“You’re welcome.” Gotta love a kid with manners. After waving to Lauren’s mother, a new family moved in front of her.
Nick was next after them. She could feel the warm sweep of his eyes on her as she signed two books for the cute twins standing before her named Lilly and Lindsey. Nick had a way of studying her, as if he could see deeply inside, searching for her heavily guarded secrets.
It bugged.
When it was Nick’s turn, she didn’t bother to greet him. Instead she cocked a brow and waited for his explanation. She ignored the flip her stomach made as he stood in front of her looking like sin on a stick. Her inner bad girl begged for just one lick.
But Nick was a shallow, no-strings-attached kind of guy. The opposite of Greg. The man she’d waited two years for.
Nick beamed one of his big smiles. “Hello, Summer Sinclair. Seems you’re a woman of many hidden talents?”
“You too.” She slid her gaze to the child asleep on Nick’s shoulder. “Seems you forgot to add single parent to your profile.”
“This is my niece.” He nudged the sleeping girl on his shoulder. “Emily, wake up. Let’s get Shelby to sign your book.”
The darling, curly-dark-haired girl yawned and blinked like a baby owl. “Who’s Shelby?” The girl’s cheeks were unnaturally red, as if flushed with fever.
Alarmed, Shelby stood and reached across the table to lay the back of her hand on the child’s forehead. It burned under her touch. Nick had a very sick kid on his hands. Something like that had to cramp his style as he flirted with the obviously smitten woman behind him in line.
Shelby tucked a clump of stray curls that had fallen across the little girl’s forehead behind her ear, exposing the same startling blue eyes as her irritating uncle’s. “Poor baby. You’re not feeling so good, huh?”
Nick said, “Emily’s a huge fan and couldn’t be persuaded to stay home in bed where she belongs. Nice pen name by the way.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Kinda sexy.”
That did it.
She huffed out a breath and signed Emily’s book. She wanted Nick out of her face as quickly as possible. He was the epitome of the kind of man she usually avoided: all handsome, arrogant, and self-confident. Something her hormones were having trouble remembering they didn’t like. It’d probably be best if they didn’t work together.
As she handed the book to Emily, she said, “It must be tough to have such a smarty-pants uncle, Emily. I hope you feel better soon.”
Emily worked up a small giggle. “That’s what momma says about him too.”
“Traitor!” Nick’s warm smile proved he clearly loved the child. “Keep it up and I’m taking the cell phone back.” He slid another book from the pile. “I’d like one too, Summer.”
Before Shelby could refuse, a gorgeous, dark-haired, feminine version of Nick rushed to his side. “Sorry, I just got your message. I came as fast as I could.” She took Emily from his shoulder. “Come here, honey.” Then she turned and stuck her hand out to Shelby. “Hi, I’m Emily’s mom, Lori. We just adore your books. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you. So, Nick is your . . . brother?”
Lori nodded. “Yes. Are you two friends?”
Shelby said, “No,” at the same time Nick said, “Yes.”
Lori frowned at her brother. “What have you done now, Nick?”
Nick met Shelby’s gaze and winced. Suddenly he looked like a kid caught climbing through his bedroom window after curfew instead of his normal arrogant self.
“Nothing. Let’s go. See you, Shelby.” Nick wrapped his arm around his sister’s waist and tugged.
The sexy blonde woman behind them called out, “Nick, wait. Here’s my number.”
Nick stopped his hasty retreat. “Great, thanks.” He accepted the piece of paper and then sent Shelby a pained look. “Um . . . so I’ll call you?”
Her jaw clenched. If she weren’t in a store packed full of kids who looked up to her, she’d tell Nick to take a hike. “I’ll call you. Please don’t call me.”
CHAPTER THREE
“Asking for help when you’re in trouble is hard to do . . . especially for bad little monkeys.”
Chester’s Disastrous Day at The Zoo
Tired of sitting on the couch tapping away at her keyboard, Shelby yawned and stretched her hands over her head. She needed a break from Chester and his antics. Was it her imagination, or was Chester acting particularly naughty in this book? She might have to clean up his act a bit. Chester was starting to operate like Nick.