only a few inches taller than her, with sandy brown hair and brown eyes. His shirt was lavender, his jeans tighter than hers and he wore bright red cowboy boots. She grinned.
“You’re beyond fabulous,” she yelled.
Aaron clapped his hands, then rushed toward her. “Seriously? You can see me? Don’t you love my boots?”
“They’re perfection!”
They hugged, then Aaron put his arm around her shoulders. “So, what do you think about Chez Nick?”
“Fancy.”
“I’ve had to make a lot of changes. You should have seen it when I got here. It gave the word
“I’m healed and have nothing but eye drops to worry about. Oh, and no eye makeup for the next month.”
“You don’t need it.” Aaron squeezed. “I’m so happy for you. Come on in. You’ll want to see the house. And Nick.”
Izzy hung back. “I thought I’d go see Rita first.”
“Chicken.”
“Maybe. I need a few minutes.”
“All right. When you’re ready, he’s in his office. I won’t say a word.”
“Thanks.”
Aaron went back in the house and Izzy started toward the barn. Partway there, she paused and glanced back at the house. She really wanted to see Nick, to finally know what he looked like. But not just yet.
The barn was big and red, with crisp, white trim. As she walked in the large open door, she saw that everything was clean, the supplies neatly stacked. She followed the sound of soft words into the storeroom.
Rita stood patting a barn cat on a shelf. Izzy took in the petite woman’s curly brown hair, her work-roughened hands and eyes that didn’t track with her actions.
“Hi,” Izzy said.
Rita turned toward her. “What happened?”
“I can see.”
Rita smiled and moved toward her. “Good. I knew that’s what would happen, but I’m happy all the same.”
Izzy bit her lower lip. “Are you sure it’s okay?” Because nothing changed for Rita.
The older woman cupped Izzy’s face. “Never be sorry for what you have. Be grateful. But don’t think this means you’re going to stop working for me.”
“I’d like to stay.” For as long as Nick would let her. But she was only here to heal. Wouldn’t everything be different now? Wasn’t she supposed to leave?
“Then tell him that.”
“Okay.”
Rita dropped her hands to Izzy’s shoulders, turned her and gave her a little shove. “Tell him now.”
Izzy made her way back to the house. She went inside.
The huge living room was decorated in shades of green. The hardwood floors were covered with big rugs. There were comfortable sofas and chairs. She crossed to a couch and touched the fabric she’d never been able to see before. The fireplace was brick. She hadn’t known there was one. Brass lamps sat on end tables. Everything was different than she’d imagined. Different, yet familiar.
She took a step, then stopped, not sure where to find Nick’s office. Then she closed her eyes. The darkness was familiar. She got her bearings, opened her eyes and started down the hall.
A door stood open on her left. She heard him working on his computer. Izzy swallowed a couple of times, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. She jumped out of planes without a second thought. Of course she could walk into a room and say hi to a guy. She stepped into the doorway.
“Hi, Nick.”
He looked up, then stood.
Her first impression was of size. He was tall and muscled, which she’d figured out already, but knowing and seeing were very different. He had broad shoulders and long legs. He seemed to fill the room with his presence.
He had dark hair, which wasn’t a surprise, but piercing green eyes that were. His mouth was perfect, nearly as good to look at as to kiss.
“Izzy.”
She saw the questions in his eyes, the concern and something that might have been a little case of nerves. She smiled.
“You’re very crush-worthy.”
He gave her a slow, sexy smile that made the butterflies in her stomach sigh. He walked around the desk. “You can see.”
“Everything. I’m healed and restored and ready to swim with sharks. Oh. I can’t go swimming for a month. No swimming, no eye makeup, but otherwise, it’s back to nor-”
He silenced her with a kiss. That sensual mouth of his claimed her with lips and tongue. She hung on to him, feeling the shoulders she’d just seen, knowing what the muscled body now looked like.
Kissing him felt right, she thought, giving in to the experience. Better than right. It felt like something she would be very happy doing for the next five thousand years.
He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes. “Ready to hear I told you so?”
“You’re one of
He kissed her again.
She let the desire wash through her. It mingled with happiness and elation and every good feeling she could imagine. Today was a very good day.
He straightened and rubbed his thumb against her mouth. “What am I going to do with you?”
A question she wasn’t sure she wanted answered. “Whatever you want?”
The slow, sexy grin reappeared. “Works for me. But I was thinking about out of bed.”
“Oh. That.”
“We’re busy for the next few weeks. Want to stay and help out with the corporate retreats? Aaron always needs staff.”
She rested her hands on his chest. “You mean I wouldn’t be in charge?”
“Not this time.”
Stay here with Nick? It was the best offer she’d had all day. She would be doing work she enjoyed while getting ready to start the next phase of her life. And, hey, maybe figure out her feelings about Nick.
“I’d like that.”
“Good. I’ve already talked to Aaron and he’s giddy with excitement. He wants to meet with you this afternoon.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Now I’ll have to take notes and everything.” She grinned. “Kinda cool, huh?”
“It works for me.”
She started to leave, then turned back to face him. “Oh, I have wheels now. My sisters brought my car to the doctor’s office. It’s the red Mustang. If you ask real nice, I’ll let you drive it.”
“How nice?”
“You’ll figure it out. And that’s not the only thing that’s new.” She pulled up the hem of her T-shirt, exposing her belly button and the diamond bar nestled against her skin. “For later.”
He swallowed. “Promise?”
“Oh, yeah.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?” Aaron asked.
“Yes.” Izzy sat slumped at the kitchen table. “You’re way bossier than I remember.”
“You were gone a morning. How could you possibly forget anything?”
