Chapter 19: Chapter 19

It was always a sad sight to see them go. From her front porch, Trisha's eyes grew misty as her parents' car departed from view down the long driveway. She wouldn't see them again until fall. She pulled the sweater tighter to her body, warding off a chill. The sky was clear and the air crisp, but fresh.

Turning to Nancy next to her, she beamed a phony smile. "I'm hungry. Let's go eat."

Nancy tilted her head toward the driveway. "We have company."

Trisha darted her gaze back and let out an audible groan. "What does he want?"

A corner of Nancy's mouth quirked. "Invite him for lunch."

"Do I have to?"

Nancy went inside, but not before giving her that motherly scowl.

Trisha bit her lip, torn between giddy excitement and nerves, as Nick climbed out of his car. That kiss they'd shared had rocked her world off its axis, leaving her needy and curious how long the chemistry would last, or if she should even act on it.

Man, he was so yummy, though. Worn jeans low on his hips and a black sweater under an open leather jacket. His green gaze warily met hers as he neared.

"What can I do for you, Deputy?"

Hiking up her porch steps, he rammed his hands in his pockets. "Came to apologize."

Huh. She feigned surprise very much like the day she'd first met him. "There are so many things. For which would you like to apologize?" Please not the kiss

"I was wrong about you and Brad. I'm sorry."

She opened her mouth and closed it again. He was studying her for a response and a slow, conceited grin spread across her face. It took balls coming here and apologizing, especially for that reason.

"Forgiven." She sank into one of the rocking chairs. "Nancy wants you to stay for lunch. I must warn you, they're a rowdy bunch."

"I'll stay if you want me to, not because Nancy does."

God. His tone had that gruff quality to it again, the one that grazed the hairs on her neck and lit her nerves on fire. Her belly heated. After contemplating only a moment, she nodded. "I'd like you to stay."

"I will kiss you again." Something flashed in his eyes, part determination, part hesitation. The contrast was entirely too endearing and stole her breath. "Next time I'll warn you first."

She forced air in her lungs and a teasing note to her voice, but her heart rate accelerated. "Rather sure of yourself, aren't you? What makes you think I want to be kissed again?"

Carefully, he sat in the chair next to hers and slid a finger down her bruised cheek. She shivered under his hot, sweet touch. Those green eyes of his hardened at the sight of Mike's damage and then widened when she shivered again.

A trace of a smile whispered his lips, as if satisfied he could affect her. "You want to be kissed again."

And with that, he shrugged off the moment and darted a glance toward the apple trees. "I came over for something else."

She was getting whiplash.

He leaned forward in his chair and dropped his elbows on his knees, lacing his fingers together. "That call I got warning me to stay away from you? Apparently, your parents got some like it years ago. Now, calm down," he cooed quickly with raised palms at her startle. "I'm checking this out off the record and I want it kept quiet. I think it's nothing."

She was certain he didn't think it was nothing. "Then why investigate? And what kind of calls? I know nothing about it."

"Same as mine. Stay away from her, that kind of thing."

Ice formed in her gut. Why hadn't her parents said anything? "You think it has something to do with my biological parents?"

He sat back, head tilted in thought. "It's possible."

"I don't know anything about my real parents."

"I don't see the connection between your parents then and me now. I'll just keep an ear open. Probably just small town pranks."

Nick was placating her and she didn't like it one bit. Suspicion mounted, causing the hair on her arms to raise. "That's what Nancy said when I told her about the call to you. This feels like a pat on the head, like you're hiding something."

"We're hiding nothing but our obvious concern. I'm including you now, so relax." He glanced at the front door. "Like I said, I'm just checking this out under the table."

Hell, maybe it was just a crank call and she was overreacting. But that didn't explain why Nick was looking into it. And now was not the time for this. "Fine, let's go eat, and we'll discuss it more tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes. I'll be at your place at seven."

He didn't argue.

Trisha had left him to fend for himself against her men during lunch, as she sat quietly and watched the interactions. It felt like a test. Nick supposed if he wanted to be involved with her-and he wasn't so sure he did-he would have to get used to their good-natured torment. They were part of her package and seriously protective of her.

