Page 49 of Too Good to Be True

Lowering her voice, she said, “We’re just coworkers.”

“That’s only slightly more believable than ‘just friends.’”

“Well, it’s true,” she said adamantly. What’s taking Nick so long? And where in the hell is Kelsey?

Then she heard Kelsey’s laughter coming from the kitchen. She was probably holding court with Hudson, and maybe Nick too. Knowing how her friend loved to talk, she figured Nick might be a while. Rather than endure Jared’s curious stare, she excused herself to go to the bathroom.

She’d entered the hallway just as one of the other female guests exited the bathroom. They smiled at each other in passing, although Stacy struggled to remember the woman’s name. Typical of old age, she thought as she went into the bathroom and locked the door.

She used the facilities, washed her hands, and then studied herself in the mirror above the sink. Her eyes had that hazy look courtesy of the alcohol and maybe the company. Sitting so close to Nick had stirred something in her, something that was better left dormant, at least where he was concerned.

She took some deep breaths, flicked off the light, and then pulled open the door. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she smacked up against a hard male chest. Even though it was dark in the hallway, she had no doubt whose chest it was.

“You okay?” Nick said, clutching her hips to steady her.

“I’m fine. Sorry I bumped into you.”

“I’m not.”

Huh? Had she heard him correctly? Hearing loss was also common in old age. When was the last time I had my hearing checked?

“Better me than a stranger, right?”

“Oh. Right.” Then she realized he hadn’t let go of her hips, nor had she moved away. They were standing in the small, dark hallway alone, at least for the moment.

“I went to bring you another beer, but someone else was sitting in your spot, so I came to look for you.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to.”

She swallowed hard and tried to read his expression in the dark, but her eyesight wasn’t what it used to be.

“Kelsey mentioned that you haven’t eaten, and she was worried you might have gotten dizzy or something.”

Kelsey had put him up to this. That figured.

“I’m fine, but thanks.” She’d spoken too soon, though, because suddenly she felt dizzy and started to sway.

“Whoa,” Nick said, digging his fingers into her hips.

In her woozy state, she grabbed onto the first thing she thought to—his shoulders. If someone came upon them, they’d probably think she and Nick were slow dancing.

“I think you better lie down.”

“I’ll be okay. Just give me a minute.”

He took a step closer, presumably to keep her upright, and their chests bumped. She was too embarrassed to appreciate it, though.

Then Kelsey came around the corner. “Ohmigod. What happened?”

“Shhh,” Stacy hissed. It was bad enough that she’d made a spectacle of herself with Nick. She didn’t want everyone at the party knowing what a lightweight she was.

“You got dizzy, didn’t you? I told you she hadn’t eaten,” Kelsey said to Nick.

“Is there somewhere she can lie down for a few minutes?”

“Of course. She can use Jared’s room.”