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leaned over to open the drapes, even though she didn’t have much of a view. “What? Why?”
    “I saw the way he looked at you.”
    “Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” she said, loving the fact that Matthew was acting all proprietary toward her. In some way he must still think of her as his woman.
    “That guy’s a player,” he said. “He just wants in your pants.”
    “I highly doubt that. He’s a fashion photographer. He’s got gorgeous models coming in and out of his apartment all day.”
    “Well, I saw the way he looked at you, so be careful. That’s all. Just saying.”
    “Do you, ah, do you want a drink?”
    He looked at his watch. “Maybe a quick one, then I have to head out.”
    “Okay. No pressure.” Her hands were shaking as she took down the wineglasses. This was the first time the two of them had sat down and had a conversation since their split. Maybe this was the start of them reconnecting. God, she hoped so.
    Nikki stepped out of the kitchen with two glasses of Cabernet. Matthew was already on the couch and as she handed him his wine, she hesitated over where to sit before finally landing on the ottoman in front of him. She used to be so comfortable with this man, and now she was a bundle of nerves, and completely self-conscious.
    “How’s work?” she asked.
    “Crazy as usual.” He took a taste of wine. “So what were you doing in the freight elevator with that guy, anyway?”
    She was about to swallow a sip and his words nearly made her choke on it.
    “You okay?”
    She nodded, still coughing as she held up her hand to assure him. “Just went down the wrong pipe,” she squeaked out.
    “So, are you still planning on going to Ned and Lori’s wedding?” he asked.
    “Yeah. Of course.” Nikki recovered and sat up a little straighter, her heart pulsing, her eyes tearing. Ned and Lori were two of their closest friends. Their wedding was that Saturday night, and Nikki was hoping against hope that Matthew would ask her to go with him. “Why? Are you still going?” she asked hesitantly, holding her breath.
    “Yeah.” He nodded, took another sip of wine, and set his glass down. “So, um, I wanted to let you know that I’m going, too, and—”
    “Well, maybe we should go—”
    “And I want you to know that I’m bringing someone with me.”
    Nikki gasped. “What? Who?”
    “No one you know. It’s nothing, really.”
    “Who is she?” A cloud of confusion gathered around her. “When did you start seeing someone?”
    “I don’t know if I’m really seeing her,” he said. “It’s no big deal. She’s someone I work with.”
    Nikki grew clammy. Her gut churned with a bitter bile.
    “I wanted to let you know so you weren’t surprised. That’s all.”
    “Oh.” She swallowed past the lump in throat. “That’s all.”
    “Well,” he said, standing up, “I should really be going. I’ll see you Saturday night.”

Chapter Five
    Dallas stood inside his loft with his back to the door, thinking about Nikki out in the hallway with the ex-fiancé. He couldn’t believe that was the guy who broke her heart. Dallas wanted to break the bloke’s head for hurting that sweet woman. Didn’t he know that women like that—women who were beautiful and sensitive and smart—were rare? Didn’t he get that not all women were as caring and honest as she was? Didn’t he understand how easy she was to talk to?
    Nikki even got Dallas to open up, and that never happened. He told her things he never talked about. With anyone. But Nikki wasn’t like the other girls who babbled on too much and got so needy that he’d head for the hills. She had so much going for her. He couldn’t see why she was so hung up on her ex. That wanker should have been grateful that someone like Nikki Norris would give him the time of day.
    There was a moment in that elevator when he had her in his arms, when all he wanted was to take those long, sleek legs of hers and wrap them about his waist. He could have so easily