Eva hadn’t mistaken the look in Nick’s eyes this time. His gaze darkened the way it had last night and his breathing changed. If she leaned down and kissed him, he’d be okay with that.
Boy, was she tempted. His heart-stopping ride into the arena had placed him in hot cowboy territory and he’d only added to his appeal since then. His lips parted slightly as if he might be reading her thoughts, gauging what she’d do next.
Awareness hummed through her veins. The prospect of being tucked against his firm body tightened her nipples and sent warmth rushing to her lady parts.
Just in time, she grasped a lifeline of self-preservation and backed away. She didn’t know his expectations and he had no clue about hers. That was how people got hurt and she had no desire to hurt Nick. She liked him too much.
She broke eye contact and put the top back on the arnica tube. “Stay here and I’ll go get the ice pack.”
He stood. “The trunk’s halfway there and the next set of stairs is easier.” A husky note in his voice sent a shiver up her spine.
“And once it’s delivered to the first floor, you’ll relax for ten minutes with an ice pack?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Alrighty, then.” She left the bathroom and waited while he regained his hold on the trunk. Then she followed him down. Better keep an eye on him and look for signs of disorientation since he’d sustained a head injury.
He seemed fine. Mighty fine. His tight shirt revealed the smooth ripple of his shoulder and back muscles as he maneuvered the trunk around the curve of the staircase. Snug jeans helped her determine that his quads and glutes worked perfectly, too.
Nick had turned out to be eye-candy, just as her friends had predicted. Even though he’d sat in her chair at the salon multiple times, she’d been blind to his attributes, maybe because she’d been focused on CJ.
Musicians make perfect lovers. Aunt Sally had said that dozens of times. They have rhythm and style. Even better, if they’re good enough, they go on tour, giving you days, weeks, months of time to do your own thing.
Her aunt’s recommendation had been reinforced every time she’d treated them both to another country music event. Invariably, Eva had picked the blond performers as her favorites. She’d developed a type and CJ had fit that type.
Nick did not. But tell that to her damp panties.
He neared the bottom step. “Where to?”
“The living room, please. I dusted the bottom, too, so you can put it on the rug.”
“Got it.”
“While you’re icing your head, I’m going to have you sit in one of the wingbacks. They’re roomie.”
He chuckled. “Are you implying I’m too large for the rest of your living room furniture?”
“I want you to be comfortable.”
“Appreciate it.” He walked into the living room, set down the trunk on the area rug and glanced around. “This is nice. But you’re right to put me in one of the wingbacks. I might break that loveseat. Or get permanently wedged in one of those side chairs.”
“The furniture’s stronger than it looks, but it wasn’t built with you in mind. Have a seat while I get the ice pack.”
“I’d like to look around, instead.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” She hurried into the kitchen.
“These lampshades are amazing,” he called out.
“The Tiffany ones?” She pulled a gel ice pack out of the freezer and wrapped it in a kitchen towel.
“The ones made of stained glass. I don’t know what they’re called.”
“That’s a Tiffany-style.” She walked into the living room where he was examining one of the floor lamps. “I’m not sure if they’re authentic or a knockoff, but I don’t care. I leave them on, even in the daylight, because they’re so beautiful when they’re lit.”
“That seems like the whole point, to have light shining through them.”
“That’s what I think.” She handed him the towel-wrapped gel pack.
“Thank you.” He pressed it gingerly against his temple.
“How does it feel?”
He grinned. “Cold. Very cold.”
“Smart-aleck.” She gestured to the nearest wingback. “It’ll probably work better if you sit down and relax.”
“I’m fine.” He remained standing and continued to survey the room. “I like that picture that’s hanging over the loveseat. Did it come with the house?”
“No. It’s mine.” She could demand that he sit down, but maybe it didn’t matter that much. “It was Aunt Sally’s favorite, one of the few things she kept out of the estate sale. Assisted living is expensive. She needed the cash.”
“The woman in the picture looks so happy.”
“That’s why Aunt Sally loved it. She said it symbolizes the joys of freedom.”
“Freedom from what?”
She hesitated. He’d asked the right question. Should she get into it? Then again, she’d almost kissed him a few minutes ago. Yeah, she should get into it.
“What the other people in her life expected of her. When a doctor told her she was unlikely to have kids, she ditched the concept of marriage, too. “
“Not everyone is cut out for it.”
“Her family couldn’t accept that. She was supposed to get married and drive herself crazy trying to give her parents grandchildren. She stuck to her guns, though. Stayed single, had a great career as an interior decorator.”
“And she raised you.”
“At that point, it was only the two of us left in the family and she couldn’t bear for me to go into foster care.”
“And your parents?” He said it gently, as if he didn’t want to offend or cause distress.
She glanced at him. “You’re careful with people, aren’t you?”
“Now I am. Wasn’t always.”
That touched her. “I’d just turned two when she took me in. I barely remember my folks, which is probably a good thing.”
“Abusive?”
“Not intentionally, at least that’s what Aunt Sally told me. If she chose to soften the story, I don’t mind.”
“Understood.”
“My mom had me late in life. Like Aunt Sally, she’d been told pregnancy was unlikely so I was a big surprise. Aunt Sally called my parents fragile. I’d use the word flaky. Dad set off on a quest and could still be in Tibet for all I know. Mom died when she volunteered to test an experimental drug being developed by a friend.”
“Hm.”
“Yeah. I think they were both into recreational drugs and it took them down. Aunt Sally put a positive spin on it for my sake.”
“Bless Aunt Sally.”
“That’s for sure.” She took a steadying breath. “Which brings us to the moment upstairs when I almost kissed you.”
He lowered the ice pack. “It does?”
“I mean, I suppose a kiss is no big deal, but—”
“I disagree.” Heat flickered in his eyes. “We’re not kids playing games. I don’t kiss a woman for the heck of it. Not these days.”
Her breathing quickened. “Then we’re on the same page.”
His mouth curved in a soft smile. “Not yet. But we’re reading the same book. That’s a good start.”
“We’ve established that we’re not indiscriminate kissers.”
“Right.”
“I have a reason for not kissing you a while ago.” She paused. “There’s something you need to know.”
His stance widened and his jaw tensed as he physically braced himself. “Okay.”
“When I had my first physical, I got the same news as Aunt Sally and my mom. I’d seen first-hand how much Aunt Sally enjoyed her life as a single woman. I decided to follow in her footsteps.” She prepared herself for an argument.
His shoulders relaxed. “I can see why.”
“You don’t have a problem with that?”
“Why would I? It’s your life.”
“I’ve had some guys take it as a personal rejection.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Just to be clear, I’m never getting married.”
His lips twitched as if he might be trying not to laugh.
“Is that funny?”
“No, ma’am.” His blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
“It is. Tell me why.”
“It’s just that I’ve spent so much time working on my proposal, and now—”
“You have not. You’re teasing me.”
“Yes, ma’am. Just a little.”
“I suppose that announcement could seem… slightly premature.”
“A tad bit.” His gaze warmed. “It’s always possible after we kiss for the first time I’ll fall to one knee and pop the question, but it’s never happened before.”
“Then again, it could be the kiss to end all kisses.” She moved closer.
“It certainly could.” The warmth in his eyes became heat.
She took one more step. “Let’s find out.” She landed an open-mouthed lip-lock and quickly added some sexy tongue to the mix. Time to get this party started.