“Three beers,” Jacob answered whoever it was. He was doing a decent job at handling her as a date and Brandy as her sidekick. The more J had to drink, the more he got into the idea that both Brandy and Nicola were his dates. It worked to Nic’s advantage.
Within minutes, they were on the back deck, red Solo cups in hand and people watching. Ha. She was people searching.
Roman should’ve been there somewhere, and where there was Roman, there was Cash. Her buzzing little heart wanted to see him. The more she sipped keg beer, the more she planned to abandon her plan to drink herself into a crush on Jacob. But to be fair, the more he had to drink, the less interested in her he seemed. Her lack of attention and interest probably fed into that.
“You girls good for a minute?” Jacob eyed them both. “I need to catch up with someone real quick.”
“Yeah, yeah. We’re good.” Nic nodded too much. She blamed her lack of subtlety on the alcohol.
Hannah, their third roomie, walked up. “Hey! I’m back!”
Nic hadn’t known she was back on campus. “Hey you!”
“Hey!” A couple of hugs later, the three of them leaned on the deck railing. “Couldn’t miss a TKX party. I’ll crash somewhere tonight and figure out how to pull my deposit. I can’t believe we’re moving in together.”
“Stay with us tonight.” Brandy shifted. “I have to pee.”
Hannah took a sip, then said, “I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll stay here.” Nicola studied the crowd.
Hannah turned to her. “Why?”
Brandy rolled her eyes. “It’s going to be an interesting semester. Let’s go.”
Whatever. Five bucks said that Brandy would give Hannah some drunken explanation of the conversation they’d had earlier, and Hannah had a habit of mama bearing everyone. Any interest in Cash would get Nicola mama beared, no questions asked. She sighed, almost slumping in on herself.
“Nicola.” Roman’s voice came from the opposite direction.
She spun.
“Easy there, kid. Liable to spill the brew.”
Her eyes checked his left, right. No Cash. The disappointment was stunning. It had to be the booze because she was almost in tears.
“Come on now. There’s always more where that came from.” Roman nodded over his shoulder. “We’re on a mission to float all those kegs, but you got a bit.”
Nic lifted her beer, painting on a fake smile. “Lookin’ good tonight.”
“Always do.”
So Roman. So cocky. He was a handsome guy. She had to give him that. “Where’s—”
“Matthews!” Roman saw someone over her shoulder and pecked her cheek. “Gotta give a little hell. Find me later.”
Right. And now she was alone on the deck again, avoiding the alcohol-brave stares of freshmen boys. She glanced back into the house, wishing—
The familiar slide of Cash’s arm and the smell of soap paralyzed her thoughts.
“You look…” Breath hot, he whispered one word slower than the next, his lips a fraction away from the shell of her ear. “Gorgeous.”
A full body shiver started at her neck and ran south. “Hey, Cash.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, letting her eyes roam over him. “Bet you’ll break a few hearts tonight.”
He locked her in tighter. His breath was kissed by bourbon, and the scruff on his cheeks rasped against her skin. “Nah. Not in the mood.”
“The female population on campus is both relieved and saddened.”
“Oh yeah?” He pulled back an inch, then spun her into a loose hug, facing him. “Why’s that?”
“’Cause there’s still a chance, but it’s not tonight.”
A lazy smile curled. “Oh, you’re cute, Nic.”
God, he was gorgeous. Would his mouth taste like liquor? Her plan to get buzzed had not inoculated her against his dangerous good looks and charm. Her mind raced. “So I’ve been told.”
“What, by your date?” Cash tilted his head. He stepped back, dragging his arm off her neck, letting his hand smooth down her bare shoulder. His fingers drifted to her elbow. Another step, and he stuck his thumbs in his jeans pockets. His blue gaze smoldered. His button-down shirt, a little wrinkled, untucked and unbuttoned at the collar, was rolled up on his arms.
“I’m sure J’s said something like that tonight. Jaycee and Mira tell you their plans for you tonight?”
“Could not care even a little bit.”
