A Wild Ride (Thompson & Sons Book 4) (22 page)

“Troy?”

He stretched his arm along the top of the couch behind her. “I changed my mind. We’ll talk later. Watch the show,” he ordered.

Nic wiggled briefly, but slowly relaxed, leaning her body against his. She lowered a hand to his thigh, eyes locked on the screen.

Troy leaned over and nuzzled the side of her neck. “I love how soft you are here,” he whispered. “No, keep your eyes on the show. I’m going to touch you, and you’re going keep facing the TV, no matter what.”

A shiver shook her the slightest bit, and he reined in the urge to shout his approval. Perfect woman. So fucking perfect for him.

He caught her earlobe between his teeth and bit down before dragging it into his mouth. Teasing her ear with his tongue until her fingers tightened on his thigh and she squirmed in place.

“Can I—?”

“No,” he whispered. “No talking. No questions. Just feel.”

He grabbed her shirt, tugging the fabric free to press his palm to her warm belly. Stroking in circles as he moved in on her lips. Kissing her again, accepting her mouth moving under his and the little gasps of pleasure and her moan of approval as he pushed her bra out of the way to get at her breast.

She snuck her hand farther into his lap. An innocent enough move, but completely on purpose. Her lips curved into a smile he felt against his mouth.

Especially when the pressure of her palm increased, rubbing vertically over his rock-solid length.

“Minx,” he muttered, but it was too good to order her to stop. So they sat there, blue light of the TV flickering in the background as they made out on the couch like two teenage kids afraid to go any further.

Hands caressing, teeth nipping. Little groans escaping as they adjusted position over and over, never enough and yet all they could—

The back door rattled, and they scrambled apart, the teenage sensation far too realistic.

“I’m home. Nicole? Did I see your car out there? Troy? Everything okay?”

Jodie’s voice, ergo Jodie, was getting closer far too quickly.

“We’re here in the living room. No troubles,” Nic called.

Giggles escaped as she fought to straighten her clothes, which set Troy laughing silently as he attempted to help her and just got in the way. She batted at his hands, so he bounced to his feet, wishing like hell he’d thought to grab a pillow to hold in front of him as Nic’s sister rounded the corner and took in the scene, storm clouds forming instantly on her face.

“What exactly is going on here?” Ice dripped from every word.

Troy hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to answer, so he kind of ignored the question and instead went into a recap. “Kids went down fine about thirty minutes ago. Dahlia didn’t finish her supper, but she drank her entire bottle, and all of them brushed their teeth. Well, I helped Dahlia. No troubles at all to report.”

Jodie stared for a moment before stomping down the hall without a word to peek into the kids’ rooms.

Nic joined him at his side, her clothing finally back in place, and she squeezed his fingers briefly, opening her mouth to share with her sister. “I got here about—”

“One sec,” Jodie interrupted, turning to face Troy, her expression unreadable. “Thanks for watching them. I’d like to talk to my sister, if you don’t mind.”

Troy shrugged. “No prob.”

“
Alone.
”

Nicole sighed. “Go on, I’ll meet you outside,” she whispered at Troy.

“You going to get grounded?” he whispered back. “I’ll stay and take my punishment with you.”

She tapped him with her elbow toward the door, the weight of Jodie’s disapproval rising by the minute. “Go. It’ll just be a minute.”

There was not much he could do, so he stepped outside, but not out of earshot, dismay rising as Jodie let loose the instant he was out of sight.

“I can’t believe you would do this.” Jodie’s horror and disgust was clear, even in the hushed tones.

“What did we do?” Nic demanded. “You’re overreacting. We weren’t rolling around naked, having sex on the floor. There was nothing shocking happening that would’ve warped the kids if they’d gotten out of bed.”

“But you were supposed to be
babysitting
,” her sister whispered furiously. “That means staying attentive and keeping your clothes on.”

“My clothes were on,” Nic said. Jodie must have given her a look or something because Nic caved. “Okay, fine,
mostly
on.”

“Just go home,” Jodie snapped.

