As Nick put the luggage down in the room he and Sara would share, he glanced over at her and grinned. She looked up and nervously met his gaze.

He raised a curious eyebrow. "Sara, if you're not ok with this, there is another room next door."

Sara bit her lower lip and considered his words. "I just feel weird sleeping with you in your parent's house."

Nick started laughing. "My mom is going to love you."

Sara looked embarrassed.

Nick walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. "Hey, I'm sorry, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, Sar."

She playfully punched him in the stomach. "Maybe we should sleep in separate rooms."

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her softly. As he pulled away, he grinned. "Whatever you want."

She raised a mischievous eyebrow. "Whatever I want, huh?" She snaked her arms around his waist and pressed her slightly open mouth against his lips. The kiss quickly deepened and their tongues leisurely explored each other's mouths.

Nick pulled her firmly against his body and his hands found their way under the back of her shirt.

Sara pulled away, breathing heavily. "Nick, uh, I, we, uh."

Nick pulled his hands out from under her shirt and loosened his grip on her. "What is it, babe?" His voice was gentle as he raised an eyebrow.

Sara smiled and looked into his eyes. "I think we should sleep in separate rooms."

He nodded. "Ok."

"I just don't want our first time, I mean, well, I, crap, this is embarrassing." Sara's face flushed with color as she leaned her forehead against Nick's chest.

He chuckled. "I understand." He kissed the top of her head. "There's nothing quite like wondering if someone's parents can hear you."

Sara giggled. "It freaks me out that you can read my mind so well."

Nick laughed. "Well, I think I'd feel a little weird if my parents could hear us too. It's ok, Sar. There's a bathroom between this room and the one next door, so if you wake up and don't want to be alone, you don't have to go out in the hallway to find me."

Sara let out a deep breath and smiled. "Have I mentioned that I love you?"

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing it." Nick grinned. "Do you want to sleep in here, or the other room?"

Sara leaned her head back so she could look in Nick's eyes. "Which one was yours?"

He tried to restrain a smile. "This one."

She tilted her head slightly and chuckled. "Then I'll sleep in this one."

The Stables:

"I can't believe you've never ridden a horse, Sara." Nick looked somewhat amused.

She crossed her arms in front of her body and raised an eyebrow. "There's not a whole lot of space for horses at a bed and breakfast. Besides, I was too busy studying to learn how to ride."

"Well, Daisy here is a sweet mare and I think you'll do fine on her. All you have to do is sit there, she'll do the rest." Nick assured her as he saddled the Palomino mare.

Sara looked skeptical as Nick instructed her to put her foot in the stirrup. "I'd better not fall off, Stokes." Her eyebrows shot up as his hands made contact with her butt as he helped to lift her into the saddle. "Oh, so you don't really want to ride, you just wanted an excuse to grab my ass."

Nick had a mischievous grin on his face. "Do I need an excuse?"

Sara turned a little red as she grinned at him. "Probably not."

In one swift move, Nick pulled himself onto a beautiful chestnut and white Paint gelding named Jay. He leaned over in the saddle and kissed Sara briefly. "Ready to go."

Sara let out a deep breath. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Stokes House:

Nick and Sara walked back into the house hand in hand with smiles on their faces chatting in an animated fashion. Sara never realized how exhilarating it could be to ride a horse. As they walked into the foyer, they heard a voice call out.

"Nicky, is that you?" A woman who Sara assumed was Nick's mom emerged. She appeared to be ever much the lady in her perfectly tailored suit. She had Nick's smile and his distinctive drawl.

"Mom." Nick smiled and released Sara's hand and he enveloped his mom in a bear hug.

She laughed as she hugged her youngest child. "I can tell you've been out with the horses, Nicky."

Nick release her with a slightly sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry."

She raised an amused eyebrow. "Don't ever apologize for giving your mother a proper greeting. Suits can be cleaned, now you, you can't be replaced." She looked over at Sara and offered her a warm smile. "Seems Nicky has forgotten his manners, Sara. I'm Audrey Stokes." She extended her hand to Sara.

"Sorry, mom, this is Sara Sidle." He grinned as the two women shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Stokes." Sara smiled.

"Call me Audrey, I insist. Mrs. Stokes makes me feel like I'm old. I may be a grandmother, but I sure as hell refuse to act like one." Sara could tell where Nick got his down to earth personality.

Nick glanced toward the living room and then back at his mom. "Is Dad around?"

Audrey shook her head. "No, I'm afraid your father had to review a case before he could come home. He'll probably be here after dinner." She looked over at Sara. "We've been looking forward to meeting you, Sara, Nicky talks about you all the time."

Sara felt her cheeks beginning to get a little warm. "Well I'm glad to finally meet you too."

Audrey looked warmly over at Nick. "Did you get settled upstairs?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah, I'm in Dan's room and Sara's in mine."

She smiled, "Well, the rest of the clan will be here shortly. You might want to take advantage of the peace and quiet while you can, it can be a little overwhelming. Nicky tells me that you're an only child."

Sara nodded. "Yeah." She smiled at Audrey. She really liked Nick's mom and felt very at ease around her. She hoped that the rest of his family would be just as nice.

Audrey gave Sara a knowing look. "I was an only child too. If you need a little space, just let me know, I'll find a way to have Nick get you out of here for a while."

Sara chuckled and glanced over at Nick.

"Hey, Mom, I think we're going to go up and change." Nick grinned and reached over and took Sara's hand.

"Take your time." Audrey leaned over and kissed Nick on the cheek. "It's so good to have you home, honey."

Upstairs:

"Hey, Nicky?" Sara grinned as she used his nickname.

Nick walked through the bathroom that joined their rooms. "Yeah, Sar?" He had not quite finished changing his clothes and wore only a clean pair of jeans.

She chuckled. "I'm sorry, but I cannot call someone as sexy as you 'Nicky'."

He raised an amused eyebrow. "So you think I'm sexy, huh?" His drawl had gotten more pronounced since they'd arrived in Texas.

She walked over to him and slowly slid her hands up his chest before wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yeah, I do." She was grinning mischievously.

Nick slid his arms around her waist. "I think you are too." He leaned down and kissed her, parting his lips slightly.

Sara willingly responded to his kiss as her tongue began to dance with his.

They finally pulled apart breathing heavily.

Nick raised an eyebrow at her. "You called me in here, did you need something? Or was that just an excuse to get me to kiss you?"

Sara giggled. "Do I need an excuse?"

Nick chuckled. "Probably not." He leaned down and kissed her again, this time sliding his hands down her back and caressing her butt through the fabric of her jeans.

Sara mumbled against his lips. "Nick."

Reluctantly, he pulled away. "Yeah?"

She looked into his eyes. "We should probably stop while we still can."

"Ok." He grinned at her and let her out of his embrace. "I'm gonna go back and put a shirt on."

Sara's eyes took him in. "Good idea, I don't think I could concentrate during dinner otherwise."

Nick turned in the doorway of the bathroom, striking a pose and flexing before disappearing into the other room.

Sara just stood there giggling as she shook her head and held her fingers to her lips.