Seven
Anger and annoyance beat through Sam until he reached the sidewalk and fresh air, putting Nicole’s ex behind them. “What the hell?” he asked her.
She stared at him with wide eyes. “I honestly wish I knew. He was never that possessive when we were together. All I can think of is that maybe his family is putting pressure on him to fix things with me,” she said, her eye twitching as she spoke.
Sam studied her. “Why?”
“Can we go somewhere and talk? Instead of doing this here?”
He nodded. Her hand was still in his, so he merely tightened his hold and led her back toward Main Street and the gazebo where they’d shared their first kiss.
She waited until they were settled in the seats there before speaking. “My father and Tyler’s are partners in an investment firm in Manhattan. Our families have known each other forever. In fact, Tyler and I practically grew up together, so when we started dating, it seemed . . . meant to be.”
He nodded, processing the fact that they’d had such a long-standing relationship. That they shared a bond. He f*cking hated it. A sentiment way out of bounds when he didn’t want more than a casual relationship with her, no matter how strong the desire.
“So they’d naturally want you two together,” he said, pushing down the emotions that rose with her story. Jealousy was okay. Annoyance that her family thought her destined for someone else was not.
She bit down on her lower lip. “That’s part of it,” she murmured.
“There’s more?”
She looked down at her hands, which now ran up and down her thighs. “I’m not sure.”
“But you think so. Why?”
“It’s complicated,” she said, still not meeting his gaze.
He’d seen her in an interrogation room, and she’d been at turns feisty and scared but she’d always looked him in the eye. He shook his head, beyond confused by her words and demeanor. To the cop in him, she was hiding and avoiding, yet he couldn’t deny there was truth in much of what she said. She just hadn’t said everything.
“Can I ask you something?” Now she met his gaze head-on.
“Sure.”
“What did you mean when you said you overreacted when you found out about Tyler because of your past?”
He blinked, startled by the change in subject. He wanted more information about her ex but sensed she’d told him the truth when she said she didn’t know why Tyler was pushing so hard to get her back. Oh, he didn’t doubt she knew more, but that more wouldn’t change things between them, and he had enough faith in his skills to know he’d get the information eventually. And since Jenna, at least this time he knew better than to invest his heart in any woman, but especially one with secrets. And Nicole had plenty.
They didn’t need full disclosure to have phenomenal sex and a great time together. They just needed enough of an exchange for there to be trust and a sense of comfort, and they could give each other that.
“I was engaged once too,” he told her.
She sucked in a surprised breath.
“What? You can’t imagine someone wanting to marry me?” he joked, because when discussing this part of his life, which he never did, he had to deflect somehow.
“Sam—”
“I’m kidding. But I was engaged. To my high school girlfriend. We stayed together through college, and honest to God I thought my future was set.”
“What happened?” Her blue eyes remained steady on his, full of compassion and curiosity.
Pity, he didn’t want, but so far she seemed far from that emotion. “She dumped me for my best friend,” he said bluntly. “The morning of the wedding.”
Nicole winced.
“And that’s why I reacted so harshly to the news that you broke it off with Tyler. It’s also why I understand where the guy’s coming from, even if he’s a complete pain in the ass,” Sam muttered.
She straightened her shoulders defensively. “Tyler and I hadn’t set a date yet, and I did not and would not cheat.”
“I didn’t say you would.”
“You painted me with that same brush.”
“For a little while,” he allowed. “And I apologized.”
She nodded. “You did. But I sense you’re still holding it against me.”
He shook his head. “No. It’s just that you need to understand what that did to me and my ability to trust—”
“Anyone. You won’t let yourself fully trust anyone.”
He inserted his hands into his pockets, letting her words speak for him.
She sighed. “Okay, now I know. Is there anything else?” she asked.
Sam groaned, knowing he was screwing this up badly. “Just that I don’t want any unrealistic expectations between us.”
Her full lower lip came out in a pout. “What was it I said at the fund-raiser? I’m not looking for complicated or serious myself. So . . . tell me your problem again?”
Put like that, he didn’t have one. Although he was surprised by how much he disliked her easy acceptance of his demands. And for the first time with a woman, after making sure they were on the same page, he wasn’t comfortable suggesting they head home for sex. She deserved more respect from him than that, also a new thought for him. Usually if a woman was willing to go to bed, so was he.
She cocked her head to one side. “Sam? Are you still thinking about things?” she asked, her voice a husky purr as she stepped closer. “Because I’m thinking we’re talked out, thought out, and in agreement about what we want to come next.”