He looked at her from across the table and swallowed. She made his heart pound and his gut ache. If he was being honest with himself, he did want her. Wanted all the things her life represented. But that probably wasn't possible, so he just admired her from a distance. For now. Until he could figure out what in the hell was going on in his head.

That kiss outside of the police station earlier was the biggest mistake he ever had the pleasure of making. Strangely enough, there had been no radiating pain afterward. It was just a kiss, but he couldn't get his body to forget the soft press of hers against him, his ears to unhear the sound of pleasure from her throat, or keep his lips from wanting to do it again. He'd thought of nothing else the rest of the morning.

Okay, maybe not just a kiss, but it was an enjoyment he hadn't had in so long. He very much wanted to test himself again, see if he got the same result. Perhaps Trisha was the one to help him. She already had in so many ways by bringing color and scent back. But she wasn't a toy, nor a guinea pig to try experiments on.

From across the table, Trisha nudged Eduardo with her elbow. "I think we should start the pruning and do the usual mildew, rot, and insect checks."

More shop talk Nick didn't understand, but he enjoyed listening to her when she spoke about the orchard. The pride, the joy, was evident with every syllable. He wished he could be that passionate about something again.

Eduardo considered her suggestion. "It's a little soon, but we can if you want."

"I do. Spring's coming early. It's been unseasonably warm for early April."

Eduardo nodded. "You want a tree by tree, or soil only?"

"Both."

Eduardo stood. "Let's go then. That's a lot to do before month's end and before the Bunny Hop."

Bunny Hop? He was pretty sure rabbits had nothing to do with apple trees. Nick leaned forward. "Um, Bunny Hop?"

"I'll meet you out there," Trisha said to Eduardo's retreating form. Then she smiled at Nick. "I'll let the guys tell you about it." She seemed distracted. "Chuck, I need you to--"

Chuck belted out an enormous laugh and patted his full belly. "Well heck, Trish, about time you came around. I need you, too, but I don't think it's nice to discuss this in front of your boyfriend."

Trisha shook her head at the innuendo and covered her face while she laughed. It couldn't hide her blush, though. "I meant that I need you to round up the pruning equipment and lifts. We're going to do the rot, mildew, and insect checks early. Check for the usual." She held Nick's gaze. "And he's not my boyfriend."

"Whatever you say, boss."

She waited until they left before turning to Nancy. "Is it too much trouble to say dinner should be later tonight?"

Nick patiently waited for his moment alone with her before she went to work, admiring the respect she showed for her housekeeper, enough to ask if it was okay to have a late dinner. She had authority, but didn't wield it like a dictator. She gave and received respect. His attraction for her upped ten notches through one meal. And he was curious to watch her in action, see what she did with her trees. If she went into that hot bossy mode

"That's fine," Nancy answered. "It's just corn chowder, which will keep. Are you staying for supper, Nick?"

Trisha piped up before he could respond. "No, we're having dinner at his place tonight."

Nancy bit her lip and pivoted toward the kitchen. "Hmm."

"I heard that," she muttered to Nancy's back.

His gaze pinged from the doorway to Trisha. "How many dates are required before one reaches boyfriend status?" Whatever this was, this heat, it wasn't a relationship and entirely too new to slap a label on it. But he couldn't resist challenging her just for the sake of riling her.

She glared him with an adorable, irritated look of fury.

Adorable? Hell.

He rose from his chair. "I'm off this afternoon. Mind if I watch you work?"

She would've looked less surprised if he'd tap-danced with Snoop Dogg. Her pouty red lips twisted as she mulled over his request. "If you stay out of the way, I guess it would be fine." She eyed him another beat. "Why?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Just curious."

Obviously flustered, she strode to the back door. He let her so she couldn't see the very large grin he couldn't wipe from his mouth. It felt foreign, those muscles having not been used in a long time.

But it didn't hurt. Not one flash of pain from the branch of happiness. Nothing seemed to hurt where she was concerned.

"Remember, stay out of the way," she called.

comment 0 comment

Vote

SEND GIFT

Load failed, please RETRY