Part 5 (1/2)

Nick finished his juice, wiped his mouth, and smiled. Darn him. He knew she didn't have the foggiest idea what had happened after that last sambuca.

”Don't look so upset. I was a gentleman. Or, is that why you're upset?”

”Not likely. Um... were you really?” She took another bite, trying to seem as if she could care less and was simply asking to make conversation.

”Was I really what?”

”Were you really a complete gentleman?”

”No. Not a complete gentleman. You can't blame a guy for looking, can you? I never said I was a freakin' saint, Lee, and I sure as h.e.l.l don't bat for the other team.” He waggled his eyebrows. ”Nice undies, by the way.”

She met his laughing eyes with defiance-at least she hoped it looked more like defiance than extreme embarra.s.sment. He'd undressed her and seen her naked. Well, except for a little bra and... Oh, G.o.d, she'd been wearing a thong. He'd seen all of her.

Now, Rosalie was as delusional as the next girl, but even she couldn't believe he'd somehow missed seeing her b.u.t.t. It'd be like going on the Staten Island Ferry and not seeing the Statue of Liberty.

Nick was having way too much fun at her expense, so she threw her napkin at him.

Dave barked, making her wince. Rosalie patted Dave's big head to calm him. He groaned when she started rubbing his ears. Dave's, not Nick's, but if she wasn't mistaken, Nick looked jealous. Good.

”Aw, Lee. It wasn't as bad as all that. It's not like I took off all all your clothes, just most of them.” your clothes, just most of them.”

The worst part was she didn't remember a thing. Usually, when she got naked with a guy and had to live with the embarra.s.sment, she got a little enjoyment out of it. Very little in her experience, but still, it sometimes made the mortification worthwhile. She had no problem imagining how much she'd have enjoyed herself with Nick. He was watching her as if he could read her mind, and she felt sure he could. His eyes drifted to her chest. She followed his gaze, only to find her bra did nothing to hide her reaction to those fantasies. Rosalie crossed her arms.

”I couldn't have done any more even if I'd wanted to.” He nodded at Dave. ”You've got quite the chaperone there. I brought you home, helped you undress, and tucked you in. I was barely able to grab a pillow before he started growling. He all but herded me out of the room.”

”You're lucky that's all he did. He always wanted to tear Joey limb from limb.”

”You weren't joking about Joey proposing to you, huh?”

”You didn't miss much of my conversation with Mama, did you?”

Nick threw her a smug smile and shook his head. ”So, you okay with this?” ”With what?” ”Us seeing each other.”

They were seeing each other? When did that happen? ”Why shouldn't I be?”

”Good. So, I'll pick you up here at seven?” ”d.a.m.n, you're smooth.”

Nick stood and nudged Dave out of the way. He leaned over Rosalie, his hands on the arms of her chair, their noses close to touching.

”I usually get what I want.”

Rosalie tried not to ask, really she did. But he was so close, and he had that whole morning-after, s.e.xy as h.e.l.l, stubble thing going on. And those clear blue eyes. She felt herself falling right into his trap. She was in trouble.

”Yeah, and what do you want?” she asked, barely recognizing the husky voice emanating from her.

”You.”

He cupped her face and stared at her as if he were trying to make a decision. Then, after a long pause, his lips whispered over hers. He kissed her. Soft and light and seductive. Slowly, he deepened the kiss, but only in movement and pressure. There was no thrusting of tongues, no roaming of hands other than threading his fingers though her hair and ma.s.saging her scalp and neck. He hit a hot b.u.t.ton... well, the one above her waist, anyway. Then the kiss became a wide-open, mouth-to-mouth exchange of breath, slow and sensual. It went on forever, and when at last he touched his tongue to her bottom lip, she imploded. She'd never experienced anything like it. The man should write a book for the good of all womankind.

She groaned in frustration and tried to wrap her arms around him, but his hands cupped her shoulders, holding her in place as he ended the kiss. She opened her eyes and tried to focus on his. They'd turned gray, like the color of the sky before a violent storm. Nick returned to his seat, as if nothing had happened, leaving her dazed and confused. It took a moment to gather her wits, what little she had left, considering her condition-hungover and h.o.r.n.y. Her mouth still tingled-in fact, quite a few of her two thousand and one parts tingled.

Rosalie tried to figure out what had happened, why Nick had pulled away. How could he kiss her like that and be insensitive to the unbridled s.e.xual tension arcing between them? Well, except for that stormy eye thing.

Nick pushed his chair back and disturbed her musings. ”Do you take the Broadway Express in?” She nodded.

”I'll drive you to your stop.” ”Okay, thanks.”

”Do we need to do anything with Dave?”

Dave who? Oh, right, Dave...” I need to feed him.”

Nick rose. ”Where's his food? I'll feed him.”

”By the door to the garden, but you don't have-”

”How much does he eat?”

”Three scoops.”

He nodded and started out of the room. ”Drink your juice.”

Nick disappeared. Hearing the telltale sound of kibble hitting stainless steel, Dave ran toward his bowl. Rosalie prayed Nick would get out of the way before Dave ran him over. She heard a grunt. She couldn't tell if it was Nick or Dave, but either way, poor Nick hadn't been quick enough.

”When was the last time he ate? He practically tackled me.”

”I had Henry feed him last night. Henry's my neighbor. He feeds Dave and walks him for me when I can't get home.” She rose and took the dishes to the kitchen.

”So this Henry, he's a teenager?”

”No, he's a graphic designer. Why?”

”An old graphic designer?”

”No, he's my age...”

”And he's got a key to your place?”

”Well, yeah. It's not as if Dave can let him in. Why are you so interested in my neighbor?”

”I'm not.”

”I'm sure Wayne will be happy to hear that. If Henry so much as looks at another man, Wayne gets all weird and possessive. I don't know how Henry stands it.”

The lightbulb switched on in Nick's head. What was it with men and the whole proprietary thing? She'd kissed Nick a few times, and now he was checking out the compet.i.tion? Rosalie knew she should have been mad, but the girl in her could only sigh.

”Are you ready to go?”