A low growl escaped Nicole. “Are you telling me every time the kids are in bed, you’re attentive one hundred percent of the time?”

“It’s different when you’re babysitting.”

Nic refused to drop it. “And you never
ever
take your clothes off when the kids are asleep?” Dead silence before Nic made a rude noise. “I feel damn sorry for Dale, and I have no idea how you got pregnant three times—”

“That’s enough. I’ve had enough of you, and I’ve had more than enough of that…
Troy
. Get out of here.”

Troy waited until she joined him, slipping his fingers into hers and guiding her toward her car. Silence hovered as they stood there, her door open, night air swirling around them.

Nic let out a huge sigh.

Troy’s guilt did double time. Everything that had been amusing about the situation vanished. “I’m sorry.”

She paused, one hand on the open car door, shock in her eyes. “What for?”

He shrugged. “She’s right. I promised I’d take care of the kids. I shouldn’t have been fooling around with you.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” She caught him by the coat front and jerked him closer, fire in her eyes. “You listen to me, Troy Thompson. We didn’t do anything wrong. My sister is being a
jackass
. Those kids thoroughly enjoyed you being their babysitter tonight instead of Mike.”

Guilt still rippled. “I don’t want your family mad at you.”

“She’ll get over it,” Nic promised, smoothing her hands down his chest and pressing a sweet kiss to the side of his neck. “Want to come home with me?”

More than anything, but something was very not right. “I think I’ll go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The hurt in her eyes only added to the guilt washing over him in waves. It was a cold, lonely drive home as his conscience haunted him. How could he need someone so much, and yet be so wrong for her?

The ache in his heart grew another notch.

By the time he made it to the parking lot outside his apartment, he still didn’t know what to do with himself. He was restless. Aching.

He sat in his car and stared out the front window like the biggest loser on earth, all his previous good intentions and confidence wiped away. He wanted the best for Nic, even if that meant walking away from her. It would be like ripping out his heart and leaving it behind.

He didn’t know if he was strong enough to give her up. To give up all the dreams he’d finally thought within reach.

A light tap sounded on the window beside him, and he shook himself alert, opening the door in confusion to discover Nic peering down at him.

“Shove over,” she ordered. “I’m taking you for a ride.”

Certain moments in Nicole’s life shone with crystal clarity. Like back in eighth grade when she’d realized her supposedly best friend
wasn’t
. Or when she’d figured out sex was something people did for fun.

Eye opening, to say the least.

Revelation hit hard moments after Troy drove off and left her, his confusion and sadness clear. They’d been having so much fun together moments earlier. That night they’d connected on a new, deeper level, she was
sure
of it.

The only thing that had changed between sweet laughter in the living room and him driving away upset had been Jodie’s disapproving comments. Clearly that was what had distressed Troy, and that was what she needed to fix. Now, before they lost something precious.

Nicole loved her family madly, but that didn’t make them the be all and end all when it came to what was right for her or her future. They still had issues with Troy? Tough. She had none…and it was time to damn well tell him that.

He made it easy for her to stalk him by waiting in his truck, and now he stared at her, his eyes looking far more lost than usual.

She hung on to the doorframe, raising one brow. “You going to move this century?”

He gave in, sliding across the bench seat to let her get behind the wheel. “I don’t get to ride shotgun very often.”

Nicole adjusted the seat so she could reach the gas pedal before patting the space beside her. “I seem to remember some fine young man telling me no way in hell was I allowed to sit all the way over by the window while we were dating.”

Troy shook his head in amusement, but he followed her orders, ending back in the middle of the truck. “This doesn’t work quite as well for me. My legs are longer than yours.”

“Suck it up, sunshine. You can stretch your legs all the way over to the far corner. You keep your ass where it belongs beside me.”

She put the car into gear, fighting to keep from laughing at the expression on his face.

“You’re a little feisty, aren’t you?” Troy commented.

“I haven’t even gotten started,” she warned.

“We headed somewhere in particular?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Troy stretched his arms along the back of the seat, turning up the radio and singing along as she aimed the truck out of town to the west. He didn’t say anything else until a low chuckle escaped as she took the corner onto a familiar dirt road.

