Two
Nicole had spent the last couple of years—oh hell, why not admit it? She’d spent her entire life wearing, saying, and doing what was appropriate and expected of her. Not wanting to disappoint her parents, she’d always taken the path of least resistance, at least until she’d broken her engagement.
Tonight was the first time she could wear exactly what she wanted and be true to herself. Yet instead of being downstairs meeting new friends, she stood in front of her closet, unsure of . . . everything.
The good news was, although she’d spent her time in skirts and silk blouses, Chanel-style jackets, and pearls like her mother, that hadn’t stopped her from buying the kind of items she wished she could wear. On her way out of town, she’d dropped off all her Nicole Farnsworth, dutiful-daughter-appropriate items at the Manhattan branch of Dress for Success, where disadvantaged women would now have interview suits and clothing to start over.
Now it was Nicole’s turn to live for herself. She was just about to reach into her closet and pick something when someone knocked on her door. She figured it was Macy, wondering what had happened to her since she was already twenty minutes late.
She cinched the tie on her bathrobe. Used to being extra careful in Manhattan, she glanced into the peephole of her door.
The unexpected visitor standing on the other side made her breath catch in her throat and her heart begin a steady gallop.
“Sam,” she whispered, shocked right down to her toes.
He knocked again, and she fumbled with the lock before opening the door.
He braced one muscular arm on the door frame and grinned. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she managed in return, her gaze steady on his.
His smile deepened, revealing dimpled grooves in the sides of his mouth. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks,” she said as his husky voice rippled through her.
He hadn’t shaved, and with stubble and sexy messed hair, he looked even more delicious than she remembered. Her mouth ran dry and she ran her tongue over her lips in a desperate attempt to find moisture.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” she said, wincing as the words came out not at all like she’d intended.
“Disappointed?”
Lord no, she thought, and shook her head. “Of course not. Just surprised.”
His heavy-lidded gaze met hers. “So was I when I heard you’d moved here.”
“I bet.”
“Are you going to invite me in?” he asked.
She clutched her bathrobe lapels together, torn between doing just that and doing the proper thing. “Umm, I’m not exactly dressed.”
A grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “I don’t mind.” Those gorgeous eyes, green mixed with brown and rimmed by gold, traveled over her, from her bare legs to the short hem of the silk robe, up again to meet her gaze.
Sweet heaven, this man was potent. Unable to resist him, she stepped aside. “I haven’t had a chance to do much with the apartment yet.” Though she’d unpacked her clothes, she still needed the accessories and personal touches that would make the place feel like home.
He shrugged, obviously unconcerned. “I’m used to it. My brother lived here before you and he did nothing to it at all.”
She raised an eyebrow, surprised. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yep. Then he married Cara, bought himself a big house by the lake, and settled down.”
“Do you like his wife?” she asked, because he didn’t sound happy about the settling-down part. His voice had turned grumbly over the words.
“She’s great. You remember her, Cara Hartley? The police officer who arrested your . . .” His voice trailed off awkwardly.
Nothing like the memory of Victoria to bring an abrupt end to any conversation, Nicole thought. “I remember Cara. She was decent to me.”
Sam openly studied her. “She had no reason not to be. You weren’t your sister.”
Nicole drew a deep breath and nodded. “That’s why I decided Serendipity would be a good place to start over. Nice town, people willing to give you a chance to prove yourself, not jump to conclusions or put you in a little box where they think you ought to be.”
Sam, being as perceptive as she remembered, narrowed his gaze at that.
She bit the inside of her cheek, realizing she was getting too deep. “I should get dressed and meet you downstairs.”
“I’ll wait.” He headed for the small dining set in the corner that came with the apartment, hooked one foot around the leg of a chair, and settled his very fine rear end into the seat.
He relaxed comfortably, as if he’d been here many times before and belonged. He had said his brother lived here before, which explained his familiarity—but not the sense of rightness she felt on seeing him in her personal space.
Uh-oh. She shook her head to dispel that wayward thought. No matter how strong the attraction between them, Nicole had just ended one engagement. She was not interested in anything other than getting her life together and on track. No emotional or sexual entanglements needed or wanted. No matter that her raging hormones and completely wired body said otherwise.
