Nicole waved a hand in the air. âWhat brings you to Houston?â
âDad is thinking of setting up an office here. Heâs hinting I should run it. I think he wants someone in the family to be here for you.â
Nicole clapped her hands together. âPraises on high!â
Terrell held up a palm like a school crossing guard. âHold on. You know how much I love living in Lafayette. Besides, Iâm not sure we even need an office in Houston.â
She seemed not to hear him. âNow if we can convince the rest of the family to pack up, life would be perfect.â Nicole grinned at him.
âDoes that include Mama?â Terrell laughed again when her grin melted away.
âGood point. How Daddy deals with her has always been a mystery to me,â she quipped.
Terrellâs expression became serious. âYeah, she pushes him to the limit sometimes. But heâs not always in the right either.â
Nicole picked up the can of cola. âWhich is why Iâm happily single and planning to stay that way.â
He brightened again. âNot me. I want to juggle Little League coaching and dance recitals.â
âHave a ball. One marriage cured me of that affliction.â
âLet it go, Nikki. The guy wasnât all bad.â Terrell wore a lopsided smile at the sour look she gave him. âCâmon. You were crazy about him all through high school and college.â
Nicole grunted. âThree years of hell. The last seven have been wonderfully drama free, and I mean to keep it that way.â
âIsnât your bio clock ticking?â Terrellâs eyebrows formed twin arcs over his dark eyes.
âI donât know what all the fuss is about turning thirty. Last month was a snap.â Nicole snapped her fingers as a kind of proof. âHad a ball with my girls and kept on kicking.â
âYou go, girl. On to thirty-five,â Terrell quipped.
âShut up,â she tossed back.
âNo new man?â
âIâm dating.â Nicole stuck out her chin when he stared at her hard. âIâve got a company to run.â
âYou gave Marcus the eye the first time you saw him.â
âIâm his boss so heâs off limits. Not to mention heâs got a serious chip on his shoulder about me being the boss.â Nicole tapped out a tune with the ink pen in her hand.
âIn other words, heâs all business. I know you, little sister.â
âTerrell,â Nicole glowered a warning at him.
âBye, sis. I see you donât need my help.â Terrell blew a kiss at her. He turned to find Marcus standing in front of him. âHi, Marcus. Good seeing you again.â
âSame here.â Marcus blinked at him in obvious confusion.
Terrell gave him a good-humored grin. âTerrell Summers, Nicoleâs brother. We met at the funeral.â
âRight. Sorry. I met so many members of the family that day.â Marcus shook his hand and smiled back.
âOur family really turns out for a good funeral,â Terrell joked. He glanced from Marcus to Nicole. âYou two make a good team.â
âGoodbye, Terrell.â Nicole wore a stiff smile.
Terrell turned his back to Marcus and winked. âYâall have a real nice day.â
All Nicole could do was seethe as he left. Terrell gave Cat a cheerful goodbye and went out. Nicole glanced back to find Marcus staring at her. He raised a dark green folder in his hand.
âI was coming to give you the budget. If youâre busy, Iâll come back.â
Nicole gazed at the smooth brown skin on the back of his hand instead of at the folder. His long fingers seemed to suggest he was good with hands. Her gaze traveled up his well-built arm to the broad shoulders filling out the cream-colored dress shirt. Chemistry? Try explosive, judging by the way her body zinged and pinged when he lookedinto her eyes. Distance was in order right about now, she thought with