Cup of Sugar (6 page)

No, they most certainly didn’t. They’d used the two condoms from his wallet last night, and this motel wasn’t the type to have a dispenser in the bathroom. Shit. Good thing he wasn’t one to give up easily.

“In that case…” He curled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, loving the soft warmth of her breasts pressed against his chest. “We’ll have to get creative, won’t we, sweetheart?”

Her giggle filled the room. What a crazy-beautiful sound.

A sound that drew the other male in the room as well. Zeus sprang to his feet, then placed two of those paws onto the side of the bed. The dog hung his giant head over Nia’s shoulder, obscuring half her face with his floppy jowls and ears.

“Shit, sorry.” Conn put his palm on the beast’s forehead. “Zeus, off.”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. I like him. Really.”

“Pretty safe to say the feeling is mutual.” He grimaced while brushing a lock of slobber-tainted hair off her cheek. “You should wash that out before it dries. His spit puts most lacquers to shame.”

“I guess I’ll jump in the shower…” The combination of glassy eyes and the giveaway blush coloring her cheeks told him that simple statement was an invitation to join her for what could be a very
creative
shower.

Zeus’ deep bark rang out from his new position by the door. The dog leveled a dark-eyed stare at Conn and
woofed
again. A warning from the mastiff part. If Conn didn’t deal with his canine pal immediately, everybody in the motel would get to hear the bloodhound part of Zeus’ heritage.

“I think that demand was directed at you,” Nia said.

“Yeah. I’d better take him out before he wakes anybody up. When I signed for the room, I failed to mention we have a hundred-and-forty-pound dog.”

Nia raked her fingers through his hair before cupping his stubble-covered jaw. “Then I guess you’d better get moving.”

He flipped the covers back and slid from the warm bed—and its hot occupant. “I won’t be long. Ten minutes, max.” He could’ve pulled on the sweatpants, but with Nia freely admiring every inch of his body, he took the time to retrieve his boxers and jeans instead.

“I’ll save you some hot water.” She’d propped up on her elbow, head tilted where she cradled it on her palm. A screen of long, blonde hair covered the front of her shoulder. It fanned over the sheet, gold on white, the colors of an angel. Only this angel had a naughty side. Perfect.

Behind him, Zeus gave another
woof
, this one bordering on a howl. Shit. “I’m coming.” He winked at Nia while pulling on his boots. “Unfortunately, not in a good way.”

With her laugh still fresh in his ears, Conn stepped out in to the sunshine of a brand-new day in a brand-new year. He filled his lungs with crisp, winter air. Held it in as long as possible before releasing it as a cloud of swirly fog. Yesterday, he’d pulled into his driveway wanting nothing more than to flake on the couch and ignore the world for the weekend. Today, his head was swimming with plans. Things he wanted to do with a certain girl next door, currently naked behind door number three.

Last night’s New Year’s resolution had gone pretty damn well. Time he made a few more. At the top of that list—convincing Nia to ditch her rule about not getting personal with neighbors. One night together wasn’t enough. Not by a longshot.

They had a few hours’ drive ahead and he planned to make the most of that time. Soon, her rule would be a blip in the rearview mirror. By the time they set foot on their respective driveways again, their relationship would be a hell of a lot more than neighborly. It’d definitely be personal.

* * * * *

“This is it, finally.” Nia’s heart pounded as the truck’s tires crunched over her parents’ driveway.

Fresh banks of white bordered the laneway leading to the small, red-sided house. Her dad had obviously been out with the snowblower in anticipation of her arrival. Knowing her parents, they’d been glued to the window since Nia’s last text, updating them of her ETA. She could only hope they’d stay inside until Conn had driven away.

“Here’s fine.”

One hand perched atop the steering wheel, Conn looked her way. “We’re forty feet from the door. Pretty sure I can get closer.” He grinned at her tortured groan. “Worried what’ll happen if I meet your family?”

Yes.
“Of course not. But I’ve already eaten up your New Year’s Eve and almost half of New Year’s Day. If you drop me off and leave immediately, you still won’t be home until supper time.”

In the course of her yapping, he’d pulled up directly in front of the garage, in full view of the back door, which happened to be the one her parents used ninety-five percent of the time. Crap.

He put the truck in park but kept it running. At least he didn’t plan to get out.

