Needing Nicole (The Cantrelle Family Trilogy Book 2) by Patricia Kay Page A

always amazed Nicole that anyone would even attempt to navigate the narrow, cobbled streets. “Why don’t you just let me out here?” she suggested. “It’s not far to the office.”
    “That’s okay. I’ve come this far. I might as well take you all the way.”
    Soon he had pulled up in front of the wrought-iron gates in front of her building. Nicole reached for the door handle.
    “Wait. Don’t go in just yet.” His gaze rested on her face.
    “I’ve got to, Jack.”
    “I’d really like to see you again.” His voice had taken on a husky edge. “And not just because I want you to help me.”
    “I don’t think so,” she said regretfully. She’d made up her mind, during that long nine months while she waited for Aimee’s birth, that she would never again become involved with a man unless he was looking for commitment and a lasting relationship. Jack Forrester was just looking for Elise Arnold. Being around him would be inviting trouble into her life.
    Because she was too attracted to him. And he was only going to be around for the short term.
    He started to say something else, then stopped. He nodded. “Okay.” He held out his hand. “Thanks for listening. And good luck to you.”
    She took his hand, feeling its solid warmth and strength. “Good luck to you, too. I hope you find Elise.”
    “Can I at least give you one of my cards? Just in case you should think of something?”
    How could she refuse to take his card? When he handed it to her, she accepted it.
    And then she opened the door and got out. She didn’t look back.
    * * *
    All day long Nicole found her thoughts wandering back to the morning’s ride. To Elise Arnold and the mystery surrounding her disappearance.
    And to Jack.
    More specifically, to the strong attraction she felt for him. It was a shame that the first man to really get her engine going had to be someone like Jack—a wanderer who would probably never lead a normal life.
    All day long she worked automatically.
    All day long she told herself she’d done the right thing by telling him she didn’t want to see him again.
    Late in the afternoon, Julianne emerged from her office and perched on the corner of Nicole’s desk. “You seem preoccupied today,” she commented. “Something wrong?”
    Nicole was tempted to tell Julianne about Jack because her boss was astute when it came to assessing a situation and giving good advice. “Nothing’s wrong. I just...oh, never mind.”
    “Are you sure?”
    Because Nicole really did want to talk about Jack, she found herself telling Julianne all about the events of the past few days, from the moment she’d realized he was following her until he dropped her off at the office that morning.
    “Why don’t these kinds of things ever happen to me?” Julianne said. “I never meet anyone interesting or sexy.”
    Nicole laughed. “That’s because you hang out with lawyers all day long.”
    Julianne raised her eyebrows. “I think it probably has more to do with the way you look as opposed to the way I look.”
    “There’s not a thing wrong with the way you look,” Nicole said loyally. There wasn’t. Julianne was perky and pretty. Her only problem was she was far brighter and more successful than most of the men she met. Nicole thought Julianne probably intimidated them. Sometimes she even intimidated Nicole! Besides, she didn’t suffer fools gladly, so she had never perfected the art of flattery. And in Nicole’s experience, most men liked to be flattered, even if it was only by a woman listening to what they had to say... and not contradicting them. Or maybe the problem was that Julianne just hadn’t met anyone strong enough to meet her on equal terms.
    “I have a feeling you’re regretting sending this hunk on his way,” Julianne said.
    Nicole grimaced. “Maybe a little, but there’s no future in it, so why start anything with him?”
    “Why indeed?” Julianne picked at her thumbnail. “Unless, of course, a woman just wanted