I sat up, peeking over the back of the couch to see down the hallway. Nick was nowhere in sight. I got up and walked to the bathroom, half asleep. I tried to rub the sleep out of my eyes, frowning at my reflection in the mirror. The back of my hair was in one big wad. I groaned, grabbing my brush and trying to untangle it. I regretted not drying it and putting it into a proper bun after my shower. My hair tie was all tangled up in the strands.

When I finally fixed my bird's nest, I went to my room and changed clothes, putting on fresh white yoga pants and a red sports bra. It was supposed to be a nice sunny day in the sixties and that meant perfect workout weather. I rarely had time to go for a run anymore. I decided to take advantage of the weather and get some much needed exercise. I was ready to head out the door when I spotted a piece of white notebook paper lying on the counter.

"Carrie, last night was great. I'm gone to get us coffee and doughnuts that actually aren't stale this time. Be back soon. Love, Nick."

Love? I blushed at the signature.

"Nick, I'm out for a run. Back around 7." I slapped a sticky note below his and headed out for my run. I flipped to a playlist on my phone, putting in my earbuds and jogging down the driveway. My usual run was through three neighborhoods and halfway around the mile block but I decided to cut that in half, anxious to get back and see Nick.

I ran at a medium pace, focusing on the puffy white clouds overhead as I passed my neighbors' houses. As early as it was, there wasn't much activity in the neighborhood. I saw an elderly woman watering her flowerbed. A man walking across his driveway to pick up the newspaper waved at me. Behind me the sun was rising quickly, casting a shadow of my body on the pavement in front of me. I turned off the music, deciding I'd rather listen to the birds chirping for a change.

As I ran through the next neighborhood, I thought about what had happened the night before. I thought about my conversation with Nick and making food for him, laughing with him, and falling asleep on him. I loved hearing about his life and telling him about mine. I'd never really told anyone about my interest in fashion. I liked that Nick knew something about me that no one else did. I wanted to talk to him more about his family and his past and maybe even his future aspirations, if he didn't mind discussing them.

The more I thought about Nick, the more my feelings grew for him. It was beginning to worry me how much I was starting to like him. I realized I'd hadn't even thought of Derek while Nick and I had dinner and talked. He hadn't crossed my mind a single time. And I didn't feel guilty for falling asleep on Nick's lap. I should have, shouldn't I? I should've felt like shit for spending more time with Nick, and cooking him dinner, and sleeping next to him. I should've felt terrible about it. But I didn't.

I wrapped up my run with a gradually slowing jog back through my neighborhood. The sun was in full view at this point with a picturesque image of geese flying in a V shape off in the distance. I listened to the chorus of a few crickets still chirping, birds singing in the trees, and a couple dogs barking. When I turned the corner onto my street I noticed Nick's Audi parked beside my Honda in the driveway. I smiled at the sight of him trying to juggle two coffee cups and a big white box while attempting to close his car door with his ass.

"You know you could just set the box on top of the car until you shut the door," I said, jogging up to my driveway.

Nick obviously hadn't noticed me until I spoke up and jumped slightly at the sound of my voice. He turned to look at me, arms full. "Christ, woman," he raised his eyebrows, letting his eyes slowly trail down my body, taking in my appearance. "You really know how to startle a man."

I shook my head, giggling, and reaching toward where he'd been balancing the tray that the coffees were nestled in on his forearm. "Give me those."

"Bossy," he joked, flashing me his award-winning smile.

He trailed behind me into the house, setting the coffee down on the kitchen counter. I put my water bottle back in the fridge and placed my phone and earbuds on the island. When I turned around Nick was standing in the doorway staring at me.

I smiled. "Can I help you?"

"God, I hope so," he said, looking at my sports bra.

I shook my head. "You're such a dude."

Nick chuckled, setting the box of doughnuts beside the coffee. "Did I ever give you any indication that I wasn't of the male gender?"

