Laying a Foundation: Bonus volume: Includes series prequel, The Groundbreaking (The Love Under Construction Series) (27 page)

On the porch, Tony took a deep breath. God, he’d have trouble falling asleep. He wanted to run right back inside, grab her up, and never let her go. But when he got into the car, a pang of guilt pierced right through his chest. Should he? He decided he had to tell her – he couldn’t be that person, the one who held things back, hid things, sneaked around.

He took the front steps two at a time, hesitated, then knocked on the door. He heard a quiet shuffling, saw the peephole darken from the inside, then the security chain rattled and she opened the door. “Uh-oh – did you forget something?”

“I need to talk to you about something. It can’t wait.” His anxiety level was rising by the minute.

Nikki was confused. What in the world could’ve happened in that two-minute period? He had an odd, serious look on his face that sort of scared her. Had she gone too far with that last wild, heated kiss? “Sure, okay.” She pointed at the sofa.

Tony sat down. She could tell he was nervous, bouncing one heel on the floor.

She waited. “Tony, for the love of god, what the hell?” she finally asked, sitting down beside him.

“I have to tell you something.” He took a deep breath. “I have somebody looking into you, your background, doing a check.” His face turned deep scarlet and he met her gaze, hoping to see some forgiveness there when she understood what he’d done.

Nikki threw her head back and started laughing. “Well, I would certainly hope so! You have a lot to lose, sweetie. I would hope you’d check out anybody you dated!”

“You’re not mad?” he asked, incredulous. He’d expected her to be furious, or indignant, or both.

“Of course I’m not mad! People are so devious these days that if I were one of your family members, I’d definitely want you to do that.” Nikki patted his hands reassuringly. “Don’t worry about it.”

“But, I need to know, is there anything you need to tell me before I get the report? Anything at all? Because I’d rather you told me than for me to find out the wrong way . . .”

“What I’m afraid you’ll find out is that I’m the most boring person you’ve ever met!” She laughed again. “Dull as dishwater. Not a thing interesting about me. I’m not the least bit worried.” She saw his shoulders relax.

“You’re not dull or boring. But I couldn’t keep this from you. I felt so dishonest and sneaky.” Tony took her hands in his. “As long as you’re not mad . . .”

“No, not at all. But if anything interesting turns up, please share. I’d love to know what it is,” she chuckled.

Nikki could never understand his relief. “Okay. I’m really going now. I’m sorry I startled you, took up more of your evening.” He turned to leave.

“I’ll give you as much of my evening as you want,” she replied, following him to the door.

“I’m gonna hold you to that soon – very soon!” Tony leaned over and kissed her lightly, then pulled away. “Talk to you in a bit.”

Nikki leaned against the inside of the door, hugging herself. She felt like a kid again, and her heart was slamming like a sledgehammer in her chest. She’d loved Randy and they’d been good together, but Randy had never kissed her with that eagerness or passion. She hadn’t felt alive in that way in a long time. Her nipples ached and her panties needed to be wrung out.

She readied herself for bed and climbed in with a book and a tall glass of water. Her ringing phone caused her to drop the book and answer sweetly, “Hi, gorgeous guy!”

“Hi yourself! Snuggled up in bed?” His deep, warm voice was so sexy; it gave her goose bumps and her nipples hardened yet again. Seemed they stayed that way most of the time.

“Yep, book and all. Hey, I’m so glad you came over for dinner. I enjoyed cooking for you so much.”

“I enjoyed the food – and the company. You’re an amazing cook. Let me feed you tomorrow night, okay? My house? Thai delivery? How does that sound?”

Nikki felt like she’d just won the lottery. “I’d love it. Gym first, then eat?”

“You’ve got it, beautiful girl. See you tomorrow night. Sleep tight, baby.”

“You too, sexy. Night.” Nikki hit END and sighed. She was falling, hard and fast. She hoped he was too.

Tony stared at the phone for a second or two, then put it on the charger and climbed into bed. She’d called him sexy; no woman had ever done that. He lay back and thought about the evening, his mind finally resting on the last few minutes before he left her. Remembering her arousal, the fervency of her kiss, her fingers in his hair, made his cock grow more and more rigid until his hardness wouldn’t wait anymore. He wrapped his fingers around his shaft and worked unhurriedly, remembering her delicate scent, the softness of her bright hair, her sweet breath against his cheek, her tongue working around and into his. Wanting her, needing her against him, his desperation increased, his hips thrusting upward and his breathing growing shallow as he began to pump furiously. Within seconds, he came with a groan, moaning her name, his desire for her overwhelming.

He was pretty sure he was falling in love with her. He didn’t care that it wasn’t smart or safe. It was just happening, and he wasn’t going to stop it. Besides, he wasn’t sure he could even if he tried.

Tony had cleaned up and was climbing back into bed when the phone rang – Steve. “Talk to me, great all-knowing one. Whaddya got?”

“Nothing. A whole big bunch of nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nope, not one thing. If this woman is hiding anything, I can’t find it,” Steve told him. “I’ve talked to half of that little shithole of a town, which would be about three and a half people, and no one could say one bad thing about her.”

