“I didn’t threaten. I merely explained how it would be in his best interest to see you weren’t overworked.” He tossed his hands in the air. “I didn’t like going behind your back but you forced my hand. I couldn’t stand by and watch you work yourself too hard and for no reason...”
“No reason? Try self-preservation. Or another life that’s counting on me. Is that reason enough for you? Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot. You insist you’ll be there for me, so maybe it never dawned on you how important it is that I rely on myself. Just in case.”
Kevin narrowed his gaze, but she could see the hurt reflected there too. She hadn’t expected to feel guilty and resented the feet that she now did.
“I realize you have no reason to trust me but you can,” he said.
“After an underhanded stunt like you pulled last night, tell me why I should.”
“My father was a drunk,” he said without warning. He shut the refrigerator door behind him and turned to face her head-on.
She blinked, startled at his choice of subject. “You hinted at that once.”
“And my old man didn’t care who supported his habit as long as there was enough booze to go around.”
“Go on,” she said, obviously confused at the relevance. But her voice had softened, which meant he’d breached her defenses.
He stepped toward her. “My parents got married right out of high school. Because they had to. My mother had no life skills, no shot at a decent job. We never knew when one of the old man’s binges would start or how long one would last. Waitressing was the best she could do to bring in money.”
Nikki’s eyes remained locked with his. He felt curiosity and sympathy flow from her in waves. Unable to deal with the latter, Kevin figured he’d better just answer her silent questions.
“She worked because he didn’t. She didn’t take care of herself, didn’t have the time. By the time she did get around to a doctor, it was too late.”
“Kevin, I’m sorry.” Her slender arms wrapped around his waist and she tipped her head back to meet his gaze.
He brushed her hair back from her face. “I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you,” he whispered.
“Nothing will.”
He couldn’t do more than try to take care of her. But with her face turned upward, her soft lips beckoning, he wanted so much more. Self-restraint came at a great cost and but he managed to get himself under control.
Until she took the initiative, pressing that welcoming mouth against his. Her lips were warm and her touch seductive. He realized she was giving comfort, but that didn’t stop him from wanting, and without warning, softness turned to pure desire.
No longer tentative or hesitant, she touched her tongue to his lips and the kiss became harder, more demanding, carnal in its intensity. His hands gripped her waist and she molded her curves against him, creating unbearable friction against his already hard erection.
Kevin’s grasp on sanity was tenuous at best, but he’d been tested before and he’d failed. He wasn’t about to do so again. Not at Nikki’s expense. Pulling back was probably the most difficult thing he’d ever done and seconds later, his body still demanding release, he was amazed he’d been able to do it at all.
When he managed to focus, he found Nikki’s clouded eyes staring back at him. “Thank you,” she muttered.
“For?”
“Calling a stop to what would have been a serious mistake.”
He agreed, which was why he’d backed off first. But hearing her say it didn’t sit well with him. Bruised ego or something more, he couldn’t say. Or maybe he just didn’t want to know.
He ran a hand through his hair. “There’s too much unsettled between us to mix things up more.”
Her damp lips parted as she drew a deep breath. “I agree.”
He shifted positions and prayed for strength. Before he could gather his next coherent thought she pointed to the kitchen chairs. “Sit” Nikki slid into one of the chairs herself.
He shrugged and headed for a seat across from her, finding comfort in the barrier the old tabletop provided. “What is it?”
“Same as it was yesterday, and the day before that and the day before that. We need to reach an agreement, Kevin. One we can both live with. I need to go on with my life and you need to let me live it.”
As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. Approaching her boss had been underhanded. A move borne more out of fear than rational protective instincts. He could admit that much to himself. “You want me to back off.”
“That’s right”