She quickly grabbed a pair of soft, faded jeans, a hot-pink fitted V neck, and a belt, and closed herself in the bathroom to change.
She dressed quickly. A glance in the mirror showed that her cheeks were flushed—thank you, Sam—so no need for more blush. She swiped on a light peach lip gloss, spritzed on some of her favorite perfume, fluffed her hair, drew a deep breath, and walked back out to face him.
His gaze raked over her and his mouth curled in a genuine smile of approval.
At his reaction, pleasure of every variety rushed over strategic body parts, and given the thin texture of her top and the darkening of those sexy hazel eyes, he noticed.
Oh yes, she was in definite trouble.
No sooner had Sam followed Nicole back down to the bar than Macy took over, hooking her arm through Nicole’s and stealing her away. Macy maneuvered her through the crowd, introducing Nicole to people as she went.
Sam told himself he was happy for the separation. It gave him a chance to catch his breath—because Nicole’s impact was even more potent the second time around. He’d barely taken in the fact that she was here and they’d come face-to-face, forcing him to call on a cool he didn’t feel.
He’d have liked to blame his over-the-top reaction on the silk robe she’d worn and clutched to her chest like armor. Still, he’d been unable to stop wondering if her skin would be as soft as the satiny material looked. If she’d feel soft and supple beneath him.
He groaned, knowing it wasn’t just the robe or the long bare legs beneath that captivated him. After the surprise of seeing him, it was the pleasure in those beautiful blue eyes that had floored him. Of course, she’d quickly composed herself and tried to hide her reaction. They had that in common, at least—a wariness of their combustible chemistry. He took heart in knowing she was uncertain too.
And when she’d returned from getting dressed? Gone were the ladylike slacks and silk shirts she’d worn her first time in town, replaced by jeans that hugged her shapely ass and a top that accentuated her sweet curves. Curves he wanted to trace with his hands and taste with his mouth, exploring her thoroughly. He wanted that with a desperation he’d never felt before.
But more than sexual attraction intrigued him. When she’d mentioned coming to Serendipity to start over, to prove herself and not have people jump to conclusions or put her in a little box—well, then he’d realized there was much more to Nicole’s move here than met the eye, making him wonder just what she had left behind.
And why did he care? He wished the answer were as simple as him being a cop and it being second nature to question and to wonder. He knew better. He cared and wondered because it was Nicole.
Everything about her aroused his curiosity—among other things. The heat between them was mutual. The way her nipples tightened beneath his stare affirmed the same shocks tripping him up even now, when she was on the other side of the damned room.
“That’s interesting.” Mike eased up alongside him, standing shoulder to shoulder as they looked over the crowd.
“What is?” Sam asked.
“Victoria’s sister’s back in town.” And Mike didn’t sound pleased.
“It’s a free country,” Sam reminded him.
“Just seems odd she’d come back here after what her sister pulled.” Mike took a long drag of his beer.
“She’s not her sister and she helped ours. She came here to warn Erin and she gave up her sister’s hideout, remember?”
“Don’t get yourself worked up. I’m just pointing out the truth. Macy says she’s moved here and I think it’s an odd choice. Unless she found something here she liked.” Mike’s low chuckle was meant to annoy Sam.
He refused to take his brother’s bait. “She said she found the people here accepting.”
“You’ve spoken with her already?”
Shit. “Yeah.” He didn’t elaborate.
“Be careful. Her sister’s got mental issues,” Mike warned him.
“And she’s getting treatment while awaiting the disposition of her case.” Even so, Sam thought. “What do Victoria’s problems have to do with Nicole?” Sam asked, his gaze never leaving the woman in question.
“Depends on what, if anything, you have to do with Nicole,” Mike replied.
Sam’s gaze narrowed both at Mike’s words, as well as at the scene before him. Macy had moved on from the women and was now introducing Nicole to some of the cops who frequented her restaurant. When Rob Burnett, a known player, looked her over, a predatory gleam in his eyes, Sam tensed and pushed himself off the wall.
“Hey.”
Sam turned back to his brother. “What?” And make it quick, he thought.
