He shifted his weight impatiently from foot to foot while she called out and waved goodbye to everyone. She’d have liked to give them all one last hug, but she’d lose it if she did.
She’d just gathered her things when he wrapped his rubber monkey hand around her arm and motored her toward the front door. That was a bad habit of his, dragging her around like that. But like the “dammit, Shelby,” it had sort of grown on her.
Once outside, the silence was golden. She glanced up at him. As angry and hurt as she was, Nick dragging her around while dressed in three-quarters of a monkey suit threatened to make her smile. That was something she’d never imagined seeing.
He said, “I’m really sorry, Shelby. I should’ve come clean a lot sooner. And I meant what I’d said about us not being a one-night stand. I’ve cared for you from the start.”
“You don’t spy on people you care about. And you especially don’t sleep with them while spying. You hurt me, Nick.”
“I didn’t mean to. At first I didn’t know how to tell you, then I considered not telling you because I’d decided not to give the data to my sister. But then I realized you needed to know, so I’d planned to take you to dinner and explain things.” Still hauling her toward the huge parking lot he asked, “Where are you parked?”
“Over there.” She beeped her key fob. Her flashing headlights gave him his answer. She might as well get the whole story out of him. “So, why were you spying on me and what did you hope to learn?”
He stopped walking and shifted the monkey head to his other arm. “Lori’s matchmaking business has been handed down from generation to generation in my family. The day my grandmother died, she begged me to make sure the business was still there for when Emily grew up—if she wanted it.” His hairy monkey-suit arm slipped around her shoulder as he guided her toward her car again. “You use computers, databases, social media and Lori uses index cards just like my grandmother did. Lori needed to keep up, or the business would disappear. I wanted to see how you did it so I could teach her.”
She’d spent many hours designing her systems, and they worked well. “But Lori’s way has merit too, even if it doesn’t earn as much money. Hiring a part-time kid with computer skills would have been a simpler way to fix it rather than spying on me.”
He stopped dead in his tracks and frowned. The befuddlement on his face was sorta cute. He finally said, “That’s exactly what she needs to solve her problems and keep the business alive, maybe if you and Lori combined your . . .” He frowned and cut himself off. “Sorry.” He moved his hand to her lower back and gently guided her to her car again. “Lori’s deal, not mine. I need to stay out of it.”
His remorse seemed genuine.
He’d spied to keep a promise to his grandmother. But he hadn’t gone through with it. He hadn’t been involved with Beth. He came through for Emily and Lori in the end, but was he honestly ready for a real relationship? The compromises, the sacrifices. A family?
Did she really want to take that big a risk with her heart?
But then, Nick had donned a monkey suit. That had to count for something.
When they got to her car, and she’d tossed her things onto the passenger seat, she turned to him. “Let’s say I decide to forgive you, which I haven’t yet. What do you want from me, Nick?”
He plopped the monkey head on top of her car. “A fresh start, Shelby. Please? Clean slate and a date. I’ll be waiting for you at that Italian place we went to before. See you at seven.”
Before she could reply, he turned to go, the arrogant monkey. Always so sure of himself. And he’d forgotten his head.
He must’ve realized it, because he turned around and marched toward her again. He stopped in front of her and slipped his rubber hands along the sides of her face and lifted it up. Then he laid his soft lips on hers and kissed her so sweetly her heart sighed.
When his lips slowly left hers, she blinked open her eyes and stared into his darkened ones as he whispered, “I want you, Shelby. Forever.” Then he grabbed his head and strode back toward the party.
Who does that? Drops a “Forever” bomb and just walks away?
Nick Caldwell, that’s who.
She opened her car door and slipped behind the wheel.
Maybe she didn’t feel like Italian. Had he thought about that? No! He just did his stupid Neanderthal thing and expected her to fall right in line, as usual. How apropos he’d been wearing a monkey suit while doing it. The big ape.
But the thought of that lasagna made her mouth water. If she went, he’d have to spring for a good bottle of wine. And dessert too, dammit.