I let my coat slide down my arms and land in a heap on the floor. Before I can bend over to get it, Nick does it for me, and his hand brushes mine.
“You’re fucking freezing. Come on.”
He leads me into the living room in front of the fireplace.
“Do you?” I ask again.
“Do I what?”
“Have condoms.”
He shakes his head. “I think so, yeah. Do you need some?”
“Maybe, if things go well. It’s good to be prepared, you know?”
“So you said.” His jaw clenches. Maybe the thought of having sex with me isn’t a good one. It seems to have made him grumpier.
“Why are you grouchy again?”
“Because you walked home in the middle of the damn night. If you needed a ride, you should have called me.”
“I don’t have your number,” I say, realizing that for the first time.
“Give me your phone.”
“Bossy,” I mutter as I take my cell out of my pocket. After it’s unlocked, I pass it over. He taps the screen a few times and then hands it back. “Now I have your number. But I was perfectly safe.”
“You were alone after midnight.”
“Yeah, in Cunningham Falls, Montana, Nick. What did you think would happen? The bears are asleep.”
“Just call me next time.”
“I don’t do this often,” I say with a sigh. “And you might have totally killed my buzz. It was so nice. I don’t remember the last time I had drinks with Sid. Also? Her cat is a judgy bitch.”
He raises a brow.
“I mean, all I did was drink margaritas and talk about having sex with you.”
Both brows raise.
“We haven’t had sex.”
I sigh. “I know. It’s sad. But it’s okay. I guess the thought of having sex with me makes you grouchy, because all I did was mention condoms, and you looked like you wanted to punch someone.”
“Only because I thought you wanted to use the condoms with someone else.”
I blink at him. “Who?”
“I have no idea.”
“Me either. So, it’s not a bad idea?”
“Oh, it’s probably a colossally terrible idea,” he says with a laugh. “But I’m having a hard time keeping my hands to myself.”
“You’re actually doing a very good job of it. You haven’t touched me much. Is it because I’m a pressional?”
“A what?”
“A pressional. You know, a nurse.”
“A professional?”
“That’s what I said.”
He laughs, his shoulders relax, and his eyes warm up. “No. That’s not why.”
“Oh. Why, then?”
“Because I’m not going to sexually harass you.”
I frown. “I don’t feel harassed.”
“Good.” He takes my hands and pulls me to my feet. “On a scale of one to ten, how drunk are you?”
“I’d say I’m still solidly around a five.”
“Damn.” He sighs, his eyes are on my lips. “Because when I take you, it won’t be when you don’t have all your wits about you.”
“You’re an honorable guy.”
His lips twitch. “It’s a damn shame.”
“Nah, it’s good. Because if you were a dick, I wouldn’t be thinking about taking all of my clothes off right now.”
“Fucking hell,” he whispers and clenches his eyes shut. “You’d tempt the pope.”
“He’s too old for me.” I press in closer, wanting to feel the heat of him. I want him naked, and I want him to do things to me.
Sexy things.
But it’s not going to happen tonight.
“Nick?”
“Yes.”
“I think I might throw up.”
Chapter 6
~Nick~
She presses her hand over her mouth and takes a deep breath.
“Whoa, easy there.” I rub big circles over her back, but she stands like she’s going to make a run for it, so I pull her into my arms and continue rubbing her back as I kiss the top of her head. “Just breathe, sweetheart. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Nice and easy.”
She does as I say, several times, and then lets out a long sigh.
“Okay. I think it’s over.”
“Did you have a nice time tonight?” I push aside the thought of her talking about sex and taking all of her clothes off. Those thoughts will only lead to an uncomfortable night because she’s in no shape for sex.
“Yeah.” Her voice is small against my chest. “It was fun. Even the walk home.”
That’s something we’ll talk about again tomorrow. I don’t care if we are in the middle of a safe, rural town, I don’t want her walking alone, especially late at night.
“Let’s get you into bed.”
She looks up at me with tired eyes. “I can’t do the sex tonight. I thought I could, but I’m tired. And not sexy.”
“I always think you’re sexy.” I lift her easily into my arms, pleased when my injured shoulder doesn’t sing in pain. She’s a tiny little thing. Jordan presses her face to my neck as I climb the stairs and walk down the hall to her bedroom. I set her on the bed and turn to the dresser to snag some kind of nightshirt. “Can you change by yourself?”