Matching Mr. Right (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Series Book 1) (15 page)

Ignoring his mother, Nick slipped his hand around Shelby’s arm. Impersonating a caveman again, he tugged her through the mudroom and then outside with him. Before she could ask what he was doing, he backed her up against the garage. Sliding his big hands slowly along her cheeks and then into her hair, he tilted her face and laid his soft, warm lips on hers.

It wasn’t a gentle kiss, but one filled with heat and frustration. And so much desire she feared her brain cells would never be the same. When his thigh slipped between her legs and he pressed his chest against hers she was afraid she’d spontaneously combust. The man flipped a switch in her she never knew was there.

She lifted her hands into his thick hair, pulling him even closer, and a deep moan rumbled from his chest.

She should put an end to the kiss, but her ability to reason had apparently booked a cruise to Antarctica. The bad girl she always hid so deeply within kind of hoped her frozen brain cells would stay right where they were for just a while longer.

Nick’s warm hands took their time exploring her body before heading south and finally reaching their destination—her rear end. He gave her bottom a gentle squeeze. Then he slowly moved his lips to the sensitive skin in front of her ear. When he laid soft kisses there, sending skitters of lust up her spine, a blaze of desire raced through her body. Now her brain cells weren’t anywhere near Antarctica—they were smoldering in Hades.

Nick nearly drove her over the edge as he trailed hot kisses along her jaw and then teased the corner of her mouth. She wanted his lips back on hers,
pronto
.

At the sound of her frustrated moan, he abruptly pulled his mouth away, blinking as if he suddenly remembered they were outside of his mother’s house instead of in a bedroom where they could finish what he’d started. Good thing his brain cells seemed to still be working, because hers had committed hara-kiri long ago.

With her hands still buried in his soft hair, she gazed into his smoldering blue eyes, waiting for an explanation. When none came, and he seemed perfectly content to stare right back at her with a sexy little grin on his lips, she whispered, “What was that for?”

“Just felt like it.” He shrugged. “It’s nice you’re going to write the book with Em. Bye.” He kissed her again so softly her heart melted, then he turned and walked away.

She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the hard siding. She wanted Nick, that was obvious to all the parts of her body that made her a female, but worse, she’d come to care for him. A lot.

So what was wrong with ignoring her raging hormones and just being his friend? If she let her traitorous body have its way they’d be lovers and probably have a few great weeks, but then he’d move on. Her already scarred heart, one that had never been the same after the loss of her family, couldn’t handle any more lacerations. But every time she kissed Nick she wanted him even more, dammit!

She turned to go back inside to get started on her new Chester book with Emily.

Better to forget Nick’s hot kisses and take the safe path with Greg. Maybe she’d get lucky and Greg would make her brains fry when he finally kissed her too.

Or at least sizzle a little.

She could live with that.

When she walked into the kitchen, Emily had crumbs on her chin, smeared chocolate on her pudgy little fingers, and a big grin on her cherubic face. No wonder Nick was so smitten with his niece. She was an adorable kid. And one more reason to pursue Greg. He wanted little Emilys and Nick didn’t.

While Emily finished up her snack, Shelby turned to check on Nick’s parents. They stood side-by-side, leaning against the kitchen counter with matching smug smiles on their lips.

Confused by their self-satisfied looks, Shelby asked, “Did you guys work everything out?”

Mrs. Caldwell chuckled. “No, our situation isn’t one so easily solved. But thanks for distracting Nick, Shelby. You really took one for the team out there—and boy, did you sell it!”

She swiveled her head. The window in front of the sink provided a clear view of where she’d just been standing with Nick.

Crap, crap, crap!
They must’ve seen the whole thing.

Cornered, Shelby shrugged and tried her best to stave off the blush she feared was creeping up her neck. “Nick still isn’t feeling well. Just wanted to keep the peace.” Scooping Emily up, Shelby made a run for it. “Let’s go write a book, Monkey-Brains.”

***

Nick was about to do so something he thought he’d never do. Ask his father for a favor. He’d been thinking about Shelby and the fire ever since she’d spent the night with him a few days ago. That, and he’d decided to delete the data he’d gathered from Shelby and try to help his sister some other way.

