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“Maybe. But your gut tells you to trust him, right?”
She pressed one hand to her belly. “Yeah, it does, but poor Nick––I don’t just have a little baggage, I’m a full set of luggage.”
“We all have baggage. You know I do too. But I have a great feeling about Nick. Just slow the pace down and set boundaries. But enjoy it. You deserve a knight in shining armor. Youareworthy of love. Remember you can have it all. Ignore that spiteful bitch and let Nick deal with her.”
She tucked her legs beneath her and sank further into the plush couch. “You’re right. She definitely caught me off guard––I’ve seriously never had someone be so rude and nasty to me and you know I hate confrontation. She makes my mom’s attacks look like child’s play. I hope she wasn’t serious about the Pritzker—it’d kill him to lose his dream.”
Kelly snorted. “Your mom’s all bark and no bite. She loves you, but she’s got her own issues. Not your problem. I think you’re on the right path with everything. Anyway, you really should share with Nick about your family. Call him and invite him to help you finish the Cristal.”
They hung up, and Sophie called Nick right away, before she lost her nerve. Kelly’s pep talk bolstered her sagging confidence. Hell, she should pay her best friend for a therapy session. She’d tuck her worries about Heather away for now.
“Hi Beautiful. Miss me?” His voice was gravelly and low. Sexy.
Sophie’s heart took a long slow dive in her chest. “I’m sorry, did I dial the wrong number? Who is this?”
“Very funny. I was just going to call you. How about I bring over dinner and a bottle of wine? Want to watch TV with me and neck?”
A giggle bubbled up in her throat. “Necking? That sounds old-fashioned and perfect. Absolutely. I’ve already popped some champagne so hurry over.”
“Champagne without me? I’m at Whole Foods now and I’ll grab us a meal deal and be over in fifteen.”
Kelly was right. She’d accept Nick at face value. No more self-doubt. Time to enjoy her independence, focus on her writing and relish this lovely surprise of a relationship. And time to toss her ratty sweats in the hamper and pull on some lacy lingerie and her “nice” yoga pants. She smoothed her hair away from her face and rose from the couch.
When he arrived, she skipped to open the door. She leaped into his arms, wrapped her legs around his waist, and planted a huge kiss on his mouth.
Laughing, Nick slid his hands to her butt and squeezed. “Now that’s what I call a greeting.”
“Only for you, handsome.” Her heart rate kicked up when his gorgeous green eyes crinkled at the corners.
Nick set her onto her feet and turned to pick up the grocery bags from the porch. Bailey bounded into the house and headed straight for Zack. Watching the dog and cat interact warmed Sophie’s heart. The animals adored each other. And her cat also perked up whenever Nick arrived. Animals knew.
As the crazy old cat lady in training, she should have trusted her cat’s instincts.
As they set up dinner in the kitchen, Nick asked, “So give me the champagne-worthy news.”
Her hand tightened around her fork.Crap, she needed to tell him about her latest confrontation with Heather. Damn the woman for putting her in the position to feel like a tattletale, but Nick deserved to know what was happening behind his back. Maybe he could shed some light on the situation.
She exhaled a fortifying breath. “Well, I stopped by the office this afternoon with the champagne to surprise you, but you weren’t there…”
“When?” His eyebrows drew together. “I only ran out to grab some lunch.”
“Around one thirty, I think. When I went inside, Heather was there, and––”
Nick’s jaw tightened. “What did she do this time?”
Sophie glanced down and poured Nick some champagne. “Well, she was really rude. I don’t like to talk behind people’s backs, but she was threatening and nasty, and I don’t appreciate being treated like that.”
“Threatening? What the hell is going on with her? What did she say?” His face was carved from granite, his eyes chips of ice.
She shared the high points of Heather’s tirade, doing her best to keep emotion out of it. Although annoyance flared down her spine remembering just what a jerk the woman was.
“I’m going to fire her tomorrow.” Nick covered the distance between them in two strides.
His strong arms wrapped around her, and his lips brushed the top of her hair. She burrowed her face into the warm skin of his neck and sighed in pleasure. He felt like home. Nobody had ever made her feel so protected. Ever.
She pressed one hand against his hard chest and gazed up at him. “Fire her? What reason will you give her? What if she sues you for wrongful termination or something? Or tries to sabotage your Pritzker nomination?” Crap, what if Heather did sabotage him? Wouldn’t he eventually resent her for being in the middle of it all?
Nick hesitated for a moment and shook his head. “I won’t tolerate anybody treating you that way, especially someone that works for me. Screw the Pritzker.”
