Susan Mallery - A Little Bit Pregnant

“hank you,” she murmured, not sure if she meant the flowers, the compliment or his presence. Maybe she meant it for all of them.

“Shall we put these in water before we go?” he asked.

She nodded and led the way to the kitchen.

The room had been customized with lower cabinets and nothing essential above the countertop. As she didn’t get many flowers, the vases were stored in an upper cabinet. She pointed to the right one and Zane got a container down for her. After filling it with water, he retrieved the flowers and set them in the vase.

“They’re lovely,” she said.

He winked. “Do I know my moves or what?”

“You’re a pro,” she told him, and meant it. He was a man who knew his way around women. Okay, so they were just friends going out to a work party. But maybe she could allow herself to live in the fantasy for a few hours and pretend this was all real. As long as she didn’t get her heart engaged, what could it hurt?

She smiled at him. “You’re wearing my tie.”

“I know.” He touched the length of silk. “Maybe later you could let me tie you up with it.” He wiggled his eyebrows as he spoke.

She laughed and tapped her chair. “I’m at enough of a disadvantage already.”

“Want to tie me up instead?”

More than he could know. “I’ll think about it,” she said instead.

He followed her to the front door. When she wheeled out she was surprised to see an SUV parked at the curb.

“You couldn’t possibly have traded your car in on that,” she said. “Is it a rental?”

“Nope. I borrowed it from Ashley. Pretty slick, huh?”

It was more than slick. It was a regular car, which meant there was no way she could get inside on her own. Before Nicki could worry about the awkwardness of the moment, Zane had opened the passenger door and scooped her into his arms. He lifted her into the seat.

For the moment, they were at eye level. In the overhead interior light she could see the flecks of gold and amber that sparkled in his dark brown irises. There was a tiny scar by the corner of his mouth and shadows hollowing his cheekbones.

All she could think was that she wanted him to kiss her. Which was crazy, so what she said instead was, “You didn’t have to borrow her car. I could have driven.”

Zane pulled the seat belt around her and clicked it into place. “No way. On a date, guys drive.”

“That is wildly sexist.”

He winked. “I know.”

The door closed and he moved to the rear of the vehicle where he collapsed her wheelchair and slid it into the back. When he sat next to her, he grinned.

“Is this the most fun you’ve had in weeks or what?”

She knew she should have answered “Or what.” At the very least she should have acted bored, mentioned Boyd or pretended none of this mattered. Instead she found herself a quivering mass of Zane-lust weakened female hormones.

“It’s pretty fun,” she admitted.

His smile turned promising. “There’s more.”

Nicki had never been much of a drinker, but she was a sucker for the occasional glass of champagne. And when it was expensive and served in an actual crystal glass, how could she say no? So she sat in her chair and sipped, while enjoying herself at the party.

There were about forty people in attendance, half of them the staff from Ritter/Rankin Security while the other half were employees of their host.

A few months ago Al Morgan had come to Zane and Jeff after his firm was targeted by a foreign group trying to steal proprietary technology. A sting had been hatched, the culprits apprehended and all was well. The party was a big thank-you to the security firm.

“More?” Zane asked, nodding at her half-full glass.

Nicki shook her head. “I don’t like to get too buzzed. You know what they say about drinking and driving.” She tapped the arm of her wheelchair as she spoke.

Zane smiled. “I could be your designated driver. I think you’d look cute drunk.” He leaned close. “A few sexy moves in that dress and you’d cause a riot.”

His low, velvet voice brushed against her bare skin and made her want to swoon. He’d been at it all night—staying close, teasing in the most delicious way, gazing at her as if she were the only woman in the room. While she liked the attention, even as she knew it was dangerous to see it as significant, she couldn’t help wondering why he was doing it. Bringing her flowers was one thing, but actually spending the evening in date mode was something else.

“Move over big guy,” Ashley Ritter said as she walked up to the sofa.

Zane stood. “I’ll grab us some food,” he said, then leaned toward Ashley and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re radiant as always.”

“If you think that shamelessly flattering your partner’s wife is going to influence how I talk about you, you’re right,” she said as she settled on the sofa. “Bring me back anything salty please.”

He nodded and headed for the buffet. Nicki frowned at her friend. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching sodium? Didn’t you swell up like a balloon when you were pregnant with Michael?”

Jeff’s wife wrinkled her nose, then brushed back her dark hair. “Thanks so much for reminding me.”

“I’m your friend. I worry.”

Ashley sighed. “I know I have to watch my diet but in the past couple of days I’ve been like a cow without a salt lick. Desperate.” Her hazel eyes danced with amusement. “But enough about the oddities of my pregnant self. What’s going on with you? Since when did Zane start escorting you to parties and hanging on your every word and why didn’t you call and tell me he’d finally seen the light?”

Nicki instinctively turned to make sure Zane was safely across the room and not within hearing distance. “It’s not like that,” she said, her voice low. “Boyd couldn’t make it tonight and Zane offered to bring me. Nothing more.”

“That’s not what it looks like to me, young lady.”

Nicki sighed. “He’s on date patrol or something, but it doesn’t mean anything.”

Ashley’s expression turned sympathetic. She leaned close. “I know you’re convinced he couldn’t possibly be interested in you because he only dates bubbleheads, but I think you should tell him the truth about your feelings and give this whole thing a chance. Zane is a lot like Jeff—there’s plenty concealed beneath the surface. The difference is Jeff hid himself behind the walls of being a warrior while Zane chooses a more charming facade. But that doesn’t change the reality. They’re both hiding the real man.”

“Who is the real Zane?” Nicki asked. “Sometimes I think I catch glimpses of him when we’re hanging out together. He lets his guard down, which I appreciate. But there’s no telling that the inner Zane will be any more interested in me than the outer one.”

“You could try to find out.”

A good plan, Nicki thought, except she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know. Not if the answer was negative.

Ashley read her expression. “So go another route,” her friend suggested. “Find out about the secrets he hides. Why does he pursue young women with minimal IQs?”

“Because they’re easy.”

Ashley chuckled. “Tell him you could be, too. And if you do see him naked, I want a full report.”

Nicki grinned. “You always say that but if I ever try to give you details, you can’t stand to hear them.”

“I know. I get shy.”

Nicki thought about the affectionate glances she’d seen between Ashley and Jeff, and the very hot kiss she’d accidentally interrupted one afternoon at the office.

“Not with Jeff,” she said.

Ashley sighed. Her expression softened and her gaze sought out her husband. “No, not with Jeff,” she agreed.