“Why, Ms. Adams. I do suspect you’re taking me to Heartbreak Ridge. I’ll have you know I’m not that kind of a man.”

“I know
exactly
what kind of a man you are,” Nicole promised. “Trust me.”

A full-out snicker escaped him. “Just the tip? Is that what you’re saying?”

She snorted. “You’re terrible.”

He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck, a strong caress that dug deep into her muscles as he twisted sideways and offered a grin. “If you’re really determined, you
might
be able to talk me into something.”

“I’m pretty sure about that.” Nicole slowed the truck, taking the bumpy route cautiously as she aimed for a spot equal distance between the two vehicles already overlooking the Red Deer River.

She put the truck into park, pushed Troy into the passenger seat then wiggled out from behind the wheel so they were facing each other full on.

He’d gone quiet as he stroked the hair back from her face. “I’m sorry for ditching you. Just had a lot on my mind, and I wasn’t sure I would be good company anymore tonight.”

“Obviously, I either don’t care or have a different opinion.” Nicole caught his fingers in hers. Fighting to find the right words. It was all good and well to tell herself she was going to make the situation clear between them, but simply blurting it out seemed wrong.

Then again, screw it. Why make things more complicated than they needed to be?

“I like you,” she confessed.

His lips twitched. “Awwww. I like you too.”

“And that’s what matters.” She examined him closely. “When you were all into messing up my speed-dating evening—”

“I beg your pardon. I did no such thing.”

“Yeah, yeah. You were a perfect gentleman and followed every one of the rules.
Not
. Shut up and let me lecture you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He stole a kiss though, and something flickered inside her chest. Hope?

“As I was saying, when you sat there and told me I needed to be taking a serious look at you as a boyfriend, I thought you were being your normal pain in the ass, but you weren’t.”

“I was being extraordinary—?”

She jammed her hand over his mouth to make him be quiet. “You said you were right for me, and it’s true. You
are
exactly who I need in my life, Troy Thompson.”

The crease formed between his brows. “Then why do you sound so sad when you say that?”

“Because I need to know if… Okay, this is going to get a little complicated.”

He leaned against the seat back, arm stretched past her. “Hey. Don’t look so serious. We don’t have to do this tonight. We’re okay, really.”

Nicole was determined to make him understand, and she didn’t want to wait any longer. “Remember all those puzzles we did over the years? All the mixed-up games we played when no one else was looking, between toys and puns and other tricks?”

He nodded, curiosity rising.

“Over the past while, I’ve been struggling to figure out the puzzle that is Troy Thompson.”

He laughed. “Okay, that’s not what I expected you to say. I’m not very complicated,” he insisted.

“That’s what you like to pretend. Heck, maybe it’s even what you believe, but I think I’ve solved you. Or I’m ninety-nine percent of the way there.”

His grin grew wider. “Hey, if it makes you happy, you can untangle my pieces all you want, sweetheart.”

“I will.” She held up fingers as she spoke, counting off items. “You played football to make your dad happy. You don’t want your brothers to know the things you did for them because ‘they’re in the past’. But the more I think about it the more I remember seeing you doing things, like letting Clay mother you, and going wild and crazy with Mitch. But with Len you’re a lot quieter, and around Katy, you work like crazy to make her laugh.”

His gaze was fixed on her. “They’re my family. I care about them a lot.”

“I know you do. You’re everything to everyone because you love them. That’s why Katy called you a rainbow.”

“I’m a rainbow? Were you drinking at the time?”

“No, she was telling me about seeing people like colours. And you? You go around matching people’s colours. That’s why everyone in this damn town likes you even if they think you’ve made less than stellar choices.”

His lips twitched. “Thanks. I think.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what they think, because every choice you’ve made has been on someone else’s behalf, hasn’t it? To please the people you care about. You’re a rainbow, Troy, because you’re so busy trying to do what makes other people happy that you never do what
you
want.”

This time he didn’t have a smart answer.