Cup of Sugar (12 page)

Chapter Eight

Conn exited the expressway. Another few minutes and they’d be home. He stole a look at Nia, semi-curled on the seat beside him, fast asleep. The first half hour she’d closed her eyes had been for show. He’d spent the last two nights with her, he knew how the real thing looked. The almost-purplish color her fair eyelids took on when she was in a deep sleep. How her lips parted the tiniest bit. The occasional soft sounds and murmurs she made.

She’d dropped off for real around the time they hit Peterborough. Had been out for five solid hours since. She hadn’t woken when he stopped for gas and to let Zeus stretch his legs at the 401 rest stop. Hadn’t even stirred when he reclined her seat and covered her with his jacket. Guess she’d been legitimately tired after all, not just avoiding conversation.

He turned on to their street. Then in to his side of their joined, snow-covered driveways. A foot of white stuff had fallen since they left Friday night, not all of it the light and fluffy variety. One of these days he’d invest in a snowblower. For now he’d dig them out the old-fashioned way. Including uncovering Nia’s car, which currently resembled a large heap of snow at the end of her driveway. Good thing he had a couple hours of daylight left.

Zeus gave a loud
woof
when Conn killed the engine. The pooch had enjoyed his time at Nia’s parents’ place, but the old “there’s no place like home” adage rang true for canines as much as it did for humans.

A second bark startled Nia awake. His coat slipped to her lap as she sat forward, blinking the sleep from eyes that quickly went wide open. “We’re home? I slept all the way?”

“Like the dead. If the dead snored and drooled, that is.”

“Oh my god, stop. I did not.” But her hand moved to her face, not so subtly double-checking. Dry face confirmed, she rolled her eyes—and smiled.

That right there made the too-quiet, tedious day worthwhile.

“I know how long and boring that drive is without company. You should have nudged me or something.”

He winked while sliding out of his seat. “What makes you think I didn’t?” He hightailed it around the front of the truck, opening her door before she had her seatbelt off. “Watch your step out here, it’s pretty deep. I’ll shovel it and get your car cleared off, then we can get you towed.”

She looked at the hand he’d offered. At his face. Then slipped from the passenger seat without touching him. “I appreciate everything you did, I really do. And I had a great time this weekend. But we’re home now. So…I’ll shovel my side of the driveway and arrange to get my car fixed.”

“This is about your rule.”

She snagged her coat from the truck and shrugged into it. “Yes. I like you, but—”

“But you don’t spend time with people you like, or let them help you out?”

“I can’t have sex with you again.”

Cutting straight to the point. All right.

He scratched his head for effect. “Let’s see. Shoveling.” With one hand, he ticked the item off on his fingers. “Calling for a tow truck.” He ticked off another. “Nope, I didn’t mention having sex.”

She tilted her head. Planted one hand on her hip and tipped that too.
“Conn.”

Oh yeah, he did like the way she said his name.

A big cloud formed as her warm breath met the chilly air in a defeated sigh. Her arms fell to her sides. She shook her head and stared down at the snow where it’d swallowed her feet. “We can’t be anything more than neighbors.”

They should’ve had this conversation en route. Standing shin-deep in snow while Zeus whined and slobbered on the truck window beside them definitely had a wrong-place-and-time vibe. If he pushed the issue now, he’d lose ground, not gain it.

“Hey.” Damn, he wanted to touch her. Lift her chin, grab her hand. He stuffed his fists in his jeans’ pockets and bent at the knees, angling so he could see her face. “How about friends—got room in your rulebook for that?”

She met his eyes, slowly raised her head. “You’re joking.”

“Totally serious.” Not totally lying, either. He
did
want to be her friend—among other things. “You need to borrow a sander or a reciprocating saw, I’m your guy. I need a cup of sugar, I’ll knock on your door. Stuff like that.”

“I don’t build stuff and you don’t bake.”

“Speak for yourself. One bite of my carrot muffins and you’d want to kiss me. If it wasn’t a violation of the rule, of course.” He grinned at her massive eye roll. “See, you’ll know stuff like this about me soon. Part of the friendship thing.”

“Well…” She fidgeted enough to make a little clearing where she stood. Her gaze flitted between their houses. All over the place, actually, before finally meeting his waiting eyes. “Okay.” She stuck her hand out. “We can be friends.”

