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“Another shot to do what?” Her smile faded. “If you break her heart again, you’ll have to answer to me.”
“I understand. And I don’t just want to get into her pants. I want back in her life in a permanent way.” He sat up straighter, knowing she meant it. Sheridan was a fighter. She fought hard for her man, she fought for her career; the girl did not mess around.
Which meant he wouldn’t mess with her—besides the fact his best friend would murder him without thought if he so much as pissed Sheridan off.
“What are you two conspiring about?” Jared appeared as if he knew Nick was thinking about him and sat in the chair next to Sheridan. He leaned over and brushed a soft kiss to his wife’s lips, earning a smile from Sheridan for his efforts.
Nick had grown up with a nice, normal family. His parents were still married, his older sister lived down the dusty road from the old homestead with her cute little family, and he was the golden boy of his tiny town. His parents were proud, as was his sister and her husband.
He had simple wants, simpler needs. Yeah, he’d been dazzled when he first got the contract with the Hawks and everything that came with it—including the fans, the groupies who threw themselves at him. But he was so over that scene. Had been for a couple of years. A meaningful relationship was what he sought. With the bonus of having extremely hot sex…and of course he knew he could have all of that and more with Willow.
“Nick wants advice on how to show Willow a good time.” Sheridan burst out laughing when both he and Jared looked at her like she was nuts. “It’s true, right? You want to know how to impress her on a date.”
“Willow needs to get laid,” Jared mumbled, earning a jab in the ribs from Sheridan. “What? I speak the truth, and you know it. Maybe a night of hot sex would take that stick out of her ass. She’s been uptight since the moment I met her.”
Sounded good to Nick. He could have her a million ways before their eight dates were up. She’d be nice and relaxed by then.
“She’s been consumed by work. Worried she was sabotaging her own business by not having a big enough location. Not enough employees to get the job done,” Sheridan said, glaring at her husband, who didn’t seem fazed in the least. “She’s had to turn clients away, you know.”
No, Nick didn’t know. He had no clue what was really going on with her personal life. She kept herself closed up tight. “So by having this new space to work in, she thinks it’ll help business grow, right?”
“Right. She plans on hiring a few people on a part-time basis to help her, and she can grow at the pace she wants to, versus feeling all over the place. You made her so happy, giving her the deal on the lease. She’s very grateful.”
He was hoping to use some of that gratefulness to his full advantage come tomorrow night. Yeah, he might be jumping the gun, thinking he could have her wrapped around his little finger after one measly date, but hey. A man could dream, right?
And the very best dreams he ever had always involved a certain someone.
Miss Willow Cavanaugh.
…
She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she’d been working nonstop since Frank the property manager handed over the keys to her new building two days ago. She’d recruited Sheridan to help her the first day, moving over a bunch of equipment and supplies until the both of them were ready to collapse. The two college kids who helped her on the weekends came earlier today, helping her move the heavier stuff. Pretty much everything she’d wanted cleared out of her house was now in her new business space. He’d allowed her to move in pending the signed contract, on a trial basis. She knew it was a done deal, so she could suffer through a few dates. No biggie.
This weekend when she wasn’t working the two baby showers she booked, she was going to set up her new storefront and the supply room in the back. If she wasn’t so damn tired, she’d be bouncing on her couch, giddy at the prospect of putting together something that was now so uniquely hers.
Instead, she crashed out and took a nap, only to be woken up by insistent knocking on her door.
Grabbing her phone, she glanced at the time, cursing as she stumbled off the couch and went to answer the door.
There Nick stood, sexy as hell as always. Clad in dark jeans and a black sweater that stretched across his broad chest, his hair damp as if he just got out of the shower and his blue eyes locked on her face. She clutched the door handle for fear she might fall.
“What are you doing here?” she retorted, wincing at her snippy tone. Just seeing him looking so damn good made it appear.
“Hey,” he said as he drank her in, his brows furrowed. “Did you forget about our date?”
Shit. She probably looked terrible. “I, uh…had a busy day and sort of fell asleep.” This eight-date deal she’d made with him was irritating, but she needed to meet her obligation. Besides, it wasn’t such a hardship, spending time with Nick.
Not that she’d admit it to anyone.
He frowned, full of concern. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Really.” She nodded, offered him a little smile as she opened the door wider. “Come on in.”
He strode inside, smelling of expensive cologne and irresistible man. Funny how the minute he entered her home, he seemed to fill it up completely. “If you don’t mind waiting, I can take a quick shower and be ready to go in less than twenty minutes.”
“Less than twenty, huh?” He turned to face her, his mouth curved in an adorable smile. “Sounds pretty quick compared to most women.”
“I’m not most women.” Great, there he went with the innuendo and dripping-with-sexiness routine. Drove her crazy how he did that.
