Virgin Thief Page 4

  Ten minutes later, she opened the café door. Only a few customers sat at different booths drinking coffee and waiting for their breakfast to be delivered.

  Dot stood at the counter, holding a mug. When she saw Chloe, she smiled. “Hey, hon, what brings you out so early on a Sunday morning?"

  She walked over to the counter and slid on a stool. “I need some caffeine desperately."

  "Coming right up.” Dot circled around and grabbed a mug and glass carafe of coffee from the counter behind her. She filled the mug and sat it in front of Chloe. “You like it black, right?"

  Wrapping her hands around the warm mug, she nodded. The same young waitress that had waited on her the other day pushed through the swings doors, carrying plates loaded with pancakes and bacon.

  Dot studied her over the rim of her mug. “Bad night?"

  Bad night was putting it mildly. “Yeah, you could say that."

  "Do you feel like talking about it?"

  Dot had been around the block with two marriages behind her. Her mother, on the other hand, had been a one man woman. She lifted a shoulder.

  Dot circled around the counter and sat down next to her. “Okay, let's see now. You used one of those home pregnancy tests and the color was not the color you were looking for. Hell, I don't remember which color is which."

  Chloe glanced at her old friend. Dot's short blonde curly hair, framed a pretty face. She wasn't exactly sure of Dot's age, but the woman still had it going on. “Nope. Not pregnant."

  "That narrows it down to man problems. Because you looked like you wrestled with the bed sheets all night. Alone."

  She blew steam away from her mug before she took a sip. “Yeah, I spent the night alone.” What would have happened if she and Nick had come together, without her little plan of revenge? Would a relationship develop or would another one night stand have occurred? Now she would never know.

  She needed to clear her conscience if that was possible. “I did something I'm not very proud of.” She had never considered she'd feel ashamed and embarrassed by her actions.

  "Ah, hon, we all do things we're not proud of on occasion. That's what makes us human."

  "I know, but this was deliberate.” Premeditated.

  "You really have me curious now,” Dot said.

  Taking another sip of coffee to fortify herself, she said. “I teased a man last night, which I've never done before."

  "Nick Logan."

  Chloe turned to look at Dot so fast, her neck popped. “How did you know?” She reached up and rubbed the side of her neck.

  Dot laughed. “After running this place for over twenty years, I have eyes in the back of my head. I saw you two all cozied up at the counter the other day.” She seemed lost in thought for several moments. “Have Nick and you been in touch before you both moved back here?"

  Chloe shook her head. “I haven't seen him since the summer I graduated.” Somehow they had missed each other over the following summers. Because as she understood it, Nick had clerked in a law office in Portland for his summer jobs. And on all her visits home over the years, they had never bumped into each other.

  Dot slid her empty mug on the counter. “Now that was really fast, considering you just got back in town. Even in my younger days, I didn't work that fast."

  "There's more to than that. We ... um ... kind of have a history."

  Dot's brows drew together. “I don't remember you two dating back in high school or after. Besides, he was older than you. Your mother never would have allowed it."

  Her mother hadn't allowed her to date until she was sixteen. She hadn't been super strict, just cautious about her only daughter's well-being. Oh, yeah, her mother would have forbidden her to get involved with Nick at fifteen. Besides, when she first noticed him he already had a girlfriend.

  Chloe's fingers tightened around the mug handle. “We slept together right before he returned to school.” It was out. Her dirty little secret was out.

  "Holy shi—, I mean holy whatever."

  "It's okay, Dot, you can cuss in front of me."

  Dot laid her arm over Chloe's shoulders. “Knowing you and the way Pam was, you had to have been a virgin."

  "Yeah."

  "Did he turn on the old charm and seduce you into bed?

  Chloe tilted her head, looking at Dot and saw the concern in her friend's eyes. “I never told him."

  "Wait a minute. You're telling me, he didn't know it was your first time?"

  "That's exactly what I'm saying."