She still felt where his fingers had traveled on her skin. Wanting that feeling again was driving her to distraction. Her eyes raked over his chest, sliding up to his face. He studied her. Intently. In an unnerving way, she could almost feel it. She swallowed and stole her eyes away because it was all in her head.
Cash stepped forward. “Let’s get out of here.”
His voice graveled. It had texture. She felt each word as it coated over her senses. Why did everything out of his mouth seem so much heavier? “I just got here, Cash.”
“Me too.”
“I didn’t come by myself.” Jacob was wandering around somewhere. Though she didn’t care.
“Neither did I.”
The air was thick. Tense. So much was unsaid. So much anticipation. She could taste it, feel it. Her heart raced; her pulse pounded. If she could touch him, hold onto his muscled arms, crawl onto his crazy-wide chest, if his arms could wrap around her and she could drown in his scent—
“What are you two so serious over?” Roman startled her.
One second. Two… What to say when she couldn’t think?
“Nic’s not feeling good,” Cash offered. A challenge danced in his eyes.
Roman’s protective gaze sliced to hers. “You’re not? What’s wrong?”
She swallowed at Cash’s lie, and now the ball of sexual-tension-meets-too-many-drinks was in her court. Was she misreading all of this? So much could go wrong. Two decades of friendship down the drain, not to mention Roman would kill Cash. “Car Bombs. I should’ve known better.”
Jacob joined them, holding a plastic cup, foam slipping out the top. “Another beer, Nic? Gentlemen.”
Cash watched her, his gaze burning hotter than the summer sunburn on her shoulders, but she stared at the beer Jacob held. It swayed and swished like an invitation she knew she would deny. Why pretend she wasn’t ready the second Cash said go? How to handle Jacob though?
“Nic’s not feeling so hot.” Roman saved her, though he didn’t know it.
Jacob’s face fell as Brandy and Hannah walked up. Brandy’s expression locked onto drama in a blink. She slid a look at Cash, then at Nic, and grabbed the beer Jacob had offered Nic.
Nicola painted on a weak smile. “I think I need some air.”
As if Brandy had read her mind, she nudged Jacob. “We’ll keep this one occupied. Get some air, Nicola.”
“We’re outside already, genius.” Roman smirked at her.
She hazarded a glance at Cash. Damn, he was more than she could handle. If a guy could be gorgeous, he was.
“Then go for a walk. Just get out of here if you want to.” Cash’s eyes crinkled at the corners like he analyzed her every move. The walk was the second open invitation from him to blow the party.
Feeling guilty, she flashed a glance at Jacob. More than a few shots deep, he seemed distracted by Brandy’s boobs pressed tight in her shirt. He looked torn between a sick Nic and his tight shirt inspection. Thank God.
She smoothed her shirt. “Why don’t you stay here, Jacob? I’m just going to walk around the block or something.”
He nodded, the alcohol revealing his appreciation more than he probably wanted it to. Roman’s face pinched at Jacob, but he turned back to her. “You’re not walking around all tipsy and feeling like shit. I’ll—”
“I got her.” Cash put his beer on the deck railing. “I’m trying to avoid—”
Jaycee and Mira elbowed into the conversation, giggling and plastered. Hannah and Brandy rolled their eyes.
Cash nodded to
Jacob. “Double-deuce. Think you can make sure these lovely ladies have a good time tonight?”
Jacob looked at Nic. She nodded, putting a hand on her stomach. Seriously? She wasn’t even sick, and her subconscious was throwing down some so-so acting skills.
“Ladies, take care of him,” Cash urged them on.
Jacob smiled, Brandy grumbled, and Hannah turned her attention to Roman. Jaycee and Mira complied with Cash’s request and turned their over-the-top attention to J. Nic would’ve shaken her head if it hadn’t been exactly what she needed.
“Nicola?” Cash drawled, pulling her to him.
Her fingers ached to touch the scruff on his cheeks. Heart pounding, she was dizzy over what was playing between them.
Roman slapped Cash on the back. “Thanks, buddy.”
“No prob.” Cash’s chin barely lifted in response. His eyes still locked on her.
