Maisie didn’t need her zoom lens to notice the way Nick’s jaw ticked or the way his lips flatlined. Was it something he didn’t like to talk about at all? Was that why he didn’t mention it when they were together? Was he hiding it or just not big on talking about it?
He nodded. “I do. I promised Ash hot chocolate. Anyone else want some?” The offer was to anyone but it was Maisie he looked at; Maisie whose stomach he sent into cartwheels.
Natalie stepped closer to Maisie, arching her brows in a way shehoped to ignore. Maisie lifted her camera. Plenty to photograph, and think about, other than Nick King.
“Not hot chocolate, thanks, but,” Natalie said, her tone reminiscent of their youth, right before she usually got Maisie into trouble. “I sure could use one of your delicious smoothies, Maisie.”
“I like smoothies,” Asher said, bouncing in Nick’s arms.
“Kind of cold for a smoothie,” Nick said gruffly.
“Yeah, Nat,” Maisie said, sending her a knock-it-off glare, hoping her sister picked up onhertone. “Kind of cold.”
Natalie, never one to worry about subtlety, tipped her head to the side, gave Maisie her big doe eyes. “Maybe, but now I’m craving one. Remember that holiday one you made a few years ago? What did you call it? A snowman smoothie? With bananas, yogurt, a little bit of coconut. Strawberries on the side?”
“That does sound good,” Kyle said.
It wasn’t fair to send Kyle a glare when he didn’t pick up on his wife’s obvious attempt to get Maisie into closer quarters with Nick.
Natalie’s smile grew. “Pretty please? For your unborn niece or nephew?”
Asher squirmed and Nick put him down. “I love snowmen. Let’s go make one, Uncle Nick.” He ran toward the house.
Maisie was sure Nick would just follow his nephew. He’d save her from Natalie’s reckless attempt to make her breathe in his signature scent or be in close proximity.
Instead, he stepped closer to Maisie. “No talking him out of it now. You’ll have to come show me how it’s done.”
He held her gaze and Maisie was forced to bite her lip from responding inappropriately. He knew exactly how to get things done. All sorts of things.
When she felt like she could speak without sounding breathless, she tried one more time. “My sister doesn’t need a smoothie.”
“Oh, Maisie. I’m sure you can make your pregnant sister a snack. Surely, that’s not asking too much,” their mom said.
Natalie’s eyes went wide, laughter shining in them. “What can I say? Cravings are a real thing.”
“Fine.” Maisie tromped ahead, certain her mother was complaining about her attitude, Jacob and Kyle were confused, and Natalie was mentally high-fiving herself.
“Wait up, Smart,” Nick said, falling into step beside her with ease.
“Ha. Like you can’t catch me,” she said, then winced, hoping he’d let the comment go.
His fingers brushed against hers as they walked. “Do you want me to catch you?”
Stupid, husky, sexy voice. Stupid feel of his hand near her own.
“No. You had your chance,” she muttered, hating that she’d thought there was so much more to their night.
Once they’d stopped accidentally crossing each other’s paths at Hailey’s wedding and made a point of intentionally finding one another, everything else fell away. What started out as a misunderstanding and meaningless attraction turned into conversation, laughter, and the best sex Maisie had ever had. But it was more than that. It was the way he looked at her when he spoke, like he couldn’t figure her out and really wanted to. It was how he held her after, his hand stroking her hair, his breath on her neck, like he couldn’t stand the idea of letting her go. It was the way they’d talked for hours about who they were, what scared them, what thrilled them. Not what he did for work though. That was an oversight on her part.
They’d reached the first step of the porch when Nick took her hand loosely, just his fingers linking with hers. Maisie looked up at him.
Nick leaned closer. “I was an idiot to blow that chance. What would it take for a second one?”
She shook her head, not believing him even though that look in his eyes was every bit as intense and honest as it had been when he’d told her that the thought of anything happening to his sister and nephew kept him up at night sometimes.
Asher pulled open the front door. “I can’t reach the blender,” he said impatiently.
Maisie pulled her hand from Nick’s and went up the steps.
