Vulnerability.
TY WORKED the next few days as if he had a demon on his heels, and he did.
Her name was Dr. Nicole Mann.
But he was a man used to ignoring his emotions, and he could continue to do so through this job.
So why he made more trips to Taylors building than was strictly required, he had no idea. Today was no exception. It was late afternoon, three days after The Kiss.
And damn, it had been some kiss. Truth was, he wanted another taste. He wanted her gripping him tightly, wanted her weak for him. He wanted her to care.
Odd, when he didnt want to care. God, how he needed not to care.
TAYLOR CAUGHT Nicole sneaking up the stairs to her loft apartment after a long day of work. Hey, come in for a sec.
Umwell As always, she thought longingly of her bed, and of her plans to be in it within ten minutes. Of the new medical reports in her arms that she was dying to dig into.
Oh, save the puppy-dog eyes, Im immune. You cant just work, read about work and sleep. Taylor crooked her finger, a gesture she expected to make people come running. Come on and take your medicine like a woman, Dr. Mann. Ive got Suzanne inside and shes so excited its almost making me think theres something to this love crap after all.
Then why dont you go get married?
Not in this lifetime. I told you, you and me, single forever. Now get in here. Its time to try on the dresses I got us for the engagement party.
Nicole wished shed taken a double shift. You didnt have to do that.
Yes, I did. Youd have never gone to the store with me to try them on, and I know damn well you dont have a single dress worth a damn in your closet.
Nicole, is that you? Suzanne stuck her head out Taylors door and grinned, her red hair piled on top of her head, her gorgeous lush body zipped into some shimmery black cocktail dress that made her look like a sex goddess. What do you think? She spread out her arms and turned in a slow circle. Is Ryan going to like this?
Having rarely seen Suzanne in anything other than her usual catering uniform of black bottoms and a white blouse, or her gauzy sundresses, Nicole shook her head in amazement. Are you kidding? Hes going to attack you on the spot. Im attracted to you wearing that.
Suzanne laughed and pulled Nicole inside. This is so much fun. Now for you
Rule number one, never let them take you inside.
This is going to be good. Taylor rubbed her hands together and looked Nicole up and down. Strip.
Nicole merely laughed at the command, but Taylor just crossed her arms and waited expectantly. Nicoles smile dissolved. No. No way.
Yes, way.
Hey, stop that. Nicole held on to her shirt as Taylor tugged at it. Get your paws off me.
I got the perfect dress. Dont worry, it was on terrific sale at a discount outlet, since I know how cheap you are.
How do you know that?
You live here, dont you? The dress is emerald green, sparkly and designed to drive men wild. She held up a shimmery piece of material that was far too small to possibly be a dress. Itll show off your great body, though youre going to need a hell of a push-up bra.
Gee, thanks. Nicole pulled off her shirt.
You ought to think about buying a set of boobs, Taylor said, making Suzanne choke on her soda.
Nicole glared at Suzanne, who pressed her lips together and wisely refrained from so much as smiling.
Hey, Taylor said, lifting her hands. Just thinking out loud here.
Why in the world would I want to do such a stupid thing as buy a set of breasts? Nicole asked. To catch a man? I dont want a man.
Taylor lifted a brow. If you tell me youre interested in women-
Im not a lesbian, you idiot. Nicole stepped out of her pants. Im just happy being alone, thats all.
Yeah. For a moment Taylor looked inexplicablysad. Because that was so unusual, Nicole almost asked her about it, but Taylor held out the green material. Luckily, as Ive always said, you dont have to be celibate to be single.
Who said I was? Nicole looked at the dress in her hands, and realized she had no idea how to get into it.
So youre telling me youre getting some? Taylor snatched back the dress, straightened it out and slipped it over Nicoles head. Youre too uptight and grumpy to be getting any. Unless youre giving him his and not getting yours.
Nicole pulled her face free. What?
Suzanne cleared her throat. I think she means maybe youre giving him orgasms but hes not giving them to you in return.
Nicole divided a glance between the two woman, each watching her with such pity in their eyes, she had to laugh. Youre both nuts. She yanked the dress down her hips and quickly ran out of material.
I see Ty looking at you, Taylor said casually, tapping a well-manicured nail on her perfectly painted lips.
Nicole pretended not to hear that.
Ty? Suzanne fussed with the straps of the dress at Nicoles shoulder. Whos Ty?
My architect, Taylor said. Remember? I told you about him. But since you were kissing Ryan at the time, you might have missed it. Taylor never took her eyes off Nicole. Hes tall, dark and sexy as hell. Not to mention his delicious, eat-me-alive accent.
