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get away from her last night. It had been more subtle than nine years ago only because he had more
finesse now. Was she doing irreparable damage to what she already had with him? Perhaps she should
leave well enough alone. Luke cared for her; she knew he did.
Maybe that should be enough. If she got too greedy, she took the chance of losing it all.
"Hey, Nick?"
With a grin, Nick pointed the remote control at the TV and the sound wentoff. "Wanna analyze The
Kiss?"
She squeezed the cushion to her aching middle. "Let's."
"Scared?"
"Spitless," Catherine admitted. "He sped out of there last night like his hair was on fire. How was he at
work today?"
"Like his hair was on fire." Nick's dimples showed. Easy for him to be amused. "You were priceless
yesterday, honey. Trust me. The fish might be struggling on the hook, but you just have to be strong
enough to hang on to that line."
"I'm terrified. I don't want to force him. I just want I want& "
"Him to love you as much as you love him." He gave her a sympathetic look. "Luke's a hard nut, you
know that. He's got this protective instinct a mile wide."
"The last thing I want is for him to feel obligation."
"Catherine, he can't help feeling some obligation to take care of you. He's pretty much your only family.
It's not in Luke's nature to turn his back."
Her frown turned to a scowl, and her heart felt like a heavy rock in her chest. "Are you telling me Luke
is humoring me because of some asinine sense of responsibility?"
"No. I'm telling you Luke thinks he's humoring you because he feels responsible for you."
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"Huh? Isn't that the same thing?"
"No, it isn't." Nick picked up a cold slice of pizza out of the box beside him. "Luke wants you,
Catherine. Trust me on this. I know my pal. He's about to shed his skin, he wants you so bad. He's
resisting the pull with every particle of his willpower. And as we both know, Luke has awesome
willpower. Remember when he gave up smoking? Cold turkey. And when we bet we wouldn't drink
beer for a month? It was on our first college break. I caved in two weeks. Despite winning, Luke stuck it
out the exact thirty days."
"If he wants me," Catherine said, completely frustrated, "why doesn't he just & have me? Why resist?
What's the point? I'm here, I'm available. I want him. Dammit, Nick. Why?"
"Have you noticed what type of woman our friend dates?"
"Sure," Catherine said miserably. "Petite blondes, miniature brunettes. Boobs out to here. And of course,
all of them are sexy and beautiful. Why do men always have to go for a 'type,' anyway?"
"Other than the sexy and beautiful part, which you are, have you ever noticed how much his type doesn't
resemble you?"
Catherine sank her chin into the cushion she was clutching. "Oh, great! Thanks for pointing that out."
"He'll date anyone as long as she doesn't resemble you. Interesting, huh?"
"That isn't an answer, and I think this conversation just took a useless U-turn."
"I'm just reminding you of Luke Van Buren's amazing self-control and willpower. Which he has to spare.
Not to mention he's as stubborn as a mule. It's taking him longer than I thought to separate the woman
from The Kid. Personally, I've always thought he dated The Many to keep him safe from The One."
Before he could explain what that meant, he was interrupted by a loud banging at the front door. Nick
glanced up and grinned. "Speak of the devil."
Chapter 9
�^�
Bam, bam, bam.
It sounded like the fire department responding to a five-alarm blaze. If it was Luke out there, he was
about to pound down the door. Catherine sat up from her reclining position on the sofa and curled bare
legs under her. She and Nick looked at each other and grinned in perfect harmony.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
"Yo, Nick?You home?"
Bam. Bam.
Nick turned off the lamp, quickly lit the three candles on the coffee table, then came up beside her chair
and ruffled her hair so it flip-flopped wildly around her head.
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"Rub your lips. Hard," he instructed, before yelling, "Hey! I'm coming, cool your jets!" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]