Nikki woke to the alarm clock buzzing annoyingly in her ear. Her hand slapped at it a few times before she was successful in hitting the snooze button. Lifting her head, she looked at the clock and groaned. “Dammit! I just closed my eyes. It can’t be ten already.” The room was dark, but she could see the daylight brightly shining around the edges of the room darkening curtains. Dropping her head back down on the pillow, she rolled over into a more comfortable position, but didn’t close her eyes again. Although thoroughly exhausted, she knew she couldn’t go back to sleep, no matter how tempting.
As the room phone on the nightstand rang, she sat up on the edge of the bed then reached over to answer it. “Hello?”
“Hello, Nikki.”
The warm timbre of the voice washed over her, sending the quickening sensation of butterflies to her stomach. Her lips parted in a smile. “Aaron.”
“It’s nice to hear your voice again.”
Her smile grew. “You too.”
“I figured that we could all have lunch at the tavern before going over the files. I’m assuming that you still want to.”
“Yes, I…. Uh, yes, lunch would be perfect.”
“I wasn’t so sure. I figured that your brother may have tried to talk you out of it.”
“He did try, but we’re still on.”
“Good, I’m looking forward to it.”
Nikki could hear the relief in his voice, and her heart skipped a couple of beats. She really was looking forward to seeing him again. “So am I.”
“About last night…I’m sor—”
“Don’t you dare apologize,” she interjected. “I’m not sorry in the least.”
“But your brother—”
“Will get over it. Maybe if Seth had a little R and R he’d…I don’t know,” she laughed. “Maybe not be such an ass all the time.”
A fist pounded on her door. “I heard that!” Seth shouted.
“What was that noise?”
Nikki laughed harder. “Seth must be listening through the door. It serves him right for being a snoop.”
“He’s just protective of you. I can understand that. I feel that way about you myself.”
“You don’t have to be. I’m a grown woman, Aaron.”
“Believe me, I know.”
She felt the heat creep up to her cheeks as his warm voice smoothed over her. He didn’t even say anything suggestive and her body still responded to him. She only wished she had more time to stick around and explore these new feelings she had for this gorgeous stranger. Her mind picked back up, taking her back to that kiss….
“Nikki?”
She reluctantly shook herself out of the daydream. “I’m still here.”
“Maybe when this is all over we could go out.”
Nikki smiled again. “Aaron Wolf, are you asking me out on a date?”
“I am, yes.”
“I’d love that, but—”
“You can’t,” he interjected.
“No, that’s not it at all. I’d love to. What I was going to say was why wait until this is over? Why not tonight? I won’t be in town long, and I don’t want to waste any time when we can be getting to know each other.”
“Tonight, then.”
He asked me out. I can’t believe he really asked me out. She was so excited she was feeling giddy. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too.”
“Okay, I’ll grab the files and Seth and I will meet you at the tavern at twelve-thirty.”
“See you then,” he said, then she heard the soft click of the call being disconnected.
She jumped up from the bed, squealing in happiness. She had her first date in five years, and she couldn’t wait.
Seth banged on the door again. “Let me in, Nikki.”
Nikki danced across the room and unlocked the door to her sour faced brother. “I have a date tonight,” she said playfully.
Seth stormed into the room. “You don’t have time to date,” he said heatedly.
“I’m making time for this one.”
“No, I forbid it.”
Nikki placed her hands on her hips, her own mood souring. “Watch me.” The dare lingered in the air.
“Nikki….” His voice held a hint of warning.
“Look, Seth, you’re my brother, not my keeper. I’m going out with Aaron tonight, and there’s nothing you can say that’s gonna stop me.”
“Nikki, his kind only wants one thing from a beautiful woman.”
Nikki cocked an eyebrow. “And what ‘kind’ would that be?”
Seth shrugged. “An arrogant man.”
“Oh, so I guess that includes you in that category, because you certainly are an arrogant man,” Nikki said smartly. “And what is it that his ’kind,’ as you put it, wants, since you seem to be so all knowing?”
“Don’t be so naïve, Nikki. You know he’s just trying to get into your pants.”
Nikki shrugged. “Just maybe I want that too.”
Seth’s eyes rounded. “Nikki!”
“Don’t pretend to be so shocked, little brother. It probably wouldn’t hurt you to get out a little bit either.”
“I can’t. I’m always having to keep an eye out on you.”
“Don’t do me any favors, and don’t butt in on my business. If you don’t want to go out and have a good time, that’s your business, but I’m going out, and what I do or don’t do is mine.”
“I don’t like this guy, Nikki.”