  Dot squeezed her shoulder. “Were you drunk? I know the kids liked to party by the river. Heck, they still do. How they get their beer, I have no idea."

  "I wasn't drunk. I went to those parties, but I always drank Coke."

  "Was Nick drunk?"

  If she could be honest with herself for once about him, she remembered he wasn't drunk. The taste of beer had been on his breath. While making love he'd been gentle, passionate, urgent and steady handed. “No, not really."

  Dot dropped her arm, and jumped off the stool to get the coffee pot. She refilled their mugs before she returned to her stool. “I don't understand why you didn't tell him. A girl's first time, especially a teenage girl, should be special."

  "I don't know. I'd had the hots for him for years, ever since we moved here."

  Dot hooked two fingers around the mug handle. “So you went your separate ways until you saw him the other day?"

  Chloe nodded. “He said he'd call and write, but he never did."

  Dot patted her hand. “You know that's a standard line for young guys at that age. Hell, it's a standard line for some forty year olds."

  "I know. I knew it back then ... but it took years to get over him.” Now that she and Nick were in touch again, she realized she'd never really gotten over him. If she had, she wouldn't be pouring her heart out to Dot and feeling miserable. Last night would have given her the satisfaction she'd hoped for. “I was really bad last night. I got him all hot and bothered, and then left him high and dry."

  "Uh ... oh. Men don't take kindly to that. It's not really their fault. It's just the way they're wired."

  "Nick said it wasn't over between us. I mean, when he left my house he was pissed."

  "I saw the way he was looking at you the other day. Looks like there's more here than meets the eye."

  She didn't have a clue as to how Nick felt about her. Oh, he definitely had the hots for her but as far as his feelings for her, other than sexual ones ... “I don't know how I'm going to manage to avoid him. Turner has grown, but it's still a small town."

  "You can't avoid him, hon.” Dot winked at her. “Besides, I thought you looked like a cute couple sitting at the counter together."

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right."

  "Nick has a lot going on. He's smart, accomplished, has money and he's easy on the eyes."

  She didn't care about Nick's money, she had her own. Besides, it didn't matter, since nothing was ever going to happen between them again. Chloe decided she needed to suck it up where Nick Logan was concerned.

  Chapter Six

  Monday morning, Nick slowly cruised by Chloe's gift shop. The store wasn't on his normal route to his office. When he saw the closed sign in the window, he cursed under his breath and kept going.

  Because of her he hadn't slept for the last two nights. A cold shower and his hand Saturday night hadn't helped much, either.

  He wanted Chloe and bad. He'd never forgotten her after he'd finished school and moved on with his life. When he'd run into her at Dot's, some illogical emotion had sprouted to life.

  Rolling his truck to a stop in front of the café, he climbed out and walked inside. In dire need of strong coffee and a good breakfast, he sidled over to the counter. Before he made it to a stool his gaze landed on Chloe. She sat in a corner booth with her back to the room.

  Surprised when his heart rate speeded up, he hesitated. The only time his adrenaline pumped was right before a trial, when he strode into the court
room, briefcase in hand, ready to do battle.

  Nick walked over to her booth and sat down across from her. Eyes widening in shock, she stared at him. “Morning, Chloe."

  Her hand holding the coffee mug trembled as she set it down on the table. “Are you here to serve me a subpoena?” Her voice quavered slightly, too.

  Feeling the guilt wrapping itself around him again like a tight vice, he shook his head.

  "Morning, Nick."

  He hadn't even noticed Dot come over to the table with a pot of coffee in one hand and water glass in the other. Turning over his mug, he looked up at her. “Morning, Dot. I'll have pancakes and bacon."

  "I can see you and Chloe have the same taste. That's what she ordered, too.” Dot winked at him.

  "What a coincidence.” Nick unzipped his jacket and took it off.

  "Yeah, isn't it?” Chloe skewered him with a look.