He owed Shelby whether she knew it yet or not. If that meant involving his father then he’d suck it up and get it done.

He walked into his father’s opulent suite of offices located in the trendiest part of town, and the receptionist told him to go straight in. The cost of the furniture and paintings on the walls in the lobby alone would buy his mother a new car.

When he opened his father’s office door, his dad stood. “Hi, Nick. This is a pleasant surprise.”

Nick closed the door behind him and forced his feet to move forward. His father held out his hand so Nick reluctantly shook it. After all, he was the one asking for a favor.

Was it the lingering fever, or was it overly hot in his dad’s office? Nick loosened his tie a little. It was hard to breath.

After he sat down, his father surprised him by rounding his desk and sitting in the chair beside him. “I’m glad you stopped by. I wanted to talk to you at your mom’s yesterday, but you left too quickly. I should have made my intentions clear the other night at the auction rather than taken you by surprise. But Mom said you guys had fun at the game?”

His father had called three times, but he hadn’t bothered to return them. Lori made a good point about how the country club set didn’t care about being good parents. Maybe he had jumped to the wrong conclusion. A sliver of guilt crept into his gut. “Yeah, it turned out to be a fun night. Emily enjoyed it as well, so . . . thanks.”

His father smiled. “Good. It’s nice to see Emily smiling again since her father died. Mom says you’ve really stepped in and helped, so thank you for that.”

“It’s no trouble. Em’s a great kid.”

“She is. Mom and I worry about Lori though, and wish she’d try to get out more. She’s really taking Joe’s death hard. I can’t blame her for it, but all she does is work and take care of Emily. And she won’t take a nickel from us. Your mother even offered to buy her a house and told her she could live there for whatever rent she could afford until she was back on her feet. But Lori wouldn’t do it.”

Nick blinked in confusion. “I offered that too, but how could Mom afford to buy Lori a house?”

His father frowned. “Your mother makes exactly what I do a year, Nick. Half of my earnings go to her. They always have and always will. Just because I screwed up doesn’t make me any less responsible for my family.”

Half? No respectable divorce lawyer would let himself get screwed like that. It didn’t make sense. His father’s billings had to be a million a year or more. “Mom lives in the same house she always has, drives a ten-year-old Camry, cleans out her own gutters, and you’re telling me she makes six figures a year?”

“Yes. Your mother just doesn’t choose to spend her money like I do. You should see her portfolio. It’d make you look like a pauper, Nick. And I know you’ve done very well for yourself.”

So his father hadn’t left his mother to hang out to dry like he’d always assumed? She was just being frugal? Whatever. It still didn’t excuse his infidelity and asking his kid to lie for him. “I’m glad to know mom’s taken care of. One less worry for me.”

“She’s not your responsibility Nick, she’s mine. And I hope you’ll let your mother and I worry about Lori and Emily. Mom tells me you have enough on your plate right now with the women in your life?”

“Mom and Lori are a pain in the ass sometimes, especially when it comes to butting into my personal business.”

“I’m afraid that’s not something you can change, either. Better to just grin and bear it. Now, what can I do for you? You mentioned you needed help with something?”

Nick hated asking for anything from his dad, but it was probably the quickest way to solve Shelby’s mystery. “When Shelby was a child, her family’s home caught fire. I know you have private investigators and friends at the police station. Do you think you could find a report that states the origin of the fire?”

“That shouldn’t be too difficult.” His father stood and then sat behind his desk. Pulling out a yellow legal pad, he said, “Give me the details. Family name, dates, everything you know, and I’ll put my best man on it.”

“I’d like it as soon as possible and I’ll pay whatever—”

His father held up a hand. “No. I’m happy to help. You wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

Just like that? His dad didn’t even ask him why? Could it really be so simple or would he have to pay in some other way later?

No, he’d have to pay. His dad was a ruthless bastard. He should just go. He didn’t want to owe the man.

But he owed Shelby. And his dad hadn’t hesitated to help.

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” He gave his dad the details and got out of there as quickly as he could. His shoulders and neck ached they were so tied up in knots.

