Charming as Puck(43)

I turn the corner, straight into the path of a charging three-hundred-plus-pound cow.

A charging cow who materializes out of the fog and who could toss me into the air and take me for a joyride that would undoubtedly end with every bone in my body in crumbles.

“Aaaah!!” I dive, stumbling as I try to flatten myself against the house. Sugarbear’s flank brushes my hip, and I throw my arms out. Hard, wet concrete rushes toward my face. Tiger yip-howls and tries to dive out of my purse. A sharp pain radiates from my hands to my shoulders, and my left knee hits a rock before my body jolts to a stop.

“Tiger,” I gasp, rolling to cradle my shaking pup.

“Kami!”

The deep, panicked voice hits me straight in the heart, and a moment later, the familiar scent of dark chocolate and sandalwood soap fills my nose as heat envelops me.

“Are you okay? Where does it hurt? Can you turn your neck? Oh, shit. Hey, Tiger.”

I’m scooped up in two strong arms before I realize the world’s moving again.

“I’m okay,” I say weakly. Tiger howls indignantly as I clench her with the arm that’s not gripping Nick’s neck. I need to check her out. Make sure she didn’t break anything.

His hold tightens around me. “Fuck, I thought the cow was going to run you over.” He buries his nose in my hair, and he slows as he approaches the patio table, like maybe he doesn’t want to put me down.

My heart’s racing, but it’s not the terror of narrowly missing going for an unexpected joyride in the sky courtesy of a calf. The sting is already leaving my hands, and if it hurt to land on the sidewalk, I don’t remember it now.

Because the thrill of being this close to Nick will always override anything else. Pain, frustration, worry—it all fades away.

I can’t help myself. I’ve never been able to help myself.

He doesn’t set me down, but instead holds me in his lap as he sits at the table. “Are you hurt? Did she step on your feet?” He’s gingerly touching my arms and legs, prodding like he’s feeling for swelling or breakage.

“I’m okay. Just startled.”

Tiger barks, and I carefully check her over. Her whole body’s vibrating, but she seems more eager to stretch toward Nick than she does to be upset over almost getting trampled by Sugarbear.

“We were playing fetch,” Nick says.

Over his shoulder, I see Sugarbear trot through the fog and around the pool, kicking a giant blue yoga ball. She’s grinning like she’s proud of herself, and a surprised laugh huffs out of my lungs.

“You taught her to fetch?”

“Well…yeah. What else are you supposed to do with a dog?”

He grins. I laugh again, and god, this feels so right. His smile widens, his eyes going crinkly at the edges and some of his normal confidence coming back.

But not all of it.

“I’ve missed that laugh,” he tells me quietly as he tucks a strand of hair back behind my ear.

“You’re up early,” I reply, because my hopes are floating on a cloud, and if I say the wrong thing, they’ll tumble ten miles back to earth and splat into nothingness. Did he realize he lost something the last couple weeks?

He doesn’t look at Maren or Alina like this.

And I’ve never seen him defend anyone but Felicity the way he defended me last night.

And then there was the whole my girlfriend thing last night.

You deserve better than a one-way relationship, I remind myself. Because I have to.

His brows bunch together while he studies me, and I realize I’m still sitting in his lap, and he’s petting Tiger, who’s in my lap.

“I’m an ass,” he says slowly.

Sugarbear moos indignantly. Tiger howls her goofball balloon howl. And I do my best to keep my expression neutral, but the utter disgust and surprise on his face coupled with the unexpected confession is actually really damn funny.

“Says who?” I ask.

“C’mon, Kami. You know it’s true.”

“You’re very…focused on what’s important to you.”

He’s very focused on me at the moment. “Can I take you to dinner Tuesday night?”

There was a time when Yes!!! would've sprung off my tongue like the word had a life of its own, but I manage to suppress my easy side and watch him watching me.

He seems to be holding his breath. Hope and a plea implore me in his unguarded expression. Part of me wants to say yes just because I need him to be the overly confident one here, just like he always has been.

But something snapped that morning he called me with Sugarbear in his condo, and even being this close to him again can’t turn me back into the girl who would do anything for a little bit of his attention.

“Why?” I finally ask.

He squeezes my thigh. My body still remembers what those fingers can do.

“I miss you.” The husky tone in his voice sends a delicious shiver washing over my shoulders and spine. “I just—you get me. I want to get you. To know you. Not—fuck, Kami, I’ve never done this before.”

“You’ve never told a girl you liked her before?” I whisper, and I can’t mask the raw hope making my voice shake.

“No.” He visibly swallows. “I’ve never…dated before.”

My heart flutters harder, like a butterfly fighting a hurricane, and Tiger tries to leap up to lick Nick’s face.