“I meant it when I said be careful. You don’t know anything about her except for—”
“Her crazy sister? I heard you loud and clear.” But Sam wasn’t listening. He was more concerned with not allowing the single guys at Joe’s to take in the new girl without him staking some kind of claim first.
He made his way to where Macy had finished her introductions and the men were eyeing Nicole with interest.
“Hey, Sam,” Macy said with a welcoming smile.
“Macy.” He greeted her with a grin before turning to Nicole. “Good to see you again.”
Her gaze warmed and his entire body sizzled in reaction. “What’s up?” he asked.
“Just meeting the new girl in town,” Rob said, immediately making himself a part of the conversation. “Isn’t that right, honey?” He lifted Nicole’s hand and kissed her smooth skin.
Sam’s fingers curled into a fist, itching to hit his friend. Rob was always too smooth with the ladies, and the result went one of two ways. Either they were desperate and fell for his fake charm, or they found him over-the-top ridiculous.
Nicole pulled her hand back quickly and Sam relaxed.
“Everyone has been very welcoming,” she said, not singling out Rob or acknowledging his interest.
“Some more than others,” Sam muttered, noticing that his other cop buddies were engaged in a conversation with each other.
“Want to go get a drink?” Sam asked Nicole, eager for time to get reacquainted.
“Why don’t you go get this round and one of us will grab the next one,” Rob not so smoothly suggested.
Sam forced a smile. “Since I can’t remember the last time you actually put your hand in your pocket to cover any of us, why don’t you get this round for the guys? I’ve got Macy and Nicole covered.”
Macy raised her eyebrows and an amused smirk lifted her lips.
“I’ll go hang with the boys. Go on, Rob. Fetch our drinks,” she said with such a silken laugh that no man in his right mind would deny her.
Flirting and teasing were part of Macy’s charm, but no man ever got past her walls, which didn’t stop even those who knew her best from wanting to please her.
Burnett scowled but realized he’d been caught in his own noose. “Beer for everyone?” he bit out.
Even the other two guys nodded at that.
“Works for me,” Macy said, placing her hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, and stalked off.
Sam shook his head and laughed. “Subtle, Mace.”
“You’re no better.”
He did his best not to flush. He knew damn well he’d been proprietary, knew how out of character his behavior had been. And he couldn’t control it worth a damn.
Nicole watched his byplay with Macy but remained silent. Sam wasn’t sure if she’d caught on to his intent or if she thought he was just giving Burnett a hard time.
“I got rid of Rob,” Macy said, leaning close so she could whisper for Sam’s ears only. Obviously she hadn’t missed a thing. “Now go take my new friend and show her a good time.”
No sooner had Macy spoken than Joe grabbed a microphone and announced the start of karaoke night. He hadn’t had the theme in a while and obviously thought with the bar full of regulars, it was a good time to start.
“Karaoke isn’t my thing,” Sam muttered.
Nicole met his gaze. “Mine either.”
That made up his mind. “Want to get out of here?”
She appeared startled at the suggestion but nodded, much to his relief.
A few minutes later, they were outside Joe’s.
“Where are we going?” Nicole asked.
“With a little luck? Some place quiet.” His fingers itched to take her hand, but the maxim too much, too soon ran through his head, and he refrained.
Nicole fell into step alongside him and they walked across the street to the center median, which was covered with a multitude of colorful flowers.
“These are incredible,” she murmured and went on to name a variety of flowers she obviously recognized.
He blinked at her knowledge. “Are you a florist?” he asked, realizing he’d never found out what she did for a living.
She shook her head. “No. But my mother was always very specific about flower orders when she planned her dinner parties. Many, many dinner parties.” Her voice droned with the memory.
“Sounds painful.”
“Very.” Her smile packed a punch. “Still, these are beautiful.” She swept her hand through the air to indicate the panorama of flowers and color spread out before them.
“Beautiful is an appropriate word in more ways than one,” he said, speaking more of her than the flowers.
Her jet-black hair and Mediterranean coloring must come from her mother, he figured, since Farnsworth wasn’t an ethnic name. Those blue eyes stood out against her olive skin, like two deep pools, beckoning to him, making it difficult for him to follow the thread of their conversation.
Somehow he pulled the subject from the back of his mind. “The town’s beautification committee works hard on maintaining this area.”
