Page 29 of One Kind Soul

Christian opened the back passenger side door and motioned for Nicole to get in. She hadn’t gotten close to him since Tessa and Donovan had shown up and walking over to him now made her stomach a little fluttery.

Climbing into the SUV made her panicky.

Christian’s hand on her shoulder settled her. “The odds of two out-of-control vans in this city are slim, Nixen.”

She dropped into the seat. Christian was about to close the door, but Nicole scooched over to the driver side back seat then rubbed the seat she’d vacated.

“Get in on this side. I don’t want you walking out into the busy street,” she said.

“Okay, Mom.” He grinned and got into the SUV, closing the door and sealing them in.

In the back seat together.

Together as in only a foot or so of back seat between them.

“You guys have enough room back there?” Tessa asked. “We can move the seats up.”

“We’re fine,” Christian said, his left hand—the one closest to Nicole—rubbing the thigh of his jeans as if he were keeping it occupied so it wouldn’t attempt to cross that small expanse of soft gray upholstery between them.

“Yup,” Nicole said. “Totally fine.” She shoved her free hand into the pocket of her sweatshirt, focused on her coffee in her other hand, and wiggled closer to her door. That only gave them an extra maybe four inches between them, but every inch counted when all she wanted to do was sit in Christian’s lap for the entire ride to Vermont.

“Great,” Donovan said. “Let’s blow this urban bullshit and head for the trees.”

Nicole leaned her head against the glass of the window, hoping for it to cool her, but the sun had been shining in on that side of the SUV and all she got was a fresh-from-the-oven warmth instead.

Not helping.

What was also not helping was the fact that Tessa was angled in her seat so she could see into the back, all ready to talk to them. Ordinarily Nicole loved talking to her bestie. Today, she wanted to creep her hand over to Christian’s side of the back seat.

“Is this trip keeping you guys from working today?” Nicole asked, formulating a plan to see Christian if the dance studio where Tessa taught needed her and the police department where Donovan was a detective needed him.

Tessa waved a hand. “Nope. Donovan and I took this week off so we could enjoy some days to focus on wedding stuff. Then I have the week after the wedding off so you and I can get in some time.” She beamed a smile at Nicole.

Nicole returned the smile, but a part of her wanted to cry a little. How the hell was she going to arrange some time with Christian if she stayed with Tessa and Donovan and they planned to be around so much?

“What about a honeymoon?” Christian asked and Nicole loved that he appeared to be searching for time too.

“They’re doing the honeymoon thing in the summer,” Nicole said. Unfortunately.

“That’s right,” Tessa said. “We want to go to Alaska and that’s a better trip in July.”

“I see.” Christian’s fingers drummed on his thigh. “Smart idea.” But his voice suggested it was a sucky idea.

“What else has to be done for the wedding?” Nicole asked, figuring if they kept talking perhaps her mind would get off being with Christian. Not likely, but she had to try.

Tessa held up her fist then flicked up fingers as she spoke. “Pick up my dress, get suits.” She pointed at Christian. “Not bright green ones.”

Christian snapped his fingers in disappointment.

“Check in with the photographer, florist, the band . . . oh, you’re going to love the band, Nicole!” Tessa clapped. “Drei is wonderful.”

“That’s the trio?”

Tessa nodded. “A piano, a violin, and a cello. They’ll play for part of the time, but we also have a DJ.”

Nicole threw her arms up. “So we can get our dance on!”

Tessa high fived her. “You know it.”