Cup of Sugar (9 page)

The engagement had been a wakeup call. Proof that he couldn’t force himself to be a serious-commitment kind of guy. He’d stuck to intermittently dating ever since.

With Nia, he couldn’t help wondering about more.

He swallowed the last of his Scotch and stretched his arms along the back of the couch. He was primed to invite her to join him when Sara reappeared. When she’d disappeared down the hall that led to the bedrooms, Conn had hoped she was done for the night. No such luck. From the looks of her freshly applied makeup and reduced amount of clothing, Sara was just getting started. Not good.

“Can I get you another drink, Conn?” Sara leaned over the coffee table in front of him and picked up his empty glass. “Or maybe you’d like something else?”

Shit. She’d noticed his gaze drop below neck level. Impossible
not
to look when she was standing that way, offering up a primo view down her skintight, low-cut top. He had no interest in Nia’s sister, but he
was
a man, and Sara had quite the rack.

She also had more confidence than a squad of cheerleaders on game day. Maybe she’d ramped it up today, or maybe this was Sara’s normal persona. But that’s all it was to Conn—a persona. Self-assured, independent women were sexy, absolutely. The arrogant, look-at-me type that’d do anything for attention…not so much. Not to him, anyway.

Given her nonstop flirting since he’d come back from the walk with Nia and Zeus, Sara hadn’t picked up on his lack of interest. Or she had, and her determination where Conn was concerned had more to do with one-upping Nia. The rivalry he’d picked up on earlier hadn’t diminished over the course of the day. But while Nia attempted to peacefully steer clear of her sister, Sara seemed determined to chafe Nia’s nerves at every turn. Frankly, Conn had seen enough—and he wasn’t referring to Sara’s cleavage.

“There is something I’d like, actually, and only you can give it to me.”

“Just name it, Conn, and it’s all yours.”

He maintained eye contact, suppressing a laugh at Sara’s triumphant smile. “I’d like to have my view of Nia back.”

She huffed at his move-it-aside wave. But shift left or right, or better yet, walk away? Not this girl. Instead she spun half around to stare at Nia. “I thought you instituted a no-dating-neighbors policy after Jason dumped you. After you had to break your lease, forfeit your deposit and move across the city to avoid the humiliation of seeing him every day.”

Nia met and held her sister’s stare. If Sara’s snarky commentary had rattled her, it didn’t show. “All true, thanks for the reminders. But I’m not dating Conn. I am, however, having sex with him. Really great sex, in fact. So you need to look elsewhere for your weekend hookup.”

Well, hell. He had
not
seen that coming.

Sara’s gaping mouth told him she hadn’t either.

Nia stood, smiling sweetly while stepping around the coffee table. She settled in under his arm and gestured at the chair she’d vacated. “Of course, you’re welcome to hang out with us,” her eyes dropped to Sara’s chest, “since your boobs already are.”

A loud laugh burst from his mouth.
Bravo, Nia.

Sara screwed her face up at both of them. She even stuck out her tongue. Hard to believe she and Nia were so close in age, or that they’d been raised in the same family.

Peter appeared, wiping his hands on a dishtowel. He glanced back and forth between his daughters, clearly assessing the situation and choosing to let them handle it. He settled his gaze on Conn. “We’re almost done in the kitchen. You play cards, Conn?”

Conn’s “Sure do” coincided with an exaggerated groan from Sara.

“Count me out,” she said, tossing her mahogany hair over her shoulder. “I’m going in to town to find some fun.”

Peter shook his head as Sara breezed past him, out of the room. “Never mind that one, she doesn’t know what real fun is.” He waved a hand in the air. “Nia, grab the cards. Conn, as guest, you get to choose the game. Meredith and I will meet you at the table.” Then he was gone, leaving them alone in the room.

With a gentle squeeze, Conn stopped Nia from standing. He grazed the top of her ear with his lips and smiled against her soft hair when her breath hitched. “Any chance we can borrow a deck of cards for later, after everybody goes to bed? I would very much like to beat you at strip poker.”

She turned her head, pulling back enough to look him in the eye. “What makes you so sure you’d win?”

Well, well. If he wasn’t mistaken, that was a smug smile dressing her pretty lips. And it was damn hot.

He placed his free hand on her knee. Moved it up her leg, nice and slowly, watching her eyes widen with each inch it climbed. When he couldn’t go any higher, he dipped deeper between her denim-covered thighs. “Motivation, sweetheart. I’ve got it—in spades.”

