out for you, to make sure you stop and have fun?”
Yes.
No.
“They’re not dates.”
Lean in, Nicola. Brush your lips against his. He’s right there. Right there. Go ahead and fall. Just fall into him.
She wavered with indecision. She’d be a fool to listen to that voice. A total fool.
And yet…falling felt completely inevitable. Especially when he seemed to be falling too.
Chapter 5
Nicola was way too anxious. Tonight was the official launch of her mystery nights and she was one part dread and one part excitement.
She checked over her notes again. Everything was in order. All she had left to do was unfurl her plan like a big ol’ sail, as well as deal with any unexpected rogue waves. Which was what worried her the most. What if something bad happened and she froze up? Or what if everything was too organized and she killed the organic flow of it all, as Todd had warned?
She’d come so close to kissing him—twice—during the wrap-up hike. First at the lake, then again at the van. Her aunt had come by at just the right moment the second time, breaking the reverie Nicola had started to slip into, saving her.
What had Todd been thinking? He’d been leaning in, giving her signals that he wanted…something. Something more.
And it wasn’t the first time he’d acted as though he was angling for a kiss. It also wasn’t the first time she’d jumped away, afraid to ruin things.
What if she didn’t back away next time? What if she let him kiss her?
She could do that. She’d be quite happy to, in fact.
She chewed her lip. Then again…what if he kissed her madly, then ran away when things changed—when they got real or resembled a relationship? He had a tendency to do that, and where would that leave them? Their friendship?
Her heart?
Sighing, she rolled her head to the side, trying to ease the tension that was seeping up from her shoulders.
She’d been caught in this circle for far too long now. Something had to change. No more being a chicken. She was willing to take the risk, suffer the consequences and see what happened. Because maybe it would be good—even better than she could possibly imagine.
She smiled, her mind made up. Next time she was going to let him make the next move. No more of this insanity-making tease thing they were doing.
She checked her phone. Twenty minutes until launch. Sighing, she sat down. Picking up a purple stuffed rabbit, she tossed it for Twiggy, who perked up his ears and stared at her, refusing to fetch. She had to wait only twenty more minutes and she’d be into her first social night, the ball rolling swiftly toward the first event being over and done with. She almost wished she was already at the end of the evening, cleaning up and sitting back to analyze and assess how things had gone and what needed improvement.
Someone knocked at her door. Todd! He’d managed to get back from an out-of-town work trip a day earlier than he’d anticipated, and would be able to talk her down from her near panic. The stakes were so much higher with these social nights than they ever had been with the college events she’d organized.
She flung herself against the door, wrenching it open as though racing from a fire. “Janet!”
Not Todd, but a decent distraction nevertheless.
“Have you walked Twiggy today?” the older woman asked, handing Nicola a tiny knitted sweater.
She immediately felt guilty for not giving the dog his proper exercise. She’d meant to before work, but it had been pouring rain and she hadn’t been able to convince Twiggy to leave the doorway. She’d given up and returned to bed for an extra fifteen minutes of sleep. Then after work, she’d taken the dog for a walk, but nothing close to long enough, seeing as she’d cut the jaunt short when she’d had an idea for next week’s event and had wanted to hurry home to write it down before she forgot.
To mask her dog guilt, Nicola held up the tiny sweater. It was mighty small. Yellow. Fine baby yarn.
“It’s for Twiggy!” Janet smiled and scooped up the canine, who’d run to h
er, propping his paws up on her legs. “These mountain towns get cold, you know. I made sweaters for Tony and myself, as well as my grandkids. I was on a roll and had some leftover wool. I hope Twiggy likes it.”
“It’s cute. And a great idea. When he finds his forever home I’ll be sure it goes along with him.”
“You’re not keeping him?” The woman’s eyes were inquisitive, warm.
“Well, I’m pretty busy and I travel a lot.”
“You do?”
“Well, I, uh, used to.” She hadn’t gone further than two or three hours from Blueberry Springs in the past nine months.
“Has Twiggy been out tonight?”
“Only for a few minutes.”
“All righty. I’ll take him.” Janet pulled the leash off its hook by the door. “Figured you’d be a wee bit busy tonight with the launch of your date nights.”
“Mystery social nights,” Nicola corrected. “He’d really love a longer walk. Thank you so much.” The dog was trying to lick Janet’s chin, scrambling to launch himself higher on her chest.
“Oh, he keeps me young.” She cooed to Twiggy, holding him back, “Don’t you? Yes you do.”
“I have to go in…” Nicola checked the time “…fifteen minutes.” Man, her clocks had to be slow. “Should I leave you the key?”
“I’ll bring him to my place after our walk and return him around ten?”
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Janet smiled, happy to be needed, and with a little wave, headed off with Twiggy.
Alone in her apartment, Nicola figured she might as well go down to Brew Babies and start setting up for the official launch.
She had eighteen prepaid registrants and anticipated more showing up at go-time. Moe, the bartender, was ready for whoever showed up for the wings and trivia night and would help her divide the participants into teams.
Thirteen minutes.
She was more nervous than when she’d waited for her no-show prom date. But then again, this would be an even worse no-show if nobody came. It would be a public failure for all to see.