Thank god for small blessings. The sooner she got clear of him, the easier it would be to put him out of her mind. Flush the tingly, gooey feelings he’d invoked from her system. Yes. A Conn-cleanse, that’s what she needed.

“I can’t thank you enough for the ride,” she said, at which he grinned. “I meant the
drive
.” Oh, what the hell, her face was already on fire. Might as well make it worthwhile. “But thank you for the ride, as well. Last night was—” Movement behind Conn’s back drew her attention. “Oh god.”

“Happy New Year!”
Meredith and Peter Chambers had always had the
in unison
thing down pat. They didn’t even practice or cue one another, they were simply in sync. All the freaking time. It was wonderful and lovely, and at the moment, inconvenient.

“Guess it’s time to meet the parents.” Conn turned the truck off and stuffed the keys in his pocket. Then he winked. “We can talk about how last night’s ride was ‘oh god’ worthy later.”

“What?” Before she could assemble her frenzied thoughts and form a full, coherent sentence, he was out of the vehicle. “Shit.” She fumbled with the door handle and nearly fell out of the truck in her scramble to get between Conn and her parents.

Too late. On so many levels.

“Conn Lawler. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Chambers, Mr. Chambers. Sorry it took so long to get here.”

As if handsome, sexy and fantastic in bed weren’t enough. Now she could add respectful and well-mannered to Conn’s lengthy list of attributes. And look at her parents—they were beaming.

“We appreciate you bringing Nia all this way.” Peter Chambers shook Conn’s hand as he spoke. “Heck of a drive for a new boyfriend we hadn’t even heard of before last night.”

“Conn’s not my boyfriend, Dad.” Nia turned her gaze on her mother for the next part. “He’s my neighbor.”

Her mother’s glow dwindled. Both parents knew Nia’s relationship history, but her dad was…not fully in the loop, on account of being her dad. Her mom, however, knew the details. She also knew about Nia’s vow not to get involved with another guy she lived near or worked with.

“Boyfriend, neighbor, whatever.” Nia’s father waved his hand at them. His solution for any situation not going in the direction he’d prefer. “He got you here, so he’s coming inside for lunch and a beer.”

“Dad. Conn has a long trip ahead—I’m sure he’d like to get on the road.” A single, deep
woof
sounded from inside the vehicle behind them. Perfect timing, thanks very much, Zeus. “And he can’t leave his dog in the vehicle in this temperature.”

That ought to do the trick. Her parents’ cat hated all other creatures. Meredith and Peter wouldn’t dare let another animal in the house, especially a massive dog. Nia would be waving goodbye to Conn in three, two, one…

“Oh, Nia, I didn’t want to tell you like this.” Wringing hands and fast blinking—those couldn’t be good signs.

“Tell me what, Mom?”

“Princess. She passed away two days ago. I’m sorry, baby girl.”

“Seriously?” She’d loved that cat, even though Princess hadn’t returned the sentiment. “How?”

“Went in her sleep, curled up on your bed.”

“Unbelievable.” Nia wiped a tear from her cheek. Stupid cat. Why couldn’t she have died on her sister Sara’s bed? That’s where Princess had slept every night when they were kids—never with Nia, despite being “Nia’s cat.” Now Nia got to feel extra guilty about delaying her trip here. Not only had she disappointed her parents by not making it an extended visit, she’d also missed Princess’ final days.

Conn wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “Sorry, sweetheart.” He whispered the words against her hair, but the whole exchange had both her parents’ eyes wide as golf balls.

And, shit. Again.

“She had eighteen good years.” Another wave from her dad, as if that took care of everything. “Let’s look on the bright side. Conn and his dog can join us for lunch.”

The bright side, right.

* * * * *

Every minute Conn sat at her parents’ dining table, he seemed to belong there that much more. Her mom had been passing Nia looks throughout lunch, and her dad clearly liked Conn too. Rightly so. Conn was the kind of guy her dad would choose for her, given the opportunity. A “man’s man,” somebody who worked with his hands, wasn’t afraid to get dirty, and said yes to a beer even though it was only eleven in the morning. Conn and her dad had a lot of similar traits, come to think about it.

“What’re you doing?” Nia met Conn’s eyes across the table as they stood in unison, each with plates in hand.

“Clearing.” He collected Peter’s plate, the action mirroring hers as she lifted her mother’s dish.

