In Nick's Arms

Excerpt:
“Hello, yourself.”

“I hope I didn’t interrupt.”

“Not at all. I appreciate the rescue, though it really wasn’t necessary. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s past my bedtime.” Dismissing him, she turned on her heel but didn’t get far when Nick’s next words stopped her in her tracks.

“What a pity when the night is so young.”

She spun back around with one hand on her hip. Recognition slowly dawned in her eyes and, to Nick’s delight, her smile was back in place. “I see you haven’t made it to that warm bed,” she surmised with a tilt of her head. “What changed your mind?”

Nick didn’t hesitate. “You did. I was hoping to buy you a drink.”

She glanced around, clearly sizing up the safety of his proposal. “Thanks but I’m not thirsty.”

“Okay, then you buy me a drink.” That earned him a laugh outright, encouraging Nick to coax, “don’t go just yet. I won’t bite.”

“Is that a promise?”

“If that’s a yes.”

After a moment, she shrugged, the tone of her voice softer than velvet. “Sure. Why not?”

Pleased, he held out his arm which she took without hesitation, then located a table away from the dance floor where they’d be able to talk without shouting over the music. Pulling out a chair for her, Nick summoned the waitress and ordered two beers before sitting down next to her. He stretched his legs in front of him, then settled back and allowed himself the simple luxury of feasting on her beauty. “Not that it’s any of my business but what did that cowboy say to you?”

“Cowboy?” She echoed in surprise, then laughed suddenly. “Oh, you mean Hank. He gave me his room number in case I discovered you weren’t my type.”

Nick leaned forward on his elbows. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Am I?”

“Too soon to tell,” she reasoned with feminine prudence. “I don’t even know your first name.”

He reached across the table and extended one hand. “Nick.”

“Hello, Nick.”

Her fingers felt fragile against his roughened palm, and Nick was quick to notice the absence of a wedding ring. “I have a last name, too.”

She eased her hand from his grasp. “Just Nick will do.”

“A woman of mystery, I see.”

“Just keeping things simple. Any objections?”

Their waitress took that moment to return with their drinks, and Nick waited until she had moved to the next table before responding. “You might be playing a dangerous game, lady. How do you know I’m not a dangerous man?”

“Are you married?”

It was Nick’s turn to laugh. “Is that how you gauge if a man is dangerous or not?”

She leaned back in her chair with a decisive look. “It certainly determines whether he’s off limits.”

A picture of Natalie flashed through Nick’s mind and just as quickly vanished. It felt damned good to simply state the truth. “Fair enough. Then I’m happy to say I’m newly divorced.”

C.J. winced. “Which gives dangerous a whole new meaning.”

“There’s still time to run.”

“You’d give up that easily?”

Nick decided he was enjoying their verbal ping pong. “Only one way to find out.”

Their eyes held and time seemed to stretch to a snapping point before she finally uttered the words, “I’ll stay but only on one condition.” Surprising him, she pushed herself away from the table and extended her left hand. “Care to dance with me?”

There wasn’t a man alive who could resist such a heady invitation. Nick simply thanked the stars above he was the only man at the party. He rose slowly, accepting her hand with an ease that warmed his blood and made his next move seem the most natural reaction in the world. He drew her into the circle of his arms and tipped her chin with one finger. “Maybe you should run. You’re making it incredibly easy to want to kiss you right now.”

His gaze fell to her lips and for a brief moment, C.J. Seemed to meet him half way. But then she placed her fingers against his mouth with an enigmatic smile. Her blue eyes twinkled up at him. “Why don’t we see how compatible we are on the dance floor first?”