A thousand sparks shot up his arms when he cupped her small, soft hand between his two rougher ones. Her eyes blinked wide open as she stared up at him. Yeah, she felt it too. Friendship would never be enough for either of them. But it’d do for now.

* * * * *

Three days had passed since she and Conn had returned from Barry’s Bay. Nia had worked the closing shift at the restaurant Monday through Wednesday, the opposite of Conn’s usual dawn-to-dusk routine, so she hadn’t seen him. Okay, she may have dragged her groggy self out of bed at an entirely too early hour a couple times—fine, all three days—so she could watch him get in and out of his morning shower. But that was eye candy. Fuel for her increasingly frequent visits with her vibrator.

Fact was, she hadn’t had any real contact with Conn since they parted as friends Sunday afternoon. And how about a second fact—the first fact left her kind of disappointed.

But it was for the best. However, knowing she’d made the right decision didn’t light up her day—or night—the way Conn did. If only he’d turned out to be an ass, instead of an amazing guy, she’d be a lot happier right now.

Nia flung herself onto the bed. Good god, the crap rolling around in her head. In the course of a week, she’d gone from an in-control, hot-neighbor-avoiding woman to pining, marathon-masturbating nut-ka-bob.

Maybe she should fuck Conn one more time.

Maybe she should move so she could fuck him a whole lot more times.

Maybe she should invest in a rechargeable vibrator.

Her cell rang from her back pocket. Work, most likely. People had probably called in, especially knowing it was her day off and they wouldn’t have to talk to her directly. Typical of this time of year. The restaurant was slow and tips tended to be lower than normal. Honestly, Nia didn’t blame the staff for abandoning ship right now. And she could use the distraction.

She pulled the phone out, hugged it to her ear. “Hello?”

“Hey. Your car’s in the driveway for once. Day off?”

Not work. Not family or a telemarketer. Conn. The star of her nightly—and several times a daily—dreams. “It is. Um…how did you get my cell number?”

“You left a business card in my truck.”

“Oh.” And shit. And hooray. “It must’ve fallen out of my purse.”

“If you say so, sweetheart.”

Of course he’d think she planted it for him to find. Women probably did that all the time. Business cards, naked pictures with phone numbers scrawled in red lipstick…

“Are you calling to borrow a cup of sugar, because I think I’m all out.”

“Nope. I’m good.”

Again with the understatement. She rolled to the edge of the bed and pulled open the nightstand drawer. Two brand-new, double-A batteries, ready to go. Perfect.

“I’m taking Zeus for a walk. Come with us.”

“I’ve been running around all day and I’m beat.”

“Nice try. Your car hasn’t been brushed off since I left this morning and there isn’t a single footprint anywhere. You haven’t set foot outside the house all day.”

Shit again. “I have dinner on the stove. It has to be stirred every five minutes.”

“Your kitchen’s totally dark. The only light on in your house is your bedroom.”

That had her on her feet and at the window within seconds. Conn waved up at her from the driveway. Even at this distance, his smile cut straight to her insides, making them all warm and tingly.

“How did you know this is my bedroom?”

“Windows work two ways, sweetheart.”

Oh god. Did that mean he’d seen her watching him, or was he confessing to watching her? Either way, yikes. Plus, he’d just burned her on her current fibs.

“And your house is a mirror of mine, remember? Now suit up and get out here.”

“Shouldn’t a friend take ‘no’ for an answer instead of nagging?”

“Yeah.” Another killer grin flashed her from fifteen feet below. “But you didn’t say no.”

True, she hadn’t. And they both knew why. “I’ll be right down.”

* * * * *

Step one—get Nia to spend some “friend” time with him—accomplished. Conn had lied about getting her cell number from a stray business card. That card had come from her dad.

Peter had pulled him aside Sunday morning and asked point blank about Conn’s intentions. Kind of old-fashioned, but not surprising. Especially after everything Peter had overheard and observed.

Conn had answered Peter’s question honestly. He wanted to continue getting to know Nia. To date her, and only her, while doing so. He hadn’t promised anything beyond that. Not the most committed answer, but not entirely casual either. Best he could do.

Apparently satisfied with the answer, Peter had handed Conn the business card. He’d also given Conn a folded piece of paper with a bunch of what Peter deemed “useful information.” Nia’s birthday and a list of her favorite things. Some other stuff she probably wouldn’t appreciate her dad sharing. Certainly made for interesting reading.