It wasn’t like Nicole to be forward or brazen, but she forced herself now, sensing that any step they took next hinged on her convincing Sam they were on the same page. Not having him was unacceptable. Especially when she knew, from how angrily he’d dragged her away from Tyler, he desired her as much as she did him.
True, her experience with men was limited to Tyler and one other, but her realm of flirting was much broader. She knew how to schmooze a man in order to get him to loosen his wallet for a good cause. How different could it be to get Sam to relax and trust that she wouldn’t push for more than he wanted to give?
She braced a hand against his T-shirt, feeling his heart beat through the thin cotton fabric. “Don’t you want to pick up where we left off the other night?”
He grasped her wrist with a low growl. Next thing she knew, he’d pulled her against him and sealed his lips over hers. So much simpler than she’d anticipated, Nicole thought, before his tongue darted out, swiping over her lips, and she stopped thinking at all.
She already knew Sam was a master kisser and he didn’t disappoint now, taking control of both her and the situation. And she gladly ceded power. He devoured her with his mouth, ravished her with his tongue. Their bodies came together and he rolled his hips against hers, slowly, methodically, over and over until flames lit her up from the inside out.
Together they created a raging inferno—there were no other words for the heated passion flaring between them. When he lifted his head and she looked into his eyes, they sizzled with the same urgency thrumming through her.
“Home?” he asked.
She managed a nod, thrilled with the knowledge that she’d broken through the last of his reserves. Now she hoped she didn’t get crushed in the dust when he was through.
Nicole had been packing for her move, and once they were at her apartment, boxes surrounded them but the atmosphere didn’t matter. She and Sam had been building to this moment since they’d laid eyes on each other months ago.
She shut the door behind them and Sam spun her around, her back coming up against the wall. She didn’t know who was more desperate. Her hands went to the hem on his shirt, his to the bottom of her tank. Clothes ended up in piles on the floor.
He cupped her breasts and she fit perfectly in his palms. She arched her back, pressing her nipples against his flesh, seeking pressure. He gave it to her, brushing his thumbs over the turgid peaks. She moaned and he tweaked them harder between his fingers, working both breasts at the same time. Sensation spiked from her nipples to her core.
“You are so much more beautiful than I imagined,” he muttered. “I need to see more.”
With a fast rip, he tore the flimsy bra from her body, baring her to his hot gaze.
“Oh, man.”
She trembled beneath his yearning stare, so sinful and hot, she could almost come from that look alone.
“This is why I ended things with Tyler,” she said.
Sam froze.
Her limbs felt heavy, her body already his. “I knew, if I felt like this just meeting you, I couldn’t marry someone who didn’t give me one tenth of this feeling.”
With a low growl, he bent down and swung her into his arms, carrying her the few paces across the apartment to her bed.
In her entire life, she’d never felt so desired. She’d never wanted anyone as much as she did Sam. She stared up at his handsome face, his hazel eyes glittering, his jaw set. He stripped off his jeans, taking his boxer briefs off along with them. Freed, his erection stood proudly against his stomach and she swallowed at the sheer size and beauty of him.
Her mouth watered and her * pulsed with desire, her insides clenching with need. As if in a daze, she reached for him, wrapping her fingers around his rigid length, sliding her fingertip over the head and the drop of come there.
He groaned, his hips jerking forward into her waiting hand.
Her hips bucked upward of their own accord. “Sam—”
“I’ve got you.” He eased her jeans down her hips, then her legs, tossing them on the floor. Keeping his promise, he cupped her mound, his thumb brushing over the thin fabric of her damp panties.
He had her all right, in more ways than one.
She jerked beneath his touch, sensation shooting through her, pleasure just out of reach—but he wasn’t. She pushed up on her elbows and cupped his firm erection in her hands once more. Silk and steel, she thought, the need for his hard shaft inside her building like the rising tide.
He shook his head and jerked away. “If you want me to last, no more touching beforehand.”
She laughed. “Then get on with it, Detective,” she said, her voice huskier than she’d ever heard it.
Her underwear went the way of her bra earlier and as he stared at her body, she found herself oddly unembarrassed. He slid one finger through her wet folds and a keening sound escaped her throat. She would have been mortified, but he immediately followed by inserting the same finger inside her and beginning a steady pumping rhythm that built her need. In and out, in and out, pausing only to make sure she was with him. And oh, she was. She so was, and when he pressed inside her, on a spot no one had found before, she cried out. He followed up with his other hand on her * and the crescendo had built to epidemic proportions.
