Wilde Ink (Wilde Brothers Book 3) by Susan Hayes Page B

time with someone like this, talking and flirting, both of them tangled up with each other as they ate. It was intimate and messy and even as they were in the midst of it, she knew that this would be one of the memories she would cherish forever. Moments like this were rare, especially in her life. Nick’s words of earlier echoed in the back of her mind. She’d been angry at the time for saying it, but now she was willing to admit he might be right, at least in part. She didn’t let herself be happy very often. Not like this.
    It felt damned good.
    Nick reached over and smoothed his index finger from the tip of her nose to her hairline. “You’re thinking again. Stop it. Every time I see that little crease appear between your brows I know you’re overthinking things, and then you start coming up with reasons why this is a bad idea and you need to leave.”
    “I wasn’t—well, okay, I was thinking, but not about what you think I was thinking about,” she said and then had to stop and mentally repeat what had just come out of her mouth to make sure it made sense. It did.
    “So, what were you thinking?”
    Lia’s cheeks heated and she found herself dropping her gaze to a point between their two bodies. “I was thinking that tonight might have been the most fun I’ve allowed myself to have in a very long time.”
    Nick kicked the empty pizza box to the floor and had his arms around her seconds after she’d spoken. “I’m glad. If I have my way, then we’re going to have a lot more nights like this. Maybe next time we’ll do it at my place, where I have a real bed and a bit more furniture. Not a lot more, mind you. Keep your expectations low.”
    “After braving the fridge over there, I have no illusions. You’re a bachelor to the core and I’ll try to keep my expectations in line with that.”
    He laughed and kissed her, making it impossible for her to think of anything at all for the next few minutes. Every time he touched her she felt like she might combust at any moment. Enough men had called her frigid in her time that she’d started to believe it, but not anymore. With Nick, everything was fire and flames.
    Somehow they wound up with Nick beneath her, her thighs spanning his waist and her hands planted on either side of his head as she stared down into his face. She intended to kiss him, but then she found herself speaking instead. “You could come to my place, sometime. If you wanted to, that is.”
    He gave her a charming, lopsided grin. “I’d like that.”
    “I would too. Mister Darcy may never forgive me for bringing home a strange man, but if I have to expand my horizons, then so will he.” Lia knew she was babbling, but she couldn’t help it. She’d never made that offer to anyone before. But Nick had invited her into his personal space, sharing a bit himself with her in the process. She wanted to return the favor. She’d already broken damned near every rule she had when it came to Nick, why not break all of them?
    “Who or what is a Mister Darcy?”
    “He’s my cat.”
    “Then we’re set. You just tell him those catnip mice I gave you today are a gift from me to him, and if he wants more of the same, all he has to do is not pee in my shoes. I’m not above bribery.”
    “You know, that might just work. He’s a catnip addict. We’ve done therapy, counseling, but nothing works. He’d sell one of his nine lives for a hit. He says he can quit any time he wants, but I don’t believe him. If you’re willing to enable his addiction, he’ll probably decide he likes you better than me.”
    Nick’s face split into a grin and he laughed out loud. “You just cracked a joke! My god, the world might end.”
    “I happen to be a very funny person when I want to be. Most people just don’t get my sense of humor. It’s too dark. I guess it’s a side effect of what I do for a living.”
    “I’m just glad to see you smiling. You’re beautiful no matter what, but when you smile,