Anne Rainey - Touching Lace (13 page)

She raised her head and licked her lips clean. Giving him a much too naive smile, Lacey teased, “Was that to your liking, kind sir?”

“Damn, woman.”

He looked at her quizzically for a moment, while he took a moment to catch his breath. Finally he mumbled, “You continue to surprise me, baby.”

“Do you still need a cold shower?” she asked, feigning innocence. He looked at her as if she’d lost her mind and let out a deep, belly laugh. “No, I

definitely do not.” Then he grinned and asked, “Does this mean you’ll do that every time I feel the need for a cold shower?” His eyes lit up at the prospect.

It was her turn to laugh.

Anne Rainey

Chapter Seven

Damn, what a way to start the day, Nick thought with male satisfaction. He could seriously get used to this. He buttoned his jeans and stood. Just as he was about to go to the kitchen to put something together for breakfast, he heard a tiny tinkling noise. He looked around the room and realized the sound came from Lacey’s purse.

Her cell phone.

She was in the bathroom, doing whatever women did after an orgasm, so he moved to answer it for her. He grabbed her purse off the table by the front door where she’d haphazardly tossed it the night before. If that bastard Evan was calling to apologize, he had another thing coming.

He located the phone in a little zipper compartment and flipped it open. “Hello.” An annoyed voice on the other end snarled, “Who the hell is this?” The deep baritone didn’t sound like Evan. That pissed him off further. Just how

many men had her cell number? “Nick. Who the hell is this?”

“Nick?” the voice said, as if puzzled by that revelation.

Nick gritted his teeth. “That’s what I said. Now you feel like telling me who you are or am I going to have to hang up on you?”

The guy had the nerve to chuckle before replying, “Nick, it’s me, Blade.”
Oops. Way to go, Nick
. “Oh, sorry about that, Blade. I didn’t recognize your voice.” “So I gathered.” There was a pause, and then, “Uh, what are you doing answering

my sister’s cell at six o’clock in the morning?”

Oops again. He definitely was not winning any points with Lacey’s oldest brother. Blade was a difficult man at the best of times, and he was incredibly too protective of his baby sister.

“She spent the night at my place.”

Nick was a grown man, and he had absolutely nothing to hide.

Touching Lace

Except the minor detail that he was teaching Lacey how to please a man. “Oh?”

Just the one word, but Nick could still hear Blade’s disapproval. He sighed. “Blade, your sister’s been through a tough breakup, and I didn’t want her to be alone last night.” Well, it was partially true. Her family didn’t need to know every fucking detail of their relationship. Besides, he’d already been through the third degree with Merrick. How many times must a man go through the Spanish Inquisition?

There was silence for a moment then Blade grumbled, “Yeah, I heard about Evan and Christy. I never liked that little weasel.”

Nick wasn’t sure which of the two Blade referred to, Evan or Christy. Blade didn’t elucidate.

“I’m thinking Evan may like to know what I think about guys who treat my sister like dirt.”

Oh man, Lacey would not appreciate any interference from Blade. According to Merrick, Blade had already called Evan. Anything beyond that was sure to set Lacey’s independent streak off. She considered herself a grown woman, able to take care of her own affairs. But, knowing Blade, he would do as he pleased. Nick couldn’t help but like the way the man’s mind worked. Nick had wanted to be the one to pound Evan into the ground. And yet, if he left it to Blade, Lacey wouldn’t be mad at him, she’d be mad at her brother and Evan would still get pounded. A win-win situation. Besides, Lacey would

forgive her brother. She always did whenever he pulled his older brother routine. Which was often.

“The way I hear it, you already called and threatened Evan.”

“It wasn’t enough. Lacey deserves better. I want Evan to hurt.”

Nick just shook his head. “Blade, you really are crazy.”

“Yeah, I’ve been told that a time or two. So, you think I can talk to Lacey or what?” It was his turn to chuckle. Blade wasn’t much for small talk, that much was for

certain. How could the two of them even be related? Lacey was all breezy sunshine and Blade was a great big thundercloud. Amazing.

Anne Rainey

“Sure, I’ll go get her.”

Nick took the phone with him and went down the hall to the bathroom. He knocked once and called out, “Lacey, your brother is on the phone.”

She whipped the door open and asked, “Which one?”

“Blade.”

He started to hand her the phone when she stopped him with a whispered, “You didn’t tell him about us did you?”

That definitely wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “Are you ashamed?” His words matched her low tone as he sucked in a breath, not at all sure he wanted to hear her answer.

Her eyes softened and she reached to touch his cheek with her hand. “Not on your life,” she said. “But you know my family. They’ll drive us nuts with questions and meddling. Well-intentioned meddling, but still… I’d like to keep this just between the two of us. For now.”

He was beyond pleased that she had added
for now
. He bent down, placed a quick peck on her cheek then straightened.

“For now,” he reiterated, and handed her the phone.

He heard her say hello before he left her to deal with her brother in private. He had a breakfast to fix and a woman to woo.

She loved him. What was she supposed to do now?

The thought kept racing through Lacey’s mind from the moment she’d made love to him with her mouth. Like a schoolgirl, she’d retreated to the bathroom. Now, as she watched him happily walking off to do whatever, she knew there was no going back.

How in the world could she let herself fall in love with her best friend? He was only trying to help her, give her lessons on how to keep a guy from getting bored in bed, and she went and fell in love with the instructor. Not supposed to happen. The biggest reason behind all her failed relationships was that her heart hadn’t been in it. Obviously, since

Touching Lace

she’d been keeping it locked up for the one special man who would knock her on her ass. How was she to know the special someone was Nick? What a mess.

Turning her attention to the phone, Lacey said, “Blade, what’s going on? Is everyone okay?” Though Blade tended to keep odd hours, it was still unlike him to call her so early, and on a Sunday.

“Everyone’s fine except you. I’ve been trying to track you down.” That meager statement was Blade’s way of saying, “Why aren’t you at home where

you should be, safely tucked into your own bed?” But she was a grown woman, and Blade needed to get that through his thick skull.

“So you found me and I’m clearly fine,” she said irritably.

“Yeah, at Nick’s at six in the morning. He said you spent the night.” She rolled her eyes. “Your point being?”

Blade laughed, “Don’t get all testy, sis. I was worried, that’s all.” Now that did piss her off. “Worried? You know about Evan, too?” His silence filled

her ear. Lacey nearly exploded. “Why is my personal life always front page news in this family? That’s what I’d like to know!”

“Whoa, Mom was concerned so she called me.” His voice was so tender that Lacey had a hard time being angry with him.

“Well, I’m fine. Nick’s been…taking very good care of me.” Wow, talk about hedging.

“So I gathered,” Blade growled.

Why, oh why couldn’t she have had sisters instead of brothers? Lacey groaned in annoyance.

“Uh, look, that’s not the only reason I called.”

Blade must have heard her displeasure. Good thing, too, because she was a hair’s breadth away from hanging up on him. She had done that more than once with Blade. He was just so infuriating at times. Lovable, but infuriating.

As his words registered, Lacey paused. He sounded unsure, and Blade Vaughn was never unsure. Curious, she asked, “Oh?”

Anne Rainey

“Candice Warner. You know her.”

Lacey was still lost. “Yes, I do. What’s your point?”

“She works out at your gym, isn’t that right?” His voice turned harsh, when he continued. “I’m damned attracted to her and I’m not sure what the hell to do about it.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Blade, nervous? About a woman? “Candice works for Merrick. Or, rather, Chloe. She’s her assistant.” Lacey thought of Candice and frowned. “I’m not sure if you should get involved with her, Blade.”