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NICOLE BRUSHED BY SLADE, eyeing him as if she didn’t believe him, before opening the back door. “Good timing. Come on in, and I’ll take it out of the oven.”
The new guy gazed at him with as much mistrust as Nicole, forcing Slade to throttle back his impatience. The instant, hair-trigger concern that sent him rushing over here when she didn’t answer his call still hadn’t eased all the way. Pretty soon, he would have no choice but to admit he’d already slipped from the milder L word to the deeper, more meaningful L word. He planned to take his brothers to task over not warning him about how love could sneak past, like without advance warning. It would have been nice to be prepared when it hit him in the face. For an ex-sniper, whose life had often depended on staying alert, that really rankled.
He held out his hand. “Slade Kincaid, the neighbor.”
Paul nodded, his grasp strong enough to assure Slade he was up to the task of helping Nicole despite the recent rough years he’d suffered. “Lily’s soon-to-be brother-in-law. Paul Westman. I don’t mean to intrude...”
“You’re not,” Nicole cut in. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and eat with us?” She handed him a covered container big enough to hold several helpings.
“I’m sure, but thanks. I’d like to finish getting settled. I’ll be up early to start work.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Slade spotted the plates as Nicole got out the container and set the table while she brought over a pan topped with melted Monterey Jack cheese. She set it down with a thump, the same way she took her seat, obviously still unhappy with this turn of events.
“I have water, beer, wine. Glasses above the sink. Help yourself. Spaghetti pie,” she added, using a spatula to scoop a generous portion onto his plate.
“Looks and smells good. We’ll have a glass of wine afterward.”
She ignored that and started eating, waiting to swallow before asking, “So, what did you want, when you called?”
“Nothing. See how you’re doing, that sort of thing.” He must be getting it bad when he found her scowl kind of cute.
“All this hassle because you just wanted to chitchat?”
Put that way, it made him irritable again. Before snapping in reply, like he was tempted to, he ate in silence, thinking of a better way to move forward instead of backward. Part of what he decided required baring more of himself, but he supposed that was necessary for a good relationship.
“Ever taken a walk on the wild side? Gone with or pursued any wild impulses?”
She thought a moment then said with decisiveness, “No.”
“Ever want to?”
“No. I like things on an even keel, calm, easy. Why?”
Sucking it up, he admitted, “I have. As a military sniper. At first for the risk-taking adrenaline rush. Working for the greater good of saving lives proved a bonus.”
“Until your last assignment.”
“Yes, but even with the regret, I saved lives. As difficult it was, still can be, I’ve come to accept the boy as dead either way from the moment he was kidnapped. Now, it’s your turn. Dare you to take that walk now.”
Her lips quirked, a positive sign. “You want me to become a military sniper?”
“Funny girl. Lose the attitude. I’ll do the same. See where this goes. Who knows, you may not go for my kink, and we’ll call it quits.”
“So, this is all about sex. I can do that, and try more of your kink.”
She appeared happy to admit that, and Slade let her believe that’s what he meant for now. It would help her lower her guard and leave her vulnerable to deeper feelings. And the fact he was psychoanalyzing proved how deeply invested he already was.
“More?” she inquired as he shoveled in the last bite.
“Sure. In case you can’t tell, it was damn good.”
Nicole handed him the spatula. “Thanks. Help yourself while I get the wine.”
They ate seconds and drank wine, talking about the renovations and her plans to foster. He hadn’t thought to bring Chace until Sam kept giving him a look that saidwhere is he? Slade figured he had pushed Nicole enough by the time they cleared the dishes and he picked up his hat.
“We usually go to Ina’s for dinner midweek. I’ll walk over early through the woods and show you the way to my place and then we’ll leave from there.”