Slow and calculating, he laid his arm around her neck. It wasn’t a big deal. Never had been a big deal. No one noticed. The guy had been touchy-touchy her whole life. She’d loved it, needed it, and right now, she craved it. Her mouth watered, nerves surfacing over something so mundane that no one, except maybe Brandy, had a clue.
When he guided her away from their tight circle, letting his hand slip to the small of her back, her stomach flipped, fell, bottomed out, and soared high into her throat.
Cash bent low, lips pressing into her hair. “Let’s go, Nicola. We’re getting out of here.”
CHAPTER FOUR
When Nicola wore heels, Cash’s mind went from distracted to just plain dumb. Tonight, he blamed her shoes. He could survive the flip-flops, the Chucks, or her Uggs. But the heels? Coupled with that little skirt that swished around her ass? Yeah, he was a goner.
He scrubbed his face with his hand. Whatever was bouncing around in his head was a big headache of trouble. When he said they should ditch that party, he’d given her an out, and she hadn’t backed down. Shit, and now he couldn’t ignore their… problem anymore.
Hell with calling it a problem. Whatever it was, it was burning red hot. Smokin’ to the point of combustion. Touch it, and it was a promise to get burned, but run from it, and he’d regret it. Forever.
Line in the sand drawn. Crossing it meant major repercussions. Did he want all of that? He rubbed the back of his neck, still thinking about the swish-swish of her skirt and how she felt under his arm right now.
The only thing he knew was that Nicola’s cute ass needed serious distance from Jacob and every other red-blooded male, away from anyone else who dared look at her the way he did. His stomach dropped. Fuck, man. This was deep.
They had left the house without a word and were still walking blocks later without a sound from her. They weren’t heading toward campus and not really toward his place either. Not that he wanted to bring her there. Or he did… But if he did… God. What did he want?
“Nicola.” He stopped, swinging her in front of him.
Beautiful chocolate eyes blinked up at him. Blonde hair framed a face that he’d memorized long ago. What he wouldn’t do to drag his knuckles down her cheek to see if she was thinking anything like what he was thinking.
Cash swallowed. He’d never had an awkward moment around Nicola. Right now wasn’t awkward. It was epic.
Something major could happen. Should happen.
His chest felt heavy. “Nic…”
She looked through her flutter of long lashes. He could see the rise and fall of her breasts under a shirt that flowed over her curves. His hands ran slowly on her back, down her arms, somehow finding themselves draped over her again. He pushed a few strands of hair off her cheek.
Her simple softness damn near stole his breath, and her pink lips curved and called out for a kiss. Pulling her closer, feeling her melt, Cash shut his eyes, savoring the seconds. His heart slammed in his chest. Her little breaths were audible. The warmth of her lips neared his and—
She pulled back, taking a lungful of air. Her cheeks were flushed. A little gasp passed the lips he could almost taste, and she fumbled as she whispered, “We signed on that little house.”
Right. He rolled his lips into his mouth and scaled back. They weren’t going there. Okay…
And that made sense. This was Nicola. He, Roman, and Nic were inseparable friends. No sense in changing that, and Roman would kick his ass for even thinking about it. But goddamn, his heart fucking hurt, and it was the first time he’d ever realized just how lost he was in her.
“So.” Something he could only call sadness—or maybe disappointment—crushed his chest. He cleared his throat. “We’ll get you guys moved over whenever.”
“Okay.” She bit her bottom lip. “I talked to my folks today. They seem cool enough about it. Moving and all.”
He nodded. She probably didn’t go a day without talking to her mom. That wasn’t news. Nic was passing time. Trying to talk away the moment where he’d almost kissed her, where she’d almost kissed him too.
“Cash?”
He took a step closer. “Yeah?”
Her mouth opened again, but nothing else came out. Whatever it was, it wasn’t walk away, don’t kiss me.
That bit of silence was all he needed. No way was he giving up. He just needed a plan.
Nicola shifted in her heels. “And… I got that internship I was hoping for. It’s the only one I could find that let me earn credit for a business class and do some translating.” She tilted her head. “I know. I’m a nerd. But I own it.”
