Page 84 of Joker in the Pack

“Can we go out for groceries now?” I asked. “My concentration’s shot to pieces.”

“Something to do with that phone call earlier?”

Damn him for being so perceptive. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you bit your bottom lip so hard while you were listening that you still had tooth dents in it five minutes later.”

My finger came up to feel automatically, and Nye tracked it with eyes that missed nothing. I’d never known a man to make me feel quite so nervous—fear and lust and intimidation made my insides feel like a termite nest, full of tiny insects crawling around and nibbling away at my sanity.

“Fine. It was Tate, and I finally realised he’s not as special as everyone around here seems to think he is. Maddie’s right, one hundred percent right. If I decide to date again, I’ll be looking for a nice, normal man. One without a posh car and a wine cellar and room for a pony.” Words vomited out of me, and I blamed the termites. My brain didn’t function with Nye in close proximity. “Sorry. You probably didn’t need to hear all that.”

Nye’s lip twitched, but I didn’t know whether it was the beginning of a smile or a hint of a scowl. I played safe and returned to my first question.

“Can we go out and buy food? Please?”

“Sure.”

He picked up his keys from where he’d flung them onto the counter. I’d noticed he had a habit of doing that—dropping things where they didn’t belong—and I’d already removed a pair of gloves and a sweater and put them in more appropriate places.

Outside, he opened the car door for me, showing he did have some manners hidden away under that tough exterior. By the time I’d moved my seat into the right position, he was fiddling with the SatNav.

“Sainsbury’s do you?”

Once upon a time, I’d have insisted on Waitrose, but now I’d realised there were more important things to worry about in life.

“Sainsbury’s is fine.”

On the bus, the trip into town took almost an hour, and when Warren drove me, we did it in twenty minutes. Nye drove the car like he rode the bike and took fifteen. At least I had a seat belt and airbags in the 5 Series.

“Thank you for driving. And in a car, this time.”

“You didn’t like the bike?”

“It was terrifying. And I’ll admit I’m still a little peeved that you brought it when you had access to a perfectly good BMW.”

“The BMW was at my flat, and I didn’t go home that night. I slept in the office and came straight back to yours the next morning.”

He did? Now I felt terrible. He’d made it his priority to help me, and I’d just chewed him out for it. I turned to apologise, but he’d already got out of the car and was on his way around to open my door.

I was trying to think of the right words when he bent his head to whisper in my ear.

“Even if I had gone home, I’d still have brought the bike.”

My mouth dropped as he sauntered off to fetch a trolley. I couldn’t believe him! He’d deliberately manipulated me into wrapping myself around him.

And now my libido laughed.Who are you kidding? Nye would have only had to ask.

I sighed as I followed him into the supermarket. Judging by the ache between my thighs, my libido was right on the money.

I’d tried to write a shopping list before I left, but when I caught myself adding chocolate four times, I gave up. I’d just wander the shelves for inspiration. Fresh vegetables, fruit, chicken, and minced beef. Maybe I’d make a lasagne this evening. Pasta. Flour, eggs, sugar, and cocoa powder because I needed a cake. Nye wandered along, tossing his own items into the trolley.

“Pre-made microwaveable hot dogs?” I asked when I caught sight of one of the boxes.

What else had he chosen? Pop-Tarts, a ready-cooked omelette, individual trifles. I picked up a packet of burger “cheese.”

“You realise there isn’t actually any cheese in this?”

He shrugged. “It comes pre-sliced.”

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