Page 22 of The Promise
"Yes. You promised to come by the bar." He raised an eyebrow, waiting.
"Oh God, Nick, I'm sorry. I forgot all about you." Hehadasked her to come by. They'd been supposed to have lunch.Yesterday.
His face darkened, taking on a sardonic look. "And here I thought you might have need of rescue."
She held out a hand. "I didn't mean it like that. You know I'd never stand you up on purpose. Something came up and I forgot all about it. Forgive me, please." She might not be willing to jump in his bed, but he deserved better than a brush off.
The anger faded and his lips twisted into an ironic grin. "I hope it was more than the cat that kept you away."
"The cat?"
"Yes, your new pet."
Damn, she really had to bone up on this lying thing. "As a matter a fact, it was the cat."
He waited patiently for her explanation, his foot swinging lazily against the cabinet under the counter.
"She's a stray. I found her a couple of days ago out by the trash. She looked so pitiful. Skinny and lonely and, well, as it turns out, sick. She has ear mites. Kept her up all night, poor baby. So I spent a good part of yesterday in Del Norte at the vet." She shot him what she hoped was an apologetic look.
"Ah, Cara, my angel. Always taking care of the misfits." He rose and crossed the space between them. "But now perhaps youcan spare some time for me?" His words were a question, his tone was not.
"Of course. Why don't I meet you in town, later."
"But you're here and I'm here, why not now?" He trailed a finger down her cheek. "Besides, as much as I love your company, Cara mia, I have some business I'd like to take care of."
There was obviously no getting rid of him, but she be damned if she'd continue this conversation in her robe. "Fine. Why don't you make yourself comfortable and I'll get dressed."
"Are you sure you don't want a little help?"
"No, thank you, I can manage. I'll be back in a sec." She fled into the bedroom and leaned against the closed door, her breath coming in short gasps.
"Who the hell is he?" Michael's whispered words made her jump.
"Just an acquaintance."
"He seemed a little more than that to me."
She glared at him. Enough was enough. She was not a pawn for Nick and Michael to throw around like a football. "I think he'd like to be, but he isn't," she spoke quietly, through clenched teeth.
"I'm sorry." His voice softened and his apology reached all the way to the crystal depths of his cobalt eyes.
She smiled weakly. "Look, I've got to get dressed or he's going to come in here."
Michael stepped back and waved at the room behind him. "Your room is mine."
Suppressing a laugh, she walked to the dresser and began pulling out clothes with no thought as to what she was grabbing. Then, with garments in hand, she eyed him thoughtfully. "Turn your back."
He raised an eyebrow, but didn't budge.
"Unless you want me to go back out there like this, turn your back."
With a rakish grin, he shrugged and turned away. She caught her breath at the clean strong lines of his bare shoulders. The man was a magnet. She simply couldn't quit staring. Even the white of his bandage enhanced his sexuality. With shaking hands, she quickly pulled on a pair of faded cut-offs and a tee-shirt.
"You can turn around now."
He spun around, the look of surprise on his face almost comical. "You're not going out there in that."
"You sound like my grandfather."