That made him smile. She didn’t have to work, the girl was a genius. She’d won a full ride to school and always talked about getting more experience. Gorgeous and smart. Yet another reason that Cash was crazy about her. Nothing could stop a woman with that much talent and that much heart.
But he didn’t say anything, and she looked back toward where they’d come. “Maybe I should head back.”
“No.” Hell no would’ve been better. “Just…” He had nothing. “I’m glad you got that job.”
“Thanks.” She sighed. “I need to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
She walked toward the house, those people, and that party. Toward everything he couldn’t’ve cared less about, and he wanted her to stop, to come back, or at least go home. “Glad you’re spending your time on something besides football players.”
She looked over her shoulder and smirked. He threw his hands up with a forced smile. “Don’t be mad. Just sayin’.”
“Night, Cash.” She rolled her eyes then powered forward, leaving him to chase her.
He did. It took long strides to wrap hands around her shoulders and let them skim down her back. “Nic. Wait.”
He stepped next to her, leaving one hand round her waist, letting it drift dangerously close to the insane swell of her ass. She slammed to a stop, leaving them side-by-side. Dangerously close. He’d been too close. Damn… He felt her in his chest.
Hands on her hips, she bounced between irritated and adorable. “You’re jealous of Jacob?”
“Hell no.” Well, yeah. Of course he was. “I just don’t like that goon hanging on you.”
“He’s our friend, and he’s harmless, and Roman’s the one that I’m supposed to deal with about guys. Not you.”
“Double-deuce is harmless, my ass. Dude has a thing for you, has for forever.”
“That’s crazy talk.” Irritation colored her sigh. “He’s just a friend.”
“A friend on a mission to change his status.”
“Cash…” She looked away.
“You never seem to know when a guy’s into you…” He paused in the warm summer night then pushed. “Jacob thinks now is the right time to make his move. But more importantly, what do you think?”
Her head dropped back, and she stared at the sky. “I think… too much is at stake. His friendship means too much to me.”
“You’re not that good of friends with him.”
“Exactly.” Nicola fidgeted, smoothing her shirt.
What to say to
that. Was it an opening? Or a ‘don’t go there’? Cash drew a deep breath. “Let’s go for a ride.”
“First a walk, then a ride.”
“You ready to go home?” Alone… Because he sure wasn’t. “Truck’s around the corner, down the block.”
She didn’t say anything. It wasn’t a no. Cash took her hand in his. He’d done it a million times for so long. Years of touching and hugging on her, teasing and throwing her around, arm around her shoulder, arm around her waist, a hand hold or an elbow grab. That had all happened, but this was different.
He rubbed his thumb over the ridges of her knuckles. He could tell she was holding her breath, and that was fine because he wasn’t breathing either. He took one deep breath in and laced his fingers with hers. Locked together.
Nicola’s fingers were delicate. With a gentle tug, he started toward his truck, and she fell into step. The slightest squeeze of her hand stole his heart. Cash focused on his truck. Figuring out where to go and what to do was secondary because, if he stopped now, something stupid would fall out of his mouth, like come home with me.
“Cash.” She stopped, and he didn’t let go. “Wait.”
“Just…” Just what? Give me a chance? Go home with me? Let me kiss you? Touch you, taste you? Just let us happen… Whatever that might be.
A shy smile teased her lips. “Why’d you ask me to leave with you?”
His furrowed his brow. “What?”
“I’m not good at these things. I don’t know what’s in front of me and what’s not. But I do know that you’re standing here. And…”
“And?”
Her eyes sank shut, and she sighed, swayed. A breeze swirled around them. “I like that.”
And God, I like you. He reeled her closer. Her softness pressed against him. “Nicola, we—”
“Cash! Cash!” a couple of girls across the street yelled. “We’re headed to TKX! You promised us shots!”
Bubble burst. Gone was the fuzzy look in Nicola’s eyes. The moment dissolved into the night, completely ruined. Damn.
Sweet Girl (Titan) Page 3