LITMIR.BIZ

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ready.” He thought about the light-colored carpet and glanced again at the bright red sauce she wore from head to toe. “Slip your shoes off out here and I’ll clean them while you shower.”

      He helped her balance while she blindly tugged the red leather mock cowboy boots off. Colin noted her tiny feet and slender ankles.

      Sandra appeared just as he started to direct her through the door. “Here you go.” She tucked the washcloth into Nikki’s hand.

      Colin looked at the mess he’d made and back at Sandra. “It’s in her eyes and hair. Do you mind if she showers?”

      “My thought exactly. I set towels out on the floor already, so come on in.”

      “Are you sure it’s that bad? I need to be at work in an hour,” Nikki said, still blinded.

      “Trust us, you’ll want to get that off as soon as possible.” Sandra led her into the privacy of the master bath and Colin returned to the yard. Jared had finally retrieved the ribs from the dog and was examining her jaw.

      “Is Liz okay?” Colin asked as he wiped the spatters from Nikki’s boots.

      “Yeah,” Jared said from inside the fenced kennel. “I’m just making sure she didn’t get any bone slivers stuck in her cheeks. Luckily I got all but one rib from her before she could eat more. I’m sorry about this.”

      “Who can blame her, the food smelled delicious.”

      Jared locked the kennel gate behind him, before saying goodbye to a departing couple. “Sorry to disrupt the party, everyone.” He shrugged. “The fireworks should be starting any time now. Have a seat and enjoy.” Despite the welcoming invitation, the guests expressed their thanks and left.

      Colin and Jared carried food into the kitchen and put it away while they waited for Nicole to finish showering. The water ran and ran. Sandra spread the splotchy jeans across the kitchen table and started scrubbing. “I can’t get them washed before she leaves, and mine won’t fit her, so I’ll just have to spot-clean them for now.” She scrubbed until the only remnant was a wet circle or two. Then she threw them into the dryer. “Her blouse is ruined, and the jean jacket is probably history, too.” Sandra heaved a sigh. “I can’t believe Lizzy did such a thing.”

      They heard the water turn off and Sandra ran to the laundry room, then disappeared with Nikki’s jeans. A few minutes later, both women returned. Nikki’s silky hair was pulled to the top of her head in a ponytail and the whites of her eyes were beet-red. He wasn’t sure if she’d been crying or if the hot-pepper seasoning had burned them, or both. Sandra asked Jared for a baseball cap.

      “All of mine are old and d—” Jared began.

      Colin interrupted. “I have some from the radio station in my car. Let me get you one.” He ran to his vehicle and returned a few minutes later, wishing he could have done more to make the situation right. There were faded circles on her jeans where Sandra had scrubbed the barbecue sauce from the denim. Colin handed the cap to her.

      “This seems a little out of order, but I thought I’d introduce you to Nikki Post,” Sandra said.

      “Yeah, we’ve met.” He hoped she hadn’t heard his remark about the women Jared had set him up with, or if she had, that she’d forgotten by now.

      Nikki looked confused and more than a little wary. She didn’t offer her hand in return. “Hello again.” She slipped her feet into her boots, ignoring him.

      He looked at both of the hosts, who were blatantly studying the interaction. “I’m really sorry about this, Nicole,” he said, wishing someone would send him a lifeline from the awkward silence.

      “It’s Nikki.”

      He felt as if Jared had dumped a cooler full of ice-cold sports drink over his head. “It’s a small world, Nikki. We seem destined to run into each other…literally. Please accept…”

      Nikki’s voice softened. “No need apologizing, accidents happen. Thanks for the clothes, Sandra. I won’t have time to change before work, so I’ll bring them back to you at the gym.”

      Despite her brush-off, he could at least make an attempt to be cordial. “You didn’t happen to write the article on the homeless shelter in this morning’s paper, did you?”

      Her tanned skin turned pale. “No, I’m an intern, remember? I’m sure that went to Gary, our local reporter.” She eased herself away just as the fireworks display started with a series of loud explosions and a shower of colorful sparks. Nikki paused to look. “I’m bouncing between proofreading and copyediting right now, so I don’t write the articles.”

      Something didn’t make sense. Why had an intern who was still proofreading attended a board meeting? “I see. How much longer do you have in your internship?”

      She shied away, looking even more like a frightened puppy. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I’m running very late.”

      “I realize that. You might mention my concern to Mr. Chapman. I’m sorry, maybe another time.” He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest.

      She smiled politely. “Enjoy the fireworks, Mr. Wright.” Nikki turned to Jared and Sandra, thanking them before making a quick escape.

      Jared punched him playfully on the shoulder. “What are you thinking, man? She’s an intern. She has no pull with old man Chapman.”

      He watched Nikki climb into an older-model sedan and shook his head. He had to admit, she didn’t look or act like the typical money-hungry dates Jared usually set him up with, and he couldn’t imagine anyone hiring such a meek woman as a reporter for the city’s largest newspaper. Still, there was something intriguing about Nikki Post. “I wouldn’t bet on that one.”

      Nikki took a deep breath and closed herself inside the compact car. What a mess. She felt her face flush just thinking about what Colin must think of her after seeing the tantrum she had thrown over the car breaking down. She’d been dressed in her worst sweats, hiding under a baseball cap and just getting over the flu the day she’d hidden from him at the gym. How could he have even recognized her? Now this.

      What an impression I must have made. After his comments about rich girls with no hearts, she wished they’d never met. It was far easier to admire his lean athletic build, drop-dead smile and well-groomed appearance without the tainted memories.

      The shower had been the perfect opportunity to let the tears flow. The accident had sent her back to spring semester of her freshman year of college when she’d overheard her dance instructors. Nicole is nothing more than a spoiled, chubby wannabe. Someone should have had the courage to tell her she had no future in dancing long ago.

      The incident had been the start of a dark time in her life that she’d tried to forget. She had literally stopped eating, begun exercising, lost more than she had gained since arriving at school and danced even harder to prove them wrong. The final blow came during the audition for an exclusive dance troupe. Torn ligaments and extensive surgeries ended her dream of a professional dancing career.

      The injury gave Nikki’s advisor the necessary ammunition to force her to drop her dance major. Friends encouraged her to find another aspect of performance until the injury healed, but she couldn’t carry a tune and she had no acting talent. She had taken the semester off and sunk into her own self-pity.

      She looked over her shoulder, to the shadows of Colin and Jared next to the house with the fireworks behind them. She had recognized Colin’s magnetic smile immediately and tried to leave. Suddenly she felt angry and confused, just as she had on the day her dreams were ripped out from under her.

      Nikki’s hand automatically turned the key in the ignition and then turned on the radio as she pulled away from the party. “Just find another dream,” she whispered, wishing she could fend off her skepticism. “How difficult can that be?” She got onto the interstate, barely noticing the fireworks. Her mind wandered back to the doubt she’d seen in Colin’s

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