* * * * *

“I’ll take that one.” Conn slapped down the nine of clubs, taking the trick with the lowest of trump, and swept the cards toward him. Then, grinning ear to ear, he laid three cards from his hand—the right and left bowers, and ace of clubs—in the center of the table. “And I’ll take the next three while I’m at it.”

Nia’s dad whistled under his breath. He plucked three cards from his hand and tossed them in. He looked at her from his seat across the table while tilting his head in Conn’s direction. “Who invited this guy, anyway?”

“Not me. He pretty much bullied his way into my car and weekend plans.” Nia’s attempt to sound cranky about Conn’s presence was a bust. The smile she couldn’t fend off and the blush heating her cheeks gave away her true feelings. She hadn’t invited him along this weekend—and wouldn’t have, not in a million years—but she didn’t regret his company. Not a single second of it.

Somehow, though, she had to keep him out of her heart. A job that was becoming increasingly difficult, even if he was kicking her ass in euchre.

“Don’t worry, Dad.” She slid her remaining card to the middle of the table, face down. “I’ve got the stopper right here. He’s not getting four points.”

“I’m no help, I’ve got shit left.” Dad tossed an off-suit nine, even though Conn had the lead but had yet to play his card. “Well, Mr. Lawler, let’s see what you kept back to take the fifth trick. Can’t be a guaranteed winner, or you’d have played it with the others.”

Nia’s thoughts exactly. Her hope too. She wasn’t competitive about much, but card games were at the top of the shortlist. She and Conn had played as partners the first game, beating her parents handily. Then, as was the way at her parents’ house, they’d switched up the teams, making it men versus the ladies for the next game. The men had won by a sizeable margin—it’d been a trouncing, really.

After that, they’d changed partners again. Nia and her dad against Conn and her mom. This game should have been an easy victory over Conn. She and Dad were both pretty sharp and they’d played together since Nia was nine years old—they had a rhythm. Additionally, her mom lacked the killer instinct, being one of those people who viewed cards as “just for fun.”

Yet, Nia and her dad were losing. In fact, they’d just lost. Conn already had earned the last point needed to win this game by taking three of the five tricks. Choosing to go alone this hand when his team needed a single point showed the extent of his competitive nature. He
wanted
to take all five tricks singlehandedly and get four points. Because he was a shark. A big, handsome, charming card shark.

The great thing was, she didn’t have to rein in
her
competitive side. Tomorrow she and Conn would return to being strictly neighbors. If he didn’t like her cocky attitude about cards—or anything else about her—so be it. Since she wasn’t trying to impress him, she could simply relax and be herself. In doing so, she’d had a ton of fun. More than she’d had in a long time.

Nia tapped the back of her card. Stared at Conn. “It’s your lead, so play your card. We both know I’m going to take the last trick.”

“Let’s find out.” Conn flicked the single card in his hand, then laid it on the table.

King of hearts. How appropriate.

Three pairs of eyes stared, waiting for the outcome. Even her mother leaned forward. Not because it truly mattered who took the last trick—Conn had already won the game. Stopping him here was strictly a pride thing.

“Ace,” she flipped the card, “of hearts.”

Dad whooped as if she’d just won them the game. “On that note, I’m calling it a night.” He gave Conn’s shoulder a friendly squeeze. “Good game. Hope you’ll come back and play again.”

Why had he gone and done that, after she’d made it very clear Conn was nothing more than a nice guy who’d done her a one-time favor?

Because her parents knew that wasn’t true. Just as she knew it wasn’t true.

Her cheeks had to be cherry red. She met Conn’s gaze and shook her head, trying for an apologetic, please-ignore-that-question expression.

“That’ll be Nia’s decision, sir. But I’ve had a great time here and appreciate the invitation.” Conn rose when her parents stood. He shook her father’s hand and thanked her mother for dinner and a nice evening. The picture of a perfectly respectful man.

Thank god she lived six hours away. Both parents would be hounding her with questions and suggestions about Conn for about, oh, eternity. At least she’d only have to deal with emails and phone calls. She’d have to go out on a date in the near future. Give her parents reason not to focus on Conn.

With her parents off to bed and Sara still out, the house should have seemed bigger. Being alone with Conn after spending over twenty-four incredible hours with him…they might as well have been stuffed inside a shoebox.

