For the next few weeks, Amy didn't see much of Nick, and when she did it seems he was always busy and heading somewhere in a hurry. She had the distinct feeling that he was avoiding her. The creep. What was wrong with him anyway? They had had a great time together and now her body was thirsty for more of his hard and delicious body.
Instead he seemed to have gotten scared, and damn if she could figure out what had him spooked. Maybe he hadn't believed her when she said she was on the pill. The stupid man. Oh well, she would not be reduced to begging -- at least not yet. In a few more weeks she would probably be desperate, but right now she concentrated on getting her kitchen fixed.
Both Zelma and Tess had stepped in and helped her put up the new wallpaper and paint the walls in a lovely cream colour. Her new stove was in place and the end result was magnificent -- if she should say so herself. She stood admiring her brand new kitchen.
"Just perfect," she murmured.
Now she only needed to paint the skirting boards in a matching colour, and change the door knobs of the cupboards and then she would be done. Phew. It was quite a daunting task to redecorate, but the end result would be worth the while. Even so, she had learned never to do any more writing while cooking. One accident was more than enough on her résumé, she chuckled.
Although she was relieved that no one had yet seemed to figure out how she had managed to burn down her own kitchen - with her being in the same room and all. Well, except for her friends, but they would keep their mouth shut. Thank god for small favours, she smiled.
But most of all she was glad Nick hadn't figured it out yet. If he ever did he would likely report it back to her brother and then she would never hear the end of it. Jeff was an annoying big brother in that respect, and although he meant well, he could be terribly annoying once he set his mind to it.
Her door bell rang suddenly and she almost fell off the chair she was standing on. Damn it, what now? After Nick had decided to avoid her like she was some kind of plague, she hadn't had many disturbances, which suited her just fine. It was probably the main reason why the redecoration had been completed so quickly. She dried off her paint-smudged hands on her jeans and went to open. The door bell rang again in an insistent and loud noise that made her snarl loudly.
"Wait a second, will you? Oh, it's you again," she started as she opened the door to find Nick standing outside, wearing his usual expression of casual arrogance, as if she was one of the usual suspects he was out to question.
"Ever heard about using the peep-hole before you open the door?" he asked gruffly. "It could have been anyone standing out here. Looking to rob you, or rape you or whatever suited my fancy," he snarled at her.
"Yes, Nick," she said with a sigh. "I know, I know. I simply forgot, all right? Now, what was it you wanted this time?"
Instead he roamed his eyes all over her. Taking in her snug jeans and worn t-shirt. Both smudged with paint and glue.
"Let me guess," he started. "You're making a cream-coloured kitchen, right?"
"How did you guess, Sherlock?" she asked ironically. "No wonder the crime rates are so low in this city when we have such intelligent police officers."
He frowned at her, before moving closer until it felt as if he was surrounding her, his mouth just a fraction from her own. Her eyes widened and she felt the heat radiating from him.
"Careful now, honey," he murmured. "Or I might be tempted to strip-search you."
She swallowed hard before replying. "On what grounds, Detective?"
"Suspicion. You're obviously hiding something," he chuckled.
"Like what?"
"Don't know yet." He raised his hand and touched her face softly, before roaming his fingers slowly down her cheek and down to her throat, aiming for her cleavage. Her breath hitched and her heartbeat continued in a faster pace. "But I'm going to find out," he said hoarsely as his eyes darkened with desire.
She stared dazedly at his eyes for a while. Finally she managed to get a hold on herself again and she took a step back and away from his spell. Taking a deep breath at the same time. What was he trying to do? First, he had avoided her like the plague and now he didn't seem to be able to get close enough? Something was not right here. He wanted something. That was for sure.
"What do you want, Nick?" she said icily, trying to hold on to her anger with all her might.
"Ah, you know that car of yours...," he said slowly.
"Yes? What about it?"
"You're blocking mine -- again. It seems you're in desperate need of some driving classes if your parking is anything to go by."
"Maybe I don't care about the parking," Amy suggested. "And can't you just use your impressive skills behind the wheels and wheedle yourself out of there?"
"Nope, not unless I put on my Superman uniform and lift my car out of the parking lot," Nick said teasingly. "You're parked right in front of my boot."
"All right. Let me just get my keys."
As they walked down to the garage, Amy continued. "So what's the rush about anyway? Are you going to work at this hour?"
"No, I'm going bowling with Rob. He's just been kicked out by his latest girlfriend."
"Oh, dear. And now you're going to compare notes and drown your sorrows in bowling balls and beer?" Amy asked ironically.
"Not exactly. I let you leave, remember?"
"You
let
me? As far as I recall, we had a night of mutual enjoyment with no strings attached. There's no reason why two people can't have consensual sex once in a while," she droned on.
"Once, yes, but whenever you feel like having another go, I will not let you leave that easily."
"You won't?" Amy stopped in shock. "Who says you can decide what I do or don't do?"