“I’m so used to the city, being able to see so much color and space is such a treat.”
And her appreciation of something he passed by every day and took for granted touched him deeply, prompting him to explain more about their origins. “There’s a yearly event to raise money to fund this area. It’s a big, formal party at Faith Barron’s house over Labor Day weekend.”
“Who?”
Sam shook his head and laughed. “Right. You’re not a local. Did you notice that big house on the hill when you drove into town?”
“How could I not? It resembles my childhood home.”
He let out a whistle. “Nice.” And way out of his league.
She laughed. “No, the mansion here is much grander. It just happens to remind me of my parents’ home. The way it’s set off from reality and obviously meant to impress, that sort of thing.” She shifted from foot to foot. “But it’s not who I am at all,” she said, as if desperate for him to understand and still accept her.
He nodded in grateful understanding. He didn’t want a spoiled princess in his life—and if he had his way, this understated woman would, at the very least, end up in his bed. Still, she was clearly the kind of girl he’d be taking his time with, and he appreciated that about her.
“So back to the house on the hill,” he said. “Faith and Ethan Barron live there now, and they’re nothing like Faith’s parents, who were the previous owners.”
“That’s unusual,” she murmured.
He nodded. “It is. And yet it’s very right. You and Faith have a lot in common. She’s down to earth and sweet.” Nicole blushed, but Sam merely continued. “Now that you’re living here, I’m sure you’ll meet them at one point or another.”
She smiled. “I’ll look forward to it.”
“Want to sit?” Sam pointed to the empty bench beneath the white gazebo.
She nodded and walked up the few steps, easing down on the wooden seat. He settled in beside her.
“This is the best part of the summer,” she said, relaxing and leaning back.
“What is?”
“This time of day. The sun doesn’t set until late. When I was younger, my sister and I would stay outside until it turned dark.” Her lips lifted upward at the memory. “We’d play games and make up stories. Anything to avoid going back into that cold, empty house with people who . . . people like my parents.” She shivered but clammed up, obviously realizing she’d said more than she wanted to.
As far as Sam was concerned, she hadn’t said enough.
“Thanks for showing me this place.” She stretched her legs out in front of her and let out a blissful sigh.
His groin responded to the sound. “My pleasure. So . . . you told me why you chose Serendipity, but why the move in the first place?” He asked the question dogging him since he’d discovered she was here.
She turned to face him, her gaze serious. “Because I was finished living my life for others.”
He already knew that meant her parents.
“I liked the town . . . and the people from when I was in town before. Despite the horrible situation, I felt a connection here.”
She didn’t shift her gaze from his, warming him with her statement, which clearly included him.
“I’m here for me.” She shrugged. “It was really that simple.”
So much . . . and so little revealed, Sam thought, intrigued by her. “What are your plans?”
“Eventually I want to open up a specialty bake shop, but I’ll start by seeing if there’s someone here who’ll hire me while I’m getting my bearings in town. I want to do some research on the area and make sure there’s a need for what I’m offering before I invest.”
“There was a bakery off Main Street that closed down a while back. Not because they couldn’t sustain business, but it was too much for the couple who owned it.”
“Hmm. I’ll have to look into it.”
“It’s smart that you’re not rushing into something. Taking your time to understand whether a business is viable is an intelligent move.”
Again, her cheeks flushed a deep shade. “Thank you.”
Unable to stop himself, he reached out and twirled a strand of her dark hair around his finger. “Would it bother you if I said I couldn’t stop thinking about you after you left town?”
She gazed at him through her thick lashes. “Only if it doesn’t bother you to know I felt the same way.” Her husky voice tripped the lever on his banked desire.
“Good to know.” He tugged on her hair and she leaned in closer, their mouths inches apart.
God, he wanted to taste her, to explore this living, breathing desire that shimmered between them. And when her tongue swept out, moistening her lips, the unpracticed move broke his control. Covering the distance between them, he brushed his lips over hers and she welcomed him with a soft sigh of acceptance. But she held back, waiting for him to take the lead. His pulse pounded as hard as his groin had become.
