His biceps and pecs were pretty darn easy to look at too.
It didn’t long for Claire to realize she’d stopped eating, and that she was hanging on his every word.
Somehow, she managed to drag her eyes away long enough to finish her plate and go back for a bite of the extra poutine.She was glad Nick had some as well.He’d worked so hard.Truth be told, he’d pretty much thrown that dresser together himself, even though he’d made it seem as if he was just helping her.
There was something very considerate about Nick Zorn.Even though he always seemed cocky and flirty on his show, he was more cautious in real life, full of kindness.Maybe he was just taking extra care around her.God only knew everyone else did.
Then again, maybe he really was the total package.
There had to be something wrong with him, aside from being squeamish around cats.
A small part of her, a part she’d kept hidden for so long, wanted to know more about him.Wanted to know everything.
She felt guilty for wanting anything connected to Nick.
She’d turned the radio on so they had background music while they ate.At one point, a Phil Collins song started playing.As Nick played with the last bits of food on his plate, he whispered an excited, “Yes.”His head started bobbing to the music.
“You like Phil Collins?”
“Oh, yeah.He’s one of my percussion heroes.I wish I had his talent.”
“You play drums?”
“Michael and Eli and I…we have this band.There are a couple of dive bars that let us play the odd gig.”
“Letyou play?I’d imagine they’re only too happy to host theHandymenbrothers.You must be good.”
“Tolerable, I guess.”He shrugged.However, as Phil Collins launched into one of his iconic drum solos, Nick played along on imaginary drumsticks, without missing even a beat.He might only be air drumming, but Claire could see he knew how to handle the instrument.
“I’m impressed.If you guys have a gig coming up, I’d love to check it out.”
His face darkened and he dropped the imaginary drumsticks.“We’re not playing right now.”
“Oh.You’re probably too busy, what with the new show starting up.”
“Something like that.”He looked toward the kitchen window, his gaze unfocused.
Claire waited for him to elaborate, but he seemed lost in his thoughts.If it had been anyone else, if it had been Arthur, she would have been quick to ask if something was wrong.But this was Nick Zorn, and at the end of the day, she wasn’t sure she had the right to pry.
“Can I ask you something?”he asked.
“Sure.”
“I remember reading in your file that you studied photography.Had you been doing that for a living when Arthur passed?”
She fought the sucker punch to her gut.“You saw that, huh?”
He nodded.
“Well, I had been doing some photography, but I didn’t really have a chance to pursue it like I would have wanted to.”
“It sounds like there’s more to that story.”
“You really want to hear it?”
“Only if you want to tell it.”He rested leaned on the table, arms crossed.This time, he seemed to be hanging onherevery word.
“I met Arthur through my photography.He found my number and asked me to come out here to take some photos of the place.We started dating.His parents had run Haven for decades, but Arthur inherited it from them after they died.Having grown up here, he really didn’t want to sell the place.Besides, he’d grown up around cats all his life.So, he decided to keep it and make a go of it.When I married him, I pretty much knew my life would be full of the fuzzy creatures.I’ve always been an animal lover too, so I was excited to help him in the family business.”