“Is this working for you?” he asked.
“Oh yes.” Her entire lower body was on fire, but the slow pressure he exerted wasn’t enough. “And no. More, please.” Her hips gyrated with unanswered need.
“Like this?” His fingers worked magic inside and out. He rotated his thumb over her *, harder and harder, then pressed upward with the single finger inside her.
She cried out, her body spasming. “Oh God. More. Harder.”
He replaced his thumb with the heel of one hand and her climax took hold and from a distance, she heard herself chanting. “Oh God, oh God, Sam, yes. Yes.”
Her womb contracted, his finger kept up a delicious pulsing inside her, his whole hand worked her sex, and wave after wave of pure pleasure crashed against her body.
It was the most amazing orgasm she’d ever experienced. On and on the sensation went until she collapsed, spent, against the mattress.
She heard the crinkling of a condom wrapper, thanked her lucky stars he was prepared, and then the head of his erection pressed against her wet heat.
She forced her eyelids open and met his gaze just as he thrust deep and filled her, thick and hard, pausing to give her time to adjust. Time in which she felt him completely, and to her shock, her arousal rose again from the sensation of him throbbing inside her.
Her eyes opened wide in amazement. She was barely a mini-one-orgasm girl. From the aftershocks still rocking her body to the new sensations building again, Sam was surpassing anything in her admittedly limited experience.
He braced his hands on either side of her head and began to move, sliding in and out, his hot gaze never leaving hers. Another thing that was different—by looking at her as if he could see into her soul, he increased the heat, the urgency, the intimacy of their joining.
“Wrap your legs around my waist,” he ordered.
Knowing her eyes were still wide with wonder, she did as he asked, and suddenly he was harder, rooted further in her body. Even better, the position provided more friction to her * and she began the slow, steady climb once more.
When he pulled out and pushed back in deep, he hit that place inside only he’d ever found. She moaned and clenched around him.
“Damn, you feel so good,” he said. “So warm, wet, and tight.” With those words, he picked up the perfect movement that synchronized their bodies and drove her higher.
Her hands gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into skin. He groaned his approval and pumped his hips faster until she saw stars behind and in front of her eyes, the pleasure so beyond anything in her world that once again, her orgasm hit without warning.
“That’s it, come for me,” he said, and the ripples and waves of pleasure continued, finally cresting.
“Sam!”
His name on her lips triggered his release and he pumped into her once, twice, and on the third time, his groan vibrated through her body, which was just beginning to come down from her climax.
She held on to him as he came, aware that this wasn’t the tepid sex she’d had before. This was explosive. It could get addicting. What scared her most of all? So, she feared, could he.
Tyler paced the small room he was renting at the Serendipity Inn, which in reality was a large Colonial that the owners had remodeled into a bed-and-breakfast. The floral décor and the warm colors were soothing at a time he felt anything but. Macy had been right when she said he’d be comfortable here.
Hell, she’d been right about a lot of things, including the fact that Nicole meant what she said and wasn’t coming home to him anytime soon. The thought should bother him more than it did, but instead of focusing on Nicole, he couldn’t stop thinking about Macy.
There was something appealing about the dark-haired woman, and it wasn’t that she looked a little like Nicole. Macy Donovan was a force of nature, a gorgeous woman who wasn’t intimidated by anyone, who said what she thought and did what she wanted. He admired her a lot.
Unfortunately, he was also extremely attracted to her. But he didn’t have the luxury of acting on it. Indulging in anything beyond friendship with Macy was something he could not afford. Even if he had gone to bed thinking of her instead of Nicole, the woman he was trying to win back as his fiancée.
He’d been shocked to feel the stirrings of desire for Macy when he’d been so convinced he and Nicole were meant to be. But meeting Macy had forced him to reevaluate Nicole’s breakup words—maybe she had a point about there being no fireworks after all. With Macy, her quick wit, and her ability to force him to do what she wanted, there were sparks aplenty.
How had his life gotten so out of control? Tyler ran a hand through his short hair. Not long ago, he’d thought everything was perfect. Family investment firm doing well, him due to take over when his father and Nicole’s retired. And Tyler had been engaged to the woman he’d been in love with for what felt like forever. Turned out he’d been living in complete denial.
First Nicole had informed him that what she felt for him wasn’t love, it was comfort and expectation born of being used to each other. There were no sparks between them, she’d said. Tyler convinced himself his fiancée was just getting cold feet. He figured she’d come to her senses.
