“That’s not bizarre, Nick. It’s fate.” She took a bite of her burger, closed her eyes, and moaned.
Jesus. He looked away, taking a bite of his burger.
Pugsly finished eating and pawed at Nick’s leg. Nick picked him up and set him on his lap. “I don’t believe in fate. I believe in hard work and reality. Shit happens. Sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it sucks.”
“Then what do you call you being at JJ’s Tuesday night when my brothers were giving me a hard time?” She took another bite, arching a brow.
He couldn’t very well tell her that he hadn’t been able to stay away. He fucking hated this. If she were any other woman, he’d take his fill and get her out of his system. He stabbed a hunk of potato with his fork and said, “A coincidence.”
“You’re such a guy.”
No shit.
He filled her in on the rest of his family as they finished eating, and then they carried everything inside. Trixie began putting away the leftovers as Nick washed the dishes. When his phone on the counter dinged with a text, he motioned toward it and said, “Would you mind checking that for me in case it’s Jax? He was trying to reach me earlier.” Jax was a sought-after wedding gown designer. He often catered to celebrities and other wealthy clientele. But he was as down to earth as a guy could get and always made time to work with local folks. He and Nick hung out often.
She put a container of leftovers in the refrigerator. “Let me guess, you still haven’t put a password on your phone.”
“I got nothing to hide, darlin’. I hate the damn thing anyway.”
She picked up the phone, opening the message, and rolled her eyes. “Shayna. I see your buckle bunnies are as classy as ever.”
He’d met Shayna a couple of years ago at one of his exhibitions. They’d hooked up and had a good time, and when she blew through town, she’d hit him up for a repeat performance, no strings attached. Just the way he liked it. But in the last several months, thoughts of Trixie had left no room for any other woman.
“What’re you talkin’ about?” He dried his hands and took the phone to read the message. Busy? Want to take a cowgirl for a ride? He sure as hell did, but she was the wrong cowgirl. He put the phone on the counter and went back to washing the dishes.
Trixie threw the extra salad into a container. “Don’t let me keep you from your hot Saturday night.”
She said it teasingly, but the way she was manhandling the plastic container told him otherwise. “You’re not.”
“Then why aren’t you answering her?” She put the container in the fridge, set the remaining dishes by the sink, and leaned against the counter beside him.
“No interest.”
She grabbed a dish towel and began drying the dishes as he washed. “Nick, you can go have your booty call. I’m fine by myself.”
“You know I don’t go out when you’re here.” And lately he hadn’t wanted to go anywhere but down to Oak Fucking Falls.
“Well, that’s just stupid. If I were one of your harem and you blew me off without answering, I’d be pissed.”
“Then it’s a good thing you’ll never be one of them.” He ground his back teeth together.
“Damn right I won’t.” She grabbed the next dish before he put it in the drainer, and their eyes locked. Her scowl sparked flames in her eyes, and she yanked the plate from his hand. “Why are you like that, anyway?”
“Like what?” He grabbed another dish and scrubbed the hell out of it. “A red-blooded man?” His gaze drifted down her body, bringing a pulse of heat to his cock. “You can’t tell me you don’t enjoy a good time every now and then, Trix. I’ve seen the way you dance.”
Her eyes narrowed. “A girl can dance seductively without taking home random guys, as you know since I stay with you every time I’m here.”
“So you prefer men who you know rather than random guys?” Good to know.
Her cheeks flushed, but her challenging expression remained. She was fierce, but that blush was a first, and he liked it a hell of a lot more than he probably should.
“I’m not going to discuss my sex life with you,” she said sharply, putting down the dish and throwing the towel on the counter.
He leaned closer. “Then don’t ask about mine, darlin’, because like I said, I got nothing to hide.”
“I wasn’t asking about your sex life,” she snapped. “I was asking why you’d rather go out with groupies who sleep with Lord knows who else instead of having a real relationship with a woman who might actually make you happy.”
He scoffed. “Anyone who needs someone else to make them happy is a sorry soul. Besides, I don’t need a woman trying to control my every move.”
“Not all women try to tell men what to do.”
“Bullshit. Look at you right now.”
She crossed her arms and lifted her chin, the defiance in her eyes intensifying the heat between them. “Have you ever even had a real relationship? I mean one longer than ten minutes in the sack.”
“I don’t know who you’re messing around with, but ten minutes isn’t even enough time to whet my appetite.”
“Says every man on earth. You think you’re different, but you’re all the same. Interested in a quick roll in the hay and nothing more.”
He stepped closer, and she inhaled so hard, her breasts brushed against him. “I have yet to meet a woman who holds my interest in and out of bed for more than a round or two.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You’re awful judgy for a girl who hasn’t had a long-term boyfriend for as long as I’ve known her. I’ve seen you when you’re out with Jilly, and I don’t think you and I are all that different.”
She squared her shoulders. “Prove it.”
She was always pushing, goading him, until fire roared through his veins, and this time he didn’t hold back. “I think you’re looking for a guy to take you against the side of the barn one day and bend you over the kitchen table the next. Someone who won’t kowtow to your every whim, who’ll open the door for you and slap your ass as you walk through it.”
Flames ignited in her eyes.
“You just gave away your hand, darlin’.” He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he was in too deep to back off. “Admit it. You don’t want a safe guy in your bed every night, taking you for ten minutes, then queueing up a movie. You want a real man, who knows how to satisfy those fantasies of yours.”
She glared at him, her nostrils flaring. “For your information, I want love, and with love comes passion and safety. I want the fucking fairy tale, and I’m not ashamed of it.”
“You’re so damn misguided, you’re going to let some asshole hurt you.” And that pisses me off. “You want to know what love brings, Trix?” He was pissed that Trixie pushed him into saying things he shouldn’t, and even angrier at himself for taking it so far, but there was no stopping the truth from coming out. “Love brings destruction.”
Sadness rose in her eyes, cutting him like a knife.
“That’s not true,” she insisted. “Love heals. It’s caring enough about someone that you’d do anything to help them feel better. It’s trusting someone enough to be yourself with them in good times and bad and accepting all of their moods. It’s supporting their dreams and knowing they’ll support yours. Love is good, Nick. It makes everything else worthwhile.”