Despite the smile on Sara's face, her cheeks were a little red after Nick's
last comment. She still had the image of Nick's bare butt fresh in her
mind, and as much as she wanted to see more of him, she knew that this
wasn't the time or the place for it. "Nick."
Nick raised an eyebrow at her and tried to gauge her response to his cheeky comment.
She smirked at him. "Maybe we can discuss that a little later."
He grinned and was about to say something else when the back door opened and Catherine emerged. She was on the phone and didn't look too pleased. "Well, I've got a house full of ten year old girls and I have to work tonight. I'm not sure what I'm going to do." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, I can't get someone to cover; I'm the primary on this case. Ok, I'll call you. No, I understand, I don't want you over here either if you have the flu." She hung up the phone and glanced over to where Nick and Sara stood by the edge of the pool talking. An idea formed in her mind as she approached them. "So, I take it you've formed some sort of truce."
Nick glanced at her and flashed a grin. "Something like that. She doesn't take my shorts; I don't throw her in the pool."
Sara smiled smugly.
Catherine smiled. "Uh, hey, I know you both are off the calendar tonight, I've got a little problem."
Nick and Sara exchanged a glance. They wanted to spend time alone together and didn't want anything to interrupt that, not that they could share that with Catherine.
"My sister has the flu and she was supposed to watch all the girls tonight for Lindsey's slumber party. I've got the MacClachlan case to work on so I can't miss work." She gave both Nick and Sara a pleading expression. "Would one of you be interested in staying here with the girls? I'll owe you big time."
The words started coming out of Sara's mouth before she even started thinking. "I'll do it, Cath. How hard can it be?"
Nick started laughing.
Sara glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
"Sara, when was the last time you were around a group of ten year old girls?" Nick looked amused.
Sara tilted her head. "Uh, when I was ten."
Catherine didn't say a word; she just bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"My point exactly." Nick raised both eyebrows at her.
Sara challenged Nick with her expression. "I don't see what the big deal is. I can handle it." She turned toward Catherine and smiled. "Don't worry about a thing."
"Ok. Uh, if there are any problems, you know the number." Catherine replied.
"There won't be any problems because I'm going to stay too." Nick chimed in.
Catherine and Sara both looked at him with surprise.
Nick crossed his arms in front of his body and looked at both ladies with some amusement. "I have sixteen nieces and nephews. I have a little more experience with kids than you do, Sara."
Sara chuckled. "Ok, you're on. I still say it can't be that hard."
Catherine rolled her eyes and smiled. "Ok, then, I've got a bunch of movies for them to watch and just try and not let them drink too much soda." Catherine headed back towards the house.
Sara wrinkled her brow for a moment. "Uh, what time is bedtime?"
Catherine turned around and started laughing. "Sara, did you ever go to a slumber party when you were a kid?"
Sara shook her head.
Nick leaned over and whispered in her ear loud enough for Catherine to hear. "They don't sleep at slumber parties."
Sara looked at him a bit perplexed. "Then why do they call them slumber parties in the first place?"
Nick glanced at Catherine and exchanged an amused glance.
"Uh, Lindsey is going to open presents if you guys want to come in now." Catherine looked thoroughly amused and wished she could be a fly on the wall in her own house to see Sara trying to watch five ten-year old girls. At least she had Nick as back up; otherwise Catherine didn't think Sara would have a fighting chance.
After the rest of the team had gone to work, Nick and Sara got Lindsey and her friends settled in front of the TV with a large bowl of popcorn so they could watch a movie. Sara had changed out of her swimsuit and into a pair of pair of denim shorts and a fitted printed T-shirt. Nick had traded his swim trunks for a pair of khaki shorts and a short sleeved blue button down shirt. The girls were all in their pajamas and an array of sleeping bags was spread out over the living room floor.
Sara stood in the entry way to the living room with a smug look on her face. She glanced over at Nick who stood next to her. "See, this isn't that hard."
Nick chuckled. "It's early yet, Sara."
A devilish grin crossed Sara's face. "Uh, why don't we go in the kitchen and let them have a little privacy." She reached over and took his hand, lacing her fingers with his.
Nick looked amused. "You mean why don't we get a little privacy."
She grinned. "It's all a matter of perception, Nick."
Nick pulled his hand away from Sara's for a moment. "Hey, Linds, we're going to be in the kitchen if you guys need anything."
Lindsey looked up at Nick and Sara and grinned. "Ok." Her friends smiled as well. They had been giggling over how attractive Nick was.
As soon as they had rounded the corner into the kitchen, a grinning Nick took Sara's hand and pulled her toward him. He leaned down and kissed her long and deep, tangling his fingers in her hair.
Sara's hands slid up his chest and around his neck.
