Nick Of Time (Blue Ridge Romance 2) by Allison B. Hanson

life, she’d just done something wild and spontaneous.
    “Please. Don’t pretend I’m special. I know how you operate.”
    “See? That sounded a little snooty.”
    She laughed. Her real laugh. “I guess it did.” She nodded. “I was pretty full of myself the last time we saw each other.”
    “You had just got the job at the hospital. I had dropped out of school for the fourth time.” He twisted his mouth to the side. “I guess I was pretty much a bum.” He shook his head. “But not a womanizer.”
    “Come on! You were in a rock band and you were bringing girls back to Cooper’s apartment every weekend.”
    “Maybe, but the word womanizer makes it sound like I was out there hunting down women. They came freely, and I accepted what they offered. I didn’t pretend to be more than what I was.”
    “You’re very good at justifying your actions.”
    “Thank you. It keeps me from having to grow up.” He flashed his best grin.
    “I wish I had a way to justify my bitchiness.”
    “You do.”
    “I do?” Her brows creased.
    “Yeah.” He nodded and looked away for a second, before looking back into her eyes. “I know about your mom. Cooper told me how she holds you to a higher standard than normal humans.”
    “He talked about me with you?” She seemed upset.
    “It was one time, when I was complaining about you coming home with him for Christmas. I know you feel like you have something to prove. You want everyone to like you while pretending you don’t give a shit about what they think. The pressure makes you justifiably bitchy.”
    She swallowed and tried to look away, but he put his finger on her chin and pulled her face back to his, forcing her to look at him.
    “I’ve changed. I know I’m never going to please her and I’ve stopped trying. The only thing I can do is live my life for me. I guess I do still put too much stock in what other people think, but after that thing with Dennis, I’m starting to relax.”
    “Good. And for what it’s worth, I’ve changed, too. I learned a long while back that filling my bed with strange women doesn’t fill anything else. And I do have a job. Probably not one that would impress a snooty bitch like you, but I’m not a bum.”
    They laughed together until he rolled over on top of her, ready again. Thank God he always carried two condoms in his wallet.
    They didn’t burst into laughter after the second time, which was somehow even better than the first. He’d taken a moment to pull out the sofa bed because it looked like they would be staying overnight. Plus he wanted the extra room to explore.
    As the sky darkened outside, he stared at her, the shadows from the fire playing against her bare skin.
    She smiled, as if reading his mind, then pulled him down to kiss him.
    “Please tell me you have condoms in your bag. I only had the two.”
    “Why would I have brought condoms for a day trip with you? I never would have thought I’d need a condom. A shovel maybe, but not a condom.” She was back to laughing, and he leaned down, taking the nipple of her left breast between his teeth, shutting her up pretty quickly.
    He backed off, realizing this plan of attack was going to have repercussions.
    “When was the last time you were checked out?” she asked as she sidled up closer.
    “About two weeks ago, actually. How about you?”
    “I’ve been dating the same guy for seven years, plus I have to get a screening every month at work.”
    “So we’re clean.”
    “And I’m on Depo-Provera.”
    “Please tell me that’s some kind of birth control.”
    “It is. A shot.”
    “Thank you, God!” he said, knowing it probably wasn’t the best idea to thank God for the ability to have sex. But he was certain God would understand.
    He tackled her, making her giggle. As her legs wrapped around him the way he liked, he found himself wondering how he could make this last.
    Not the sex; he was fine at making that last. But the relationship with Nichole. Not that it