Читать книгу Naughty Or Nice - Sherri Browning Erwin - Страница 10

I blinked and opened my eyes. A blond, broad-shouldered god held me in his arms, seemingly unconcerned with wrinkling his perfectly tailored suit.

Who was he? How did he catch me just in time? But if this wasn’t a dream, why couldn’t I think straight? Concussion? Did I hit my head when I went down?

The god settled me into the rich leather of his car seats. I took a second to assess him from shoes up. Nice shoes, expensive-looking, probably Italian. Black trousers. Armani? Overall, a very nice package.

He laughed.

Tell me I hadn’t said it out loud.

“I think I dropped it,” I said quickly to cover. “My package.”

“She’s delirious. She didn’t have any packages,” Leslie said, suddenly appearing at my side. Or had she always been there, and I just didn’t notice? Who would, with Daniel Craig standing next to her? Or was he more David Beckham? “Just her Coach bag.”

She handed it to the god, who placed it on the seat beside me.

I glanced again. Oh yes, definitely a longer-haired David Beckham. Probably between thirty and thirty-five. Tall, blond, and built, with green eyes that sent an instant charge right through me.

“I think she’ll be all right,” the Beckham-god said. “As far as her head goes, I didn’t see her strike it on anything. Now, the ankle, that’s another story.”

He leaned down to inspect the ankle up close.

“Ow!” I couldn’t help shrieking when his fingers caressed my delicate skin, and unfortunately, it wasn’t out of excitement. It hurt.

“It may be broken.” He made his skilled assessment after trying to gently move it from side to side. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

“Broken?” I feared pain. I feared disability. But more than anything, I feared my ankle becoming an ugly swollen mound right under Beckham’s touch.

He unbuckled the ankle strap of my shoe and slid it off.

“Precautionary,” he said, with a wink that made me melt into the seat.

“Thank you.” I tried not to wince as my newly freed foot went limp along with my backbone as I melted at the romance of it all. He’d carried me. All the way to his car.

“Nick Angelos,” he said by way of introduction.

Leslie, belatedly realizing she’d been lax in introductions, jumped in. “Mr. Angelos, one of our corporate donors, has graciously offered land and supplies for new buildings. Including this one, in fact.”

Nick nodded. Angelos. My own personal angel. “I happened by to check on progress, to see if Leslie needed anything else. I’d just stepped out of the car when I saw you going down.”

My head swooned. The thought of “Nick Angelos” in the same sentence as “going down” sent an instant erotic shock right through me.

“I can’t imagine how bad it would be if you hadn’t caught her,” Leslie said, her cheeks coloring. “You moved so fast. As if you had wings on your feet.”

“Unfortunately, it looks bad enough as it is,” he said.

I followed Nick’s concerned gaze back to my own ankle. It had indeed swollen, and some highly unattractive purple bruises colored the inflamed skin. Yuck. How embarrassing. I made a move to cover it, but recoiled in pain. I couldn’t contain the yelp that shot to my lips from the effort.

“These damn shoes.” The voice came in the form of a snarl from behind Nick. Josh Brandon stepped forward, bent to fetch my shoe, and held it up. “Wearing these around a construction site is suicide.”

“As usual, Mr. Brandon, thanks for your concern.” I was reminded of the thorough dressing-down I received from attempting to use the electric sander without protective eyewear on a past volunteer endeavor.

“Well, I’m foreman here and from now on, I establish a rule. No walking around a site without proper footwear.”

“My footwear is very proper,” I said, defensive. “The perfect match for my suit, and quite in style for the season.”

“I mean, appropriate.” His full lip rose in a sneer, lending his stark blue eyes an air of menace. “Appropriate footwear. Work boots, with steel-reinforced toes. No heels, no soft Italian leather.”

He lowered his eyes to Nick Angelos’s feet and lifted them to meet my gaze again. “Next time you show up without steel-toed Timberlands, you’ll be banned from walking around the site.”

Nick snorted. Clearly, he wasn’t going to let Josh Brandon tell him what to do. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to flout the rules if I planned to accept employment.

“May I have a look?” Josh asked, stepping around Nick to gesture toward my ankle. I nodded.

Josh knelt and ran his hand over the ankle with a whisper-light touch. I barely felt it. I didn’t even wince. It appeared he’d had experience with this, and no doubt he had from working construction sites. “Do you think it’s broken?”

