looking quite pleased with himself. âYou sure like to hear yourself talk, donât you?â
âYes, I actually do,â she admitted. âMostly because I make more sense than a lot of people, especially you. We donât know each other at all and weâre sitting her pawing each other like a couple of teenagers.â
Nick had to exert a mighty effort not to kiss her again. She looked so sexy and adorable that he wanted to pick her up and carry her off to the bedroom, but he knew thereâd be hell to pay if he tried it. So he decided to go another way. He removed her from his lap and sat her next to him on the soft cushions and smiled when she scooted away from him. âOkay, so we donât know each other. How do you suggest we remedy that? Since you donât want to be involved with anyone, I figured you wouldnât mind a little happy sex on the side. Getting to know each other implies a relationship, you know. Is that what you want?â
Dakota was relieved when Cha-Cha launched herself onto Nick because it gave her a chance to get her bearings. âYou seem pretty fond of the sound of your voice, too,â she said as she straightened her rumpled shirt. âAnd youâre rather good at twisting my words. No one said anything about a relationship, I was merely pointing out that Iâm not the type to cavort around with men I donât know.â
âGlad to hear it,â Nick said as he stroked the blissful cat. âI donât like loose women. Theyâll do anything with anybody and Iâm not down for that. I donât think youâre whorish or wild, I just think youâre cute as hell and I plan to make you mine. I figured all the getting to know you would come naturally, but if you want to force the issue, weâll set up a schedule. First date, second date, romantic weekends, however you want to play it,â he said, then grimaced as Cha-Cha nipped his finger.
Dakota just stared at him. He had just made one of the craziest statements sheâd heard in years and he was acting like it was nothing. She had to get the upper hand in this situation and soon. âLook, Nick, the only schedule Iâm interested in is the one involving my house. When are you going to get started on it and how long is it going to take?â She didnât care that she sounded snippy and cold, she had to distance herself from the pleasure she knew awaited her in his arms.
âItâs already started, baby. Two of my best men went over there today and I thought tomorrow weâd go look at some paint and stains. That okay with you?â
Suddenly Dakota felt ashamed of herself. Nick had been going out of his way to take care of things for her and she was showing him no gratitude whatsoever. She was acting like it was some kind of homage owed to her and nothing could have been further from the truth. Heâd housed her, fed her, gotten her car in the shop, rented one for her and was already hard at work on her home. And had she said thank you one time? No, she hadnât.
âNick, Iâm so sorry,â she said softly. âYouâve been doing all these nice things for me and Iâm not behaving like I appreciate any of it. Iâd love to go look at samples tomorrow, if you can spare the time. And Iâll take you out to eat, too. I havenât had a minute to go to the grocery store.â
Nick was warmed by her sweet apology, but he was curious about one thing. âCan you cook? âCause it sounds to me like I might rate a home-cooked meal one of these days if you know your way around a kitchen.â
Dakota raised one eyebrow. âYes, I can cook. Iâm no cordon bleu chef, but I wonât poison you. And once I get settled in my new place I will most certainly make a meal for you. If you accept my apology, that is.â
Nick dislodged the protesting Cha-Cha and rose, holding out his hand to Dakota. âI canât take
Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson