“Does she know that?”
He’d told her as much, but since Stevie hadn’t brought it up at all, he wasn’t sure she’d heard him. That, or she didn’t reciprocate and didn’t want to hurt him by saying as much.
Nico went with the simple answer, shaking his head. “And I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Maybe she should.”
“If I thought we could find what we’re lookin’ for, maybe I’d tell her.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“You weren’t the only one who was changed by the events of that night, Stone. You left a hole when you left. In both of us. It became a spot that needed to be filled, but neither of us knew how to do that.”
Stone’s eyes glittered with something Nico couldn’t identify. Hope? Disbelief? He wasn’t sure.
Nico’s gaze shifted to Stone’s mouth. He wanted to kiss him again, to feel that rush he’d felt a few moments ago.
Stone took a step closer, but he didn’t kiss him. His fingertips brushed over Nico’s bottom lip. “I get it. I do,” he said, his voice barely audible. “No one’s ever made me feel that … spark. Only you and Stevie.” Stone’s gaze lifted. “But I need to talk to Stevie first. She already said she has no desire to get mixed up with me again. The last damn thing I want is to make her hate me even more.”
Nico took that as his cue, pushing off the wall and walking back to his desk to pick up his phone. “Go to the house. Give me your number, and I’ll text you the address.”
Stone rattled off the number, then added, “You might wanna warn her I’m stoppin’ by.”
Nico shook his head. “If I do that, she won’t answer the door. Y’all have to talk. Sooner rather than later.”
Stone glanced down at the phone when the text came through. “I hope you know what you’re doin’.”
Nico did, too. “I’ve got to meet with a client. Today’s the only day they can do it. I’ll be home after that. If you’re still there, maybe we can have dinner tonight.”
“Dinner would be good.”
With that, Stone walked out the door.
Sixteen
“Jäger, no! Wait! Come here!” Stevie shouted, chasing the puppy around the kitchen island.
He thought it was a game because she was chasing him with a towel in the hopes of drying him off. What she’d thought would be a quick potty break had turned into fifteen minutes of him playing in the yard. Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem, except it was sleeting. He would stand there, wait until the little ice pellets clung to his fur, and then give a whole body shake before doing it again. At first, it was cute. Now she was worried he was going to catch a cold.
“Maybe Nico was right,” she said when she managed to get her arms around him, lifting him in the towel. “Trouble is a good name for you.”
The doorbell rang.
Jäger stopped wiggling, his attention lasering in on the front door. He let out a little yap.
“Who could that possibly be?” She set him on the floor. “Did Nico forget his key again? I told him to keep his truck key with his other keys and not in his pocket, but he won’t listen. Serves him right, huh? It’s crazy to be out in this weather.”
With a smile, Stevie went to the door and pulled it open, keeping an eye on Jäger so she didn’t accidentally hit him with it. She was giggling at the puppy when she looked up and found Stone standing on the front porch.
Instantly, the smile was gone, and she pretended that she wasn’t staring at the most gorgeous cowboy in existence. And the man was downright gorgeous. He was wearing a black felt Stetson on his head and a bulky, black Carhartt coat, his hands tucked into his pockets. It wasn’t zipped, and she could see a glimpse of maroon beneath. His long legs were clad in Wranglers that were worn in all the places that hugged his impressive lower body. The boots on his feet looked like they’d seen quite a bit of action over the years.
“What’re you doin’ here?” She frowned, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “How’d you even know where I live?”
“Nico gave me the address. I went by the office to talk to you. He said I should come by here.”
Blasted man. She was going to make him pay for that.
A gust of wind battered Stone as he stood there. He managed to grab his hat before it was blown off his head.
