Matching Mr. Right(54)

Instead of arguing, he kissed her just like she’d asked him to. Slow, sweet, and deep.

Lust danced a jive within her belly again.

Jo’s voice interrupted their fun. “Good job, Nick. I bet Shelby’s learned her lesson good and proper now. But do you guys mind? I have work to do.”

His lips curved against Sheby’s as he released her hands, quickly buttoned her blouse, and took a step back. “I have to get back to work. Can I come over for dinner tonight and show you what I found? And then maybe we could discuss Jo’s theory some more.”

“Sure. But which theory? The one about brunettes being better in bed? Did you decide to sleep with Jordan after all?”

His eyes narrowed. “I’ll be there at seven, wiseass.” He gave her butt a pat. “I’ll bring a pizza.” He smirked as he strutted out the door.

Shelby called out to his big back, “You need to wipe that self-assured look off of your face, pal. We still have a lot of terms to discuss. It’s not a given that I’m going to sleep with you.”

Jo rolled her eyes and slipped behind her desk. “Really, Shelby?”

Okay, it was a given.

Shelby made her way out to her car and smiled all the way home.

After her long bubble bath, she donned her black push up bra and put on the new sexy low-cut blouse she’d just bought. For once in her life, she wanted to be the bad girl instead of the good one. Maybe she’d punished herself enough for her deeds as a child.

It was Nick’s struggles with his own issues that made her see her own behavior more clearly. Guilt controlled his life like she’d let her childhood mistake control hers.

Nick was just the one to unlock her bad girl’s bedroom door and let her out to play. She could be that woman who just wanted great sex, nothing more. Or at least she was going to try.

When she’d called Greg after her talk with Jo to explain how she wanted to keep things platonic between them, he’d said he totally agreed. She needed to see what was between her and Nick. Greg didn’t want to be with a woman who’d wonder what she’d missed. That was just so . . . Greg-like of him. Most guys would have told her to take a flying leap. But not sensible, reliable Greg the Prius. And he still wanted to have dinner, just as friends, because he’d missed her.

Perfect situation. Happiness all around.

When the doorbell rang at seven on the dot, her heart nearly stopped. She drew a deep breath, channeled her best bad girl, and told herself one more time that it was okay to have a fun fling.

She opened the door and there he was with a big smile, his briefcase, and a large pizza box.

“Hi, Pizza Boy. Come inside and we’ll figure out a way for you to earn a big tip.”

Maybe she should tone it down a bit. She didn’t want to appear that easy. Better to make him work for it. At least a little.

Nick grinned as he slipped past her. “I did this in college to earn extra money. You’re talking to a man who knows how to maximize his tips.”

“Really?” Shelby shut the door behind him. “You delivered pizzas?”

He crossed over to the kitchen and laid the box on the counter. “I did.”

“So, did you ever swap naughty acts for tips?”

Nick pulled her against him. “Define naughty.” He kissed her but she couldn’t concentrate, because she experienced a sudden overwhelming wave of writer’s curiosity and needed to know the truth. She leaned back and ended their kiss. “Seriously. Did you?”

“No. I kept it professional. Strictly dollar bills. But I have something I want to show you. Promise you won’t get mad at me for doing this without asking first.”

Warning bells went off. Shelby took a step back, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Okay . . . what?”

Nick led her to a chair in the kitchen and laid a file in front of her. “This is the report from the night of your fire.”

As he flipped a few pages, bile rose in Shelby’s throat. Slow burning rage seared the lining of her stomach. And to think she’d actually thought they’d become friends. Good friends.

“Why would you do this to me?”

When she started to rise from her chair, Nick’s strong arms held her in place. “Read it, Shelby. Please?”

“Dammit, Nick, no! Let me go.” Those muscles she once thought were sexy now held her prisoner. No matter how hard she struggled, his firm grip never faltered.

Anger, fear, and Nick’s betrayal conjured tears that all her efforts couldn’t stop from running down her cheeks. When a soft sob escaped her throat, Nick laid a gentle kiss on her cheek.

He whispered, “I’d never hurt you, Shelby. Please?” He pointed to a yellow highlighted sentence. “Right here.”