His body wanted to go fast, but something about Nicole kept his baser impulses in check. Keeping the kiss under control, he tasted her lips, sliding his tongue back and forth until she parted and let him inside. His tongue brushed hers and the taste of her exploded inside him. Her flavor was better than he’d imagined, and her sweet scent went straight to his groin.
Without thinking, he twisted her hair tighter, tilting her head for deeper access, which she freely granted. His heart knocked against his chest, the connection between them deepening along with the kiss. Only his free hand, clenched into a tight fist, helped him keep a grasp on reality.
Her tongue tangled with his and the kiss went on, sweeping him along with her, until he was lost completely. Suddenly laughter and the rowdy sound of a group of kids broke into their intimate moment.
She jerked back, face flushed, lips damp and curved in a smile.
He grinned back just as a pack of teens strode up to the gazebo, talking loudly and ribbing each other with insults and innuendo.
“Oh, man. It’s taken,” one of them said.
Nicole quickly rose to her feet, straightening her shirt, shaking her hand over her jeans. “We were just leaving,” she said to the boys.
Sam stood, grateful for the darkness that had begun to surround them, hiding the obvious evidence of his arousal. “I’ll walk you back,” he said, his voice unsteady.
“Okay.” Her lips twitched in a knowing grin.
He placed his hand on the small of her back and she trembled. Good. At least he wasn’t the only one still being pulled under by the desire they’d unleashed.
Sam couldn’t remember the last time he’d made out with a woman in the middle of town, where anyone could see. Not that it mattered when all he could think about was this woman—and when he could see her again.
Nicole spent the next day getting her new apartment into shape. It helped once she unpacked some personal photos and knickknacks. She liked knowing she was settled, that she could look around and feel like she was surrounded by her favorite things.
She had a mental to-do list, and with her personal space in order, she could turn her focus to her career. As for what to do about Tyler’s father . . . she still didn’t know. Each option turned her stomach. So she focused on Sam—which wasn’t difficult since she couldn’t concentrate on anything but that kiss. Her lips still tingled with pleasure.
When she’d first met him three months ago, after she’d gotten over the fact that he’d arrested her and dragged her down to the police station, their crazy chemistry had taken her by surprise. Although nothing happened between them, the sizzle she’d experienced was one of the things that had persuaded her to end her engagement. If just looking at Sam Marsden awoke parts of her that had been long dormant, she’d asked herself what the hell was she was doing with Tyler Stanton, a man with whom sex was just . . . nice.
No matter how good and kind Tyler was, intimacy had been pleasant and occasional. It had never been a priority for either one of them. Maybe it was because they’d grown up together, the expectation of marriage always underlying things, and they were comfortable together, but his kisses were uninspired. And that was what she’d thought before Sam Marsden’s lips touched hers and the earth shifted beneath her feet.
Yep, it had been that cliché. That awesome.
Which explained why she woke up this morning still off-kilter and jittery. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She started by reminding herself that she wasn’t looking to start something new when she was still getting over something old. But she was getting ahead of herself with her worries. It wasn’t like Sam had reached out in the time since she’d seen him at Joe’s.
Pushing that thought aside, she showered and dressed, her plan being to drive over to The Family Restaurant. Macy said late mornings were slow and she could spend some time talking. Since her new friend was in the restaurant business, Nicole wanted to discuss her bakery ideas and get insight.
In desperate need of caffeine, she stopped at Cuppa Café, even before she got in her car and headed across town. She’d yet to fill her kitchen cabinets and refrigerator, but even if she had, Nicole liked to treat herself to a good, fresh cup in the morning.
The shop was nearly empty, with one woman who looked about Nicole’s age, give or take a few years, working behind the counter.
“Hi,” Nicole said.
“Hi, and welcome.” The other woman greeted her with a friendly smile. “Are you new in town?”
Nicole laughed. “That obvious?”
“Only to someone who grew up here. I’m Trisha Lock-hart. I own this place.”
“Nicole Farnsworth. Are you related to Joe? He’s my landlord.”
“He’s my brother. He pumps the good people in town full of alcohol and I sober them up or help their hangover the next day.” Her words were light and teasing. “What can I get you?”
“Regular coffee with milk and sugar,” Nicole said.
“Coming right up.”
