Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(13)

“Did you, now?” He still stood in doorway, head cocked. “Somehow, I think you may have missed a few strays.”

“Maybe I need to make myself clearer. I have an aversion to cocky cowboys.”

Just keep telling yourself that, Nikki. Maybe if you repeat it often enough it’ll become true.

“Is that so?” His brows flew upward. “I can’t say I ever met a woman with an actual aversion to me.”

“Don’t take it personally. It’s nothing against you in particular, but to your type.”

“And what do you think you know about my type?”

“Since I don’t have a pole handy, enough to keep you at arm’s length. Besides that, this whole line of conversation is entirely inappropriate in light of professional ethics, don’t you think? You are my attorney, after all.”

“Well, darlin’”—he scratched his unshaven jaw—“there’s a little hitch to that.”

“What do you mean? You said you’d help me.”

“And I will, but you can’t engage my professional services until I know who you are.”

“I’ve told you who I am!” she insisted.

“Sweetheart, I’m a lawyer, and according to the law, your claim don’t weigh without authentication.”

“Authentication?”

“Proof.”

“So what are you saying? That you don’t believe me?”

“I’m not saying that at all. Only that our professional relationship will commence once you get your ID. In the interim”—his gaze slid over her in a way that threatened to melt her insides—“you’d best find yourself a nice, long, sturdy pole.”

*

Nikki opened her mouth, but Iris’s return with the coffee meant he’d got the last word once again. Wade closed the door with a chuckle, and then shrugged out of his clothes. He didn’t know what had come over him to goad her like he had. She was prickly as a porcupine but it was also clearly a shell of self-defense. He’d already seen hints of humor and glimmers of smiles that she fought to suppress, all of which only increased her appeal. He wanted nothing more than to see her let it all loose and laugh.

It was probably just the novelty of the chase, of having to work for it for a change—something he’d rarely had to do where women were concerned, but that wasn’t all. There was something different about her. Something that drew him to her at a visceral level. Maybe the whole damsel-in-distress thing had brought out dormant protective instincts, but then again, protecting her wasn’t exactly first on his mind—not unless it involved getting real up close and personal.

He hadn’t intended to kiss her in the truck, and knew he shouldn’t have, but the impulse was too strong to deny. A moment ago he hadn’t really planned for anything to happen either. He’d only meant to yank her chain—until he’d registered that unmistakable flash of desire in her pretty eyes. It had invoked another powerful urge but it wasn’t the time or place to act on it. Had they been anywhere else he might have been tempted to test her resistance.

He looked forward to another chance to do just that. If she looked at him the way she’d been looking a moment ago, all bets were off. She could deny the attraction until the cows came home, but he’d felt it pass between them—like lightning to lodestone. Just like that moment in the truck when he’d opened the glove box. The knowledge that he’d made her nipples harden had nearly the same effect on his dick. Hot damn! But it had struck him hard.

He’d only known her a short time, but the lust smoldering between them seemed to be increasing by the hour. At this rate it wouldn’t take much for it to combust into an inferno. He’d felt it almost from the first moment they’d spoken—and she had too, though he suspected she’d choke before admitting it.

On top of the physical attraction, he was also enjoying the hell out of their verbal sparring. Given his obvious advantage of arguing for his bread, she’d done a damned good job of holding her own. All in all, they were well-matched, which only begged the question of how well they might suit in other ways—something he was mighty inspired to discover.

Hell, yeah. He looked down as he soaped himself. He was damned inspired.





Chapter 4


Having made her reports to both the airline and the police, Nikki phoned the Georgia Department of Driver Services, but hung up in frustration after holding for more than twenty minutes. “Is there a computer I could use?” she asked Iris. “The recording said most services are available online. Maybe I can request a duplicate license that way.”

“Be my guest.” The older woman smiled and vacated her seat. “I have some filing to do anyway.”

“Thanks.”

Only a moment later Nikki cried out with increasing aggravation, “Damn it! I can’t believe this! I feel like a dog chasing its tail! The website says I can only request a duplicate license with a credit card, and I’ve already canceled my credit cards!”

“Is there anyone you can call?” Iris asked. “Do you have a family member who might allow you to use their card?”

“My mom and I aren’t exactly on speaking terms and my half sister doesn’t have a credit card. Too irresponsible.” Nikki shook her head on a sigh of frustration and despair. “What am I going to do?”