"Not with that dick," I brazenly answered, opening the box. I bit into a doughnut, watching him sip his coffee. "I'm impressed. They're not stale this time. Nice work, Granger. I applaud you."

Nick rolled his eyes, invading my personal space and taking a bite out of the doughnut in my hand with a smirk. He went to the living room, flopping down on the couch with his feet propped up on the edge of the coffee table while he flipped through the channels.

"Make yourself comfortable," I said sarcastically, earning an amused grin from him.

"On the contrary," he sighed. "I'm actually very uncomfortable."

"Why's that?"

"Because you're not on my lap."

I envied the coffee cup for being pressed against his lips. I had a sudden urge to sit on his lap like he wanted and kiss him, but I tried my best to suppress that nagging thought.

I brought the doughnuts with me, placing the box on the table and sitting down beside Nick. He instantly put his arm around me, tugging me closer to him. I felt my hormones start to wake up and that little devil on my shoulder tempted me to kiss Nick, while the angel on my opposite shoulder was nowhere to be found. I looked up at Nick, noticing the short, dark layer of scruff on his jawline. My hand itched to run my fingertips across his stubble.

Nick glanced down at me, noticing me staring at him. "Yes?"

"Nothing," I said, still staring.

"You're staring at me," he pointed out.

I fought the urge to play with his bangs. "I'm aware."

Nick returned my stare, looking into my eyes in a way that quickly knocked down my wall of resistance. Any hope of me not giving in to my desires was rapidly disappearing as I got lost in his stunning brown eyes. I'd been trying so hard to ignore how badly I wanted Nick. I'd been pushing the tempting thoughts away. I'd been so good about forcing myself not to give in to his seductive voice and his soft lips and his gorgeous body. I'd been so good about not letting the urges win. And then he kissed me.

Nick set his coffee down, not breaking eye contact. He raised his hand, placing his palm against my cheek, and softly massaged his thumb against my skin. His gaze dared from my eyes to my mouth. There was a glazed over tint to his chocolate eyes. I knew he was hesitating, giving me the opportunity to say no, but I'd given up on trying not to give in. Nick slowly leaned in to me, cautiously pressing his lips to mine in one sweet, romantic kiss. He pulled back to look at me and when he couldn't find any trace of discomfort in my expression, his mouth returned to mine, kissing more hungrily.

His hand left my cheek, snaking his fingers through the back of my hair. His other hand massaged slow circles into my lower back as we made out. He pushed me back against the pillows and removed his shirt, repositioning himself above me with my legs on either side of his. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist, gripping his shoulder with one hand and playing with his hair with the other. I moaned against Nick's lips as he bit my bottom lip softly. One of his hands trailed down my side, giving me goosebumps when I felt his palm on my bare stomach. I arched my back, pressing my pelvis against his, grinding against his crotch and hating the fact that he still had his jeans on. I could feel the rapidly hardening bulge in the center of his jeans and I continued to rub my lower half against his, making him groan and press his body harder against mine. His mouth left mine and began the agonizingly slow trail of warm open-mouthed kisses across my cheek, jawline, neck, shoulder and collarbone.

"You're beautiful," Nick moaned against my shoulder, dragging his teeth over my skin.

It had been a long time since I'd heard that from anyone. Nick's compliments meant so much to me. Even Derek rarely said those things to me. Actually, I couldn't remember the last time Derek had told me I was beautiful, or pretty, or anything like that. I was quickly beginning to understand Monica's point about Derek possibly not being the one. As much as I didn't want to agree that it was a possibility, I knew Monica might be right. Derek might not be the man I'm supposed to end up with. Maybe it's Nick. Maybe it's someone I haven't even met yet. Or maybe I'm going to grow old as a single woman and become a grumpy cat lady like Mrs. Meeker.

