Into the Fire - Leslie Kelly [68]
"At the academy?" Venus said without missing a beat. "I don't think you could handle it, little boy."
"You might be surprised by what I can handle," Raul replied as he plopped into the vacant seat next to Venus.
"Better luck next time, pal," Nate said as he brushed past, then sat down next to Lacey. Mr. Roving Eyes quickly walked away.
"My, my, the people you run into in this place," Lacey said with a grin as she sipped her champagne.
"You set this up intentionally."
She shrugged. "You'll never prove it."
"It worked. I was ready to pound that first guy into mashed potatoes if he touched you again."
"Well, I guess I should admit I envisioned voodoo dolls and stick pins when I saw Miss Double D fawning all over you."
He chuckled. "So we're jealous. I have to confess that's never happened to me with anyone but you. What does that prove?"
She paused, holding his stare. "Maybe you want me all to yourself until we finish what we started?"
He waited before answering. "I don't think it's just that. This isn't about male ego. I think there's more to it."
Lacey almost held her breath. "Like what?"
He took a long time drinking his beer, then looking around the room. Finally, he leaned close to Lacey and tenderly smoothed her hair back. When he ran his fingers across her cheek, Lacey shivered at the contact, fighting not to close her eyes and moan. "Nathan?" she prompted.
"I don't think I'll tell you yet," he whispered, his breath warm and arousing against her skin. He nibbled her earlobe, nearly bringing her off the seat. "I'll tell you next Friday. After we meet our deadline."
* * *
Friday couldn't come soon enough for Lacey. She worked like one possessed all week, and by the time she'd finished typing her article at ten o'clock Thursday night, she felt completely exhausted. She considered it the best thing she'd ever written. She figured it was definitely going to raise some eyebrows, though. Including J.T.'s.
When the phone rang at eleven, she knew full well who was calling. "Are you finished?" she said as soon as she answered.
"Not quite," Nate admitted with a chuckle. "You?" Lacey curled in her bed.
"Uh-huh. I'm beat."
"Wish I was there to give you a back rub."
She nearly purred at the thought. "Rain check?"
"Absolutely. Tomorrow night. After the show."
Lacey had nearly forgotten about their plans for Friday night. She and Nate were scheduled to appear on his sister's radio show, "Night Whispers." Not for research, since their articles would be turned in already, but for promotion. J.T. was scheduled to phone in for an on-the-air interview.
"I'll see you tomorrow then. At the radio station."
"And then?"
She smiled. "Your place."
"I'm counting on it," he replied with vehemence.
Lacey hand-delivered her article directly to J.T.'s office the next day. Though he was out, she sat behind his desk, grabbed some paper and wrote him a note. "Here you go. Thanks for the eye-opening assignment. I learned a lot. Don't forget our deal."
She took the rest of the afternoon off. As she drove to her favorite hair and nail salon for some serious primping, Lacey flipped on the stereo. She popped in a Rod Stewart CD. "Tonight's the night," she sang along, pleased at the appropriateness of the music. Yes, tonight was definitely the night. After three weeks of foreplay, she was more than ready to get back to basics with Nate Logan. In his bed. In his arms. "In his life," she mused.
The past three weeks really had been eye-opening for Lacey. She'd loved the challenge of their assignment and the verbal sparring in which they'd engaged. She'd loved his stupid jokes, his neck rubs, his constant good humor, not to mention their late-night phone calls and the mornings he'd show up with fresh bagels. She'd loved the way she felt when she looked across her office and saw him standing in the doorway, leaning against the jamb, smiling at her. She loved … Nate Logan. Truly, madly, with her whole heart.
The sexual tension had been overwhelming. But somehow Lacey had survived it, moving beyond it to enjoy