Besides, her heart didn’t need the confusion.

It was bad enough that she’d developed a bit of a crush on the man. She didn’t need him to confuse her by flirting with her and making her think that he was interested when her mind knew that he wasn’t. She appreciate that they had boundaries. It made this a heck of a lot easier. He was her boss and List buddy and that was all.

She took a quick shower before dressing in a pair of soft green flannel pajama pants and a pink baby t-shirt and rushing to the desk in her room only to remember that Nick had the computer. Worrying her bottom lip she tried to decide if this was something that could wait until tomorrow. After a minute she realized that it couldn’t. If she didn’t make this new list then she’d be up all night tossing and turning as the possibilities ran through her head.

Decision made, she grabbed her key card and walked out of her room and across the small hallway to Nick’s door. She knocked on the door and was about to knock on it again ten seconds later when he still hadn’t opened the door when it was suddenly opened and she found herself stumbling forward. As her face plastered against warm damp skin it occurred to her that Nick might not be dressed.

Taking a fortifying breath, she stepped back, averting her eyes of course as her cheeks burned and mumbled, “Can I use the computer?”

Nick sighed heavily as he walked over to his desk and picked up the laptop bag. When he turned around she allowed her eyes exactly ten seconds to look over one of the best bodies that she’d ever seen before quickly looking away. The man was large and ripped and that really didn’t help with the blushing.

“Make sure you get some sleep. We’re catching a train at eight,” he said as he handed her the bag.

“I’ll be ready,” she promised, taking the bag as she let her eyes quickly shoot to his bare chest and boxer clad body one last time before looking away and rushing back to her room.

Seeing a man in nothing but his underwear should be no big deal at her age, but sadly it was. It just went to prove her that she desperately needed sex. Having sex would make her feel normal and less shy around men, she decided as she sat on the bed, crossing her legs as the computer powered up. She opened her file and was just about to add to her list when she realized just how stupid that was.

She created a new file and named it, “Grammatical Errors,” figuring that Nick wouldn’t bother looking at that file. After creating a new word document and typing the title, “Sex List,” she stared blankly at the screen for several minutes.

Where should she start? she wondered. After a few minutes she figured that she should start with the basics. There really was no need to rush into sex. There were plenty of stopping points along the way to help ease her into this.

Sex List:

Buy condoms

Learn to flirt (Probably best to learn by watching Nick) Buy books about sex and positions

Watch a  p**n  (nothing weird and take notes)

Kiss a man. (Best bet to find a man to kiss is at a bar or club) Buy sexy lingerie, nothing flannel

Have sex, lots and lots of sex.

Visit a sex store and get the basics (Make sure to ask the clerk what the basics are.) Learn how to give o**l s*x (men seem to like that for some reason) Have sex in a car.

Have sex in a pool or ocean.

Have sex in an elevator or stairwell.

After tour ends use newfound sex knowledge to please boyfriend.

Probably should find a boyfriend.

That list seemed reasonable, she decided as she saved the file and got ready for bed. Tomorrow she’d start working on her new list.

By herself.

Chapter 10

“We’re running behind,” Nick said when his little recluse practically ran out of the elevators towards him.

“I know. I’m sorry,” she said even as she dropped her suitcase and large duffle bag by his feet. “I’ll be right back,” she said, rushing off towards the hotel’s small convenience store and leaving him standing there like an idiot.

The only thing that saved her from a good throttling was the fact that she was in the store and back out in under sixty seconds with a small brown paper bag clutched tightly to her chest. Deciding that he had a pretty good idea of what it was and in no way wanting to invite her to discuss her womanly problems with him he said nothing as she shoved the bag in her duffle bag and stood up, not quite meeting his eyes.

“I’m ready,” she said, blushing a darker red than he’d ever seen on her.

Deciding to take pity on the poor thing, he gestured for her to walk ahead of him while he threw his laptop bag over his shoulder and grabbed his bag. He wasn’t exactly surprised when she didn’t say a single word during the taxi ride to the train station. Poor thing was easily embarrassed, he thought with pity as they picked up their tickets and then waited for the train. Still she didn’t utter a single word.

After about thirty minutes his sympathy was coming to an end. Being embarrassed was one thing, being mortified to this level was unhealthy and not normal. He considered explaining to her that she didn’t need to be embarrassed about that sort of thing around him since he’d been raised by a half dozen strippers who were really hookers who danced every now and then, but decided against it.

His past was nobody’s business.

When the train finally arrived and they were ushered onto the train he damn near sighed with relief. He’d pull his computer out and get some work done while his little recluse got over this and she really needed to get the hell over it. They were going to be working together for several more months to come and really didn’t need to this bullshit every month.

“I’m sorry, sir. The seats have been overbooked. I’m afraid we only have one seat available. One of you is going to have to stand,” the conductor said with a whatareyou-going-to-do shrug.

If they hadn’t already checked their bags they’d be getting the hell off the train and hauling ass to the airport, but they couldn’t. The airport in South Carolina was a good two hours away from their hotel while the train station was only ten minutes away. They’d lose too much time switching now and would miss the book signing.

With a sigh he gestured for Jamie to take the seat while he went and found a spot to stand near the bathroom. She looked like she was going to argue when he sent her a glare that told her to sit her cute little ass down before he spanked it.

After a slight hesitation she nodded and sat down in the aisle seat.

He was just resigning himself to cramped legs and boredom when he spotted a middle aged man sporting the door to door salesman look pause in front of her.

While Jamie was looking out the window the man was looking at her, looking rather pleased as he quickly slipped his wedding ring off his finger and into his pants. Nick watched as the man ran his fingers through his hair and straightened his tie before approaching Jamie and gesturing to the seat next to her with his train ticket.

Oversold train his ass. He was going to have a word with Beth or whatever the hell her name was in transportation, he told himself as he watched the ass**le strike up a conversation with the little recluse. She really was a naive little thing, he decided as he watched the ass**le charm her. When she smiled and let out a small laugh that seemed to please the man and piss him the hell off he decided to intervene.

Clearly she was in over her head and he was helping her. It had nothing to do with the fact that she’d given away one of the smile and laughs so easily to the ass**le when he had to work his ass off to earn one. It didn’t. She was his responsibility and therefore it was his job to make sure that no one but him took advantage of her. With that in mind he walked over to her.

“Up,” he said, gesturing for her to stand. When she only stared up at him, looking adorably confused he grabbed her hand and gave it a quick tug. Once she was on her feet he moved in and sat down, throwing the ass**le a smug grin as he gave Jamie’s hand another little tug that had her falling on his lap. He ignored her surprised gasp as he righted her on his lap and got comfortable.

“What are you doing?” she whispered as another beautiful blush crept up her neck. It made him wonder if she blushed during sex. Before the thought left his mind he was shifting her again and trying not to notice how warm and soft her ass was. Hell, he really needed to get laid.