Page 62 of Breaking the Ice

“He was?” With Nick walking around looking like sex on a stick she’d hardly noticed the other man at all.

“Yes, Samantha, he was. Weren’t your eggs cheeping at you?”

No. They had been strangely silent. Now, however, was a different story. Now, with Nick looking all exasperatingly masculine, they were cheeping madly.

Traitors.

The doorbell dinged, interrupting her moment. “Hey, Sam.”

Samantha turned and saw her sister standing in the doorway. For a split second she was rendered incapable of speech.“Bec!”She flew around the counter. “What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded as she hugged her sister like she hadn’t seen her in years.

“Couldn’t let my little sister spend her birthday alone with a Lean Cuisine.”

Unexpected tears welled in her eyes as she huggedhard. “It’ssogood to see you! How long are you here?”

“Just today. I fly out at ten tonight.” Bec pulled away, inspecting her sister. “Wow. You look amazing.” Her eyes shifted to a point behind Samantha. “And this must betheNick.”

Samantha nearly stood on her sister’s toe at her emphasis, but Bec was bustling in his direction and taking her along for the ride.

“It is,”theNick said with a smile.

“I’ve heard so much about you.”

He grinned. “All good, I hope.”

“Ah now, that would be telling,” Bec quipped and they both laughed.

Not for the first time in her life Samantha found herself wishing she had her sister’s ease with the opposite sex. She’d bet Bec wouldn’t have a problem just going right up to Nick and sayinghow about it. If she wasn’t so ridiculously crazy about her gorgeous husband.

“Well, I hope you don’t mind, Nick, but I’m kidnapping her for the rest of the day.”

The relief was instantaneous – she could really do without Nick’s charisma up in her face, today. But she couldn’t just take off either.

“No Bec… I can’t. Nick has physio after lunch.”

“It’s fine.” He waved a quick dismissive hand. “I’ll just shut the shop. All good, you go spend the day with your sister.”

“Are you sure?” Bec asked. “We can hang out here until you get back from the physio?”

“I’m positive.” He nodded emphatically. “Take her. Go. She’s acting too weird anyway.”

Samantha shot him a withering look, but he just smiled and said, “Happy birthday, Samantha,” and her stomach gave a giddy lurch. How could three such common words roll off his tongue like he’d crafted them especially for her?

Bec eyed him speculatively. “What are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing.”

“Nick.” Samantha shook her head. “You have a date.” His third since the elevator incident. And she’d been glad. Knowing that he was out there trying to hook up with other women had helped put their elevator tryst into perspective –it hadn’t meant anything.

“I canceled.”

His response was instantaneous and Samantha narrowed her eyes but Bec leaped on it with relish. “Excellent. You are hereby invited to Sam’s birthday dinner. We’ll pick you up at six.”

Samantha opened her mouth to protest but Nick got in first. “Sounds delightful.”

And so it was decided.

21

---