As they pulled their lips away from each other, Nick chuckled softly. "I've wanted to do that all day." He trailed his fingers down her cheek as he caressed it.
"Me too." Sara smiled at him and then leaned up and pressed her lips to his again.
They stood there between the fridge and the counter exchanging soft, slow, deep kisses for a long time. Nick rested his hands on her waist, his fingers caressing her sides.
Sara's fingers slowly caressed the nape of his neck. After a while, Sara pulled away slightly and murmured; her lips were still a fraction of an inch from his and her eyelids heavy. "We should probably go check on Lindsey and her friends."
Nick nodded in agreement, but didn't let her out of his embrace. "Yeah, before they check on us." He leaned over and kissed her again savoring the softness of her lips against his.
They finally pulled apart reluctantly and headed back out into the living room. The movie was just ending. "You guys ready for another one?" Sara queried them.
Lindsey looked up and grinned. "Yeah."
"Ok, which one?" Nick asked, grinning at the gaggle of little girls.
The girls settled on a movie and while Nick put it into the DVD player, Sara refilled their bowl of popcorn.
After the movie had started, Nick and Sara drifted back to the kitchen. Sara pulled a couple of sodas out of the fridge and handed one to Nick. He grinned at her and leaned over and softly kissed her before he opened the soda and took a sip. Sara leaned back against the counter and studied Nick for a moment, tilting her head to the side. "You know, if one of them catches us, we're going to have a lot of explaining to do to Catherine."
Nick raised his eyebrow flirtatiously. "Well, they're not going to catch us, they're watching a movie." He stepped toward her and pinned her against the counter. He set his soda down and then took hers out of her hand and put it next to his before resting his hands on counter on either side of her.
Sara giggled. "You seem to have this planned out." She splayed her hands against his chest as she watched his eyes.
Nick nodded, grinning. "Yeah, I do." He leaned toward her and pressed his lips against hers, slowly tasting and teasing them. He felt Sara's lips part and he slid his tongue past hers as he began to explore her mouth slowly.
As the kiss intensified, his hands slowly slid up the back of her shirt. Sara moaned softly into his mouth, sliding her arms around his waist underneath the fabric of his shirt. Nick's fingers lightly caressed her skin as he trailed his fingers up and down her back. They became lost in the kiss and the sensation of touching each other.
They were brought sharply back to reality when a group of ten year old voices interrupted them. "Nick and Sara are kissing!"
They pulled apart quickly, trying to act natural. Nick hastily pulled his hands out from underneath Sara's shirt and ran his fingers through his hair.
Sara smoothed out her shirt and tried to catch her breath. "Uh, what can I do for you guys?"
Lindsey studied them for a moment. "We didn't like our movie."
"I caught my brother doing that once, he was in so much trouble when I told my mom." Lindsey's friend Kayla giggled.
"This is better than that 'Spy Kids' movie." Grinned a precocious Chelsea.
"Are you guys getting married?" Kelsey wanted to know.
Lindsey regarded Nick and Sara with a shrewdness similar to her mother. "My mom doesn't know about this does she?"
"Now, Lindsey, this isn't what it looks like." Nick began hoping to con the ten year old.
Lindsey rolled her eyes. "Nick, I wasn't born yesterday. I know what kissing looks like."
Lindsey's friend Mollie just smiled as she watched the scenario unfold.
Sara chuckled in spite of herself and decided to try another tactic. "Uh, Lindsey, your mom doesn't need to know about this. This is between Nick and I."
Lindsey flashed her a smile similar to those Catherine reserved for interrogating suspects. "Are you going to bribe us?"
Sara gave Nick a panicked look.
Nick smiled at Lindsey. "I'm sure we can work something out, if you promise not to say a word."
Lindsey raised a single eyebrow. "It's gonna cost you."
Nick crossed his arms in front of his body and raised his eyebrow at her in return. "What did you have in mind, Linds?"
"Pizza. The good kind." She began. Her friends were all grins as they stood behind Lindsey. "And ice cream. Mint chocolate chip."
"Is that all?" Nick queried them like a pro.
Lindsey glanced back at her friends to see if they had anything to add. A bunch of whispers ensued. Lindsey turned back toward Nick. "We want to see the new Lara Croft movie."
"But that isn't one of the ones your mom rented." Sara interjected hoping the stem the tide.
Nick glanced at Sara for a moment before turning back to Lindsey. "Ok, I'll go rent it. Is that it?"
Lindsey nodded. "Yeah, that'll do."
"You do realize once we shake on this, you promise not to say a word to your mom or anyone else." Nick leveled a serious gaze at the girls.
She nodded and then glanced back at her friends; they nodded. "Ok, deal." Lindsey stuck out her hand and she and Nick shook on it.