Then she up and moved to Serendipity, and he realized she was serious about starting her life over without him. If that wasn’t humiliating and life-altering enough, his father informed him that Nicole had come into possession of information that could bring down the entire business and put them all in jail, Tyler included. Then Robert Stanton admitted he’d added mob money to help their coffers when the market was bad, and now he was in too deep to ever stop.
He’d ordered Tyler to get himself to Serendipity and return with his obedient fiancée in tow—or he’d have no choice but to tell his clients that there was a chance Nicole had overheard a conversation and knew about the money laundering. And those clients weren’t the type to leave any loose ends no matter how uncertain. They would put out a hit on Nicole, and Tyler would be responsible. He wanted to believe his father was bluffing but couldn’t take that chance.
Nausea and panic threatened to engulf him—still did—but he ruthlessly pushed those feelings away. He couldn’t afford to give in to weakness in the huge mess he called his life. Tyler was in deep trouble and so was Nicole. So he had no choice but to remain here and try to persuade her to reconcile and pick up where they left off—with her running his mother’s campaign for borough president, him heir to the family financial firm, their marriage set.
And he had to persuade her without letting on that he knew about his father’s illegal dealings. Though it would be damned easier to get her to come home with him out of fear and loyalty, there was still a chance Nicole didn’t know the truth, and his admission would be filling her in. The more people who knew, the greater the risk of someone going to the police. Especially Nicole, who was now involved with a cop.
Of course, Tyler was considering turning his father in himself. But he needed time to insulate himself, his mother, whose campaign accepted funds from the firm, and Nicole. Tyler also needed Nicole to cooperate. But from the way she looked at Sam Marsden, he didn’t see them separating anytime soon.
But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do everything in his power to try. Even if guilt rode him the entire time and he couldn’t stop thinking about a woman other than his ex-fiancée.
Sam woke in a strange bed, with a warm body wrapped around his. Since he didn’t normally spend the night anywhere but his own place, he came awake immediately and realized where he was and who he was with. Instead of relaxing, he tensed even more because no sooner had he realized he was with Nicole than he instinctively pulled her deeper into him, wrapping his arms tighter around her smaller body. She fit him perfectly.
Sex last night hadn’t been good, it’d been incredible. And that was what put his radar on high alert. The last time he’d felt anything remotely like this, he’d been a na?ve younger man, being duped by his fiancée and best friend. And he was enough of an adult now to be able to look back and see that what he’d felt for Jenna paled in comparison to the beginnings of what he felt for Nicole. Young love had been just that, he realized now. And if Jenna was able to hurt him, what kind of havoc could Nicole wreak on his heart if he let her?
He wondered if he could extricate himself without waking her. He was just about to roll over when she stirred, easing onto her back and looking up at him with big blue eyes.
“Hi there,” she said in a sexy morning voice.
“Morning.”
“A good one, I hope?” she asked, vulnerability shining in her expression.
Obviously she wasn’t used to mornings after, and no way would he hurt her just because he was running scared. “After last night, how could it be anything but?”
The tension in her body fled fast and her smile sent awareness shooting straight to his groin, which apparently hadn’t gotten the memo about keeping a safe distance.
Now to work on his tension. As long as he took things slow, guarded his emotions and his heart, he’d be fine. Just because they’d had great sex didn’t mean their agreement of nothing serious didn’t still hold. Leaving now would be his best bet.
“Breakfast?” she asked. “I packed up the big stuff for the move later today, but I have enough to whip up an omelet or pancakes.”
His stomach rumbled, answering before his brain kicked in.
She laughed, the happy sound making him feel like an ass for his darker thoughts. “So which will it be?”
“Pancakes, if it’s not too much trouble.” And then, because he couldn’t resist, he leaned over and settled his lips over hers, kissing her until the churning in his stomach and the bout of nerves became a distant memory.
“Mmm,” she said when he broke the kiss. “Better than food.”
He grinned.
“But I need to get up and shower . . . Joe said he’d help me move boxes to the car around ten this morning.”
“I have to work, or I’d help. But I’ll carry some down before I head out.” He’d have to stop home and change clothes before going to work.
“Thanks.” She eased out from beneath the covers. Before he could get a look at her incredible body, she swiped her robe from a nearby chair and wrapped it around herself. “I’d ask you to join me but we’d never get moving today.” Her eyes twinkled, and he knew he’d accomplished his goal of not making her panic along with him.
