Smooth Irish (Book 2 of the Weldon Series) by Jennifer Saints Page A

six. Surely you didn’t forget. That would be so unlike
you.”
    “Sorry, I guess I did. I had a hectic day at
work.”
    “That’s rough. Can you hurry? We’ve an appointment
with the real estate agent in twenty minutes.”
    Nan felt as if she’d drifted into the Twilight Zone.
“I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”
    “I’ve bought a house. Well, I will have by tomorrow
afternoon. The real estate agent is giving me one more walk through
before I close on it. I’d like you to see it and give me your
opinion.”
    A house? They'd shared one kiss and he wanted her
opinion of a house? Nan opened her mouth and shut it. She supposed
it would be rude to decline.
    "I'll be ready in a minute." She swung around and
headed back to her bedroom where she threw on some clothes, ever
conscious of Jackson’s mirrored glasses watching her as she dressed
to go with Brad. She could still feel the heat of that damn
beach.
    For the next two hours, she was privy to exactly
what money could buy when you had money to burn. The experience
gave her a headache and she was thankful to get back home.
    “It’s perfect, don’t you think?” Brad pulled up
before her apartment and shifted his Mercedes in park.
    “Yes,” Nan said honestly. The house she’d just seen
with Brad had been perfect. With large picture windows and
thousands of square feet, the house was a marvel of upscale
architecture and design. The mini-mansion came completely furnished
from fine china in the kitchen to the linens on the antique beds.
So why did the house leave her feeling as if something very
important was missing?
    “Experts put the whole package together. All I have
to do is move in.”
    “It’s lovely, but doesn’t it bother you that you
won’t have things around that you’ve chosen?”
    “Not at all. I wanted a perfect show place, besides
decorating is a waste of time. Only a man who chooses to spend his
time productively can make his mark in the world. That’s one thing
that impressed me about you. You have a reputation for being the
most disciplined and organized nurse in the hospital. They don’t
hand out the Lois Emerson Merit Award to just anybody and you’ve
managed to get it two years in a row. You know how to plan.”
    Nan rubbed her temples a moment. She expected a man
like Brad to have certain expectations for a mate, just as she did,
but he sounded as if he’d come up with a list and was measuring her
up to it. “Do you think you can plan every detail of life?”
    Brad’s eyes widened with surprise. “Of course. Don’t
you?”
    Nan opened her mouth, ready to deny she’d ever
approach life with such cold calculation, and promptly shut it when
Jackson came roaring up to her apartment on a Harley. He parked
directly in front of Brad’s Mercedes. Nan's mouth watered. Jackson
was as smooth and addictive as melt in your mouth chocolate.
    “What’s Weldon doing here?”
    Unjustified guilt rushed up her cheeks. That Brad
took her to see a house he was buying clued her in that his
interest in her ran deeper than their relationship called for.
    She had no doubt that the kisses she’d shared with
Jackson wouldn’t make it onto any of Brad’s approval lists.
    In fact, kissing Jackson had to rank as one of the
ten top stupidest things she’d ever done on her own list. But her
lists were different from Brad's list. She wasn't as cold and
calculating as Brad seemed to be. Brad looked at her, waiting for
an explanation as to why Jackson was here.
    “Uh, maybe he’s here about Alexi. She wasn’t feeling
too well at the hospital benefit. How do you know him?”
    Brad didn’t answer her question as he exited the car
and came around to open her door. Offering a tense smile of thanks
to Brad, she walked over to Jackson
    Brad was right behind her.
    “Is Alexi all right?” Nan shouted over the
motorcycle’s rumbling engine. The deep sound vibrated through her
body. He wore jeans, black leather chaps, black boots, and a black
cotton Tee that had