“’Zat so?” Tony’s face broke into a huge smile. He’d worried for nothing.

“Yep. I now know virtually every medical procedure she’s ever had done . . .”

“You got into her medical records?” Tony practically screamed. “How the hell . . .”

“Don’t ask. Illegal as hell. And I got a copy of her school records . . .”

“Are you kidding? Shit, Steve, for god’s sake!”

“No, not kidding. Did you know her I.Q. is one sixty-two? And she has no college degree, even though she got four full-ride scholarships. Get this – the schools awarding them were never contacted. There was no confirmation that she ever received the notifications.” He sounded like he was chewing again. Did the guy eat all the time? “So basically, whoever got the mail at her house didn’t want her to go to college.”

What kind of people had raised her? Why would anyone hobble their child that way, especially one with that much potential? “So, did you find and talk to her parents?” Nikki hadn’t told him about them until after he’d talked to Steve.

“Funny you should ask. Yeah, I found them, or at least I think I did, Calvin and Barbara Wallace. But I called them and asked for her, and they said they didn’t know anybody by that name. I know I have the right people; I got their phone number from her cousin.” Tony wondered what kind of story Steve had told the cousin to get that information. “So I’m kinda confused by what they said. But whatever – the girl’s clean as a whistle.”

“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it. Send me the bill.” Tony felt the built-up tension drain from his neck and shoulders.

“No problem, bud. Moving forward with it?”

“Definitely. Talk to you soon.”

Tony hit END and put down the phone, then turned out the light. Everything was going to be fine.

W
hen she finished and came out of the locker room the next evening, Tony was nowhere in sight, even though his truck was still in the parking lot. Then she remembered – she’d left her lifting gloves on the locker room bench. Before she could replace her combination lock on the hasp, a hand grabbed her upper arm, spun her around, and pushed her against the locker.

“What the hell is going on? You’d better dish, girlfriend!” Kelly leered into her face.

“What do you mean?” Nikki asked, feigning ignorance.

“You guys are sleeping together, aren’t you? I mean, if you’re not, well . . . I think you are. ‘Fess up!” Kelly laughed.

“Nope. Not sleeping together. Yet.”

“Lying!”

“No, I’m not,” Nikki said with mock indignation. “But at the rate we’re going, it won’t be long.”

“I knew it!” Kelly laughed and plopped down on the bench. “Spill.”

“There’s really nothing to tell. We spent most of the weekend together, getting to know each other. I met his kids. We went to dinner, had a picnic, took a little road trip. Nothing overnight, just fun.”

Kelly had a dreamy look on her face. “Lucky girl. Wish it were me, but if it’s got to be somebody else, I’m glad it’s you. Keep me posted, would ya?”

“Oh, yeah.” Nikki turned to leave, but when she got to the door, she turned back to Kelly and decided to be a little bold. “Hey, would you like to get a drink sometime, maybe do lunch or something? I don’t really have any friends in Louisville.”

Kelly looked kind of embarrassed. “I don’t either. I moved here eight years ago from Nashville and I still don’t know one damn soul. So yeah, I’d like that.”

“Good. Let’s do that. See you later.” Nikki waved as she walked out.

Tony was standing by the door, and he seemed to be waiting for her. “I’m starving. I didn’t get any lunch today. It was crazy,” he told her as she walked up. “You still up to coming to my house?”

She grinned up at him. “Thought I would, unless I get a better offer.” She sauntered out the door, and he followed and took her hand as they walked across the parking lot.

“Then how about we both go home, shower, and you come over when you’re done. Call me when you’re ready and I’ll call out for Thai.”

“That sounds perfect!” Nikki gave him a peck on the cheek and broke away to run to her car, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back, locked his hands onto her waist, and gave her a fast, deep kiss that made her suck in her breath. “At this rate, we’ll never get any food!” she laughed as he came up for air.

“Let’s go!” Tony gave her butt a playful smack, and they ran to their cars and took off.

“Hands down the best Thai I’ve ever had.” That opinion was pretty obvious, given that she said it with her mouth full. “That stir fry was incredible.”

“Yeah, I know. Golden Thai is the best place in the city.” Tony’s mouth was full too. “And I was so hungry.”

“Bad day?”

“Nothing that dinner and an evening with you won’t fix.” He smiled at her and she felt a catch in her chest knowing that seeing her made him feel better; he had the same effect on her.

After they’d cleaned up the carryout mess, Tony pulled her onto the sofa. “Let’s play a game.”

“First, tell me: Did I pass the test?”

“The test? I don’t know . . . ah, the test.” He nodded as her eyes pierced him, looking up at him from beneath her brow. “The test. Yes, you did. Steve said he couldn’t find one negative thing about you. And from what he said, it appears you’re very smart. As in crazy, wild, unbelievably smart.” She blushed a deep crimson. “Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Guess you’re wondering what somebody as smart as me is doing working in a florist shop, huh?” She stared down at the floor.

“Nope. Everybody has a different path. Not my job to judge anybody for the path they’re traveling.” He watched as her shoulders relaxed and the redness in her face faded. “Now, for my game.”