Nikki regarded her brother. She couldn’t understand his instant dislike for Aaron. Maybe it was two alpha males butting heads, she didn’t know. “I’m sorry you don’t like Aaron, Seth, but I do.”
Seth threw out his hands. “Why him?”
“I told you last night that he makes me feel again. You should be happy for me instead of giving me a hard time about it.”
“Fine,” Seth said in defeat. “But if he hurts you….”
Nikki pulled her brother into a quick hug, then released him. “He’s not going to hurt me.”
“But if he does….”
“If he does, I’ll whoop his ass myself,” she said and grinned.
Seth grinned back, and held up a finger. “I’d pay good money to see that.”
“Yeah, I just bet you would.”
Nikki smiled at her brother as she closed the door to her hotel room. She had the file folders safely tucked in her arm. “I’m ready.”
Seth paused, raked his eyes over her, then raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t smiling; in fact, he looked annoyed. She threw out her free hand, now frowning. “What?” she said defensively, then looked behind her and turned a full circle. “Do I have toilet paper or something stuck to my shoe?”
“No.” He crossed his arms over his chest and continued to stare. “I thought we were working…and I’ve never seen you work in anything like that before.” He gestured toward her outfit. “Honestly, Nikki, you look like you’re going to some fancy dinner or something. Don’t you think you’re overdoing it a bit?”
Nikki felt frustration wash all over her. As bad as she hated to admit it, Seth was right. All she wanted to do was impress Aaron, and she’d changed at least ten times already because she couldn’t decide what she wanted to wear. Normally she wasn’t so indecisive, and this was driving her nuts.
She must have looked like she was going to cry, because Seth’s expression softened. “Nikki…,” he said softly. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt your feelings. You know me. I have no filter and say what’s on my mind.”
Nikki blew out a long breath and felt her whole body sag in defeat. “Okay…I’ll change…again.” She handed Seth the file folders. “I just wanted to give a good impression.”
Seth smiled. “Oh, you’d impress him all right. I’m sure he’d be about as speechless as I was when you came out that door.”
“Ha, ha,” she said sarcastically.
“No seriously, he’d love the outfit…possibly a little too much. You wouldn’t get much work done because he’d be drooling over your every move and wouldn’t be paying any attention to the files. Right now this is work, not play time. Just throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and save that for your date.”
She winced. “Seriously, jeans and a T-shirt? I don’t know….”
Seth laughed at her expression. “You could be wearing an outfit made out of a ratty old flour sack and his eyes would still pop out of his head. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Just change or we’ll be late.”
Seth was right. If she didn’t hurry they would be late. Rushing around her hotel room, she did the fastest change job on record for her, but still took an extra few moments to add accessories to dress it up just a bit. Plain old jeans and a T-shirt were fine for rooting around in cellars and attics, but she was meeting with Aaron, and plain just didn’t cut it. So instead she’d opted for her dress jeans, a pair of stiletto heels, and a flowing tank top. When she walked out of her room two minutes later, Seth just rolled his eyes, then burst out laughing.
“What?” she said defensively.
“Wow!” He laughed harder. “Maybe I should have said to wear a flour sack. It doesn’t look like we’re going to get much work accomplished, but get in the truck. Let’s go.”
“All this teasing doesn’t help my confidence much, bro,” Nikki grumbled as she climbed in the passenger side of the truck.
Seth was still laughing as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot in the direction of the tavern.
“Will you please stop laughing at me?”
“I’m sorry,” Seth said as he tried to calm his mirth. “I’ve just never seen you this flustered before. It’s refreshing.” He pulled into the tavern’s parking lot and parked next to Aaron’s black GMC.
Seth was right, she was flustered, and Nikki was having serious second thoughts about her outfit. Refreshing, my ass. Aaron’s going to think I’m a total dimwit. “Take me back to the hotel,” she blurted out before Seth could cut the engine.
Seth turned sharply to look at her, all laughter gone. “What for?”
“I…I need to change.”
Seth barked out another round of laughter as he shook his head and turned the truck off. “Too late, sweet cheeks,” he said playfully as he opened the truck door. “It’s show time.”
She watched her brother walk to the front of the truck and motion her to follow. “Ah, come on, Seth…please?”
He laughed again and pointed to her right.
“Hello, Nikki.”
Nikki caught her breath in surprise. “Aaron!” His dazzling smile left her feeling even more flustered. “I…uh…I wasn’t expecting—”
He opened the truck door for her and helped her out. “You are exactly what I was expecting.” Aaron brushed his lips lightly over her cheek in greeting.
