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way out of this disaster. Hurrying around the counter bar, she said, “Who knows with cats. He must have bumped it somehow, racing in there when he heard you ring the doorbell. Once he jumped in the hamper and the lid swung shut on him.”
    “What’s his name?”
    “Cat.”
    “That’s it? Just Cat?”
    “I have no imagination when it comes to names.” She cracked the door open a bare inch. “Here, Cat … psss, psss. Come on, Cat. Nick won’t hurt you.”
    Complete astonishment shot clear down to her toes when a piteous “meow” came from inside the powder room. It sounded exactly like a frightened cat.
    Finally taking a deep breath to calm herself, she turned around and shrugged. “He’s not a very bright cat. I’ll just leave the door cracked open for him.”
    Nick nodded, then drained the last of the coffee from his cup. He looked at her expectantly.
    She smiled. “I’m sorry the coffee wasn’t the best. You look really tired, Nick. I’m sure you want to get home.”
    The last thing he looked was tired, but she hoped he’d get the hint.
    He rose from the bar stool. “That’s me. Wet and tired. Thanks for the coffee and the towel.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    She walked with him to the door. He retrieved his jacket from the back of the sofa. As he put it on, she opened the door. He turned to face her.
    She gazed up at him, then realized that was exactly what she’d done before she’d kissed him yesterday. Instantly, she looked away.
    Clearing her throat, she said, “Thank you for bringing me my portfolio.”
    “You’re very welcome.”
    He traced her jawline with a gentle finger, then strode out the door.
    It took Jess a full minute to come to her senses. Closing the door, she leaned against it and sighed loudly. What a night! Nick Mikaris was complicating her life—in every way.
    But now, she had to get his brother out of the bathroom.
    She walked into the center of the living room.
    “Ollie, ollie, all’s in free!”
    Parked two doors down and across the street from Jess’s townhouse, Nick sat in his darkened car and chuckled over Mike Schmidt’s legs. That unexpected little gem coming from Jess Brannen’s mouth had been astonishing.
    He was glad now he’d found her portfolio and decided to return it. The truth was, he hadn’t been able
not
to come by, although when he first heard voices he’d very much wished otherwise—especially when she’d answered the door in her robe. Her odd nervousness had thrown him, too, and then he’d seen the closed door off the kitchen. He could stillfeel the hard anger that had curled through him. But the cat had cried out, and he’d realized he was being ridiculous in thinking Jess would hide someone there. He’d never considered that she might have a lover, and he reluctantly admitted she had no reason to hide one from him. He had no claim on her.…
    Nick fumed. He’d been the one to insist on a strictly business relationship, even knowing Jess inspired in him a desire for something entirely different. She was soft and sexy, poised and elegant. He sensed that in the bedroom, she would drive a man to the brink of insanity. Seeing her dressed in a nightgown and robe, her hair gleaming damply around her shoulders, he had nearly gone crazy himself. The only thing that had kept him in control was the realization that she was nervous about being alone with him. He’d found it endearing.
    Jess Brannen made him laugh—a lot. He felt young and carefree, as if he didn’t have a responsibility in the world. No one had ever made him feel that way before.
    From the first moment they’d met, he hadn’t been at all fair to her. Part of it had been his humiliation at her innocent hands in that hotel room. So she had had a mistaken impression of his sexual preference. He finally admitted the other part of his problem had been her background. He was wealthy in his own right, although his money was tied up completely in his business. But he was proud of it.