Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Maybe once she and Sam settled things, she could consider confiding in him . . . She immediately shook her head. He was a police officer, sworn to uphold the law. If she told him her father’s firm was laundering mob money, he’d be forced to report the information—and if that was the route she decided to take, she certainly wanted time to talk to Tyler and her father first. Assuming she felt comfortable enough to think they weren’t involved brought her full circle and had her insides cramping again.
“Hey, I’m starving. Let’s go get something to eat,” Macy suggested.
Tyler nodded, his gaze briefly meeting Macy’s before landing on Nicole’s—and lingering.
“Umm, you two go. I’m going to wait for Sam.” They had a date, and Nicole didn’t plan on making it a double.
Tyler ran a hand through his neat hair, and Nicole recognized the sign of frustration. She glanced at Macy. “Show him a good time?” The imploring please didn’t need to be said out loud.
She knew she was imposing further on her new friend, but she needed this night with Sam, and she’d make it up to Macy. Who, Nicole suddenly realized, was smiling and not looking all that put out by the request.
“I think I can manage to keep him busy,” Macy said. “Come on, big boy. Let’s go get dinner. And maybe dessert.”
“Macy, let’s see what everyone else is doing first.”
“Why, when I know all the good places to eat in this ’burg?”
She hooked her arm through Tyler’s and began pulling him toward the car.
And Tyler, though he grumbled, went along rather than jerk his arm back from Macy and be rude. The woman was a true dynamo, unique among people Nicole had met. In a good way, unlike some other pushy women she’d known.
Macy led Tyler to her car, and soon they were gone, leaving Nicole alone. She was grateful Macy could help her out, but she’d have to make sure the other woman knew Tyler wasn’t a simple guy to date—without revealing everything she knew and involving Macy in her problems. Even if Tyler was a free agent, he came with other baggage and expectations. And Macy didn’t seem the type to bend to someone else’s needs and desires.
Nicole caught a glimpse of Tyler’s back and the stiff, obviously new denim. The Tyler she knew did not own faded light jeans, which meant Macy had prodded him into the change. Instead of jealousy, Nicole felt pure amusement and a sense of hope that Macy could help Tyler see reason. She already had him changing his way of dress, and he’d allowed her to drag him away from the sole reason he’d come to Serendipity.
Despite all the potential problems, Macy could be good for Tyler, Nicole thought. She just wished she knew if Tyler could be good for Macy. Or if he’d take his head out of his parents’ expectations that he’d marry well and into a connected family long enough to look at the treasure that was Macy Donovan. They’d just met, which meant it was way too soon to even think that way, but Nicole liked the thought.
“Hey.” Sam came up to her, looking sexy in his dirt-stained uniform caused by numerous slides around the field.
“Hey yourself. Great game.” She smiled at him, happy he was here—and they were alone.
“Thanks. Where’d your friend go?” he asked, his tone turning dark.
“Macy took him out to eat.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “That bother you?”
“Should it?” she replied.
He blew out a long breath. “Not if you’re telling me the truth, no.”
She set her jaw, determined not to get into an argument with him about her ex. But they needed to get one thing straight now. “Either you trust me or you don’t. And if you don’t, we call this off right here and now. But if you do? No more digs about truth and honesty, all right?”
He blew out a deep breath before answering. “Fair enough,” he said, a surprising smile lifting his lips. “I have an important question.”
“What?” she asked warily.
“Did you enjoy your pizza the other night?”
She let out a loud laugh. “No, I didn’t. I was too upset.”
“I thought so, and neither did I. Pop’s really does make the best pizza, so I thought we could head on over there and try again. I think we need to get some things clear between us.”
She nodded, knowing he was right. “I’d like that.”
He hefted a bag higher on his shoulder, and she realized he was hauling around a lot of weight.
“That looks heavy. Where’s your vehicle?” she asked.
“There.” He pointed at his SUV a few feet away. They headed there and stored all his gear in the back. He turned to her, sweaty and dirty from the game in the night heat, and he’d never looked better to her. Hotter. More sexy.