She showered, and he jumped in after her while she made breakfast. While he was drying off, the doorbell rang.
He wondered who it could be. Pulling on his jeans, he stiffened as he heard Tyler Stanton’s voice.
“Morning, sunshine,” he said loudly.
Sam shook his head. Did the man have no shame? He never gave up. Well, Sam had every intention of giving him a reason to walk away with or without his dignity intact.
“Tyler, you shouldn’t have,” Nicole said.
Sam narrowed his gaze.
“I know they’re your favorite,” he said. “I know a lot about you, remember? We shared a lot of things before—”
Sam had had it. Without bothering with his shirt, his hair still damp, he stepped out of the bathroom, well aware of what this looked like, wanting to give Tyler the right impression. “What are you doing here, Stanton?” Sam asked.
Nicole’s gaze lingered appreciatively on Sam before darting to Tyler, whose cheeks flushed dark in embarrassment.
“I’m giving Nicole an early-morning delivery.” To his credit, he didn’t ask Sam the same question.
“Thank you.” Nicole accepted the vase of yellow roses.
“She prefers daisies,” Sam muttered. Or did she?
“Tyler, this really isn’t appropriate. I already told you—”
Sam swallowed back a curse and pushed down on the jealousy. It wasn’t like Nicole was leading the man on.
“I know. And I see things between you two are . . . serious.”
Sam immediately stepped up and wrapped an arm around Nicole. “You’re damn right. Which means you bringing her flowers isn’t cool.”
Nicole sucked in a startled breath. Yes, she knew the two men were adversaries, and of course it made sense that Sam would be jealous of Tyler. She’d feel the same way about any woman showing him attention, especially the morning after. But they’d agreed on an affair, nothing serious, they’d both said. Which meant he didn’t have the right to tell Tyler what he could or couldn’t do. Yet he stood here, his arm around her, telling her ex just that.
Sweet pleasure rushed through her at his warm touch, hugging her close, and his possessive words. Much as she hated to admit it, she’d woken up in Sam’s arms, wishing for this very thing. Of course she’d immediately chastised herself, since she’d been a willing party to their agreement last night. And she had a new, independent life to lead here in Serendipity. No strings, no ties.
“I think it’s up to Nicole whether she wants the flowers or not,” Tyler said to Sam.
She shook her head. In all the years she’d known him, he’d never been so obtuse or dense. “The roses are beautiful, but Sam’s right. We’re involved, and that means you can’t come around here bringing me flowers.” Yet she held the vase in her hand, unable to return them because that would be rude.
“How involved?” Tyler pressed on.
Nicole opened her eyes in shock. “That’s none of your business,” she said, at the same time Sam said, “Very,” causing Nicole’s heart to skip a beat.
Damn her weak self for liking his words that much. Wanting more could only lead to heartache . . . and yet she sensed that more was exactly what she wanted from him after last night.
Sam stepped forward, prodding Tyler out the door. To Nicole’s relief, he went without an argument, and Sam shut the door behind him.
Leaning against the frame, Sam turned to face her. “Well, I hope that little show persuaded him to back off,” Sam muttered.
Show?
Disappointment welled in Nicole’s chest. She drew a deep, calming breath, refusing to let Sam see that she’d nearly bought into his act right along with her ex-fiancé.
“Nicole? You okay?” he asked.
She forced a smile. “Just fine.”
“Can I help with breakfast?”
“Sure. Just let me straighten up first.” She swung away from him, needing a minute that wasn’t beneath his scrutiny.
She headed for the bed and began fluffing pillows and drawing up the comforter, cleaning up after them without meeting his gaze. And she didn’t return to the kitchen area to make breakfast until she was certain she had her emotions under control. After growing up in her parents’ household, she’d thought her protective shell was impenetrable. One look at Sam’s handsome face, dismissing any notion of a serious relationship, and she knew she’d been wrong.
But the last thing she needed was for Sam to think she couldn’t handle the affair she’d so willingly gone into last night. If he saw the signs of a clinging female, he’d take off running for sure. Which meant she’d just have to buck up—and grow up. Oh. And develop a thicker skin.
Sam and the also newly promoted Cara worked a case that took them into the weekend. His mood was foul and since Cara didn’t seem to be feeling well, she left him alone, not pressing him for information. Which meant they were both lost in their own thoughts and that of the case, and the weekend passed slowly. Aware that Nicole was moving into her place, Sam stopped by whenever he could to help. He wasn’t the only one. For a woman new to town, she’d already made friends.