Sara just stood there with her jaw agape.
Nick chuckled as he looked at her. "Why don't you get the pizza ordered and I'll go pick up the movie and the ice cream."
Sara nodded and wrinkled her brow at him. "You're good."
He grinned widely. "I'll be back in a while." He raised an eyebrow at Lindsey and her friends. "Go easy on Sara while I'm gone, ok."
They nodded as he went to find his keys to go pick up the movie and ice cream. After Nick left, Sara ordered the pizza and as she hung up the phone, the girls started to pepper her with questions.
"Nick is cute isn't he?" Chelsea grinned.
Sara couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, he is."
"Is he your boyfriend?" Kelsey giggled.
Sara nodded. "Yes, he is." Then a panicked thought crossed her mind and she looked at all the girls. "But that's a secret right now, understand?"
They nodded.
Lindsey piped up. "That's why we're getting pizza and ice cream."
Sara smirked at her.
"Are you going to marry him?" Mollie asked with wide eyes.
Sara swallowed hard. "Uh, I don't know."
"Why?" Mollie continued.
"Uh, people date each other to see if they like each other enough. I mean you have to fall in love, and then if you both decide you want to, then you talk about getting married, maybe." Sara fumbled over her answer.
Chelsea giggled. "Are you in love with him?"
Sara turned pink. She didn't expect this kind of interrogation from a bunch of ten year olds. They were nothing like she was when she was their age. "Uh, I don't know yet."
"Is he in love with you?" Kelsey was curious.
Sara stuttered slightly. "I don't know."
"Why don't you ask him?" Mollie seemed to think this was perfectly logical.
"Uh, because you just don't ask a man if he's in love with you. If he's in love with you, he'll tell you." Sara was getting very uncomfortable and glanced at the clock hoping that Nick would come back soon and rescue her.
Kayla asked the question they all wanted the answer to. "Is he a good kisser?"
Sara grinned in spite of herself. "You're ten. Aren't you a little young to be asking questions like that?"
They all shook their heads. The girls looked at her as if she was from another planet.
Kayla was insistent. "So is he?"
Sara turned a slightly deeper shade of pink. "I'm not going to answer that."
Lindsey looked at the other girls as if she knew the answer. "He must be a good kisser; they were kissing long enough."
The girls all broke out in giggles.
Sara was at a loss for words and just stared at Lindsey open mouthed.
Lindsey looked Sara directly in the eyes as she asked her next question. "Did you and Nick have sex yet?"
Sara sputtered in disbelief. "Uh, that's none of your business, young lady. That's not the kind of question you ask people."
"My mom gave me the sex talk right before my birthday, it sounds gross." Lindsey continued.
Sara was relieved when the pizza was delivered. By the time she returned with the pizza boxes, the girls had moved the topic of conversation to nail polish.
Nick finally returned a short time later with the ice cream, the movie, and a few other snacks for insurance.
After eating their pizza and ice cream, the girls settled back in front of the TV for the Lara Croft movie Nick had rented. Nick and Sara remained in the kitchen, cleaning up the evidence of the bribe.
Sara kept glancing over at Nick. "You are never leaving me alone with a room full of ten year olds again. Understand?"
He grinned sheepishly. "What did they do?"
"It was like the Spanish inquisition. They all wanted to know if you were a good kisser." Sara began.
Nick chuckled and waggled his eyebrows at her. "What did you tell them?"
Sara's eyebrows shot up. "Nick Stokes, when I was ten, I didn't give a flying leap about boys."
Nick tried to restrain a grin. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
She chuckled softly.
"What else did they ask you?" Nick queried her.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face as she met his gaze. "Uh, let's just say, the whole conversation was enlightening."
"So, they were pretty hard on you then?" He looked mildly amused.
Sara grinned. "You knew they would do that, didn't you?"
Nick raised his eyebrows innocently. "Hey, I was on a mission to get a movie."
She chuckled at him and stepped toward him, sliding her hands up his chest so she could wrap her arms around his neck. "So, now that they know and they've been sworn to secrecy, how safe do you think we are?"
Nick wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled at her softly. "Oh, I'm pretty sure Lindsey won't say a word, and by the time we get tired of paying her blackmail, let's hope we've gone public."
Sara looked at him perplexed. "Blackmail?"
Nick nodded. "The kid knows a good thing when she sees it; I wouldn't put it past her unless Catherine gets suspicious."
"You know, it's awfully quiet in the living room." Sara suddenly realized.
Nick released her from his embrace and they quietly walked into the living room where five ten-year old con artists were fast asleep in front of the TV.
Nick raised an eyebrow at her and tried to gauge her response to his cheeky comment.
