And Then He Kissed Me by Teresa Southwick

mother to lunch and was actually looking forward to it.

    She shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, but I can’t.” Before he forced her to come up with a phony excuse she said, “So, are you going to tell me why you dropped in?”
    â€œActually I needed to talk to Rebecca about something.”
    Her manager. So, he hadn’t come to see her at all. She stifled her momentary pang of disappointment. She told herself that it truly was for the best that he didn’t want her. If she said it enough, she might actually believe it.
    â€œI’m sorry, Nick. She’s not here.”
    He frowned. “I thought she was coming in a couple of days a week to get back in the groove.”
    â€œShe is. But mother and baby had a bad night. She’s coming in tomorrow. Shall I try her at home?” she asked, gripping the phone. It was still warm from his touch.
    Nick shook his head. “Don’t bother her. It can wait. I’ll call her tomorrow.”
    â€œI’ll let her know you stopped by,” she offered.
    â€œThanks, Ab. I’m sorry I don’t have time right now to discuss your ideas.” He looked at his watch and shook his head. “But drop by my office and we can talk.”
    â€œOkay.”
    He snapped his fingers. “Any day but Thursday. I’ve got meetings all day.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œSee you soon.” He smiled, a look that would make ice a goner. Then he was gone.
    She really wanted to discuss her plans with Nick. The last time had been exhilarating. She’d never known work could be so much fun. But every time she saw
him, Abby had more and more trouble recovering her professional detachment. She hadn’t worked her tail off just to watch her career fall apart because of one slip on a Twister mat. A slip that had made her aware of him in ways she’d never been before. Maybe if they’d actually kissed, she would be able to put it in perspective. And forget about it. But they hadn’t, and she had to put it, and Nick, out of her mind.
    If it was the last thing she ever did, she had to straighten her politically correct mask and get back on business track. She would treat him like a boss. Deferential distance. Piece of cake, she told herself. If only she believed it.
    Â 
    Thursday afternoon, Nick cancelled all his meetings after receiving a phone call from his mother. He headed for his brother Joe’s office to tell him about the conversation and started to push open the door when he heard a woman’s voice.
    â€œThanks, Joe. I needed that.” Abby?
    Why was she in his brother’s office? More important, what had Joe given her that she needed? Maybe most important, why had those simple words tied him in knots?
    â€œYou’re welcome,” Joe said. “Don’t worry, Abby. It’ll get easier.”
    What? Nick’s irritation clicked up a notch. Abby had promised to come and see him. Why was she there on the day he’d told her he would be tied up? What was she doing with his brother? The restaurant where she worked was only a few miles from the corporate office so it was reasonable for her to drop in any time.
    â€œI don’t know if it will get easier, but thanks for listening,” she said.

    â€œI’m always available. Come here.”
    Not only was eavesdropping slimy and underhanded, it didn’t set well with a man of action. Nick walked through the doorway. The knot in his gut tightened when he saw Joe holding Abby. His brother was a big man, as tall as Nick. She seemed to disappear in his arms. Nick hadn’t felt like this since his wife had dumped him for her old boyfriend. He’d done his best to keep the feelings from ever kicking up again. But here they were. Because of his brother. And Abby.
    Joe was a people person, a good thing since he was the Director of Human Resources for Marchetti’s Inc. He looked over Abby’s blond head and smiled. “Hey,