Page 67 of Flippin' Cowboy
She rolled her eyes and took another long pull from her mug.
Then she leaned across the table to look Nick square in the eye.
“Just so I’m perfectly clear: I havezerointerest in returning to my old show. I want to keep working with you, Nick. You’re funny and smart, and I’ve learned a lot from you.” Her freshly scrubbed cheeks flushed bright pink as she added shyly. “Oh, and you’re an amazing kisser, too.”
“I’m glad you remembered,” Nick joked.
But her words created a pool of warmth that settled in his chest. It was time to stop playing the “just friends” game. He wanted claim her for his own.
His voice dropped and became husky as he continued, “But let me remind you, in case you’re fuzzy on the details.”
He rose and bent over the table to kiss her, long and deep.
The sound of someone clearing their throat behind him broke the spell. Nick straightened up and glared at the server.
She returned his look with a raised eyebrow and a distinct lack of intimidation. “I was coming to ask you folks if you wanted anything else.”
“Just the bill,” Nick growled. He couldn’t wait to get Winnie back to her cottage.
“Here you go.” The server thrust a plastic tray at him with a register strip and a pen, and said with a smirk, “Have a nice evening, you two.”
∞∞∞
Winnie wasn’t sure whether it was the beer or just relief from finally airing her grievances against Geoff after weeks of playingthe “dignified silence” card, but she felt much lighter as they left The Elk’s Head Tavern.
Nick courteously held the door open for her. As they emerged into the chilly night air, he looped his arm around her waist and walked her over to his Jeep.
It was quiet out here, and very cold.
The Elk’s Head had exterior lights near the front door and colored holiday lights strung around the doorframe and along the eaves, but parking lot lights were definitely a big-city thing.
Overhead, the stars spread across the blackness like a dense carpet of glittering gemstones. She’d loved living in Seattle, but even on clear nights, the city’s lights washed out all but the brightest stars and planets.
Afterwards, she wasn’t sure whether she or Nick made the first move. But an instant later, their lips found each other. Winnie went up on tiptoes and wrapped her arms firmly around his neck.
After the shock and stress of her encounter with Geoff, Nick’s tight embrace made her feel safe. Cherished.
Nick’s hands slid across her butt then gripped the backs of her thighs, lifting her up onto the hood of his car.
“You should know I don’t have sex in parking lots,” she whispered against his lips as giggles bubbled up. “Some people might—especially in the movies—but that’s not my style.”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of fucking you here,” Nick assured her.His hand slipped under her coat and she felt his fingers trace the waistband of her jeans. “Just wanted to remind you about how much you enjoy kissing me before I take you home and do the job right.”
“Careful there, Nick. Your kissing game is pretty good, but it doesn’t make up for your giant ego,” Winnie responded, and promptly ruined her comeback with more giggles.
“I donothave a giant ego,” Nick informed her. Then he winked and added dryly, “I’m just extremely talented and I know my worth.”
Winnie exploded in laughter before pulling him in for another kiss.
This time, it was slow and deep, a leisurely exploration of lips and tongues. Heat washed through her and coalesced in a pool of throbbing need between her legs.
Despite what she’d just said, she wouldn’t be able to resist him now if he challenged her assertion about sex in parking lots. It was all she could do not to wrap her legs around his waist and grind shamelessly against him under the cover of darkness.
Then Nick lifted her to the ground, slapped her butt, and walked around to the driver’s side of his Jeep. “Let’s go. The sooner we get back to the ranch, the sooner we can get naked.”
The short drive home to the Snowberry Springs Ranch was pure torture. Winnie’sbody pulsed with overwhelming need. She could barely keep her hands off Nick as he drove.
How did he do it? How could he turn her into a sex maniac just by kissing her?
