Matching Mr. Right(51)

Maybe because she’d waited for this for so long, she was being too analytical? She needed to shut her brain off and just go with it.

Shelby focused on the way his soft tongue tangled with hers, and then she slid a hand behind his neck.

But before she could tug him closer, Greg leaned away, ending their kiss. “They’ve got me working graveyard so my next night off isn’t until Thursday. Want to have dinner? You can pick the place.”

Okay. The kiss was a little too short in her estimation, but he’d finally asked her out. Progress at last.

“I’d love to. Something casual?”

He smiled and laid another quick peck on her lips. “Casual’s good. I’ll call you later to work out the details. Thanks for the game, it was . . . fun.”

“Anytime.” After Greg got out, Shelby slipped over to the driver’s side and then started for home.

Now that was more like it. Things were starting to look up. And he’d finally kissed her.

And the kiss had been . . . okay. It sizzled . . . a little.

Maybe once she relaxed and stopped sweating the details so much, it’d be as hot as any of the kisses Nick had given her. And Greg had finally asked her out. After two long years.

Nice.

So why didn’t she feel like singing at the top of her lungs, or least calling Jo to share her good news? It’s what she’d wanted for so very long. It could be the start to achieving all she’d hoped for. The first step to the house, handsome husband, two-point-five kids and the pooch she’d always hoped to have.

As she waited for a stoplight to turn, her quick glance in the rearview mirror caught the sight of something pink near her ear. Some of Emily’s stray cotton candy.

She plucked out the offending piece of fluff. Glancing at her reflection again, she figured she’d see her victorious smile, not the little frown line splitting the middle of her forehead. Something was off and she couldn’t put a label on it. Or maybe she could.

Nick.

Had her anger with Nick spoiled the mood with Greg? No, that wasn’t it. She wanted Nick. It was like when a toddler experiences candy for the first time. After savoring something so sweet, nothing else could ever taste as good.

But Nick was like a chocolate truffle. He’d be fantastic at first, then eventually he’d melt away, leaving nothing behind but a fond memory and a few extra pounds of regret to carry around.

Nope. Not going there.

When Shelby walked into her kitchen, Jo sat at the table eating a big bowl of pasta. Shelby hadn’t had a chance to talk to Jo outside of the café in days. She missed her best bud.

“Hey stranger. How are you?”

“Good. How was the date?”

“A disaster, but that’s Nick’s fault.” Shelby grabbed a bowl, filled it from the pot on the stove, and joined Jo. Then she told her the whole stupid tale.

“You really made Nick call a cab?”

Shelby stuffed more creamy, garlicy noodles into her mouth and moaned with pleasure. “Damn straight! That was just rude. The man drives me nuts. He’s the human version of Chester.”

“Yeah, but you couldn’t write Chester as well as you do if you weren’t a little that way too. Will you promise me something?”

Shelby laid her fork down. Jo’s serious tone startled her. “Are you worried about me and you if dating Greg doesn’t work out?”

Jo stood and washed her bowl out. When she was done, she turned around and crossed her arms. “No, it’s not that. You and I will always be good, no matter what. But you like analogies, so I’m going to give you one. Greg is like your Prius. It’s a reliable, steady, and economical vehicle, but it’s lacking in flash and speed. Now Nick, he’s like your old Porsche. That car was a fast, sexy, powerful ride that didn’t make economic sense, but was a hell of a lot of fun to drive. You’ve made some big changes in your life recently and admit it Shelby, you’re still missing your old Porsche.”

“Okay, I get your point. But what do you want me to promise?”

“I want you to promise to take your time with Greg. Tell him you just want to be friends until you’ve become reacquainted again. Don’t sleep with him until you’re sure he’s the same guy you’ve built him up to be in your mind all these years. You have an honest friendship with him you wouldn’t want to ruin. And I don’t want to see my brother hurt. But Nick? It’d be torture to always wonder what might have been. I think you should jump his bones as soon as possible so you’ll know exactly where you stand with him. Take Nick for a test drive.”

A strange sense of relief washed through her. As if Jo saying out loud those same thoughts that Shelby hadn’t wanted to face suddenly made them all right. If Emily hadn’t been there, would she and Greg have had enough to talk about all afternoon? They were different people now than when they were kids. Maybe she had built Greg up in her mind to be more than he could ever be.