Free Unexpected Mr. Right by Kelley Nyrae

piece."
    "Are you sure you're not saying that because you're scared I poisoned you or something?” she kidded.
    He winked. “Naw, I kept an eye on you just to make sure."
    Tabby grabbed two plates while Nico cut the pizza. He put a couple slices on each plate and walked them over to her table. She brought wine over for each of them. “I'm not waiting,” she picked up a piece and took a bite. The cheese stretched so she broke it off with her fingers and set her slice down. It was delicious. The cheeses blended perfectly, the sauce was just right. “I'm so making this more often. You'll have to write down everything we did so I'm sure to get it right."
    "I'll write it down for you but I think you could do it on your own. You're a natural."
    "Thanks. I had a really good time doing it too.” This had been one of the best days she'd had in a very long time. Nico made her happy, made her smile. He might not be Mr. Right material since he never wanted to settle down but he made a great friend. He kept her mind off her heartbreaks of the past.
    "Want to watch a movie after we eat?” she asked after swallowing her second bite.
    "Sure."
    "I'm warning you now, I may have to pick a sappy love movie.” She felt different around him. Light, if that made any sense. Like she didn't have to worry about being perfect, about finding that perfect man and making the perfect wife. That's the best word she could use to describe her parents. Absolutely perfect in every way. Dad the perfect man, Mom the perfect wife and she'd always been the imperfect daughter. But they'd really and truly loved each other. No one had ever loved her the way they loved one another. Don't think about that right now.
    "You like torturing me don't you? In any way you can."
    "Well it's fun and you have to admit you're an easy mark,” she teased him.
    "For you I am.” He held eye contact with her. Tabby broke the connection.
    "Please. I'm no different than any other woman to you."
    "Did you know I haven't kissed or even gone out with another woman since our lip lock in Luciano's office?"
    Her heart dropped and for a minute forgot to beat. Wow, they shared that kiss before Luciano and Kaylee were engaged. Hell it was before they admitted their feelings for each other. For a compulsive dater that amount of time must feel like an eternity.
    Nico took a bite of his pizza but continued to watch her.
    "Okay let me rephrase that, the only reason I'm different is because I continue to turn you down. I think that's why you proposed this friendship thing too. The only reason I intrigue you is because I can say no."
    "The reason doesn't matter."
    To her it did. They were such different creatures. She wanted to find the one, and settle down. Even if right now she wasn't going there, the thought still lingered in the back of her mind like an annoying fly that wouldn't go away. A guy like him enjoyed his freedom too much. If he ever did consider settling down it probably wouldn't last. She'd failed at love long enough to know the score. “It does to me."
    He took a drink. “I know it does. For some reason I just wanted you to know, that's all."
    Tabby's fingers held the stem of her wine glass, twisting the crystal, making the deep burgundy liquid slosh around in the glass. For some reason I just wanted you to know, that's all. Her mind echoed what Nico said. Maybe if she replayed the words she could figure out what he meant. Of all things she expected him to say she hadn't been ready for his little disclosure. A jittery excitement surged through her body even though she knew it shouldn't. What did she care if he'd kissed another woman since their short lip lock in Luciano's office?
    But the fact was she did care. Selfishly, she liked the fact that for whatever reason Nico kept his distance from women lately. All women but me. Before she had the chance to read anything into his words Tabby stood up from the table but she couldn't keep her eyes off him. He was such a sexy man