Love Thy Neighbor (15 page)

Dallas had his eyes closed, his thrusts more urgent, his cock more rigid until he let out a series of guttural growls and then finally, “Oh, Nikki, Nikki—” And she felt his entire body let loose.

Afterward they stayed like that, clinging to each other, Nikki’s legs still wrapped about him. They were panting and kissing, the two of them saying at the same time, “Wow.” They laughed as she dropped her head to his shoulder and he cupped her butt in his big, strong hands.

“That was amazing. You were amazing.” Nikki kissed his shoulder as he gently set her down. Her legs were nothing but rubber.

He excused himself for a minute and came back wearing a white robe, handing a second one to her. They wrapped themselves in mounds of terry cloth and curled up together on his couch. Dallas opened a fresh bottle of wine, and even though it was the middle of summer, he lit a fire. She watched the flames cast their shadows over his strong features and she knew she was in trouble. No doubt about it—she was falling for him. Falling fast and hard.

“You know,” he said, “before your ex comes back into the picture, you have to do one thing for me.”

Her ex.
She wanted to moan, and not in a good way. She couldn’t even think about Matthew at a time like this. “And what is it that I have to do for you?” she asked, running her fingers across his chest, thinking there wasn’t anything she’d deny him. “Tell me what I have to do for you.”

He looked at her and kissed her lips. “You have to let me take you out on a proper date. A real one this time.”

Nikki rested her head on his strong shoulder and scooted in closer to him. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better.”

Chapter Fourteen

When Dallas stepped out of the shower, he saw a new message flashing on his phone. “Hey, Troy, it’s me, Cliff. Thought I’d try you again. I’m hoping we can get together sometime soon. I found some of Mom’s things that I think you’ll want…”

“Yeah, well, you thought wrong,” Dallas said and
click
—he deleted the message. Why would his brother think he’d want anything from the woman who’d abandoned him? Cliff needed to understand that as far as Dallas was concerned, his mother didn’t just die recently. No, she’d been dead to him for years. After Dallas had started to make a name for himself as a photographer, she’d tracked him down—probably looking for money. But he’d screened every phone call, sent back every one of her letters unopened. It was too late for him to forgive. The woman had messed him up enough, and he wanted nothing more to do with her.

Dallas finished getting dressed and knocked on Nikki’s door to pick her up for their date.

“C’mon in,” she called from the bedroom. “Door’s open.”

When he stepped inside her apartment, he noticed the flowers. Roses. Yellow. White. Pink. A dozen standing, tall and proud. There was only one person they could have been from. And that asshole couldn’t even send her red ones. Nikki had them in a vase, right on her desk, and Dallas pictured her working throughout the day and pausing every now and again to smell them, or maybe reread the card.
Bollocks.
Between his brother’s voicemail and those damn flowers, he was now in a shit mood.

“One more minute,” she called to him again.

“Take your time.” He turned away from the flowers. He didn’t know why they bothered him so. Dallas knew the ex was coming back for her. Not a doubt in his mind. And in part, he was to blame. Dallas understood the male ego all too well. He got the competitive nature of men. After all, he was one of those competitive alpha males himself. And as juvenile as it seemed, nothing made a woman more desirable than knowing she was desired by another man. Dallas admitted that may have been part of his initial attraction to Nikki, but now that he’d spent time with her and gotten to know her, he didn’t like the idea of any other men lurking around, wanting to take his place.

But still, even if this incredible woman was free and available and felt a fraction of what he felt for her, he knew it wouldn’t work. Despite Nikki’s being loyal and the kind of girl who wouldn’t run out on you just because things got rocky, deep down Dallas had his doubts. And not about Nikki, but about himself.

Part of him was still that six-year-old boy, standing at the front door, watching his mother walk to her car with his brother in tow. He remembered pressing his palm to the glass and crying out as the two of them drove away, leaving him behind forever. Every Christmas, every birthday he wanted only one thing, and that was for his mother to come back. He waited for the phone calls and cards that never came. Until it was too late. By the time his mother reached out to him, he wasn’t interested. He hadn’t even bothered going to her funeral last year.

