Greed(White Collared Part 2)(2)
“No.” She fidgeted and bit into her donut, trying to convince herself she was no longer attracted to her boss even when a single touch by the man did wicked things to her insides.
“Good.” He leaned back and folded his arms. “Did you recall anything else? Something that might tip us off as to the caller’s identity?”
Her stomach cramped. “No. I told you everything. They said Jaxon had killed before and I should drop the case.”
She hadn’t disclosed to Nick that the caller had known her real name, nor had she mentioned the caller questioning whether she’d had sex with Jaxon. Both topics she wouldn’t—couldn’t—discuss with Nick.
“There’s only one way to ensure it doesn’t happen again. I’m taking you off the Deveroux case.”
In only a couple days, this case had become important to her. It wasn’t solely a way to prove her worth to Nick and the firm. Regardless of how she felt about Jaxon personally, she believed in his innocence, and she wanted the system to work the way it was intended.
She’d spent the last two years, including summers, studying her ass off to become part of the legal system. If she didn’t have that to believe in, what would it mean for her future?
“You’re not taking me off the case. It was only a phone call. Besides, it was probably a reporter trying to get me to spill some details,” she said nonchalantly, waving her hand. “You put me on as second chair because you believed in me. Has that changed?”
He placed a hand on her knee. “Of course not.”
“If I were a man, would you reassign me?”
“No. If you were a man or any other woman, I wouldn’t worry. But it’s not anyone else.” He gazed at her mouth with more than professional interest. “It’s you.”
Her heart thudded as she recalled the feel of his lips on hers. Shame stabbed at her chest. She didn’t deserve Nick’s kindness or his caring. He’d told her how he felt and what had she done?
Slept with his best friend.
She forced herself to look away and concentrated on stuffing her mouth with the donut.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you. You know that, right?” he asked softly.
She yawned, sleepy from both the late hour and the hot liquid. “I know. I trust you. That’s why I called you when I got the phone call.”
Complicating the longtime torch she’d carried for him, Nick had morphed from her boss and the man she idolized into a real friend.
He gathered her in his arms and shifted on the couch so her back rested against his chest. “Get some sleep. I’ll watch over you.”
She sighed when his fingers stroked her hair. “You don’t have to stay.” Despite her protests, her eyes closed and she snuggled into him.
“Yes, I do,” he whispered.
She thought she felt him kiss the top of her head. Bathed in the warmth of Nick’s arms, she sank into sleep.
The next thing she knew, sunshine was streaming through the blinds and her cheek was resting on Nick’s T-shirt-covered chest. One of his hands cradled her hip and the other played with strands of her hair.
It had to be at least eight. She couldn’t remember a time she’d slept so soundly.
She peered up at him. “Hi.”
“Good morning,” he said softly.
They locked gazes and the air rushed out of her lungs.
His brown hair was mussed and a small patch of stubble covered his chin. It was a side of Nick she’d never gotten to see. Boyish and informal.
Nick swallowed thickly and licked his lips, his hand moving from her hip to cup her chin.
His mouth drifted closer and closer.
He was going to kiss her.
And God help her, she was going to let him.
Her pulse thumped wildly in anticipation and her eyes fluttered shut. His warm breath fanned her lips.
A loud buzzing from Nick’s phone crushed the moment.
She opened her eyes. His lips were only a couple millimeters from hers. He swore under his breath as they both sat up, and he pulled the cell from his pocket.
Disappointment slowed her heart to its normal rhythm. To keep him from noticing her reaction, she picked up the bag of remaining donuts and the two cups of cold cocoa and brought them to the kitchen.
What was she doing? She’d almost kissed her boss. Again. Only hours after making love with Jaxon. Her head hurt from all the romantic complications of the last few days. She’d gone from having a crush on Nick to kissing him, having sex with Jaxon, and then platonically sleeping with Nick. If the phone hadn’t interrupted them, they would’ve kissed and lord knows what else.
She was so going to hell.
When she returned from the kitchen, Nick was pacing the length of her small apartment and talking on the phone. “When did we receive the fax?” He paused, listening. “That was underhanded of them. Scan it in and e-mail it to me then cancel all my appointments for the day. Thanks, Lisa.”