“I bet. Could be fun. Let’s keep it on the list.” He wouldn’t mind seeing Kat let loose and unleash some anger. Might help her get over the shock. Anger was one of the stages of grief, and she was grieving the loss of her show. “Hey, why don’t we try to get some sleep now? I can take the couch tonight.” He looked at his watch. Almost two.
“Are you kidding? No way.” She reached up and touched the hair that had fallen onto his forehead. “You’re the only good thing that’s happened to me lately. I want you with me.”
Her words and gentle touch sent electric sparks through Nick’s veins. His pulse hammered, and he had to force himself to remember the circumstances—to keep from caressing her bare shoulders or claiming her lips in a long, searing kiss. Swallowing hard, he spoke quietly. “That’s a great place to be.” Then he helped her up from the sofa. “What’s gonna help you sleep? Need a glass of water? Any meds? Music?” He bent to look in her eyes. “Cucumber slices for your eyes?”
She smiled and linked her arm through his. “I don’t need anything. Just keep me warm.”
“No problem. For now, we take care of you. Tomorrow, or maybe the next day, we make a plan.” He switched off the lamp and took her hand again. “Not sure how yet, but we’re going to fix this.”
ChapterTwenty
Kat took a sip of her coffee and gazed at the much-needed eye candy before her. Wearing the I-heart-New-York T-shirt she’d given him, boxers, and morning stubble, he looked as if he belonged there. He looked flat-out gorgeous.
Nick had gotten up before her and started the coffee. He’d been caring and gentle with her all night, and she still felt wrapped in his warmth. She sat with her back against the arm of the sofa, her legs stretched across his lap. It was a great start to the day. She tried to push away any feelings of guilt about not being at work. She didn’t want to harbor sour grapes over the promotion no-go, but the truth was, some of the luster had worn off her job at the museum. And her give-a-damn had taken a nosedive.
“I’ve been thinking,” Nick said.
Kat raised her brows. “Mm-hmm?”
“We gotta get back at that scumbag Pete.”
She nearly spit her coffee. “Nick, that’s a wonderful but terrible idea. He can just go to hell, and I don’t ever want to see his creepy face again.”
“I could go over there and kick his ass.”
Laughing, Kat shook her head. “I’d love to see that.”
“But I’d rather not end up in jail on assault charges.” Humor laced his words. “Got the HBTV filming, you know.”
“Ah. Right. What’s plan B?”
“String him along like he did you. Make him think I’m gonna buy some stuff. Trying to decide if it’d be way out of line to tell him I’m with HBTV and looking to source some art for my show.”
Kat sat straighter. “No. No way. The last thing I want is for you to get yourself in trouble with HBTV over that slimeball.” She pondered the possibilities, though. Could they cause Pete any grief or embarrassment? And did she want to waste one more second on him? Finally, she grinned. “I do like the idea of stringing him along. Giving him a dose of his own sleaze. Maybe even putting down a deposit then canceling the transaction.”
“I could say I’m buying a house in a ritzy neighborhood. Need stuff for the walls. Say my ex took everything, and I want a clean slate.”
Laughter bubbled to the surface. This guy… “Oh, my gosh. That’s brilliant. If you could–” The peal of Kat’s phone interrupted. Kat lifted it from the side table and groaned softly. She glanced at Nick. “Nana.”
Nick swung her legs around and stood. “Take it. I’ll jump in the shower.” He leaned down and planted a kiss on her cheek. “You might as well get that over with.” He squeezed her shoulder then turned away.
She knew he was right. It wouldn’t get any easier no matter how long she stalled. And it was odd for Nana to call mid-morning on a weekday. Kat blew out her breath and answered the call. “Hi, Nana.”
“Hello, love. Are you busy or can you talk a minute?”
“I can talk. I’m not working today.”
“Are you sick, honey?”
How to answer that? “Not really. I just needed a day off. I got some bad news yesterday.”
“What do you mean? What happened?”
In as calm a tone as Kat could manage, she forced herself to relay the story.
“Oh, love, I’m so sorry. Is it absolutely certain? No rescheduling?”
“No, Nana, it’s off. And I wouldn’t work with this gallery again anyway. Not now. The owner isn’t a good guy.”
