Page 34 of One Kind Soul

She shook her head. “No.”

He took a few steps closer. “Good. Now tell me how you escaped and scored Tessa’s SUV.”

Nicole wandered forward a few feet. “I bought them a gift certificate for some restaurant. Albero’s? Told them to have a nice quiet night together before things got all wedding crazy. They loved me for it.”

Christian meandered a few inches closer, able to smell a fresh fruity scent coming off Nicole. Strawberries again. “You really are a genius.”

“Was there any doubt?” She closed the distance between them then slid her hands up his chest to rest at the back of his neck.

He loved everything about having her this close and his arms wrapped around her. “A little. I mean, my brother is a detective and all. I expected it would be more difficult for you to keep him off your trail.”

Nicole puffed out a breath. “He may be a detective, but right now he’s so focused on marrying Tessa that he’s easily tricked. Tessa too. She didn’t try to put up a fight about going to dinner with Donovan. No but you just got here, Nicole or I shouldn’t leave you all alone. She plucked that gift certificate from my hands and bounded to her room to get ready.”

“And do you feel bad she left you high and dry to spend time with her fiancé?” He pulled her up against him with a swift tug and her eyes darkened.

“Nah.” She brushed her lips against his. “I’ve got a good way to pass the time.”

Chapter Six

How sexy Christian Henley made a wrinkled T-shirt and faded jeans look should be illegal. He had this whole hot-cowboy/farmer-working-on-a-house vibe going Nicole never realized she liked so much. Most of the guys she’d dated had been connected to The Nalu Resort where she worked. They were fellow bartenders or chefs or managers. Once in a while, she dated a resort guest, but not often, and the guy she’d reconnected with when she’d visited her parents—the last guy she’d dated—had been a computer nerd. None of these men had the rough around the edges, I-work-with-my-hands, rural flavor that Christian rocked. She was absolutely dying to see him naked again.

But she could be civil first. No need to attack the guy right out of the gate. Nicole backed up a few steps so she wasn’t in Christian’s hold anymore.

“First things first,” she said. “How is your leg?”

“A little sore, but nothing to cry about.”

“Good.” She surveyed the area around them. “So this is the farm?”

Christian arced out his arm. “In all her glory. Would you enjoy a quick tour?”

She grinned at the word quick. As in he had other things he wanted to do with her besides giving her a tour of the farm. Good to know.

“Sure.”

“Okay.” He took her hand and turned them both so they faced a large, red barn behind the adorable table and chairs he’d set up, complete with a rustic center piece of wildflowers. Tessa had mentioned Christian had some talent in decorating after Nicole had commented that the guest room at Donovan’s was so nice. Apparently the hot cowboy farmer beside her had participated in the designing of that particular room.

“This is obviously the barn.” He motioned to the structure as he tugged her through the open doors. Two horses neighed and puffed out breaths at her.

“And who do we have here?”

“This is Zip and that’s Clover.” He ran his hand down the long nose of Zip and Nicole was a little jealous of the touch. “They’re totally friendly so don’t hesitate to touch them.”

Slowly, she reached a hand out to Clover. The black and white horse lifted its head so it actually touched her before she’d gotten the chance to touch it. “Well, hello there.” She rubbed the horse’s nose then moved on to smoothing its black mane. “What a lovely creature.”

“I’m sure she’s thinking the same thing,” Christian said.

“Well, she’s a sweetheart then.” She smiled at Christian, loving how he casually leaned against Zip, indicating the two of them were old buddies. “You look so . . . so right in the company of horses.” Of course, Nicole had craved seeing Christian since Donovan had driven off with him yesterday so he would have looked good to her no matter where he was.

“I do love these two.” He gave Zip an extra pat on his big brown body then came closer to Clover. “They’ve become family.” He smoothed a hand along Clover’s back. “Do you know how to ride?”

“Actually, I do. The Nalu Resort has a deal with a local ranch where we offer a horseback riding excursion to our guests. Being an employee means you can enjoy some of these deals. Tessa and I made quite a bit of use of the horseback riding one.”

“Excellent.” Christian motioned to two saddles draped over a low wooden wall. “Care to tour the rest of the land on horseback then?”

“I’d love to. If you’re sure your leg can handle it.”

“I’m sure.”