He heard the chorus of past lovers and wannabe girlfriends telling him he had
intimacy
issues
. No shit he had intimacy issues. How many times had he looked into a woman’s tear-filled eyes and told her, “I’m sorry, but I’m no good for you. I can’t give you what you need, what you deserve.” He wasn’t proud of this. He knew it was a weakness. A major flaw in his character and the cause of his own loneliness and heartache, but he couldn’t shake it. The fear was greater than his desire to stand up to it.

As much as he loved being with Nikki, he knew his patterns, and he promised himself that he wouldn’t subject her to his bullshit. Suddenly the Antarctica expedition sounded better and better to him. Plenty of daylight, breathtaking landscapes, a chance to document the retreat of the glaciers and make a statement. And not a fashion statement this time. Thinking about it gave him a rush.

But then Nikki came out of her bedroom and with one look thoughts of the ice shelf melted from his mind. So did any thoughts about flowers and his brother. With one glance, all he could think about was Nikki.

“Nikki Norris, you are a gorgeous woman.” Part of him wanted to take her right there in her living room—that was how hot she looked. She wore a smart strapless royal-blue dress that showed off every curve and slit up the back, giving him a glorious view of her never-ending legs. She must have bought that dress especially for tonight, because it was all about the new Nikki. And man-oh-man, it fit like it was made for her. He wanted to take her out for a night she’d never forget. Especially since he had no idea how much more time he’d have to spend with her before her ex came back and took her away from him.

“Shall we go?” He extended his arm and felt his body respond when she touched him. She was that electric.

“Where are you taking me tonight?”

“You’ll see. I have a few special stops in mind that I think you’ll like.” They stepped out in the hall and he held up a finger. “Wait right there.” He ducked into his apartment and returned to the hallway holding a picnic basket he had made up especially for them from Eataly.

“We’re going on a picnic? Really?”

“You might say that.”

It was a beautiful summer night, and he took her down to Millennium Park with its giant steel stage overlooking the sprawling lawn. The Grant Park Orchestra was hosting a special tribute to Frank Sinatra. “Summer Wind” was playing when they arrived. The singer impersonated Ol’ Blue Eyes to perfection. She squeezed his arm in delight.

The lawn was a lush velvety green, and Nikki’s eyes sparkled for him as he reached into the basket and spread out a blanket for them to sit on. The lake was to the east and the magnificent Chicago skyline surrounded them as far as the eye could see. Frank belted out “Strangers in the Night,” followed by “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

Nikki turned to him and smiled. “You have no idea how much I love this. I’ve always wanted to come here, but Matthew…”

She must have noticed the disappointed look on his face because she let her voice trail off. He didn’t want to think or talk about Matthew tonight.

“Really,” she said a moment later, “this is perfect. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you’re happy.” He kissed her enticing lips before he opened a bottle of champagne and brought out some cheese and grapes. The two sat out under the warm evening sky listening to “New York, New York” and “Night and Day.” Nikki nuzzled up against his chest, her soft, flowing hair pressed against his cheek, and the scent of her perfume intoxicating him.

He couldn’t remember ever feeling this good around a woman. To see her enjoying the concert so much, and enjoying him, made his heart swell. Holding her in his arms felt so right to him. He could have stayed with her like that forever. He didn’t even know when this shift happened, but he knew beyond a doubt that he was getting in deep, deeper than he’d expected, deeper than he’d ever gone before.

The sun started to set as the concert ended with “My Kind of Town,” and Dallas stood up and offered Nikki his hand, helping her to her feet. She wore a pair of killer strappy sandals that made him want to drool.

“I hope you’re hungry?” he said.

“Oh, you mean
that
wasn’t dinner?” She pointed to the basket.

“Just you wait.”

For their next stop he took her to NoMI at the top of the Park Hyatt hotel. The maître d’ showed them to a dark and cozy corner table. Dallas thought Nikki had never looked more beautiful, sitting with another glorious view of the city over her shoulder, the candlelight casting a soft glow all around her. The photographer in him wished he had his camera with him.