He pulled his chair out and sat, stretching his long legs while clasping his hands behind his head in a way that made his biceps bulge far too enticingly. “You knew what I kept back for that last trick.”

“Not for sure, obviously. I don’t read minds.”

One of his irresistible grins took hold. “Good thing or I might be in trouble.”

“Might be?”

He shrugged. Kept grinning. “We don’t know each other that well yet.”

“Are you implying your thoughts are too dirty for me?”

He leaned forward and tugged her chair closer. “Want to take the deck of cards in by the fire and find out?”

No, no, no.
“Let’s go.” Her mouth appeared to be out of sync with her brain. Call it the Conn Lawler effect.

He stood and offered his hand. And god, it felt good when hers slid along his strong, warm palm.

“I meant what I said to your dad.”

“Oh?” She couldn’t ask which part. She didn’t dare hope he wanted to come back again. She’d already ventured dangerously off the no-getting-involved-with-neighbors track.

“I had a great time tonight. And today. Thanks for letting me stay.”

“Oh.” The flippity-flopping in her chest ended with a big, fat
thud
. That’s what she got for hoping. For lying to herself and pretending she hadn’t been hoping all damn day.

She eased her hands free and stuffed them in her back pockets. “You’re welcome, of course. I’m glad you weren’t completely bored.”

His dark eyebrows drew together, nearly meeting at the bridge of his nose.

The gods of bad timing—or maybe of good timing, who knew for sure?—struck then, with the sound of Sara coming in the back door. A muffled shriek and a couple of choice curse words followed, courtesy of Zeus greeting Sara in the dark, no doubt.

Sara did a quick scan as she entered the dining area. “Oh darn, looks like I missed all the wholesome, card-playing fun.” Her gaze darted between Conn and Nia. “But I definitely interrupted something, didn’t I?”

“Nothing at all. Just saying goodnight.” It’d be a hot day in January before Nia would let Sara get a foothold in this moment. “Conn, I’ll go grab some pillows and blankets for the pullout bed.”

“Not going to sneak him into your bedroom?”

“I’m not you, Sara.”

Sara snorted. “That’s for sure.” She leaned against the wall, thrusting her breasts forward. “If Conn were my neighbor with benefits, I wouldn’t make him sleep on the couch. I wouldn’t let him sleep at all.”

One of these days, Nia’s last, frayed nerve would snap. But not today. Certainly not in front of Conn. “Why don’t you take Zeus out while I get that stuff?”

“Good idea.” He tugged her hand from its safe place in her pocket. The circles he rubbed on the inside of her wrist sent sparks skittering up her arm—and everywhere else too. “See you in the other room.”

Once he’d gone with the dog, Nia turned to focus on her sister, still hanging about the kitchen like a bad smell you couldn’t get rid of, no matter what you tried. “You’re twenty-seven, Sara. Maybe you could try acting your age instead of behaving like an obnoxious, catty teenager.”

“Nah, you’re mature enough for both of us. Actually,” Sara tipped her head to one side, “maybe
you
should act your age, instead of trying to jump ahead a decade. You’re supposed to have fun in your twenties. Take chances, follow your heart. Do crazy shit instead of overthinking everything.”

“I do all those things.”

“Uh-huh.” With a snicker, Sara flounced from the room, tossing, “I’d tell you not to do anything I wouldn’t, but there’s no risk of that happening,” over her shoulder as she disappeared down the darkened hall.

* * * * *

The snow had started again. Nothing too heavy—even if it kept coming throughout the night, they should be able to drive home tomorrow easily enough. The moon hung low in the sky tonight, bathing the yard and surrounding forest in bluish-white light. The fresh layer of snow sparkled as if somebody had covered it with glitter.

Conn shook the big, fat flakes from his hair and immediately thought of this afternoon. Snow falling around Nia, giving her a glow that’d taken his breath away. How beautiful she’d looked while they’d played in the snow. The way she’d melted when they kissed.

He’d expected some chemistry. The rest of it was one hell of a bonus.

He locked up and shrugged out of his coat and boots. Zeus hadn’t bothered to wait around. The dog was probably already stretched out in front of the fireplace. Under other circumstances, Conn would’ve kept Zeus on a leash while visiting a stranger’s house, but Peter and Meredith had balked at the suggestion. Nia’s parents had told him—and his dog—to make themselves at home. Fully at home. And they’d meant it.