Page 14 of Mateo & Nicole
But flirting seemed so shallow. Something in his head screamed that he wanted more. He wanted to know every last detail of her life.
Mateo shifted until he leaned his side against the table where they’d set up the serving trays. “You know something? I’ve realized I’ve missed you.”
Her eyes rounded, then she immediately schooled her features and looked away. “I wanted to tell you something, Mateo. I need you to know that Caroline and I?—”
He shook his head, which seemed to be enough to cut her off. “Tell me something I don’t know about you—something new or old, I don’t care. But make it something just between us.”
“Just between us?” she whispered.
Mateo lifted a shoulder. This was dangerous territory, but he could pretend that it was strictly him being a good boss. “Tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.”
7
Nikki
Nikki’s mouth went dry. She didn’t think she’d be able to speak if she tried. Her mind was whirling with various thoughts, and she couldn’t keep them straight. She had the deepest desire to tell him about her falling out with Caroline—how she’d hated what her friend had done to him. She wanted Mateo to know that their friendship had crumbled shortly after their failed wedding, and yet she didn’t want to admit that it had taken her so long to cut her friend out of her life.
Then there was the borderline flirty behavior she got from Mateo when people weren’t nearby. She was imagining things. She had to be.
What she’d been noticing probably had everything to do with her own crush and nothing more. Mateo had always been a flirty guy. Just because he didn’t have a personal space bubble didn’t mean he wanted anything more from her.
The man before her was being his usual nice self. That was all.
She pushed past her disappointment. The fact that she could rationalize his behavior was more than enough to get her head on straight. Nikki frowned, though, wishing she could air out everything she needed to regarding his ex. She wanted to make it crystal clear she didn’t approve of Caroline—but why was that exactly?
Because she liked his attention. That’s why. Grr. She didn’tneedhis attention. She needed this job.
He cleared his throat, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “How about two truths and a lie? We haven’t played that game in alongwhile.”
She snorted, then immediately covered her mouth with her hand, heat filling her face. Caroline had hated it when she laughed like that, and ever since she’d made fun of her all those years ago, Nikki had focused on fixing every last bit of herself that anyone might find unattractive.
But Mateo didn’t appear to be bothered by her laugh. Instead, he looked amused.
Amused!
And that made her blush even worse. Was he making fun of her? She’d always been the less attractive of her little friend duo with Caroline. They were opposites in every way possible. Where Caroline was poised, blonde, thin, and had legs for days, Nikki looked like she preferred to enjoy what life had to offer in terms of sweets and other indulgences.
She wasn’tunhealthy. Though she’d had more than one doctor tell her that she could stand to lose a few pounds.
Gah! Now she was going down the road she’d promised herself she’d steer clear from. It had taken half a decade to finally get to the point where she could be proud of who she was and every curve that came with her.
Mateo was still watching her intently, his eyes searching hers as if he could uncover every single secret she carried. Well, not today. She wasn’t going to indulge him one bit.
Nikki placed a hand on her hip. “Pass.”
For a moment his expression faltered. Had she hurt his feelings? Or had he finally realized that he wasn’t as irresistible as he thought.
Unfortunately, he was more than irresistible. She was just lucky that they were still in a room with several other cowboys who might look their way at any moment. She wouldn’t be made the fool, no matter how tempting it was to play along with Mateo’s flirtatious nature.
She faced the group of men, placing her hands atop the table where the food was set out.
He did the same, and inadvertently, their fingers grazed one another.
Nikki jolted away, disbelief swirling within her as she stared down at her hand. Either the static electricity was on a different level here in this building, or something strange had just happened.
“Come on, Nikki. You’re a blast from my past. Why not humor me?” Mateo said far too close to her ear.
She was tempted to shove him away from the feelings he was stirring inside her. Logic was dictating that he was only toying with her. They had nothing in common. And she knew better than to allow herself any sort of fantasy regarding him.
