“I don’t know. Maybe you feel like if you let it go, stop hating your father, then what he did would be okay? And then you’d be no better than your dad? But from where I’m sitting, you’re ten times the man your father is. You don’t lie, or use your good looks to get ahead—you work hard for what you want. You don’t flirt with or use women, you actually respect them. That’s something I would have never guessed the first time I met you. But, too bad for you, because actions speak louder than words.”
Nick’s right brow winged up and he grinned. “Thanks. But you’re wrong. I do flirt, but only with you. It just doesn’t seem to work.”
“It works. A little.” She smiled as she sipped her iced tea. “But I’m a sensible woman and am keeping my eye on the goal. You would be a mistake, One-Night Stand Man. Probably a really fun one, but still a mistake.”
“Guess I’ll have to step up my game.” He stood and slid his chair under the table. “Thanks for lunch. Now I want dessert.” Nick leaned down, lifted her chin, and then laid a whopper of a kiss on her lips. Heat zipped through her body so fast it left her dizzy. Why did he have to be so good at that?
When he slowly leaned away, he said. “Delicious. See you on Sunday.”
“Sunday?”
“Yeah, Jake invited me to the game, remember? Bye.”
She’d forgotten about that. How was she going to make moves on Greg with Nick there distracting all of her hormones?
Dammit, Nick!
***
After Nick’s fourth piece of loaded deep-dish pizza, he leaned away from his mother’s kitchen table and patted his stomach. “Now that ladies, is what the perfect slice of pizza is all about. I love Friday pizza night the most when it’s my turn to pick.”
Lori, his mom, and Emily all scrunched up their noses. “I like thin crust better, Uncle Nick.”
“No you don’t.” He poked Emily in the side. “You’re just siding with the girls. Whenever you spend the night we always get this kind.”
Emily snickered. “Momma says ladies are allowed to change their minds.”
“But it doesn’t make it any less annoying when you do.”
Lori cleared their plates. “Mom, did you know Nick is going to the football game again on Sunday? In Shelby’s suite.”
“Really?” His mother wiped Emily’s mouth and hands. “Well, say hello to her for me.”
Nick grunted. “Shelby is going to be there with her date. Prince Charming.”
“Shelby knows Prince Charming?” Emily’s eyes grew wide.
“No. She just thinks she does.” Nick picked up the pizza box and threw it in the trash. “He’s not her type. He’s like a hippie, surfer, do-gooder, boring person. If there’s one thing Shelby’s not, it’s boring.”
Lori slowly nodded. “So, what are you going to do about it? Just stand by and let this dull beatnik have her?”
Nick sat at the table again. “Shelby wants the whole deal. Husband and three little Emilys.” Nick gently tugged on one of Emily’s curls. “One little Emily’s all I can handle.”
But he loved Emily. He’d do anything for her. Maybe having his own Emilys wouldn’t be so bad? Could he make a real relationship with Shelby work?
Lori’s grin turned wicked. “Emily can be a lot for anyone to handle. Maybe she should go along with you to the game? It’d show Shelby how tough it is to be romantic while holding a sticky-fingered kid in her lap. You should definitely get cotton candy.”
Emily’s head whipped up. “Cotton candy? Please Uncle Nick? Can I go?”
Nick met his sister’s mischievous matchmaker’s gaze. “You mean I should hang out with the guys and Emily should hang all over Shelby? Gooey fingers and all?”
“I didn’t say that. You did. What time will you be picking Em up? No, even better. I’ll drop you guys off. Then I’ll call and tell you why I can’t pick you up, then you’ll have to ride home with Shelby and the prince.”
“That’s not nice, you two.” His mom chuckled.
Nick scooped Emily up and held her over his head “Okay little wingman. Do your job by hanging out with Shelby and there may be a trip to the toy store in your future. See you guys Sunday at noon.”
Yeah. That plan might just work.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“When monkeys commit the crime, they have to do the time.”
Chester’s Big Scheme
Shelby walked into her uncle’s suite at the football stadium with Greg, her stomach tight with nerves. The car ride over had been a little awkward and quiet at times. But maybe he’d been distracted with checking out her car before he bought one of his own. Hopefully, he’d loosen up after a beer.