Gave him a lot to think about too. According to Peter, Nia was on a husband hunt. Peter’s wording had been subtler than that, but not by much. Conn was pretty sure Peter’s note served not only to help Conn, but to warn him not to break Nia’s heart. Conn respected that.

But the information had rattled him. In the short time they’d spent together, he’d developed a serious amount of like for Nia. If that led to something long term, great. Marriage, though?

At his side, Zeus barked. Conn’s attention snapped to the cause—Nia, stepping off her back deck. The conflict he’d been warring with since reading Peter’s letter vanished at the sight of her. He still wasn’t sure if one relationship could last a lifetime. Right now, though, he couldn’t imagine taking a stab at it with anybody other than the girl next door.

Her smile grew as she walked toward him. Mirroring his, probably. He’d thought about her practically nonstop since he last saw her on Sunday, but the memories didn’t compare to the real thing. She looked beautiful. Bundled up as if she needed to survive a blizzard, yet still beautiful.

“Think you’ll be warm enough?” he asked, nodding at the fuzzy, pink hat and matching scarf that seemed determined to swallow her pretty face.

“Hey, it’s cold out here.” She gave him a little shove—exactly the kind of reaction he’d hoped for—then bent over to pet Zeus.

It wasn’t cold where Conn stood. Not with his current view—a pair of tight jeans showing off Nia’s shapely ass. Sticking to this “strictly friends” thing was going to be harder than he’d thought.

He looked his fill until she straightened, averting his eyes at the last second. “Ready?”

“As long as we’re not going on a major hike, yes.”

“Tired from your hectic day?” The dig earned him another halfhearted shove as they started down the sidewalk.

“You love to tease, don’t you?”

“Depends on the person. You—yeah.”

“Thank you.” Her smile warmed him more than her monstrous scarf would.

“For teasing you? My pleasure.”

The insane amount of snow they’d had this winter had created some crazy-high snowbanks, and the sidewalk narrowed to single-file proportions. He motioned for Nia to take the lead. He certainly didn’t mind taking the rear, even with her winter gear hiding her curves. He could imagine what all those layers hid. His memory worked just fine.

“I’ve been told I’m too serious.” She didn’t turn to look at him, but her volume indicated she’d wanted him to hear.

Interesting—the information and how freely she’d given it. Maybe it went with the friendship agreement. Whatever the reason, he was in.

The sidewalk widened for a stretch, so he grabbed the opportunity and moved alongside her. “I think whoever told you you’re too serious doesn’t know you very well.”

She looked up at him as they walked. “You know, you’re mostly right.”

“Usually, I mostly am.”

Her giggle hit him like a little Cupid’s arrow. Made him grin like a fool. Made him want to wrap his arm around her shoulder and draw her closer. He settled for enjoying the glow on her face.

“You mind going through the field?” he asked when they reached the edge of a small, neighborhood park. “Zeus’ll never let me hear the end of it if he doesn’t get a few minutes to stretch his legs.”

“Of course.”

Zeus tore across the snowy field the instant Conn unclipped the leash. As always, the dog did a full sweep of the park’s perimeter. Zeus reached the far corner, did a hairpin turn, then made a beeline toward Conn. And today, toward Nia.

“Oh my god.” She grabbed his arm. “He’s going to run right into us.”

Conn knew better, but he wasn’t about to enlighten Nia. Not with her clinging to his biceps. She shrieked and pressed her body against him, burying her face against his coat. Zeus did his usual last-second deke around and kept right on running.

Conn chuckled near her ear and felt her shiver. With all that fuzzy gear on and the temperature barely below the freezing mark, she couldn’t be cold. He’d caused the shudder. And damn, he was tempted to roll with that.

“All clear.”

“Sorry,” she said, disentangling from his side.

“Don’t be. Throw yourself at me anytime, sweetheart.” He whistled for Zeus to come, fastened the leash in place and they all headed toward the street.

She smiled, but it was a small one. “I’m not afraid of Zeus, I don’t want you to think that.” She leaned to rub Zeus’ back with her mittened hand. “I was knocked down by a big dog when I was a kid. I was at a park, playing catch with a friend. The dog was after the ball, not me, but he took me down hard going for it. I wasn’t bitten, but the dog pretty much trampled me until I let him have the damn ball.”