Whenever Sam found time to drive over, a different group of people were there, from Macy and her aunt Lulu, to Erin and Joe and Annie. And of course, to Sam’s frustration, Tyler had shown up and planted himself in her house.
Tyler was doing his best to make himself indispensable, moving boxes, unpacking, and just . . . existing. Sam was disgusted. Tyler clearly didn’t want her staying in Serendipity, but he made damned sure to help her settle in, something Sam hadn’t the time to really do. And it drove him insane, how much Tyler’s presence bothered him.
At least Macy was there, keeping Tyler busy and as far from Nicole as possible, something Sam appreciated even if her reasons appeared more self-serving. There was a clear attraction between Tyler and Macy, and if Tyler wasn’t still pushing for a reconciliation with Nicole, Sam would say they were destined to hook up. Tyler and Macy as a couple would only help Sam’s cause.
Of course it would be better if Sam helped his own. As a cop and now a detective, he’d been trained to notice the little things, the twitches in someone’s face, the shift in their expression. And the other morning, he’d caught the disappointment in Nicole’s face when he expressed his relief that Tyler had bought the show Sam had put on for his benefit. Though Sam wanted nothing more than to draw her into his arms and reassure her, his own conflicting emotions kept him from doing so. Giving her the wrong impression of what he was capable of would hurt her even more. So his bad mood had begun.
And it permeated the entire weekend.
While he was at Nicole’s, he helped with the heavy lifting and tried to be his cheerful self, but she had erected her own walls of protection and had a round robin of people helping her around the house. After a while, he wondered if she’d even notice if he hadn’t come by at all. He’d have realized it, though, and missed her.
On his last trip, he ran into his sister on Nicole’s driveway.
“Hey!” Erin gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Where are you off to?” she asked.
“Interview at the station,” he said.
“How’s it going in there?” Erin tipped her head toward the house.
Sam shrugged. “Looks like Nicole is settling in and everything’s getting unpacked. She sure has enough help to make sure it’ll all get done quickly.”
“Well, that’s good. Moves can be tough. Especially when you do it twice in a short time.”
“I guess. See you tomorrow night at Mom’s.” Sunday night dinner at the Marsden house was a mandatory affair. He turned to go.
“Whoa. Get back here,” his sister said.
He tapped on his wristwatch. “Gotta be somewhere.”
“It’ll wait five minutes. It’s not like they can start without you.”
“Oh, but they can.”
“Sam, stop being obstinate. What’s going on? What’s wrong with you? You’re a grumpy, miserable human, which is more like Mike when he couldn’t make decisions about Cara, than you. So what gives?”
He shook his head. “There are things a guy doesn’t discuss with his sister.”
“You’re kidding. You screwed things up with Nicole already?”
Unable to meet her gaze, he shrugged. “I didn’t do anything.” He was just conflicted because he knew Nicole wasn’t completely satisfied with things between them, and he wasn’t sure how much he was willing to give in order to change things.
“Maybe you should discuss these things with your sister. Then you wouldn’t make colossal mistakes.”
He rolled his eyes. “Because you and Cole did so well in the beginning? Besides, I told you, I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just complicated.”
A wide smile took hold. “If ending up like me and Cole is your final destination, then you go ahead and screw up now as much as you want.”
He growled at her in a way he hadn’t since they were kids. When she was little, she’d run screaming.
Now? She merely laughed.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“You nailed the issue on the head. I don’t want to end up in a serious relationship.”
“And she does?” Erin studied him with her perceptive hazel eyes, so like his own.
“I didn’t think so when we started. Now I’m not so sure.”
“Huh.” Erin sighed. “Well, then, here’s what you should do.”
He leaned in, grateful for any advice that could help him keep Nicole in his life and not be tied in knots.
“It’s simple,” his sister said. “Just say uncle now and give her up to Tyler. Save everyone the time and the aggravation.” She shrugged as if the suggestion made perfect sense.
The growl that escaped him this time made his sister’s eyes open wide. “Ah, so it’s like that. Fighting yourself, are you?”
Sam clenched his hands, wanting to throttle her as he had so often when they were kids. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a pain in the ass?”
“You. All the time.” She rocked forward and treated him to another peck on the cheek. “Go get to your meeting. Continue in denial. It suits you.”
Before he could reply, she waved and strode down the driveway and through the open garage.
If Sam’s mood was bad before, it was positively brutal now.