A Little Bit Pregnant. Susan Mallery

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      “The Seahawks by three,” Zane said over a plate of Kung Pao Beef and rice.

      Nicki grinned. “You lead with your chin. You should know better. I’ll take those three points, and listen to you whine come Monday morning.”

      She noted the information on a sheet of paper that listed all the pro football games for the weekend.

      Zane knew taking the Seahawks wasn’t smart, but he couldn’t help rooting for the home team. Nicki had no such loyalty. She studied stats, read the sports section and made her choices based on abilities, injuries and who was on a winning streak. Every now and then she took a team because she liked their uniforms, but not often. What killed him was even when she made her choices on something as stupid as team colors, she often won. They were only two weeks into the regulation season and she was already up by three games.

      They didn’t bet money. Instead they keep a running total and whoever had the most wins at the end of the season owed the loser a day of slave labor. The previous season he’d had big plans to make her cook, stocking his freezer with homemade dinners. Instead he’d spent nearly eight hours washing and waxing her van. Afterwards, he’d been sore for three days.

      “I’m going to have you paint my living room,” she said dreamily as she wrote down the rest of their picks. “I’m thinking of a color-wash treatment that’s going to take at least three coats of paint.”

      He shook his head. “Not this time, sweet pea. You’re going to be cooking your heart out.”

      “That’s what you said last year. Do we remember what happened instead?”

      “I’d rather not.”

      She grinned. “You’ve got to start listening to the experts, Zane. They usually know who’s going to win the games.”

      “That’s cheating.”

      “No, that’s beating your fanny.”

      She grinned as she spoke. Laughter danced in her green eyes. He smiled back.

      “You’re smart for a girl.”

      She picked up her fork and leaned forward. “You left out pretty. Earlier you said I was pretty enough to get some macho, brainless guy with huge muscles.”

      He studied her heart-shaped face. With big eyes and a full, sensual mouth, she was more than pretty. Long auburn curls cascaded down her back. Every swaying movement begged a man to run his fingers through them. Put all that on a body that, while not as lush as the women he dated, had all the right curves in exactly the right places and she was a serious contender.

      “You’re okay,” he said.

      She laughed. “Wait. I want to pause and savor this moment for as long as possible. The wildly extravagant compliment has gone to my head.”

      He pointed his fork at her. “Come on, Nicki. You know you’re attractive. Half the guys in this place can’t take their eyes off you.”

      “Only half?” She glanced around. “I suppose that’s something.”

      He followed her gaze and saw a couple of businessmen in tailored suits giving her the once-over. There were three college guys in the corner. They practically had their mouths hanging open.

      “I rest my case,” he said.

      “Their attention will last for a long as it takes us to finish our meal and head for the door.”

      He frowned. “Because of the chair?”

      She shrugged. “Well, duh. What do you think?”

      “That you’re crazy. They’re not going to care.”

      Nicki being in a wheelchair meant that she was faster than him and more likely to run him over if she was annoyed. But it didn’t make her any less attractive.

      “It doesn’t bother Brad,” he said.

      “Boyd. And you’re right. It doesn’t. But he’s into substance.”

      “I’m not and it doesn’t bother me.”

      She rolled her eyes. “That’s because we’re friends. You wouldn’t date a woman in a wheelchair.”

      He considered the statement. “I would if she had really big breasts.”

      Nicki shook her head. “I СКАЧАТЬ