He shook his head, not taking his gaze from the bruising. “No. Just a sprain, maybe just a really bad twist. You would be in a lot more pain if it were broken.”

“I’m in a lot of pain,” I said. How could he dare steal some drama from the situation by declaring it not broken! “I hide it well. It’s a parent thing. Mothers are good at hiding pain.”

Josh smiled, a wide grin so unexpectedly tender it disarmed me. “You may want to drop by a hospital and have it checked out, just to be sure.”

Nick moved in again, nudging Josh aside. “I’ll see to it she gets what she needs.”

My gut clenched with anticipation. What exactly did he think I needed? For the first time in a long while, I felt the spark of romantic interest and the thrill that came with instantaneous attraction, and I liked it. A lot.

“I’ll be fine.” I slid forward to get out of the car. “I’ll just drive home and call my sister.”

“You’re not driving anywhere with that ankle,” Josh said.

“He’s right,” Nick said. “I’ll take you.”

I looked up and got lost in the lush green gaze. I didn’t want to protest. “All right.”

“Good.” He eased me back and took a seat beside me.

I leaned forward. “Leslie, I’ll see you Monday. I’ll come back for my car later. Don’t worry.”

“Monday.” Leslie waved. Josh Brandon stood beside her, hands on hips and wearing the usual cross expression. The driver shut the door and walked around to get behind the wheel.

“I’ve got healing in my blood,” Nick said, turning to me. “One of my brothers perfected some medical techniques and I’ve spent plenty of time watching him work.”

Gulp.

“I hate to be a bother.” I tried to adjust myself more comfortably in the seat as the car pulled away from the curb, but my ankle throbbed with the slightest movement. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

“You’re no bother. Let’s get you home. Where do you live?”

I gave him the address, only a short drive away. He repeated it to his driver. “There now. Sit back. Relax. Swing your feet up into my lap.”

My heart raced. I couldn’t help glancing at his lap, trousers hugging lean-muscled thighs.

“I’m not going to bite.” He laughed. “Don’t look so scared.”

“I’m sorry.” I tried to steady my breathing. “It’s the pain. I think it’s making me light-headed.”

“That’s why I need to get my hands on that ankle. I can stop the pain. Now, come on.” He patted his leg. “Up.”

I shifted back, careful to keep my knees together as I swung my feet into his lap.

“Very good.” He smoothed his hand over my good leg, from foot to knee and down again, before reaching over to tend the bad one. “Pilates?”

“How did you know?” I sat up a little, pleased that he had noticed.

“Long muscles. Your legs are beautifully toned.”

“Thank you.” I couldn’t wait to tell Kate how wrong she was about me “wasting all those hours in the gym.” Looking good was never a waste. Especially when a handsome man appreciated the results.

So easily, I could have given up on my body and wallowed in self-pity over countless pints of ice cream. Not that I didn’t indulge in the occasional Cherry Garcia pity party. I wasn’t that perfect. But I knew I had to work at looking good and I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel and go the Body by Ben and Jerry route.

He rubbed my ankle, working magic to take away the pain. My legs looked so white against the tan of his hands. The bruising seemed less pronounced.

“Oh. That’s good.”

“I’m going to need to wrap it,” he said, stripping off his jacket, tossing it aside, and starting to work at the buttons of his shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll use my shirt. Not to worry. I have plenty of them.”

“But—no. I’ll have something at home to wrap it. Don’t trouble yourself.”

He shrugged out of the sleeves and ripped. “Too late.”

Speaking of ripped. I drank in the sight of his bare chest. He might have been a god by the looks of him. The man took excellent care of himself. His skin glowed bronze against the creamy leather seats. Every inch of him was taut, his muscles well defined right down to the washboard abs. His biceps worked as he tore the white fabric into strips. My mouth went bone dry.

I watched him, unable to speak as he began to wind the strips around my ankle. Finally, I found my voice. “I can replace your shirt. I’m sure it could have waited, but you’re right. It feels much better.”

“Nonsense.” Shirtless, he shrugged back into his jacket. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“Amazing,” I said, wiggling my exposed toes, and so glad I’d kept the pedicure appointment earlier in the week. My pearl-pink toes looked adorable peeking out from the makeshift bandaging. “You really are a miracle worker.”