He was drenched in stress sweat, so before he climbed into his car, he yanked his suit coat off and then his tie, tossing them onto the passenger seat. Maybe his father
had
changed. Maybe it was time to let it go, just forgive his father and himself the way Shelby needed to forgive herself. Move on.

He slid behind the wheel, put his car into gear, and smiled. Even Lisa the whacky lawyer-turned-witch from his blind date had said he couldn’t be happy harboring all that guilt. She also mentioned he was in love with a woman and should pursue her because she’d make him happy. Maybe it was time to let go and be happy again. Was Shelby the woman spooky Lisa had been talking about?

He zipped into traffic and headed toward the café. He was starving after living on Popsicles and chocolate chip cookies for two days. But most of all, he wanted to see Shelby.

She got him. Like no one else.

And she kissed like no one else. Maybe he could wrangle a repeat of that as well.

He dug out his phone and dialed her number.

She picked up after two rings. “Hi, Nick. Are you feeling better or is this another blackmail attempt to gain soup?”

“All recovered. Where are you?”

“Why?”

“I’ve had a lousy morning, please don’t mess with me. Have you had lunch?”

“Recovered, and yet, still grumpy. I have some dating prospects for you, so I need to talk to you anyway. I’m at the café.”

“I’ll be there in five.” He hung up and threw his phone onto the seat beside him.

***

Shelby sighed and put her phone back into her purse. Why did he always do that? Just hang up when he was done talking. He needed to learn some phone manners.

She dug through the dating advice files on her laptop and found an article on phone etiquette. She’d just forwarded it to Nick’s e-mail as he flopped down onto a chair opposite her.

He was obviously upset about something, so she let the phone thing go. “Hi. What sounds good for lunch? I’ll go get it from the back and then you can tell me what’s going on.”

“Meat. I’m starving!”

She laughed. “Of course. Be right back.”

While they ate, Nick told her about visiting his father, but she couldn’t imagine what would be so compelling that he’d asked his dad for something. Nick said it was a favor for a friend. She hoped that friend understood how big a sacrifice he’d just made for him or her. “Okay, so now you’re off-balance because you can’t be mad at your dad for one of the things that pissed you off the most. The leaving your mom a pauper thing, right?”

Nick took a big bite of his meatball sub and shrugged.

“So let’s break this down. You’re still mad at your dad for leaving your mom, making her unhappy, and then ruining your family. And because he asked you to lie to your mother?”

He nodded and took another big bite.

“See the thing is Nick, your mom seems like a really happy person to me. And you have such a nice family it melts my heart, so I’m not sure I can side with you on those two points.” She took a bite of her salad. “But your dad was a real jerk to ask you to lie. I’ll give you that one. And I know you’ll always feel bad for lying to your mom, but she obviously doesn’t hold that against you. So if all that’s left is your dad being a jerk in the moment he probably realized he was busted . . . you might have to find a way to realize he’s just a flawed person. Like, if your mom was an alcoholic, you’d hate her drinking, but you’d never hate
her
. You couldn’t.”

She wished she could tell Nick how much his dad seemed to have changed. And how hope had filled his mother’s eyes for a brief moment when Edward had suggested they repair their relationship.

Nick frowned as he drained his iced tea. “What pisses me off most, Shelby, is what you said makes perfect sense. And I think I’m ready to move on. So why can’t I just let it go?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you feel like if you let it go, stop hating your father, then what he did would be okay? And then you’d be no better than your dad? But from where I’m sitting, you’re ten times the man your father is. You don’t lie, or use your good looks to get ahead—you work hard for what you want. You don’t flirt with or use women, you actually respect them. That’s something I would have never guessed the first time I met you. But, too bad for you, because actions speak louder than words.”

Nick’s right brow winged up and he grinned. “Thanks. But you’re wrong. I do flirt, but only with
you
. It just doesn’t seem to work.”

“It works. A little.” She smiled as she sipped her iced tea. “But I’m a sensible woman and am keeping my eye on the goal. You would be a mistake, One-Night Stand Man. Probably a really fun one, but still a mistake.”