Page 36 of Never and Always
Something about him seemed uneasy, uncomfortableeven.
“I’ve been busy working on the case and setting up myoffice.”
“Oh,” she said and bit the inside of herlip.
He gave her that look where he stared deeply into her eyes, then he looked down to his phone and back toher.
“Do you want to hang out? We could watch a movie.” There, she did it, just like Clairesuggested.
“I have some stuff…stuff I have to take careof.”
“Oh, sure, that’s fine. Maybetomorrow?”
“Tomorrow’s…notgreat.”
This felt like that thing most guys did when they no longer had interest in you. However, that was usually after something had happened. It felt like something had happened to them, but she didn’t knowwhat.
“Have I done something, Nick?” Again, like Claire said, there was no point worrying andwondering.
“No, of course not. Why would you thinkthat?”
“Well it’s kind of hard not to when you tell me you’ll take care of me and then I don’t seeyou.”
“Babe.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “I’m sorry I…” He lingered by her chin for a few seconds and then pulledaway.
“What?”
“I’ll make time soon. I promise. Okay?” Hesmiled.
“Okay.”
Silence filled the space between them for a few awkward seconds and all they did was look at each other. He broke eye contact and looked down to her breasts, but she knew he wasn’t looking at her in the pervy way that most guysdid.
“Are you wearing it?” he asked, keeping his gazethere.
He could only mean thenecklace.
She smiled and nodded. “Iam.”
It was only some tops that displayed it. She liked that the diamond settled right between her cleavage. A wicked thought crossed her mind, which she had to blame on Claire’sinfluence.
She undid the button at the top of her blouse and moved the soft cotton away on either side so that he could see it. Along with the slight hint of pink lace on her bra and the deep swells of herbreasts.
When something raw and primal flickered in his eyes as he looked, a sense of satisfaction swept through her and grew when he reached forward to take the little pendant into his hands. His fingers brushed against her skin, making it hot, spreading warmth throughout her entirebody.
The same heat filled his eyes when he looked from the pendant to the swells of her breasts and frozethere.
Her skin started to tingle and her pulse raced. He’d never looked at her like that before, and if she were in any doubt about something changing between them the confirmation was allthere.
“Take care of it,baby.”
Baby.
She couldn’t help but smile against the wave of desire that raced throughher.
“Always,” shebreathed.
His eyes searched hers and she became lost in his blue gaze. He let go of the pendant, allowing it to settle between her breasts, then steppedbackwards.
