“It’s super cold tonight,” she protested. It really wasn’t. An unusual heat wave had swept through the entire bay over the last two days, increasing the December temperatures and keeping the sun high and warm in the sky.
“If you get too cold, I’ll buy you a cheesy tourist sweatshirt,” Nick offered, that easygoing smile seemingly plastered on his face. She was growing quite used to seeing it, not that she’d ever admit that little tidbit to anyone. Especially Nick. “Come on, Will. Loosen up and have some fun. You’ve been working hard, and you need a break. Hell, we both need a break. I know this sort of thing isn’t your scene, but I bet you could enjoy this date tonight if you just let yourself.”
“It’s full of tourists.” She watched him, the single light that burned within the car’s interior casting him in a shadowy glow, looking incredibly handsome as usual. The man was too gorgeous for words, dressed in his plain navy blue sweatshirt and jeans, looking for all the world like a regular guy, not the amazingly talented football player he really was.
“So?” He shrugged, always so casual, so easygoing. He made her feel extra tense and bitchy when he was like this.
God, she both adored him and wanted to smack him for being so…disgustingly perfect. “Why aren’t you wearing your Hawks sweatshirt?” she asked.
He glanced down at his chest. “People will be less inclined to recognize me. The place is full of tourists, remember?”
She thought he was all for being recognized. It drove her crazy, his legion of fans coming at him all the time, yet he seemed to love it. “Don’t you think they’ll recognize you regardless?” She knew she would. “It’s a Thursday night and for whatever reason, the place is packed. Look at this lot.”
Cars surrounded them. Maybe there was some sort of event going on, she wasn’t sure, but he was right. The Wharf seemed at full capacity, which meant the crowds would be massive.
“If I don’t make a big deal about it, no one else will either. And no one will recognize my ass. I’m not that important,” Nick said.
“Don’t downplay yourself,” she protested, surprised that he would say such a thing. He was totally important. An integral part of the Hawks team.
She frowned. Since when did she rush to defend Nick? He had a point. She shouldn’t want anyone to recognize them. What if her father found out they were seeing each other? She really shouldn’t care, but he’d hated Nick all those years ago and wouldn’t be a fan now, either. Her dad always expected more from her. And she hated to think it, but she knew Nick wasn’t the sort of more her father was talking about.
“Aw, are you defending me, darlin’? That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.” He leaned over the center console and kissed her, his lips warm and insistent, his tongue darting out for a lick. She opened for him immediately, heard him growl low in his throat, and then he was pushing her away, shaking his head. “I’m not gonna get all caught up in those tasty lips of yours yet again, no matter how hard you try to lure me in. Let’s go.”
Dazed, she watched him climb out of the car and round the front, coming to open her door. She stepped out, secretly thrilled with his gentlemanly manners, with the possessive way he pressed his hand to the small of her back as he guided her through the parking lot toward the Wharf.
“Maybe this isn’t such a
good idea.” Panic rose within her and she fought it down. God, she sounded like a such a bitch, but she preferred staying home with Nick.
Less chance of them being caught together.
“You used to be up for anything, Will. What the hell happened to you? You get old and stuck in your ways?” he asked incredulously.
She sniffed. “I’ll remind you that you’re older than me.”
“Yeah, well who’s acting like the senior citizen now, huh?” He grinned when she sent him a deathly glare. The bastard.
Without another word she let him lead, her brain churning over what she should say next, wishing she could just drop it. At least for a little while. The scent of the sea hung heavily in the air, the cry of the seagulls overhead both irritating and familiar. They circled above, looking for any scrap of food they could find—and there was surely plenty, what with all the tiny restaurants that lined the Wharf.
As they drew closer, the mouthwatering scents from all of those restaurants assailed her, making her stomach growl and her head light. She hadn’t eaten lunch today, which was a huge mistake, but she’d been so busy…
“You’ve stiffened up. Everything okay?” Nick asked as he leaned in close to her ear.
She both loved and hated how easily he read her. “I’m hungry.”
“Smells good, huh? I want clam chowder in a bread bowl.”
“Oh, that sounds delicious.” She hadn’t had that in years. It was a calorie bomb ready to detonate on her butt. “But I can’t. I don’t eat that type of stuff anymore.” She skipped meals all the time lately—too busy working.
“Why the hell not?” He exerted gentle pressure on her back, guiding her through the growing crowd as they walked down the sidewalk toward the beckoning Fisherman’s Wharf. “You need to take better care of yourself, woman. That means three square meals a day.”
How did he know? It was like he kept tabs on her when she wasn’t even aware of it.
“God, you’re bossy,” she said with a little groan, secretly pleased he was watching out for her.
“Someone’s gotta tell you how to take care of yourself. And three meals a day, enough sleep, and exercise is the proper way to keep you strong.”
“You sound like you’re in the military, what with your three squares and proper sleep and exercise talk,” she returned, slightly offended. She knew how to take care of herself. So she hadn’t slept much lately and was working all the time. Big deal. Building a business took everything out of her. She’d have time for sleep later.