Date Next Door

If Heidi was daunted by Nic’s chilly tone, she did a good job of hiding it. “You’re a good friend to him, Nicole. I’m surprised the two of you have never dated….”

The implied question mark at the end of the statement made Nic shake her head. “We’ve never dated,” she said completely candidly. “As we’ve said, we’re neighbors. This is the first time we’ve actually spent this much time together.”

And doing so had led to complications neither Nic nor Joel had predicted, though she saw no reason at all to mention that to Heidi.

“Does Joel date anyone in Arkansas?” Heidi asked. “I’m not trying to snoop, really. I just want to know, as his friend, if he’s getting on with his life.”

“He dates when his demanding career allows. But really, Heidi, this is sort of personal, don’t you think? If you really think he wouldn’t mind you asking, these are all questions you should ask Joel.”

“Oh, I know, I’m coming across as really nosy,” Heidi said with a little laugh. “It’s just that he’s so special to me. I think of him almost like a brother. And if he’s making himself available, I have someone in mind that I think would be perfect for him. A cousin of my husband’s. She’s twenty-five, single, pretty, bright. She’s a high school teacher, a former Danston High cheerleader who was valedictorian of her class. She has a master’s degree in history.”

“Um, Heidi—”

“She reminds me a little of Heather, actually. She wants a family, but she hasn’t met anyone who was right for her yet…and I have this feeling that Joel could be the one. I’m pretty good at matchmaking, actually. I’ve put several successful couples together.”

“Lucky them,” Nic muttered.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“Nothing.” Nic abruptly changed the subject. “It’s really nice out this morning, isn’t it? Warm for October.”

Heidi wasn’t one to be distracted by talks of the weather. “You know Joel pretty well, being such good pals with him. How do you think he would feel if I suggested that he meet Jenny? Do you think he’s ready to consider another serious relationship? Have you and he ever talked about anything like that?”

Nic was starting to get irritated. Really, who talked like this, outside of TV shows? It was none of her business how Joel felt about dating, and none of Heidi’s either, for that matter. And if Heidi really wanted to know, anyway, she should ask Joel.

She wanted to tell Heidi in no uncertain terms that she should keep her matchmaking urges on a leash, but she bit dow

n on her tongue to lock the acerbic words inside.

“No,” she said instead, unable to keep her tone from sounding clipped. “We don’t talk about things like that.”

“Oh.” Heidi sounded disappointed and a bit abashed. Maybe she had finally taken the hint that Nic was not going to gossip about Joel, nor give Heidi any fodder for doing so with others.

Nic half turned to look around them, searching for an excuse to escape. She and Heidi weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the warm, clear morning to enjoy the view. Nearly everyone had strolled out through the open glass doors to the lanai, and cozy little groups had gathered around the railing. A brisk summer breeze tossed hair and caused white paper napkins to flutter out of inattentive hands and fly gleefully to freedom.

Suspended over the hill that sloped steeply down toward the lake, the lanai swayed a little in the breeze. No one appeared alarmed by the movement beneath their feet, nor the accompanying creaks of wood, so Nic put it out of her mind.

With a sharp gasp, Heidi suddenly caught her arm. For a moment, Nic thought something was wrong, but then she followed the direction of Heidi’s pointing finger. “Look!” Heidi said with a little squeal of pleasure. “Deer. Aren’t they beautiful?”

Relieved that something besides Joel’s social life held Heidi’s attention now, Nic dutifully stepped forward with her to the railing, where they could both admire the deer strolling through the high grass near the lake. There were five of them, four does and a fawn, and they posed by the water in a postcard-charming tableau. Alerted by Heidi’s reaction, others moved to the railing to admire the scene, so that perhaps fifteen people were gathered in one area of the lanai.

Jostled to one side, Nic smiled ruefully. One would think unicorns had just appeared out of the mist. How bored was this group that a small herd of ordinary deer could cause this sort of excitement?

She turned her head and spotted Joel and the Watson twins. Meeting her gaze, Joel smiled, and her breath caught hard in her throat. The sexy curve of his lips reminded her of how they had felt pressed against her own and ignited a strong craving to sample their taste again.

She thought suddenly of Heidi’s matchmaking plans on Joel’s behalf and found her fingers curling into fists at her side in response. Hastily she straightened them, smiling back at Joel.

Someone called out that the breakfast buffet was now open, and everyone forgot about the deer, moving away from the railing and toward the ballroom. Nic noticed that the Watson twins both made U-turns and headed back inside for food, though Joel stood his ground as the others swarmed past him.

He didn’t look away from Nic, and she waited where she was for him to join her. She didn’t think he would mind being at the back of the line, and she wouldn’t mind a few minutes alone with him out in this lovely setting.

“Nicole.” Maybe Heidi had noticed that intimate exchange of smiles and was deliberately trying to interrupt. She hadn’t moved away from the railing. “Come look. The little fawn is so cute.”

Dragging her gaze from Joel’s, Nic turned obediently to take a step toward the other woman.

She felt the quiver of the wood only moments before the floor beneath her feet seemed to shift. And then one corner of the lanai—the corner closest to where Heidi stood—simply collapsed.

Someone screamed behind her. Heidi stumbled, her arms flailing. Feeling the wood shift beneath her again, Nic was instantly aware that she should throw herself backward, toward safety.