As Trisha poured her drink, Nicole stepped back to study the items behind the counter. There were prewrapped pastries and assorted other things like name-brand granola bars, but nothing that appeared freshly baked. She wrinkled her nose at the choices.
“Something wrong?” Trisha placed her cup on the counter.
“Not at all,” Nicole rushed to assure her, embarrassed that she’d been caught turning her nose up at the other woman’s offerings.
“You looked like you just ate a Sour Patch or something.”
Nicole shook her head, mortified. “I’m sorry. I was just looking at your breakfast offerings—”
“Pitiful, I know.” Trisha lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “It is what it is. I can’t bake and I don’t have the equipment even if I could.”
“Hmm. Well, it just so happens . . .”
“Yes?”
Nicole braced her hands on the counter. “I can bake. And I want to bake; I moved here hoping to find a place to do that, or open my own business.” She met Trisha’s interested gaze. “I have the savings for it, but I’m not sure I’m ready to dive in alone.”
Trisha eyed her speculatively. “I would be interested in bringing fresh items into the store. I’m certain it would only add business.” She shrugged. “Why don’t you drop off some baked goods for me to try?”
Heartened, Nicole nodded. “I will.” She placed money, enough to include a tip, on the counter and picked up her cup. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Same here. I’d say don’t be a stranger, but in this town, no one really is.” Trisha grinned and turned to refresh the decaffeinated coffee.
Smiling, Nicole spun around and bumped into a hard male body. Her coffee sloshed over the lid, burning her hand. “Oh crap,” she muttered.
Ignoring the sting, she backed up, then glanced up and into the same hazel eyes that had starred in her dreams. Sam stood in front of her, freshly shaved, wearing a dark sport jacket, and looking hotter than any man had a right to.
“Oh God. I’m sorry. Did I get any coffee on you?” she asked, embarrassed.
“No. I’m fine. Are you okay?” He lifted her burned hand in his for inspection.
Shocks that had nothing to do with the hot liquid tingled along her skin. A quick look up told her he’d experienced the sensation too.
“I’m okay,” she murmured. At least her hand was. The rest of her was another story. “Where are you going all dressed up?” she asked.
“Work.”
She narrowed her gaze. “No uniform?”
“I got a promotion since I saw you last,” he explained. “Detectives get to ditch the uniform.”
“Congratulations!” she said, impressed and happy for him.
“Thanks. So how about you? Where are you headed next?” he asked.
“The Family Restaurant. I was going to brainstorm some things with Macy, but I couldn’t wait to get there to get some caffeine into me,” she explained.
He laughed. “I hear you. If I don’t stop here, I end up starting my day with the sludge at the station.”
“Good to know where I can find you,” she murmured.
They stared at each other for a few moments, the air between them crackling with intensity.
“I’ve been thinking about you,” he admitted.
Her heart skipped a beat at that. “Same here.”
“Are you free Friday night? We could go out to dinner.”
She sighed. “I’m going to the movies with Macy.” She paused before plowing ahead. “But Saturday night, Macy talked me into going to the women’s heart health fund-raiser. Will you be there?” If she couldn’t go on an official date with him this weekend, at least they could spend time together.
His brows drew close and he hesitated, his attitude going from outgoing and inviting to downright uncomfortable. “Never mind. I—”
“Listen, I—” They spoke at the same time.
His cell rang and he immediately glanced at the phone screen.
“Work call,” he explained, shooting her a regretful look. He spoke to the person on the other end and met her gaze as he disconnected. “I have to go now, but I—” He shook his head. “No time,” he muttered.
She nodded, understanding the urgency. She’d see him Saturday night, or not.
With a last lingering glance, he headed for the door.
She watched him go, her eyes devouring him from behind. The man was built in a way that spoke of working out to maintain his physique but not in a way that screamed gym god. No, he was a fine specimen all on his own.
She wished he’d had a chance to say whatever was on his mind about the fund-raiser, but she wouldn’t let herself worry about it. He had asked her out first, which indicated interest. And if he really wanted to go out with her, he knew where to find her. It was a small town, after all.
She might not be looking for a serious relationship right now, but she’d be crazy to deny she wanted something with this man.
Just what remained to be seen.