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

to have some fun. Just wanted to take her pleasure and enjoy it while it lasted.”
    “I can’t do that.” Even if she wanted to do something like that, Nicole had Aimee to think of.
    “I know. I was only teasing you.”
    “So you think I made the right decision.”
    Julianne hopped off the desk. “I know you made the right decision.” She grinned. “But you
could
introduce him to me! I wouldn’t mind having some fun.”
    Nicole threw a paper clip at Julianne as she made a face at her and disappeared into her office once more. Julianne was right. Nicole had made the right decision. Jack Forrester didn’t belong in her life. She would put him out of her mind, once and for all. And since she’d never see him again, that should be fairly easy.
    At five o’clock, she began clearing off her desk. By five-fifteen, she was on her way downstairs. A few seconds later, she opened the gates and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
    Sitting there at the curb was a royal blue Miata.
    And standing next to it was Jack Forrester, blue eyes gleaming in the dusky light.
     

Chapter 4
     
    “What are
you
doing here?”
    His mouth tipped in an apologetic half smile. “I know what we agreed. But I changed my mind.” He opened the passenger door.
    Nicole looked at him for a long moment, mesmerized by the expression in his eyes. She could feel her heart beating, its rhythm relentless: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go.
    She wanted to look away, but his gaze held her spellbound. A dead leaf skittered across the sidewalk, lifted by a gust of wind, and the spell was finally broken.
    She climbed into the car.
    She was grateful when he didn’t try to talk to her as he navigated the heavy traffic in the Quarter. Nicole used the respite to study him. She liked the way his hands looked against the steering wheel, against the gearshift. They were tanned and square, with long fingers, and they moved swiftly and competently, with no wasted motions.
    She liked watching his strong, muscular legs work the clutch and gas pedal. Each time he changed from one to the other, his thighs strained against his jeans.
    She liked the clean, solid look of his profile and the tangy scent of his cologne. She liked—
    Oh, please. Is there anything you don’t like about Jack Forrester?
    Nicole smothered a giggle.
    Jack slanted a look at her. “What’s so funny?”
    “Nothing.” But she smiled.
    He braked for a red light and turned to really look at her. “Nothing has certainly put a sparkle in your eyes.” He returned her smile. “You’re very beautiful when you smile.”
    Nicole’s smile faded. “Jack, why did you come back?”
    The light changed, and he didn’t answer for a few seconds. But once they’d crossed Canal Street, he said, “I just couldn’t leave New Orleans without seeing you again.”
    Nicole’s heart skittered just as the dead leaf had earlier. She knew her reaction was crazy. Jack could have meant anything by his answer. He could have meant he hadn’t given up on the idea that she could help him find Elise Arnold. But some primal instinct told her that wasn’t all there was between them. Nicole knew he was attracted to her, just as she was to him. And that’s what was crazy, because they could never have any kind of relationship. Jack’s presence in her life would be fleeting at best. And Nicole wasn’t interested in fleeting. She was interested in permanent.
    “Are you sorry I came?” he asked softly. He reached over and touched her hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of it.
    Something stirred deep in her belly. She swallowed. “No, I’m not sorry you came.”
    He smiled. After a moment, Nicole smiled, too.
    * * *
    Jack had told her the truth. He wasn’t sure what he wanted from Nicole; he only knew he couldn’t walk away from her. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. He’d spent the entire day, after he’d dropped her off at work in the morning, trying to decide what to do next. Finally he’d sat down