Hot Pursuit - Denise A. Agnew [26]
His cell phone rang, and he grabbed it out of the phone holster on his belt. “Yeah.”
“Yeah? Did your mother teach you to answer a phone that way?” Jake asked.
Vic snorted. “Yeah. What’s up? You guys miss me already?”
“Sorry to bother you, but Marisa had a wild idea right after you left. She called her friends and wants to have a small going away party for you before you leave.”
Surprised, Vic almost didn’t know what to say. “Uh…that’s really nice, but she doesn’t have to do that.”
“I know, but once Marisa gets an idea in her head, it’s not easy to stop her.”
Vic chuckled. “I believe it.”
“Come on. Humor me. I’ll be there and probably Sean, Keith and Mitch.”
Damn. “Wait a minute. Lucy Creed is friends with Marisa, right?”
“Good friends. Why? Are you afraid to be in the same room with her?”
“I might be.”
Jake laughed. “Man up. You’ve been to war. You can handle one woman.”
Vic fell back on the frou-frou bed and stared up at the canopy. “You sure about that?”
“Hell, no. Women can be a hell of a lot more dangerous than a firefight.”
“Tell me about it.”
“We’ll have the party with or without you.”
Vic made an impulsive decision. “I’ll be there. Drop me a note and let me know the time and what to bring.”
“Nothing to bring. You’ll be the guest of honor.”
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been a guest of honor at anything, and he felt humbled beyond words. “Thanks, Jake.”
They signed off and Vic stared at the phone. Then, like a sign from heaven, it rang again.
He answered the phone and discovered it was Lucy.
“Vic.” She sounded breathless. “Are you still in town?”
“Absolutely.”
She sighed, and the sound was weary. Concern touched him and he sat up. “You okay?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“You don’t sound all right.”
She laughed softly, but he heard the uncertainty behind it. Where had the bravado gone? She’d flashed confidence when he’d met her in the bar.
“I need to apologize,” she said.
He stood and paced the room. “About what?”
“For not giving you a clear answer the other day. I’m sorry I was wishy-washy. I know at first we said everything was a one-night stand. Then things were so intense and I started to confuse you with the other guys I’ve known. I shouldn’t have judged you when you said women threw themselves at you.”
Warmth filled him. “I’m sorry too. We jumped into bed so fast. I wanted you too much to think straight.”
“You regret going to bed with me?”
“Are you kidding? No way. Any regrets on your part?”
“None.”
“Want to go to a party Friday night?” he asked on impulse.
He explained Marisa’s idea for a party, all the while hoping Lucy would say yes. He almost held his damned breath waiting for it.
“Marisa already invited me. I’m going.”
He let out his breath. “Awesome.”
Her soft laugh sent a coil of heat through his groin. Jesus, he wanted to see her again. Now. Right now.
“Vic, would you like to come over to my place tomorrow night? For dinner? We could talk over things.”
Hell yeah. He’d talk over anything she wanted if he could see her again. His body reacted as if she’d said he could come over and fuck her. He glanced out the window and saw snow floating down slowly. Damn it, he wanted to see her, but he didn’t want to crowd her either.
“Want some company now?” he asked, unable to silence himself. He glanced at his watch. “I know it’s getting late, but…” He left the idea, or the hint of an idea hanging out there for her to interpret. “If I wait much longer the storm will keep me away.”
“I doubt wild rhinos could keep you away from something you wanted.” She sounded self-assured.
“You got that right.”
“It’s snowing. Supposed to be a blizzard by morning.”
“I can handle it. Unless you don’t want me to come over.”
“I’d love for you to come over.”
Pure enthusiasm in her voice made him