Perfect Fling (24 page)

Nicole didn’t plan to blow through the money frivolously, and she’d need it for her business venture, but it did enable her to rent the apartment and cover cost of living until she got on her feet. As far as she was concerned, getting to know people in her new town and supporting a worthwhile cause certainly fell under that header.

“No problem.” She met Macy’s gaze, and the other woman smiled wide.

“Great! Oh. Another thing.”

Nicole leaned forward on her arms and waited. Clearly she’d met someone in the know.

“Cocktail attire.”

“Not a problem. I used to need dresses like that in my old life.”

Macy raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

She shrugged. “It’s a long story.” Between her own parents and their causes, and Tyler and his mother’s events, Nicole had an entire wardrobe of formal and cocktail dresses. She hadn’t kept them all, just a few favorites.

“That was surprisingly easy,” Macy said.

Nicole laughed.

“So are you interested in a primer on your new hometown?” the other woman asked.

Leaning her elbows on the counter, Nicole leaned in and said, “I’m all ears.”

“Well, Wednesday night is Ladies’ Night at Joe’s. You should join us—the
us
depends on who is free because there’s been way too many marriages and babies lately, so the single women and guys are dwindling. But since you’re new in town, they’ll all be new to you. So you’ll come?”

Nicole nodded, pleased to have plans. “Happy to do that too.”

“Great.” She looked toward the front door. “Looks like there are customers. I have to go seat people. If I don’t have time to talk more today, I’ll see you Wednesday? Seven
P.M.
” She grabbed a few menus from behind the counter.

Nicole smiled as the other woman headed off to do her job. She liked Macy Donovan and it seemed like Macy had already accepted Nicole. She hoped everyone else in Serendipity felt the same way.

• • •

On Wednesday night, Sam met up with some guys
from the station at Joe’s Bar. Josh Mercer had bought the current round and the jokes were flowing freely. Mike and Cara walked in, followed by his sister, Erin, and her husband, Cole.

“Looks like it’s family night,” Sam said, calling them over. “How did you two get away?” Erin had given birth to her daughter recently and they rarely left her side.

Erin greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. “Mom showed up and practically shoved us out the door. She said we needed a break and she needed time with Angel.” The hazel eyes she shared with Sam lit up when she mentioned her baby daughter.

Cole slipped an arm around Erin’s waist, greeting Sam with a nod of his head. “She’s already called home twice to remind your mother about the time of her next bottle and what to do if she cries.”

“Like she didn’t raise three of us?” Sam teased his sister.

“Funny. Ask Cole who called to make sure she had our cell phones on speed dial.” Erin laughed as she nudged her husband with her elbow.

Sam still couldn’t believe how quickly his sister had gone from getting pregnant after a one-night stand with Cole Sanders, undercover cop with no intention of remaining in town, to part of a happily married couple and overly concerned parents.

“All my favorite people are here!”

Sam turned at the sound of Macy’s voice. Erin smiled and gave her best friend a hug.

“How is that adorable goddaughter of mine?” Macy asked.

“Cute as ever.” Erin beamed, as she always did when speaking of her baby.

“Hon, want to go get a drink?” Cole asked her.

Erin nodded.

“Anyone else want anything?” Cole asked.

“I’m good,” Macy said.

“Me too,” Sam added.

Erin and Cole walked toward the bar, leaving Sam alone with Macy. As his sister’s best friend, he was used to her being around. “Hi, Macy. How are you?”

“Hi yourself.” Her smile, as usual, was infectious. “I’m good. Busy as usual. You?”

He shrugged. “Same old.”

She shook her head, her long dark hair falling over one shoulder, and sighed. “You so need to get laid.”

Sam rolled his eyes, used to her blunt manner. She was saved from being a complete pain in the ass by being beautiful in an exotic way, her Italian heritage showing through. If she wasn’t like family, he might have looked twice—until she started busting his balls, that is. She wasn’t for him, but no doubt she’d give some guy a run for his money.

She glanced around, a frown furrowing her eyebrows. “Where’s Nicole?”

Sam whipped his head around to meet her gaze. “Who?” He had to have heard wrong. That or it could be another Nicole. It was a common enough name.

Macy scanned the crowds before refocusing on Sam. “You probably know her? Nicole Farnsworth, the stalker’s sister? She’s new in town and renting the room over Joe’s. I invited her to meet me here tonight.” Macy glanced at her watch and her concerned expression turned to a frown. “She’s late. You haven’t seen her, have you?” Macy asked.

Sam expelled a harsh breath. Nicole had moved here? Months of thinking about her and she was now as close as upstairs?

“Maybe she’s uncomfortable, not knowing anyone . . . and considering I mistook her for her crazy sister at first . . . I should go check on her.” She shoved her glass at Sam. “Hold this for me?”

Sam shook his head. “I’ll go.”

Macy narrowed her gaze and stepped into Sam’s direct path. “So you do know her.”

He nodded, his heart racing at the thought of seeing her again. No woman had ever made him feel so many things in such a short time. Protective, aroused, attracted . . .

“And you’re interested,” Macy concluded in the wake of his silence.

“No comment. I’m going upstairs. You can hold down the fort here.” This time he handed her his beer bottle.

Macy watched him, her stare too perceptive for his liking.

“And do not give my sister or brother the wrong impression. I just want to say hi and welcome her to town. Make sure she feels comfortable enough to come down and join us.”

“If you say so, Detective,” she said, using his brand-new moniker.

He still wasn’t used to the name or the promotion, but he’d worked hard for it. Nepotism, as in his brother being chief of police, had nothing to do with his new status.

He turned and headed for the back entrance of the bar and slipped out the exit. As soon as he hit the top of the stairs and stood outside the apartment door, he paused. Everyone he knew had lived here at one time or another, from Faith and Kelly Barron to his brother Mike and then Erin’s husband, Cole. The place was a revolving door, a pit stop before people settled down for good.

Now Nicole.

Sam had met her when he’d arrested her while she was lurking outside Erin’s condo, assuming she was her psychotic twin. But there was nothing unstable about Nicole . . . and she’d made a profound impact on Sam. From her dark hair to her big beautiful blue eyes, he felt like he could see inside her soul.

On first glance, she’d been scared, then defiant, but he’d ultimately come to admire how she’d handled herself while in that small interrogation room. But the real turning point between them had come when Cole had barged in. She’d immediately turned to Sam, as if assuming she could trust him to look after her. She hadn’t been wrong. And not just because he had a reputation for being the
good cop
in any scenario.

With Nicole, the protective surge he’d experienced surpassed the normal doing of his job. It made no damned sense to him then and it still didn’t now. Hell, her draw scared him as much as it pulled him toward her.

Once her sister had been arrested, Nicole had gone back to Manhattan where she belonged before Sam could act on any stupid sexual or deeper impulse he might have. He hadn’t had an emotional connection with any female since Jenna’s betrayal, and he wouldn’t allow himself to be hurt that way again. But none of that seemed to matter now that
she
was back in town.

Sam couldn’t imagine why Nicole had opted to move to Serendipity—but there was one way to find out. Raising his hand, he knocked on her door.