Claire smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
To Nick, that felt like a dare too.He wanted to make her smile, really smile.
As they worked, he checked out Arthur’s photo again.The man looked like a carefree cross between Matthew McConaughey and the god Apollo.He could see how Claire might have been attracted to his laid-back ways.But knowing this new information, Arthur didn’t shine so brightly to Nick anymore.He might have been a good guy, but he’d let Claire down in his own way.In letting her shoulder all the financial burdens, he’d made life harder for her.
And now she was stuck picking up the pieces.
If Nick had a woman like Claire at his side, he’d be doing everything in his power to make life easier for her.
You’re making assumptionsabout her marriage.
Then again, maybe he wasn’t too far off the mark.
They persisted until eventually a dresser appeared before them.Claire helped Nick lift it onto its feet and they moved it into the corner, against the wall.For a full minute, they both stood there, gazing upon its particleboard beauty.
Claire reached for his hand, surprising him.“Thanks, Nick.”
He looked at their linked hands.Hers was so pretty next to his, so delicate.“Yeah, no sweat.”
She didn’t pull away.Rather, her gaze met his, her dark eyes full of questions he could only imagine.
He stroked his thumb across the top of her hand, feeling each tendon.
Her lips fell open.
When the doorbell rang, they both jumped and stepped back.
“Food’s here,” she said, hurrying out of the room.“Hungry?”
“Yeah.”Nick grabbed his toolbox and followed her downstairs.
He’d never been hungrier.
Chapter Six
Claire had never taken the stairs in such a rush before.If she didn’t slow down, she’d fall and break her neck.Knowing Nick was just behind her, she did her best to channel some sort of poise, even though her heart was beating out of her chest.
Why was she freaking out?All she’d done was grab his hand and hold it for a few seconds.A friendly squeeze, nothing more.
Or so she’d tried to tell herself in the moment.
Because then Nick had stroked her hand and the full reality had hit her in the face.
She was attracted to him.Big time.
And yet, as she careened through her house, Arthur’s eyes watched her from numerous photos on the walls.Aside from hugging her dad, her brother-in-law and the odd friend, she hadn’t touched a man since Arthur.She could argue that it was one innocent little hand clutch, but her thoughts had been anything but innocent at the time.
At the time, she’d wanted to shove Nick up onto her bed, straddle him and ride that bad boy until the cows came home.
From somewhere deep in her being, a man’s voice called to her.So…that guy, huh?Not exactly who I would have chosen for you, Claire Bear.
Arthur’s voice.
No.It wasn’t Arthur at all.
Her psyche was just messing with her, making her feel guilty.Arthur would never have said that.He never would have wanted her to be alone the rest of her life, if that wasn’t what she wanted.
Whatdidshe want?She hadn’t dared to ask herself that question in ages.