  It was obvious she'd recovered from the shock of him joining her, but her expression revealed her irritation. While Dot hurried off to fill his order, Nick picked up his mug. “How are you?"

  "I've never been better. And now that you've joined me for breakfast, uninvited, I might add, I'm floating on cloud nine."

  He leaned back against the booth. “Why the sarcasm? You got what you wanted the other night. Payback."

  Averting her eyes, she wrapped her hands around her mug. It was clear, he'd struck a chord with her. Any other woman that had pulled the tease stunt on him, he would have crossed her name and number out of his little black book. So why wasn't he doing that with Chloe? Probably because he deserved it. She had managed to catch him off guard in more ways than one.

  She took a small sip of coffee before eyeing him over the rim of the mug. “Now we're even. Like I said the other night. End of story."

  Not if he had any say in the matter. “I'm of the opinion, the story hasn't even been written yet."

  "Excuse me?"

  "We had one night together years ago.” He lifted a shoulder. “And the other night...” Saturday night had been a bombshell for him. When she'd acted like she wanted to play, it's a wonder he hadn't creamed his jeans.

  Setting her mug down, she leaned toward him. “The other night is history, too. Over, done, finished, kaput."

  He bent his upper body over the table almost touching her nose. “I don't think so. Remember I had my hand between your legs."

  Immediately her cheeks turned crimson and Nick wondered if she might damn well spit in his eye.

  Before either of them could say anything, Dot appeared with their breakfast.

  "Soup's on.” She slid a plate in front of each of them.

  "Thanks.” He noticed how Dot's eyes narrowed as she watched Chloe.

  "Everything okay?” Dot asked.

  "Just peachy,” Chloe said through clenched teeth.

  Nick picked up the syrup bottle and offered it to Chloe first. “Yeah, everything is great."

  "Well ... then,” Dot said. “If you need anything else holler."

  He nodded as Chloe snatched the syrup bottle out of his hand.

  When she finished slathering syrup over the stack of steamy pancakes, her expression shouted she wanted to throttle him with it. He reached across the table, brushing her fingers as he took it out of her hand. Safer for him if the bottle was in his hand.

  She raised her fork and pointed it at him. “There's lots of empty seats at the counter."

  He also got the impression she wouldn't mind stabbing him with the fork. “I'm perfectly comfortable here."

  Since he was an attorney, he was well schooled in how to read people. Chloe had been out for his blood the other night. The thing was she'd been just as turned on as him. Anger and vulnerability showed in her expression and actions as she nibbled on a slice of bacon.

  While Nick dug into his breakfast, Chloe merely picked at hers. The sexual tension between the two of them was so thick and heavy, he felt uncomfortable. Sexual tension had never bothered him before. In fact, he'd always enjoyed that part of a relationship with a woman. He glanced across the table at her. She glared back at him. “You can tie me up again and have your way with me.” He'd dreamed about Chloe having her way with him.” His cock grew at the thought of her actually doing just that.

  Chloe shook her head. “Sorry, that's not going to happen. Nothing is going to happen between us."

  "You can deny it till the moon turns green, but you want me as much as I want you."

  Her answer was to snatch the last piece of bacon off her plate, all the while pinning him with a murderous glare.

  "I didn't lose very many cases back in Chicago,” Nick said.

  "Bully for you."

  A grin tilted up the corners of his lips. He'd never known that young, innocent girl pumped such fire through her veins. Hell, he'd hardly known her at all, just that he'd found her cute and sexually desirable, always dressed so neatly with every hair in place. Problem was, he wanted to get to know her now in every sense of the word. The Biblical definition being first on the list. “Why don't we go back to my original suggestion?"

  She waved the strip of bacon in front her. “First suggestion? What in the hell are you talking about? I didn't know there was a first suggestion."

  Oh, he'd definitely had her agitated which made him grin again.

  "What's so damn funny?"

  He polished off his breakfast first and let her fume. After he finished, he pushed his plate to the side and propped his elbows on the table. “You're sexier than hell when you're pissed. And my first suggestion was you can tie me up again and have your way with me."