“My pleasure.” He reached for my hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed the tops of my fingers curled over his.

“Actually, I think it’s mine.” I giggled like an idiot schoolgirl. What was I thinking? Who could think sitting next to an Adonis?

“I never cared much for Adonis,” he said. “Honestly, he’s rather full of himself. No doubt, fueled on by Aphrodite and Persephone fighting over him so often—sickening.”

Had I said that bit about Adonis out loud? I must have. Oh. God.

“I’m fine,” I said, desperate to change the subject. “So, how about that Josh Brandon, huh? Talk about full of himself.”

“Mr. Brandon?” Nick’s lips curled up in a sly half smile. “So you’re not all that fond of him, eh?”

“Not exactly.” I blushed, feeling suddenly guilty for throwing Josh under the bus to save myself. “I mean, he’s okay. He’s a master of his profession. But he gets a little bossy on the job site. On occasion. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“With the shoes, perhaps? I thought I saw you bristle at his comments there. As if a woman doesn’t know for herself what constitutes proper footwear?”

“Exactly. Could you imagine me in Timberlands? With this suit? Ha!”

“I can imagine you in just about anything.” His lip curled as if in some sort of secret sexy invitation. “You could pull off Timberlands. Or anything you choose. But that’s the point, isn’t it? Your feet, your choice.”

“Yeah,” I responded, feeling empowered. I liked it. “My feet, my choice.” Never mind that Josh was probably right and I should invest in a good pair of work boots. But still.

“And such adorable feet they are. Feeling better?”

“Actually, yes. Much better. Your wrap did the trick.”

“Good. I believe we’re on your street.”

“Oh.” So soon? I glanced out the window. My street. “Wow. Your driver’s good.”

“I hope Morrison didn’t hear you. His head’s big enough as it is.”

I glanced toward the front. Was that a smile reflected in the rearview? “Thank you, Morrison,” I said, then turned back to Nick. “Must be nice to have a driver. I hate driving in the city.”

“I love it, but it’s too risky on company time. I get a lot of tickets.” His eyes lit with a golden sparkle. “I like to go fast.”

My pulse accelerated. I bet he did. “Thank you again. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Besides have Leslie drive me to the ER and probably go back later to get my car. As it was, my poor newly freed Lexus was left abandoned on another street. But at least this time, when I needed Kate’s help to pick up my car, I could say it was because I had a job. Yes! That’s right. Bennie St. James, employable after all.

“You don’t think I’m going to let you walk away, do you?”

“I—um, I think I can manage.”

“It’s too soon to put weight on that ankle. Sit still.” He opened the door, got out, and leaned back in to scoop me up in his arms.

“Oh no. Really. I—” Felt so good in his arms. So light and tiny. His arms were incredible. “I mean, I probably just need a little support.”

“Nonsense. Morrison, bring her bag,” he called behind to his driver after he’d lifted me and started for the door.

I turned to shout to Morrison, “My house keys are in the front pocket of the Coach bag,” and that was when I saw Kate’s SUV in my driveway. Kate? Here?

“What on earth?” She opened the front door in time for Nick to slide right by her, with me in his arms. “What happened to you?”

Her bewildered expression said and who the hell is he? But she didn’t ask out loud.

“I had a little accident,” I answered. “You can put me down on the couch there.”

“An accident? What?”

Nick set me down as instructed, our eyes meeting as he settled me, a nearly palpable shock of attraction sizzling through me. He found a throw pillow to prop under my foot and tucked me in under the hand-knit afghan, a gift from Gran I kept draped over the back of the couch.

“Thank you,” I said.

“No need for thanks. I’m just glad you’re okay.” There was a marked tenderness in his tone. “She took quite a spill,” he said to Kate. “I’m Nick.”

Morrison deposited my Coach bag on the chair inside the door and headed straight back out again.

“Nick Angelos,” I interrupted, still enchanted with the idea of having my own personal angel. And why not? Kate’d had her devil, Ellie’s father, who she claimed had run off to reign over hell. “He has been doing some charitable work with Habitat for Humanity and I ran into him on a build site. Rather, I ran into some wood and lost my balance, and Mr. Angelos just happened to catch me.”

“A build site for Habitat for Humanity? What were you doing there?”

