“I don’t understand.” She looked up at him, eyes glazed, confusion quickly replacing desire.
He touched his forehead to hers. “It’s better that you don’t know. Not until I’ve put it all behind me.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You’d better not be playing me,” she warned him.
Which was exactly what he liked about her. He grinned and slid a finger down her cheek. “When I’m playing you, you’ll know it.”
Now, he thought, looking at Macy, he had even more incentive to head home and fix the mess that was his life.
Twelve
Nicole kept Sara company in the pool while she watched her daughter play in the shallow end. Today was the first day of a heat wave—the temperature was due to hit over one hundred degrees by this afternoon—and the water felt good against her heated skin. Sara was warm and friendly, and now that Sam’s revelations had taken the sting out of their relationship, Nicole found that she liked his high school friend. More, she respected the other woman for surviving and thriving after all she’d suffered.
She glanced around, taking in the high fence and the heavy shroud of trees behind it, an unnecessary blockade since they obviously owned acres of land. No neighbors in sight. Nicole loved the house and the grounds, the lush greenery making everything out here as warm and welcoming as the interior décor and the owner herself. She couldn’t imagine not liking Sara’s husband either.
The sound of Sam’s phone ringing cut into the silence. He grabbed his cell, talking from where he lay on a lounge chair, eyes closed, as he relaxed. His chest was broad, his abs well defined, his golden skin spattered with just the right amount of hair, which tapered into the swim trunks he wore. The muscles in his arms and the obvious strength in his legs made her mouth water. He looked delectable, but the truth was, the outside was just packaging for the equally spectacular man within.
Every day that passed, she learned more about him. Not just a good cop, he was also a decent man, and he’d dedicated himself to her protection. For the first time since the eavesdropping incident outside her father’s office, she felt safe and protected. Because she trusted Sam.
“You’ve got it bad,” Sara mused.
Nicole cut her gaze away from Sam, her cheeks heating up at being caught staring. “It’s not like that between us.”
Sara’s eyes twinkled, her expression indicating she knew better. “It’s something because he told me ahead of time you’d be sharing a room. And I’ve known Sam for many years and he’s never brought a woman here. Never even mentioned one in passing. Not even when I’ve pushed and prodded for answers.”
Nicole studied the pretty blonde, surprised she didn’t resent her for being so blunt or intrusive. However, she knew now how much Sara cared about Sam.
“Yes, it’s something,” Nicole admitted, knowing it would be foolish to deny the obvious. “But he’s not into relationships. And coming off a broken engagement, neither am I.”
Without warning, a huge spray of water hit them both, and Sara turned toward her daughter. “Sammy, watch where you splash!” she called out.
“Sorry!” The little girl bounced up and down in the water. “Mommy, when can I go to Rebecca’s?”
Sara smiled at her daughter. “We’ll go after lunch.”
Satisfied with the answer, Sammy retreated back into her own world to play.
“Sorry about that,” Sara said, turning back to Nicole.
“Don’t worry about it.” Nicole liked observing the mother-daughter bond between these two.
The whole concept was such an anomaly in her life that watching them caused an ache near her heart, making her acutely aware of everything she’d lacked growing up. She wondered if she’d get the chance to be a mother, and if so, she was determined to do a better job than her own had done.
Sara pushed herself up onto the edge of the pool and Nicole joined her, their legs dangling into the water.
“Now where were we?” Sara asked. “Oh yes. You said Sam’s not into relationships. And I beg to differ. He only thinks he doesn’t want to get emotionally involved.”
Nicole glanced at the handsome, self-contained man on the lounge chair and sighed. “You have to admit he’s got good reasons to avoid one,” Nicole said, knowing Sam was afraid of being hurt again.
Sara raised her eyebrows. “So did I.” She swept her hand around, gesturing to the beautiful home and the little girl babbling to herself a few feet away, as if to say, But look what I have now.
“You’re miraculous,” Nicole said, meaning it in every way.
The other woman flushed. “No, I’m just a survivor. So I take it Sam told you about my first husband?”
Nicole nodded. “I hope that’s okay.” She’d hate to get him in trouble for betraying a confidence.
Sara met her gaze. “It’s fine. Sam knows I volunteer at the hospital, talking to domestic abuse groups, so sharing is what I do.”