Free And Then He Kissed Me by Teresa Southwick Page B

party?”
    â€œOf course I mean at Sarah’s party. You. Me. A Twister mat.” He snapped his fingers. “Anything coming to you yet?”
    Did it bother him that she might have forgotten? Or worse—that she hadn’t noticed? What would he think if he knew her mind drifted back to that moment countless times a day? No way would he drop the subject. That’s what he would think!
    â€œOf course,” she said, as if she’d just remembered. Keep it light, she told herself. “Lesson number two of Footloose and Fancy Free 101. I forgot to thank you. My apologies, professor.”
    â€œYou don’t seriously think that’s what this is about?” he asked frowning.

    She nodded enthusiastically. “And I want you to know how much I appreciate it. A girl like me can’t have too much preparation for the constantly changing dating scene. I still have a while yet before becoming an active participant. But when I need a crash refresher course, I’ll be sure and let you know.”
    â€œGood,” he said, a slight edge to his voice.
    â€œActually I’m glad you’re here. I’ve worked up those ideas we talked about—”
    Just then the beeper on his belt started a piercing wail. He pressed a button and checked the number.
    â€œA crisis?” she asked. “Someone need rescuing, Superman?”
    He frowned. “It’s my mother. Can I use your phone?”
    â€œSure.”
    He came around the desk, stood beside her and placed his call. Abby moved her chair back, something she hoped looked like a polite attempt to give him space. In reality, it was the closest she could get to a full retreat. Running far and fast to a place where his warmth and masculine scent wouldn’t start a fluttering in her stomach like a battalion of hummingbirds. What a pitiful attempt. She would need at least a county between them to do that.
    â€œHey, beautiful. What’s going on?” he asked.
    Abby watched his face. His tone was teasing and flirtatious. But his features softened with warmth and fondness that she somehow knew was reserved for his mother. Their conversation was short, then he said his goodbyes and hung up the phone.
    Nick looked at her. “I have to go. I’m taking my mother to lunch. That was my reminder.”
    â€œYou’d forget a lunch date with your mother?”

    â€œNo. But she says when you’ve raised someone from birth, it’s hard to forget the times they screwed up.”
    â€œYou’re lucky,” she said wistfully.
    He wrinkled his brow. “That I messed up?”
    â€œThat you have the opportunity to spend time with your mom.”
    His face softened with sympathy. “I sometimes forget that the two most important people in your life were suddenly taken away. You still miss your parents.” It wasn’t a question.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou can borrow mine,” he offered. “Take the heat off the Marchetti brothers. We’d thank you for it.”
    â€œThanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
    â€œWhy don’t you join us for lunch?” he asked.
    A second invitation for a meal with him and another woman. Why did he feel obliged to include her? Probably just pity. The thought rankled, but this time she was tempted. Except the last thing she needed was to watch Nick, up close and personal, being nice to his mom. She read all the women’s magazines. The articles said a man who was good to his mother was the best kind of husband material. Abby wasn’t looking for a husband, and had no intention of becoming a wife before she’d had a chance to find the right guy for her. She had seen what happened when a relationship was rushed. Her parents had been each other’s first, and they’d had to marry.
    But this was first-hand confirmation that the articles were right about him being irresistible. There was nothing sweeter or more appealing than a guy who took his