find out had been killing him.
She wasn’t leaving tonight. Tomorrow things would seem better. And after that...he had no idea, but at least time no longer felt like a fight he couldn’t win.
17
NIKKI WAS STARTING to get cold feet. Every time the door opened, dread kicked up another notch and she couldn’t be sorrier she’d made that deal with Karina. So much had changed between Nikki and Trace since the night she’d thought Karina was trying to pick him up. He wouldn’t think the woman’s real proposal was funny, and now neither did Nikki. Oh, he might’ve been a good sport had Karina approached him at the Sundance or in private. But here at the Watering Hole in front of Sam and the others, he wouldn’t be amused.
In the three days since the will had been read, Nikki still hadn’t completely made up her mind about whether to accept Wallace’s money but it no longer ate at her. The more time she spent with Trace, the more she saw the appeal of sticking around, at least until she figured out for sure what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
Truthfully, the thought of leaving him behind was hard to contemplate. At least for now, when things felt so right. She’d been enjoying her hot nights and jam-packed days with him too much. He’d even coaxed her on top of Gypsy for ten whole minutes yesterday.
While she had time between customers, she washed mugs, ordering herself not to check the clock. Again. When her mind occasionally drifted to the decision she had to make, she always seemed to hear Trace’s voice telling her not to let Wallace win. Matt’s solution was for her to sign over her share, accept the money and then he’d reverse the process the very next day.
It took a few seconds to realize her phone had buzzed. It was Trace. She saw that Karina was busy studying the jukebox, and Nikki motioned to let Sadie know she had to step outside for a minute. She answered on her way to the door. It opened and Trace entered, grinning, his cell phone pressed to his ear.
“I miss you,” he said, to which she responded with a groan and “You big dope.”
His laugh drew Karina’s attention. Great. Too late for Nikki to drag him outside. She sighed and nodded at an older cowboy signaling for a pitcher refill.
Trace followed her to the bar and grabbed a stool while she slipped around to the other side. “Come on.” Staring at her, his grin faltered. “You can’t be mad.”
“No, but you might be.” While filling the pitcher, she looked past him and watched Karina close in.
“Why?” He started to turn his head, caught a glimpse of Karina and snapped back to face the bar.
“I leave tomorrow, cowboy.” Karina slid onto the empty stool beside him. “Last chance for me to buy you a drink.”
“No, thanks. Just came by to visit Nikki.”
Karina smiled at her. “You know how to make an appletini or should I wait for Sadie?”
“I can manage,” she said.
Karina waited until Nikki started on her appletini, then turned to Trace. “I have a business proposition for you.”
He lifted a brow. “A what?”
“A business proposition. This has been a working vacation for me. A scouting trip.” Karina reached into the neckline of her low-cut blouse and brought out a business card. She passed it to Trace.
He seemed reluctant to accept it. Finally he did, then frowned at the writing. “Okay,” he said, drawing out the word.
“My company is staging a campaign to find a cowboy to be the face of our latest line of fragrances.”
“Why are you telling me?” Trace narrowed his gaze on Karina, but not before glancing around.
“I think you’d have a great shot at it. We’re doing something fun and different to engage consumers in the selection process. We’re streamlining the list of candidates by making a calendar and—”
“Hold on right there.” He lowered his voice and slid a quick look to his left, then at the door when it creaked open. “I’m not interested,” he said quietly, putting down her card by her drink.
Nikki’s breath caught. He looked so embarrassed and she hated, hated that she’d played any part in this. How could she have thought this was funny? A week ago she’d barely known him. Not the real Trace. She’d stubbornly clung to a stereotype she’d adopted the first night she’d met him in February. It was different now. She knew better,