I smiled. “Getting a job. Meet the new community outreach codirector.”

Kate’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. Is it so hard to believe?”

She didn’t take the bait. “And you, Mr. Angelos? Did you donate your shirt to the cause?”

“He used it to wrap my ankle.” My hero!

Nick shrugged. “What can I say? It was all I happened to have handy at the time. I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress.”

Kate shot me a look. I answered with a waggle of my brows.

“I’m not always so clumsy. Would you like a cold drink? Kate can get us some lemonade or something? Kate?” The weather reports might have called for a November chill, but my internal furnace had been on the rise since meeting Nick.

“Oh, absolutely. Maybe some coffee?”

“Nothing for me, thanks. I should be getting back to the office. But I’m glad to see the color return to your cheeks, Mrs. St. James. May I come back to check in on you later? Would you mind?”

I feared Kate was about to butt in and say we minded. Fortunately, she stayed quiet.

“I wouldn’t mind at all. You’re welcome anytime. Oh, and call me Bennie.”

“Excellent. Then, I’ll bid you both a good afternoon. Lovely to meet you, Bennie. And you, Kate. Will you see me out?”

“Until we meet again,” I called out after him.

“Very soon, I promise you,” he answered without hesitation. “Make sure she stays off that ankle for a day or so,” I overheard him say to Kate on his way out.

“Oh, Kate! Isn’t it romantic?” I said, sitting up more as soon as I heard the door close. “He caught me in his arms and carried me to his car. Just like in the movies.”

“Ankle injury, yeah. That’s romance for you. He’s kind of an odd one, don’t you think?”

“Oddly appealing, perhaps. Did you get a load of that bod?”

“I couldn’t exactly avoid it, the way he was putting it out there for display.”

“Well, he did try to cover up. He put his jacket back on, anyway. What else could he do?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Stop at a pharmacy to pick up an Ace bandage? Maybe drive you to an ER?”

“I don’t need a hospital. I’m fine.” Not too fine. The ankle felt great, but I liked the idea of staying off my feet and letting everyone take care of me for the afternoon. Why not? I got a job! I deserved a few perks before I had to join the working class. “I mean, it’s still sore, but—he said I would be fine and he seemed to know his stuff.”

“Right, with the degree from WebMD and all.”

“You’re such a cynic, you know, Kate? Can’t you just be happy for me, for once?”

“Because you met a man? You like him that much?”

Maybe. “No. Because I got a job. How cool is that?”

She sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s extremely cool, if a little unexpected.”

“I told you I wanted to take care of myself.”

“You did. You’re right. And after you got your car out this morning, I would say you’re on a roll. Oh! What about the Lexus?”

“I had to leave it at the construction site. We’ll have to go back for it later. Once I feel better. Maybe you could pick the kids up from school for me? What are you and Ellie doing here, anyway? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

She shook her head. “I finished my morning appointment. It was a success, and now there’s another new open house on the schedule before the holidays. While I was on the way back to the office to work out floor plans with Val, Sarah called and said she forgot her gym clothes.”

“Oh. She called you? Why not me?”

“She tried you but she didn’t reach your cell.”

“I set it to vibrate so the ring wouldn’t interrupt me at my interview.” So it wasn’t exactly an interview. I couldn’t let Kate think Leslie had simply handed me a job. Bad enough that I felt guilty my daughter had to call Aunt Kate because her mom was otherwise engaged. “She must have left a message.”

“Not a problem. I zipped here, brought her clothes, and then came back here because Ellie left a nice little bundle of her own for me and your house was closer. After I changed her, she conked out, so I figured I would hang here awhile and let her sleep. Val and I exchanged ideas over the phone. I hope you don’t mind.”

“You know I don’t mind. My house is your house.”

“And the reverse. Unless you’re going to make a habit of bringing home shirtless hunks of man cake like that one. Then we’ll have to work out an arrangement.” Kate smiled.

“Ha. Yes. Because shirtless hunks of man cake fall in my lap on a daily basis.”

“It was my understanding that you fell into his lap.”

“Yeah.” I blushed. “Whatever. So, as long as you’re picking the kids up from school, why don’t you and Ellie stay for dinner? I’ve got a lasagna in the freezer.”

“Sounds good. I’ll bring the wine. Your getting a job calls for celebration.”