  "No deal."

  He lifted his mug. “Remember the night we hooked up? At that party out at the river."

  Chloe lifted her chin. “That night is tainted history."

  "I mentioned to you that my car was in the shop and you offered me a ride home."

  "I was merely being a good Girl Scout."

  Nick leisurely sipped his coffee. “And when I suggested we pull over near the river to look at the stars, you lost some tread off your tires. You were so desperate to get in my pants."

  Her fork clattered to her plate. “What—what?” When she shook her head so fast and hard, her black curls bounced every which way. “You obviously have a very flawed memory."

  "Nah, I don't think so."

  "You were drunk."

  "Sorry, to disappoint, Chloe, but I wasn't that drunk. I remember everything about that night. I think you wanted to lose your virginity to me."

  Her face colored a deep red again. “You're so full of it."

  "Then why didn't you tell me I was the first?"

  "We've already been over this."

  "Not good enough. You were ready, willing and able.” He lowered his voice. “And wet, just like you were Saturday night."

  The look on her face changed to a hurt expression and he realized he'd pushed too far. Damn, he wasn't in a courtroom drilling a witness. He was sitting across the table from Chloe, a woman he thought he'd forgotten and now a woman he couldn't get out of his mind. “I'm sorry."

  "Save it.” She scooted out of the booth, reached down for her purse and hiked it over her shoulder. “Breakfast is on you."

  Spinning on her heel, she marched away from him and out of the café. He might feel like an S.O.B., but her ass in her snug faded jeans made his blood run hot. “Fucking A."

  * * * *

  Chloe scurried around the shop like a mouse with a cat on its tail. The shop was closed on Mondays, but she decided it needed a good and thoroughly cleaning. No matter how hard she dusted and polished, the impromptu breakfast with Nick followed her like baby ducklings trailing after their mother. The last thing she had expected was to bump into him at the café. She'd figured breakfast would be safe. Since she hadn't taken the time to grocery shop, she'd decided she might as well give Dot the business. Yesterday, Dot's sympathetic shoulder had helped ease some of her guilt and embarrassment.

  The other night he'd given her the apolog
y she so desperately wanted, but he hadn't offered it up on his own.

  She was her own worst enemy. Her body had betrayed her the other night just as her body had betrayed her fifteen years ago. She'd had a major crush and major hots for Nick for three years before they had made love that summer night.

  The no-good man now knew she still had it bad for him. Her entire plan had backfired right in her face. Why had she fooled herself into thinking she could get naked or almost naked with him was beyond her? Her judgment had been clouded by wanting sweet revenge.

  Oh, she'd had her share of boyfriends at college. She'd even been engaged for six months to Daniel, a co-worker, but the relationship had never heated up past lukewarm for both of them. By mutual agreement they had called it off.

  She couldn't be near Nick without her pulse racing, her heart beating faster and her panties dampening. God, was she still in love with him after all this time? Chloe paused and stopped polishing a wooden shelf.

  It couldn't be possible. It just couldn't be. She knew there was still enough emotion that lingered in her heart for him. But still in love with him? He was a hunk of a man and what woman wouldn't be attracted to him? Every woman he encountered probably had to deal with the panty problem.

  And his accusation that she had been desperate to get inside his pants ... perhaps there was a grain or two of truth in his statement. Guilt pounded at her conscience, like an insistent knock on a door. Why hadn't she told him he was the first?

  Shaking her head, she resumed her cleaning. Because she had hoped that one night with Nick would be the beginning of a relationship, not a one night stand. Or maybe she had been afraid he would have walked away. At eighteen she'd been so naive about life, love, and Nick.

  She conceded that she might owe him an apology. They needed to declare some kind of truce. In a small town it was too hard to avoid each other. No apologizes today, Chloe decided. Since her nerves resembled strips of paper after having been stuffed through a shredder, she needed time.