“You having a good time tonight?” he asked.

“What do you think?” She looked at him with the eyes of a woman who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted. Her confidence was soaring, and he found that beyond hot.

Under the table, her leg was entwined with his. She must have slipped off her shoe, because her felt her bare foot inch up his leg.
Up, up, up
she climbed, reaching his thigh before she teased his crotch. The warmth beneath her toes and the ball of her foot resting on his cock shot sparks through his body. He reached under the table for her foot, massaging her heel as her toes gently rocked back and forth right over the tip of his head.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me, Nikki Norris?”

She leaned in and placed her elbow on the table, her chin balanced on the back of her wrist. “No. Why don’t you tell me.”

He smiled. She was getting bolder. He could see it happening right before his eyes. He liked this side of her, and wondered how this new Nikki would show herself to him sexually. He also liked to think he had something to do with this change in her.

The waiter came by for their order and Dallas released her foot, clearing his throat while she stifled a laugh from behind her menu.

“Would you like me to order for you?” he asked.

“That would be great. Thank you.”

Dallas started them off with a foie gras appetizer, followed by poached pear salads and rack of lamb. He couldn’t take his eyes off her during the entire meal. He couldn’t have even said what they’d talked about, but he knew he found her captivating.

“That was the most amazing dinner I’ve ever had,” she said, leaning in to kiss him as they left the restaurant. “I don’t want this evening to end,” she said when they stepped outside.

“Nikki Norris, we’re just getting started.” He took her hand and led her half a block over to a horse-drawn carriage.

She placed her hand on the muzzle of the regal white Arabian. “Really?” Her eyes lit up as she turned and looked at Dallas.

“Really.”

The Arabian whinnied, and Dallas held out his hand, helping her into the carriage. He climbed in and settled next to her, soaking in the warmth from her body.

“This is so romantic.” She beamed for him. “I love this.”

“I’m glad.”

He felt her squeeze his biceps, her other hand resting on his thigh. It was enough to get him aroused, and he was grateful to be sitting down.

The horse whinnied again as they traveled along the city streets, the sounds of hooves clomping against the pavement. He never thought of himself as a romantic, and honestly, he thought he was immune to all this cheesy stuff, but Nikki made him question that. With his arm around her and her head on his shoulder, he realized something:
So this is how it happens. This is how people fall in love
.

…

Nikki had been simmering all night long, heating up by degrees as their date progressed. Dallas made her feel like she was the most engaging, enchanting woman he’d ever encountered, and even if it was an act, or if he was doing it to try to boost her self-confidence, it was working. Something new was definitely stirring inside her, and she couldn’t wait to get him back to her place.

Standing in the hallway, she reached up and stroked his perfect face, the subtle whiskers just rough enough beneath her fingertips. She lost herself for a moment looking into his dark eyes. God, he was a handsome man.

He cupped his hand over hers, turning his head to kiss her palm. She trailed her fingers down his chest and grabbed hold of his necktie, gripping it in her fist. “Follow me.” She unlocked her front door and slipped inside, still leading him by his tie. He was right behind her with his big, strong hands planted on her hips and his hard-on pressing into her backside.

Her heart raced as she turned to face him. “You were so good to me tonight, Dallas. Now it’s my turn to be good to you.” She loosened his necktie, pulling one end through his collar so it came away in her hand with a sharp snap that made her all the more excited. As she kissed his mouth, exploring him with her tongue, she slowly unbuttoned his shirt. She heard him sigh and it urged her on, moving from his mouth to his neck, right up by his ear, and that garnered an even deeper sigh. Kissing her way down his neck and chest, she paused for a moment, flicking her tongue against his nipple as he moaned, running his fingers through her hair. Right there in her living room she teased him with gentle licks across his stomach, his muscles quivering as she unfastened his belt, unzipped his pants, and slid them down his hips. Commando once again. He was hard and oh so ready for her.

In the past, this was never something she would have initiated, something she would have desired.