This display of synchronized movements was not lost on her mother, who made an excited little gasp from the seat to Nia’s right.

“Well…don’t.” Nia reached across and snagged the plates from his hand, then marched into the kitchen.

“You okay?” He kept his voice low—he could do that, since he was now standing directly behind her, close enough for her to smell his aftershave. He settled his big hands on her shoulders, gently kneading. “Sorry about your cat. And imposing on your day. I didn’t want to leave you while you were upset. Or be rude to your parents. They seem like nice people.”

God, could he get any more perfect? She groaned, which was definitely a mistake, because it made him pull her closer. He was so solid and warm, she wanted to melt into him. Let him console her about Princess. Watch him get comfortable with her family. Oh, and she wanted to rub her ass against the front of his jeans—then turn and kiss him until she couldn’t see straight. There was that.

She turned to face him but omitted the kissing part. “Thank you. For everything. But you should get going before it snows again. I checked the weather on my phone and there’s a snowsquall warning for tonight. I don’t want you driving through another storm.”

“I won’t be.” He wore the smile of a man with a secret. “But I’ll grab Zeus and leave you to your family time.”

She followed him to the table, where he proceeded to thank her parents individually before making that clicking sound to rouse Zeus from the sunny spot in front of the French doors.

Conn should’ve looked annoyed—or something—about the impending six-hour trek. But he didn’t. Nor did he ask to use the bathroom before pulling on his coat and boots at the back door. And he still had that pesky smile. Something was fishy in the town of Barry’s Bay.

“You’re up to something.”

He raised his dark eyebrows, all innocent-like. A total crock. One night with Conn had taught her the man was far from innocent.

“What did you mean by ‘I won’t be’? How do you know you won’t get caught in the storm that’s coming through?”

“I’m not going back today.”

Oh god. “Then…where
are
you going?”

“Motel.”

She shook her head. So hard, it rattled her brain.

He took a step toward her. Didn’t touch her, but he might as well have. His proximity alone sent a shiver of awareness all the way to her toes. “I overheard your phone calls about the bus and train schedules. I know there’s nothing available.”

“I’m renting a car.” More accurately, she was going to
attempt
to rent one, but her answer was close enough to the truth.

“No, you’re not. I’m sticking around to drive you home tomorrow.”

“You can’t. It’s too much.” And she wasn’t just talking about the inconvenience to his weekend plans. “Go home, Conn. Please.”

Zeus whined and Conn slid a hand back and forth over the dog’s head, shushing him as he stroked. Poor Zeus. He’d obviously sensed her changing emotional state and didn’t like it. This was the effect she had on the male gender, even canine males—in the end, she always made them miserable.

“What’s going on?” Thank god it was her mom who’d wandered over. She’d understand the problematic nature of the impending situation.

Nia crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her chin up. “Conn thinks he’s going to spend the rest of today and tonight in a motel room so he can drive me home tomorrow. I told him he can’t.”

Her mother
tsk
ed. “Of course he can’t. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard.”

“Exactly.” Hallelujah for backup.

“He’ll stay here. With us.”

“What?”

“You don’t send a man who’s willing to go so far out of his way for you off to a motel, Nia. That’s not very neighborly, among other things.”

So much for backup. And female solidarity. “Isn’t Sara coming in from Toronto later? That’s all the beds accounted for. Where’s Conn going to sleep?”

“In the den.” Meredith rolled her eyes at Nia, then looked up at Conn. “If you don’t mind an old-fashioned pullout for one night?”

“Not at all. I don’t mind using the pullout.” He waited until Nia’s mother looked away, then winked and silently mouthed the words
“get creative.”

Oh. Dear. God. Heat rushed to Nia’s cheeks. To other body parts too. Never mind backup, the next twenty-four hours were going to require a miracle. And possibly, a chastity belt.

* * * * *

“Hell of a view, isn’t it?” Peter asked as he eased into the chair beside Conn’s.

“Yeah, it’s amazing.” The two recliners faced a picture window that overlooked a large deck, and beyond that, waterfront. Recent frigid temperatures had frozen at least the top section of the bay. The snow-dusted, silvery surface stretched to meet a brilliant blue sky. If Conn looked to the left or right of the property, the scenery changed to thick, natural forest. It was postcard perfect.