“Uh, that didn’t come out right.” Nikki wanted to crawl into a hole and hide, but instead managed a big smile. “You must think I’m an idiot.” She bit her bottom lip and shrugged as his smile grew. “Of course I was expecting to see you. It’s just been a strange morning…and I’m babbling….” She trailed off.
Aaron draped his arm over her shoulders and started to lead her toward the door. “What’s wrong, Nikki?”
“Wrong?”
He stopped and looked into her eyes. “You weren’t this nervous last night, nor this morning over the phone.”
“Oh.”
“Are you having second thoughts about our date?” He put his forehead against hers. “Although I really want to go out with you, you are free to change your mind.”
“No, I still want to go.”
“Okay. Then tell me what happened between our phone call and now that’s causing you to act like a scared rabbit.”
She felt the heat creep to her cheeks. “It’s really stupid.”
His smile returned. “Try me.”
“I was very excited when you asked me out.”
Aaron nodded. “Was?”
“Am! I mean, I am excited about our date.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Here it is in a nutshell, and to my mortal shame. The truth. I haven’t been out on a real date in five years, since before my parents were killed. Seth and I have been so busy with this vendetta thing that I’ve not really even thought much about dating. To say that I’m a bit nervous is a huge understatement.” She sighed again. “I wanted everything to be perfect, and then Seth made fun of me for what I was wearing, so I had to go change. He told me just to put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt―I don’t do plain anything—and he laughed at me again when I came outside in this.” She motioned to her outfit. “I know I’m babbling, but—”
Aaron lips covered hers, effectively silencing her excuses. His mouth devoured hers, taking all that she’d give him as he pulled her tighter into his embrace. Nikki melted into his arms and moaned as the familiar heat she’d felt the night before rekindle between them.
He barely pulled his lips from hers. “You’re beautiful. Don’t ever let anyone convince you otherwise.”
She smiled and kissed him again. “Wow…that was great. Thank you.”
He laughed softly. “Feel better now?”
She joined him in laughter. “You know? Surprisingly I do.”
“Are you two coming inside or not?” Seth said from the open doorway.
“Just ignore him…I do,” she said, and laughed harder.
“Nikki, come on,” Seth said, a bit louder.
Aaron pulled her with him toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
“Okay.”
“It’s about time,” Seth said.
Aaron pointed to a back corner booth. “I have my laptop over there.” He looked at Seth. “If it’s okay with you, we’ll eat first, then get to your files.”
“What’s the computer for?” Seth asked.
“I figured it would help me show you this area a little better than just telling you about it.” He motioned for them to proceed to the table. “This way we’ll have real photos to compare to the ones in your files.”
“That will be helpful,” Nikki said as she slid into the booth, and Aaron sat down beside her. Seth sat across from them.
A young woman approached the table and handed them menus. “Hi Aaron…and Aaron’s friends?”
“This is my sister, Dibe,” Aaron said. “Dibe, this is Nikki and Seth Rogers.”
Nikki smiled. “Hi, Dibe, it’s nice to meet you.” She turned to Aaron. “Your sister works for you?” Dibe raised an eyebrow at that statement.
“My mother and Dibe run this place. I was just filling in last night because my mother had to be away.”
“Oh,” Nikki said, somewhat confused, “I thought this place was yours. What do you do?”
“Yes, Aaron, tell her what you do,” Dibe said sarcastically.
Aaron frowned at his sister. “I am the leader of our small tribe.”
“Among other things,” Dibe said under her breath, then smiled. “What can I get for you?”
Seth frowned as he looked over the menu. “I don’t recognize most of this stuff on the menu. Is this wild game?”
“Yes, some of it. The majority of the menu is local cuisine,” Dibe said. “But if green chili stew, bison ribs, or the numerous Mexican dishes don’t suit your fancy, we do serve burgers and fries too. They’re just not on the menu.”
“Ah, burgers and fries, the universal language,” Seth said. “I’m not feeling too adventurous today. I’ll take the burger.”
Nikki giggled. “I believe I’ll take a little trip to the wild side today and try the green chili stew.”
Dibe smiled and gave her brother a pointed look. Nikki saw the exchange, but didn’t think much about it.
“You ought to venture out a little more, bro, and experience something new,” Nikki said to Seth.
Seth winced. “I’d rather not.”
“Wild side it is for the beautiful lady,” Dibe repeated, and laughed to herself. “Aaron?”
He smiled at Nikki. “I’m feeling a little wild myself. I’ll have the stew too.”
“The wild side for Aaron as well,” Dibe said, then smiled at Nikki. “Do you mind if I borrow your date for a couple of minutes? He’s wanted in the kitchen.”