by Ginny Baird
“Don’t Nikki me. You know we can do this, you and me. If anyone can pull it off, we can.” She reached across the table to take his hands. “Please tell me you’ll help. Help Ma. Help Tony, and…” She hesitated, then said with a desperate look, “Big Mama.”
Jack pursed his lips, knowing there was no way he could do it. But in a stronger sense, he knew he couldn’t deny helping the one person on earth he loved. Nikki’d had his heart forever, and now—without even being aware—she was going to stomp all over it. And Jack was going to help her, damn it. Help her because he understood that if he couldn’t be hers, he’d better damn well ensure that the guy who was deserved her. For Nikki wasn’t just beautiful. She was smart and funny, and such great company to be around. The fact was, he’d rather hang out with her than any of his buddies. She was way more entertaining and very easy to be with. Nikki had that eclectic blend of streetwise and sophisticated, with her own unique quirkiness mixed in. And Jack found that headily intoxicating. Now he was about to help someone else get drunk on her. Once they did, and discovered what is was like living with her day after day, Jack was certain no man in his right mind would be willing to give up Nikki. Worst-case scenario, she might even start falling for him… This was turning out to be a very un-merry Christmas for sure.
Jack fought the lump in his throat and squeezed Nikki’s hands. “What are best friends for?”
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