LITMIR.BIZ

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was hours before she slept again and noon before she woke. Six hours before Nick and Tony were due. Six hours to be gotten through with nerves stretched taut, her mind restless. More than once she reached for the phone to call Nick and cancel, but each time she hung it back up, labeling herself a coward.

      It was her first date since Sam, and first times were always the hardest. After tonight, she hoped the jitters would go away, although with Nick Verone, it was quite possible—likely, in fact—that they’d only become worse.

      “I can’t do it,” she muttered at last. “I can’t go, if I’m going to jump like a frightened, inexperienced schoolgirl every time the man gets within an inch of me.”

      This time when she picked up the phone, her hand was steady, her determination intact. The resonant sound of Nick’s voice seemed to set off distantly remembered echoes along her spine, but she managed to sound calm and relatively sure of herself when she greeted him.

      “Nick, there’s a problem.” She hesitated, then hurried on. “I really don’t think I’ll be able to go with you tonight after all.”

      “Why?”

      “I’m not feeling very well.” That, at least, was no lie, but she discovered she was holding her breath as she awaited his reply.

      “I’m sorry,” he said, and she could hear the genuine regret, the stirring of compassion. He didn’t for a single instant suspect her of lying. “Is it the flu? Do you need something from the pharmacy? I could run by the grocery store and pick up some soup or something if you need it.”

      His unquestioning concern immediately filled her with shame. She swallowed the guilty lump in her throat. “No, it’s not the flu,” she admitted, closing her eyes so she wouldn’t have to look at herself in the mirror over the phone table. “I just had a bad night last night. I didn’t get much sleep.”

      “Is that all?” Nick’s relief was evident. “Then take a quick nap. It’s only five o’clock now. I’ll give you an extra half hour. We won’t pick you up until six-thirty. We’ll still have plenty of time.”

      “No, really.” She rushed through the words. “I won’t be very good company. I appreciate your asking. Maybe another time.”

      “Now you listen to me,” he said, his voice dropping to its sexiest pitch, sliding over her persuasively. “This won’t be a late night. I promise. Getting out will probably make you feel better. You’ll forget whatever was on your mind, meet some new people, and tonight you’ll catch up on your sleep.”

      Dana could almost envision him nodding his head decisively as he added, “No doubt about it. This is exactly what you need. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

      “But, Nick—”

      “No buts. You’re coming with us. If you’re not ready when we get there, we’ll wait. And what about Tony?” he continued. “You don’t want to disappoint him, do you?”

      Dana felt the pressure build, but oddly she was almost relieved that Nick wasn’t listening to her ridiculous excuses. She had blown this single date out of proportion. Nick was right about her getting out and meeting new people. Maybe it would be the best thing for her to do. Besides, he wasn’t about to let up now that he had her on the ropes. She sighed and conceded defeat. “You really don’t care what kind of sneaky, rotten tactics you use, do you?”

      Nick merely chuckled at her grumbling. “Well, he would be disappointed, wouldn’t he? That’s the unvarnished truth. I was just trying to point that out to you before you made a dreadful mistake that would make you feel guilty for the rest of your life.”

      “Precisely. You knew it would work, unless I was on my deathbed, right?”

      She could practically visualize Nick’s satisfied grin. “It was worth a shot,” he agreed. “Did it work?”

      “It worked. Make it six-thirty. The idea of a nap sounds wonderful.”

      “See you then,” he said cheerfully. “Sleep well.”

      “Sleep well,” she mimicked when she’d replaced the receiver. Blast the man! The only way she’d sleep now would be to get this evening over with. So instead of lying down, she went to the tomato garden and furiously uprooted every weed she could spot. If she was going to have a temper tantrum, it might as well serve a useful purpose. The tantrum felt good, even if it was misdirected. She could just imagine what the townsfolk would say if she pulled the hairs from Nick Verone’s overconfident head just as enthusiastically.

      An hour later, after a soothing bubble bath, she dressed with unusual care, wanting to find exactly the right look for her first social appearance in River Glen. The fact that she was making it on the arm of the town’s most eligible bachelor should have given her self-confidence. Instead, it made her quake.

      Barbecue and bingo hardly called for a silk dress, but jeans were much too casual. She finally settled for a pale blue sleeveless cotton dress that bared the slightly golden tan of her arms but not much else. Its full skirt swirled about her legs. She wore low-heeled sandals, though she had a feeling three-inch heels might improve her confidence. Then she thought of all the times she’d dressed regally in New York and realized the clothes had made no difference at all.

      This time she heard Nick’s car drive up before she saw him. She’d been pacing from room to room, refusing to sit out on the porch, where it might seem she was waiting for him. Nick called through the screen door in back, rather than knocking, and the sound of his low drawl sent a shiver down her spine. Did she feel dread? Anticipation? Did she even know anymore?

      When she came to the door his gaze swept over her appreciatively, then returned to linger on her face. A slow smile lit his rugged features, making him even more handsome.

      “Yet another personality,” he muttered cryptically.

      Dana gave him a puzzled glance. “What does that mean?”

      “Last Saturday you could have been a farmer, all covered with dirt and sweat.”

      She wrinkled her nose. “Sounds attractive. I’m surprised you asked me out.”

      A teasing glint appeared in his tawny eyes. “I knew you’d clean up good. Monday proved it. You could have been working on Wall Street instead of our library in that outfit. The only thing missing was the briefcase.”

      “And now?”

      “I’m not sure. I only wish we were going square dancing, so that skirt could fly up and—”

      “Never mind,” she interrupted quickly. “I get the idea.”

      “I hope so,” he said so softly it raised goose bumps on her arms. Unfortunately, her reaction was all too visible and Nick was rogue enough to take pleasure in it. He shot a very confident grin her way.

      It was going to be a very long evening.

      Despite his compliments and light flirting, Nick had noticed something else when Dana greeted him, something he politely didn’t mention. The woman was exhausted. That story she’d spun on the phone to try to get out of their date hadn’t been as manufactured as it had sounded. Underneath the skillful makeup, her complexion was ashen and there were deep, dark smudges under her eyes. Something was clearly troubling her, but he doubted if she’d bring it up and he had a feeling she wouldn’t appreciate it if he did.

      At Gracie’s, where the tablecloths were plastic and the saltshakers were clogged because of the humidity, huge fans whirred overhead to stir the unseasonably sultry air. As they entered, every head in the place turned curiously to study the three of them with unabashed interest. Dana flinched imperceptibly under the scrutiny, but Nick caught her discomfort and they hurried straight to a table, rather than lingering to exchange greetings. He told himself there would be time enough for introductions at the fire station.

      “So, what’s it gonna be, Nick?” Carla Redding asked, stepping up to the table and leaning down just enough to display her

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