Free I Cross My Heart by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

now you’re bringing up the subject of your hard body, which naturally leads to thoughts of your hard—”
    “Sorry, sorry, sorry.” But he wasn’t, not really. He had fun teasing her. “You’re right. I’ll go into the dining room with the brownies and promise not to say anything suggestive for the next...oh, let’s say twenty minutes.”
    “We can complete our discussion in twenty minutes?”
    “I’d like to.” He exited to the dining room through the open pocket door. “Because then we can move on to other more exciting activities.”
    “Nash.”
    “What?” He set the box on the table and turned back toward the kitchen. “I meant things like checking over the property and discussing repairs. That kind of exciting.”
    “Sure you did.” She came in carrying two steaming mugs of coffee. “I’m having flashbacks to high school when I used to hear you and your buddies in the halls bragging about your...attributes.”
    “They bragged.” He fought to keep from laughing. “I didn’t have to.”
    “Oh, my God. You must need a wheelbarrow to carry around that ego.”
    “Let’s just say that my athletic cup had to be custom-made.” That was a complete lie, but he managed to tell it with a straight face.
    “It did not.” She set down the mugs at their respective places and peered at him. “Did it?”
    He started to laugh. “No, it didn’t. I told you earlier that I’m standard-issue.”
    “I would disagree with that claim.”
    “You would?” He was male enough to enjoy hearing that.
    “Now you’re fishing.”
    “Can’t blame me for that. You’re my first in many moons. It’s nice to hear that I’ve still got what it takes.”
    She gazed at him thoughtfully. “How many moons?”
    “Well, I’d have to count, but I haven’t had sex with anyone since Lindsay.”
    Her eyes widened. “How long have you been divorced?”
    “Technically, about twenty-four hours. But I left Sacramento last August. The legal process dragged on for months, but the relationship ended last summer.”
    “And you haven’t dated anyone since you came back?”
    He shook his head. “I wanted to give myself some time.”
    “I wish I’d known.” She blew out a breath. “I mean, you’re Nash Bledsoe. Naturally I assumed that you’d come back here and pick up where you left off.”
    “First of all, those women are all married now, and second of all, why do you wish you’d known?”
    “I would have thought twice about having sex with you, in case you might attach too much importance to it.”
    That stung, even though he understood why she’d said it. She was a psychologist, after all. “I’m not an emotional cripple who needs coddling, Bethany. When I went into that bedroom with you, I knew the score. You’ll be gone next week. In some ways, that makes you the perfect rebound woman. You can help me get my groove back without any complications.” He sounded extremely convincing, if he did say so himself.
    She seemed taken aback. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but that makes perfect sense.” She sounded almost disappointed, though.
    Interesting. “I told you I’d considered the ramifications.”
    “So you did. And you have a plan to propose.”
    “I do.” He moved to her chair. “Have a seat. Let’s find out if my persuasive abilities extend beyond the bedroom.” He helped her into her chair and walked around to his.
    “This feels like a business meeting.”
    “That’s because it is.” He sat down and picked up his mug of coffee.
    “I’ve never done business with a man who’s seen me naked.”
    He smiled at her over the rim of his mug. “That only serves to make the deal more interesting.”
    “You’re a man of many roles—cowboy, handyman, deal maker.”
    “Don’t forget superlative lover. ”
    “As if I could. I don’t know if I can talk business with someone who gets my panties wet.”
    He almost choked on his coffee. He swallowed the hot liquid and stared at her.