it. If he spent the night with Nikki it would be kind of weird knowing his kid sister was down the hall with Matt. Trace just laughed. “We bump into each other in the dark and I’ll pretend I don’t know you.”
“Same here.” She bit her lip and glanced at Hilda, who kept turning over pieces of sizzling fried chicken, while paying them no attention. Though she must’ve heard.
Rachel abruptly turned away, trying not to laugh, and he raced out of the kitchen and up the stairs to his room in record time. He lingered in the shower, letting the warm spray hit the back of his neck and stiff shoulders. He had to stop giving his thoughts free rein. Whether Nikki stayed or left, him worrying about it wouldn’t change a damn thing.
Ten minutes later, the idea that she could pack up and leave at any time still rattled him no matter what he told himself. With Wallace gone, and Matt busy with setting a new course for the Lone Wolf, there wouldn’t be much to keep Nikki around here. Trace wanted to think she’d stay for him, but he hadn’t come out and asked her to, or told her how he felt about her. Of course he still hadn’t quite narrowed that down yet.
He dried himself off, pulled on clean jeans and took a brown Western-cut shirt out of his closet. The guys would razz him again for wearing his good clothes, and he was in just the right mood to tell them where to shove it.
The ride to town went by quickly. Already there was no street parking in front of the Watering Hole. He saw Nikki’s pickup next to the bank and grabbed a spot two trucks away.
Music spilled out onto the sidewalk. The heavy wood door was no match when someone cranked up the jukebox. He would’ve liked it a whole lot better if the bar wasn’t so crowded, but nothing to do about it. He’d barely made it inside when someone whistled, then he heard a catcall and laughter. It was the shirt. Screw them.
Nikki stood at the end of the bar where she turned in her drink orders, looking over her shoulder to see what the noise was about. She saw him and smiled.
He actually felt a strange sensation in his chest. Man, it was going to be hard to walk over and not kiss her. But she looked relaxed as if this was any other night, and for now that was good enough. She moved over to make room for him, and he didn’t hesitate.
“This is early for you,” she said once he crowded in between her and a young cowboy sitting on a stool.
“I skipped supper.” He almost touched her cheek, but diverted his hand to plow through his hair at the last second. “Everyone else seems to have had the same idea.”
“It’s been crazy busy since Sadie unlocked the door.” Her gaze moved over his shirt. “You look nice. Smell nice, too,” she whispered, swaying against him, her lids at half-mast.
“Don’t go starting anything we can’t finish,” he muttered, afraid his cock mistook that as an invitation to party.
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
“Trace?” Sadie was a bit farther down the bar, mixing a drink. “Beer?”
“Don’t worry about me. I can wait.”
“Oh, shoot, I was about to help fill mugs.” Nikki scribbled something on her pad, then swung to the other side of the bar.
He waited until she had a pitcher and mugs lined up. “Before I forget, we should set a time for a riding lesson tomorrow.”
“Oh.” She fiddled with the tap. Once the beer began flowing, she nodded. “Good idea. I’d prefer the afternoon if that’s okay.”
Relief surged through his body. In the few seconds it took for her to agree, he’d realized how much he needed to hear she didn’t plan on going anywhere...at least not tomorrow. “Just let me know when and I’ll be at our spot.”
With a fretful frown, she met his eyes. “About later,” she said softly, her voice tinged with disappointment. “It sounds as if you’re not coming over tonight.”
One more rush of relief and he was going to need to sit down. “I haven’t been invited yet.”
Nikki’s smile lit up every dark cloud hanging over his heart. “Silly boy, I want you every night.”
The relief that flowed through him nearly knocked him sideways. He might not be certain about where he and Nikki were headed, but the idea that he wouldn’t have the chance to