Her suspicions made her want to ignore everyone else, fly to him and wrap him in her arms.
“Claire?”said Lacey.
“It’s really great.Thanks, everyone.”
“Awesome.We’ll be able to put your furniture back shortly.”Lacey walked over, all business, and peered at Claire’s face.“Hmm.Are you feeling okay?”
“Sure.Why?”
“You just look a bit under the weather.Come to think of it, Nick does too.You both have dark circles under your eyes.There’s a lot of hard work going on.I hope you’re both staying hydrated.”
“Uh, yeah,” said Claire.“I’m super hydrated.”
“Good,” said Lacey.“Well, hopefully, there aren’t any yucky bugs going around.Anyway, we’ll have to get makeup on that, and then we’ll start filming the paint job.”She called over her shoulder to Nick.“You too, Nicholas.I want you and Claire to head straight over to Rochelle and Naomi.Tell the ladies they need to sprinkle extra fairy dust on both of you today.”
Nick nodded.
Michael and Eli just looked between Nick and Claire, eyes narrowed.
Can they tell, just from looking at us?
Surely not.
Then again, maybe lust and confusion were written all over her face.
Lacey shooed the two of them away.“Go on.We have a schedule to maintain.”
She and Nick walked out of the office together.They didn’t say anything at first as they headed to the makeup room, but before they went in, Nick pulled her aside.With his toolbelt and scuffed work boots, there was such an aura of strength about him.It seemed at odds with the boyish vulnerability in his eyes.“Hey, can we talk for a second?”
“Of course.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, you?”
He shrugged.“It’s just that you seemed down when I left last night.I didn’t like leaving you on a sour note.”
He looked so earnest, and she just wanted to take all his hurt away.It wasn’t exactly in line with her plan to maintain certain boundaries.“It wasn’t sour, I swear.I had a great time, I really did.”
“I hope you would tell me if you didn’t, because I can take it.If there’s something I could have done differently, I would have.”He rolled his eyes.“I know I’ve been feeling sensitive about my performance issues, but last night was a game changer.I can’t tell you what a relief it was to understand it’s all in my head.You really helped me, Claire.It means a lot, and to think I might have disappointed you—”
“Oh, Nick.You really didn’t.It felt amazing.”
“I’m glad.”He frowned, clearly not buying her enthusiasm.“Then were you upset about Arthur?Because I would think that’s normal.”
“I just had a moment, that’s all.A weird, freaky little moment.Like we said earlier, it was a big night for both of us, and I may have let it get to me.”She forced a smile.
“So you’re good?”
“I’m good.”Her head bob might have been a tad vigorous, but he didn’t seem to notice.“I’m very good.”
“Okay.”
When he smiled, she let out the breath she was holding.
Claire wouldn’t have realized so many of her emotions were wrapped up in Nick’s smile, but when his lips spread in that devilish grin, everything seemed right with the world.
She even forgot about the hunk of anxiety balled up in her stomach.