Nick rubbed his crotch against me, lightly squeezing a fistful of my hair in his hand. His mouth delivered hot kisses to my collarbone, sucking softly and nipping at my skin. His bangs had fallen in front of his eyes, brushing against my neck and tickling me like butterflies. I could feel his eyelashes flutter over my skin as his mouth moved further down. Once his mouth had finished its steamy assault at the base of my neck, Nick pulled back, pulling me up into a sitting position with him. I got lost in his eyes as he looked down at me, his bangs falling haphazardly in front of his face.

I slid my hands down his sexy, muscular chest and over his abs. His hands rested on my hips, squeezing lightly as he leaned in to kiss me again. I felt his fingertips trail up my sides leaving goose bumps across my midsection. I moaned against his lips, feeling his hands cup my breasts before tugging at the elastic band around the bottom of my bra. He broke our kiss, pulling back as he slid his fingers under the elastic. I raised my arms and Nick turned my bra inside out, sliding it over my head and up my arms, tossing it across the couch.

Nick's hands cupped me again, squeezing gently as he kissed down my neck. I moaned, feeling his tongue glide over my skin. His lips kissed, licked and sucked a hot line down my chest until he reached my breasts, sucking a nipple into his mouth. I threw my head back in pleasure while his tongue flicked over the sensitive bud and his hands massaged my skin, creating a firestorm in my nerves and sending a flood of warmth between my legs.

"N-Nick," I gasped, gripping his shoulders for support.

Just as I thought our pants were about ready to get lost, I heard the front door open. Nick immediately halted his actions. I grabbed his shirt off the back of the couch, quickly throwing it over myself so no one would see me topless. He started to get up but my legs were still wrapped around his waist. My mind was racing with worry, assuming it was Derek who had walked in. I felt my heart rate pick up and all arousal between us suddenly vanished. I braced myself for an epic fight and the official end of our engagement as I waited for Derek to enter the living room. I heard the clicking of heels on the wooden floors as the person made their way down the hallway. Nick and I frowned at each other, waiting.

"Dear god!" Monica screamed, finding us in a compromising position. My legs were wrapped around Nick's waist, I was wearing his shirt, he was shirtless, our hair was all over the place.

I was so relieved it wasn't Derek and I made a mental note to try to sneak his house key away from him.

"I'm blind!" Monica shouted, covering her eyes with the newspaper I'd forgotten to retrieve from the driveway.

Nick awkwardly started to get up from the couch. "I guess there's no such thing as ringing the doorbell around here."

"Not when Monica has a key that I often regret giving her," I said, shooting a glare in her direction, to which she responded with a gagging face.

"I can't believe I just saw that," she complained. "Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew."

"Maybe try calling first next time," Nick suggested, twirling my bra around in circles with the tip of his finger.

"I wasn't planning on meeting you like this." She made a disgusted face, holding her hand out. "But hi. Nice to meet you. Sort of."

Nick shook her hand. "Likewise."

"He's super cute, Carrie," Monica pointed to Nick. "You should have him over more often. Only not necessarily like that."

"I wasn't expecting company. What are you here for?"

"Oh, nothing," she smiled brightly. "I just came by to see how you were doing."

"I-" I started to answer but was interrupted.

"And to kill my chances of getting to third base," Nick chuckled. He walked into the kitchen, giving us a chance to talk alone.

Monica raised her eyebrows, giggling as she took a seat next to me. "It looked to me like he was already rounding third base for a home run."

"I guess we'll never know."

"Woe is me," came Nick's voice from the kitchen.

"I'm not sorry, but I've got to steal one of these doughnuts," Monica said, picking one up from the open box on the coffee table. "By the way, that was like something straight out of Pornhub and I don't think I'm going to need my coffee now."

I covered my face with my hands. "I'm sorry."

"He's even hotter in person," she whispered, enthusiastically pointing to the kitchen.

I blushed. "He's even hotter in bed."

"He's also listening to you talk about him," Nick called from the other room with a chuckle.