Married by Contract by Noelle Adams Page B

case looking for the missing teenaged girl,
concluding that if he didn’t have a concrete lead in another two weeks, he was
going to have to tell her parents that he couldn’t continue. He couldn’t keep
taking their money and not have any real progress to show for it.
    When Nick finally started to pick up their trash, Jenn
glanced at the time and was shocked to see that it was already 1:13. “I can’t
believe we had lunch for a whole hour!”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
    “Nothing, really. Only I usually just take twenty minutes or
so.”
    “Since you were getting a headache, it’s just as well you
took a longer break.”
    She smiled at him, wondering if there was a man in the world
more adorable than he was. “Yeah. That’s probably right.”
    “That’s definitely right.” He grabbed her hand as she was
heading back for her desk. “You can’t work late today and use lunch as an
excuse.” His eyes were very warm, and they never left her face.
    She had to fight a most ridiculous case of the flutters.
“Just so you know, I can work late any day I want.”
    “True, but then you don’t get a massage when you come home
with a terrible headache.”
    “Oh. That wouldn’t be good at all.”
    “That’s what I’m saying.” He was still holding her hand,
idly rubbing her palm. “So no working past six today.”
    “That seems like a very logical decision. And I’ll just
ignore the fact that you’re sounding rather bossy.”
    “Sometimes even you need to be bossed.”
    She was so caught up in his fond gaze that she found herself
swaying toward him. “I never need to be bossed.”
    His voice was thicker when he murmured, “I’m here to testify
that that isn’t true.”
    “It is true. I’m unbossable.”
    Nick chuckled, and the sound was so intoxicating that there
was no telling what she might have done next.
    It turned out it didn’t matter because there was a knock on
the office door.
    “I’m sorry,” Mary said, after waiting for Jenn to tell her
to come in. “I’ve been taking messages on all your calls while you were at
lunch, but there’s a call that sounds personal, so I wanted to check to see if
you wanted to take it.”
    “Who is it?”
    “A Jack Watson.”
    Nick stepped back with a frown, finally dropping her hand.
    “Jack?” Jenn said, so surprised her voice broke. “Seriously?
Yes, I’ll take it.”
    She turned to Nick. “You remember Jack, don’t you? From back
home?”
    “Yes, I remember Jack.” His voice wasn’t particularly
excited.
    “Didn’t you like him?” Jenn asked. “I thought everyone liked
Jack.”
    “I remember you certainly liked him. You followed him
around like you were a puppy.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” There might have been a little truth
to the words, though. Jack had been four years older than her, and she’d had a
huge crush on him for a couple of years. “I’ve talked to him on and off over
the years, but not for a long time. I wonder what he wants.”
    “You better pick up the call and find out.” Nick’s eyes had
narrowed on the blinking light on her phone.
    “I am.” She smiled at him. “Thanks so much for lunch. I had
a good time.”
    “Take your call.”
    Jenn frowned at his tone, but she reached to pick up the
handset. She expected Nick to leave then, but he didn’t.
    He stood beside her desk while she talked to Jack, who
wanted to get together to catch up. They made plans to have lunch on Friday,
and Jenn was smiling as she hung up.
    “He does know you’re married, right?” Nick asked.
    Jenn had been in a good mood, but now she scowled at him.
“Of course he does.”
    “Then why is he asking you out on a date?”
    “It’s not a date! It’s lunch. You can come too if you want.”
She mostly said it to get him off her back and to stop acting so territorial.
    It was just like a man, getting riled up at any perceived
encroachment, even on a fake marriage.
    “Okay,” Nick said. “Maybe I will.”

Seven
     
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