Time Out Read Online Free PDF Page B

Shaw.
She considered letting it go to voice mail, but then she would have
to talk to Nick.
    “Hi there,” she
said, smiling. “How are you?”
    “Better now.
Damn, it’s good to hear your voice. I missed you yesterday.”
    He was so
sweet. Definitely the kind of guy she could fall for if she
intended to stick around. “Did you manage to round up the-” Megan
glanced at Nick, who was listening to her intently. He was probably
the last person Shaw would want to know about his business
challenges, so she asked, “Can I call you later?”
    “Sure, but I
just wanted to firm up our plans for tonight. You wanna grab a beer
at Jimmy’s? We can decide where to go from there. Dinner, movies,
it’s your call.”
    Jimmy’s wasn’t
the kind of place a date would have taken her back home, but it
seemed to be a hot spot in Nashville, and she’d always had a good
time there. “Jimmy’s sounds good. Does eight o’clock work for
you?”
    “Perfect. I
can’t wait to see you, gorgeous.”
    She was still
smiling when she disconnected the call. She saw Nick shooting
daggers at her across the table. “Is there a problem?”
    “No, no
problem.” He got up and reached for his cowboy hat. Jamming it on
his head, he said, “You have a nice day.”
     
    ***
     
    Nick walked
into Sela’s real estate business hoping his friend’s wife hadn’t
stepped out for lunch. The receptionist at the front desk pointed
him toward Sela’s office.
    “Hey there,
pretty lady.” He tapped his knuckles on her open door.
    With a huge
smile, she got up and came around the desk. “This is a nice
surprise. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
    He patted her
tiny baby bump before drawing her into his arms. Even though he was
a few years younger than Sela’s husband, Aiden, their families had
been friends for years. “How’re you feelin’?”
    “Great,” she
said, holding his hands. “Aiden’s being crazy, totally
over-protective. But I can’t say I mind the pampering.” She
winked.
    He chuckled.
“Enjoy it while you can, right?”
    “That’s what I
intend to do.” She pointed at a guest chair as she reclaimed her
swivel chair. “Sit down, tell me what brings you by.”
    Nick had
debated his decision all morning. His family and friends loved to
get into his business, and if they found out he was maneuvering to
keep Megan as their house guest a little while longer, they’d no
doubt question his change of heart. He couldn’t explain it, but if
she moved out, he would have no reason to see her again. He wasn’t
ready to let her go just yet.
    “I hear you’re
tryin’ to help Megan find a place,” Nick said.
    “I am.” Sela
laced her fingers over her stomach. “In fact, I think I may have
found something perfect for her. I was just about to call her when
you walked in.”
    “Can you hold
off on that a bit, Sela?”
    She frowned.
“Why? I thought you were as anxious to have her out of your
parents’ house as she is to leave.”
    “I was, but,
uh, that was before. I’m beginnin’ to wonder if I was a bit too
harsh.”
    A slow smile
spread across Sela’s face. “Go on.”
    He knew his
request would peak her curiosity, but he couldn’t explain it to
her. “We decided to call a truce.” He shook his head when Sela’s
smile widened. “It’s not like that.”
    “Are you sure?
You can’t deny the woman’s gorgeous, Nick.”
    No, he couldn’t
deny that. “Doesn’t matter. She’s seein’ someone.” Not that he
would ever let Shaw Carver stand between him and something he
wanted. Whether it was the Derby trophy or a woman, they both knew
the rules: There were no rules. Win at all costs.
    “Shaw Carver. I
heard.” Sela fanned herself with a glossy brochure. When Nick
raised an eyebrow, she giggled. “Must be the pregnancy
hormones.”
    “Jesus, do I
really need to hear this?”
    Sela wasn’t the
first woman to admit to him she found Shaw attractive. He had to
wonder if Megan saw something in Carver she didn’t see in