An accent cant be delicious, Nicole said, and both women laughed at her. What? It cant.
Shes ga-ga over him, Taylor decided with delight.
Well have to invite him to the engagement party, Suzanne agreed.
What? Nicole got a bad, bad feeling as she smoothed down the dress. Now why would you go and do that? Both women were staring at her. What now? Self-conscious, she crossed her arms. What are you staring at?
My God. Taylor shook her head. I cant believe it.
Wow. Suzanne sighed dreamily. Just wow. Youre beautiful, Nicole.
Nicole just stared at them, then laughed.
You are, Taylor said softly.
Nicole shot them a last fulminating look, then stalked over to look into the antique stand-alone mirror Taylor had in one corner. What she saw made her jaw drop.
It wasnt often she slowed down enough even to look in a mirror. She dressed for comfort, wore little makeup and had her hair cut short for convenience. If she had to think about her looks, she saw herself in a white coat. Sexless, really.
She didnt look sexless now. The emerald color made her skin glow and brought out her eyes. Even her hair, usually worthless in the way of obeying or looking good, seemedwell, decent. Maybe more than decent. And her bodyshe actually had one.
You have to wear it. Taylor said of the dress that clung to every inch of Nicoles form. The spaghetti straps held the snug bodice up in front, crisscrossed over her slim spine in back, where the dress dipped sinfully low. The hem came high on her thighs, and slipped higher with her every movement.
You almost look like youve got boobs and hips, Taylor noted.
You look gorgeous, Suzanne said, with a long look at Taylor. You have such a beautiful body, Nicole.
A little skinny. Taylor sniffed, but then smiled. But some men go ape for a toned body like that.
Someone knocked at the front door, and while Taylor went to answer it, Suzanne said quietly, You really do look amazing. This is going to be so much fun.
How to tell her shed rather have a root canal? Im not wearing stockings or heels.
Okay.
I mean it. I-
Youll never guess who I found, Taylor said, coming back into the room. A man. And just when we wanted a mans opinion, too. He just wanted to drop off some papers, but Smiling the smile of a cat with the canarys tail still hanging out of her mouth, Taylor moved aside.
Ty stood there, looking sweetly baffled. Until he saw Nicole, then all that sweet bafflement turned to heat as his eyes slowly took in the crazy dress she wore.
What do you think? Taylor asked Ty innocently. Good enough for an engagement party?
Good enough to eat, Ty said, the Irish heavy in his voice.
5
THE LAST TIME Ty had seen Nicole shed been walking away from him, and the taste of her had still been on his lips. Hed watched her go and decided not to do that to himself again.
No more watching.
Well, he was looking plenty now, wasnt he? Looking so hard he could see her every little breath, which seemed too quick and shallow for her to be half as calm as she was pretending, standing over there in that killer dress.
But hot as that bod was, it hadnt been the dress that nearly brought him to his knees. No, the look in her eyes had done that. The look that said back off and want me, all in the same flash of those gray, gray eyes.
Suzanne and Taylor were grinning at him proudly, as if theyd personally created the vision standing before him.
She does look good enough to eat, doesnt she? Taylor said, clapping her hands. Just wait until we get on the thigh-high stockings and do-me heels.
Okay, Im done. Nicole pointed a finger at Ty. You. Stop staring. And you. She whirled on Taylor. No stockings. No high heels that say do me or otherwise.
Ty did his best to stop staring as she turned her back on him to chew out Taylor, but as he caught a good sight of the rear view, he nearly swallowed his tongue. Now he could see why the stockings would have to be thigh high, the dress dipped so low he caught a peek-a-boo glimpse of her peach, silky-looking panties.
Nicole, rough-and-tumble ready, tomboy, warrior of her worldand she wore peach silky panties. If that didnt completely destroy him, he didnt know what did.
I have got to get to work, she grumbled, bending for her discarded clothes and showing more peach silk.
Not that he was looking. Nope. Not looking-
She caught him looking. With a furious glance that singed the hair right off his arms, she stalked by, giving him a quick scent of shampoo and clean, very angry woman.
Hey, I thought you decided to cut back your hours, Taylor called out to her. So you dont kill yourself before you hit the big three-oh.
No, you decided I should cut back my hours. I decided to stop trying to convince you Im just fine.
Youre not fine. Taylor stood beside a nodding Suzanne for unity. You live and breathe that job, without time for anything or anyone else. Its not right, Nicole. Youre hiding out from life. Tell her, Ty.
Nicole dared him to say a word with stormy eyes.
He lifted his hands. I dont-
Oh, please. Taylor pointed to Nicoles face. See those dark circles under her eyes? Lack of sleep.