She smirked at him. "Maybe we can discuss that a little later."
He grinned and was about to say something else when the back door opened and Catherine emerged. She was on the phone and didn't look too pleased. "Well, I've got a house full of ten year old girls and I have to work tonight. I'm not sure what I'm going to do." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No, I can't get someone to cover; I'm the primary on this case. Ok, I'll call you. No, I understand, I don't want you over here either if you have the flu." She hung up the phone and glanced over to where Nick and Sara stood by the edge of the pool talking. An idea formed in her mind as she approached them. "So, I take it you've formed some sort of truce."
Nick glanced at her and flashed a grin. "Something like that. She doesn't take my shorts; I don't throw her in the pool."
Sara smiled smugly.
Catherine smiled. "Uh, hey, I know you both are off the calendar tonight, I've got a little problem."
Nick and Sara exchanged a glance. They wanted to spend time alone together and didn't want anything to interrupt that, not that they could share that with Catherine.
"My sister has the flu and she was supposed to watch all the girls tonight for Lindsey's slumber party. I've got the MacClachlan case to work on so I can't miss work." She gave both Nick and Sara a pleading expression. "Would one of you be interested in staying here with the girls? I'll owe you big time."
The words started coming out of Sara's mouth before she even started thinking. "I'll do it, Cath. How hard can it be?"
Nick started laughing.
Sara glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "What's so funny?"
"Sara, when was the last time you were around a group of ten year old girls?" Nick looked amused.
Sara tilted her head. "Uh, when I was ten."
Catherine didn't say a word; she just bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"My point exactly." Nick raised both eyebrows at her.
Sara challenged Nick with her expression. "I don't see what the big deal is. I can handle it." She turned toward Catherine and smiled. "Don't worry about a thing."
"Ok. Uh, if there are any problems, you know the number." Catherine replied.
"There won't be any problems because I'm going to stay too." Nick chimed in.
Catherine and Sara both looked at him with surprise.
Nick crossed his arms in front of his body and looked at both ladies with some amusement. "I have sixteen nieces and nephews. I have a little more experience with kids than you do, Sara."
Sara chuckled. "Ok, you're on. I still say it can't be that hard."
Catherine rolled her eyes and smiled. "Ok, then, I've got a bunch of movies for them to watch and just try and not let them drink too much soda." Catherine headed back towards the house.
Sara wrinkled her brow for a moment. "Uh, what time is bedtime?"
Catherine turned around and started laughing. "Sara, did you ever go to a slumber party when you were a kid?"
Sara shook her head.
Nick leaned over and whispered in her ear loud enough for Catherine to hear. "They don't sleep at slumber parties."
Sara looked at him a bit perplexed. "Then why do they call them slumber parties in the first place?"
Nick glanced at Catherine and exchanged an amused glance.
"Uh, Lindsey is going to open presents if you guys want to come in now." Catherine looked thoroughly amused and wished she could be a fly on the wall in her own house to see Sara trying to watch five ten-year old girls. At least she had Nick as back up; otherwise Catherine didn't think Sara would have a fighting chance.
After the rest of the team had gone to work, Nick and Sara got Lindsey and her friends settled in front of the TV with a large bowl of popcorn so they could watch a movie. Sara had changed out of her swimsuit and into a pair of pair of denim shorts and a fitted printed T-shirt. Nick had traded his swim trunks for a pair of khaki shorts and a short sleeved blue button down shirt. The girls were all in their pajamas and an array of sleeping bags was spread out over the living room floor.
Sara stood in the entry way to the living room with a smug look on her face. She glanced over at Nick who stood next to her. "See, this isn't that hard."
Nick chuckled. "It's early yet, Sara."
A devilish grin crossed Sara's face. "Uh, why don't we go in the kitchen and let them have a little privacy." She reached over and took his hand, lacing her fingers with his.
Nick looked amused. "You mean why don't we get a little privacy."
She grinned. "It's all a matter of perception, Nick."
Nick pulled his hand away from Sara's for a moment. "Hey, Linds, we're going to be in the kitchen if you guys need anything."
Lindsey looked up at Nick and Sara and grinned. "Ok." Her friends smiled as well. They had been giggling over how attractive Nick was.
As soon as they had rounded the corner into the kitchen, a grinning Nick took Sara's hand and pulled her toward him. He leaned down and kissed her long and deep, tangling his fingers in her hair.
Sara's hands slid up his chest and around his neck.
As they pulled their lips away from each other, Nick chuckled softly. "I've wanted to do that all day." He trailed his fingers down her cheek as he caressed it.
"Me too." Sara smiled at him and then leaned up and pressed her lips to his again.
They stood there between the fridge and the counter exchanging soft, slow, deep kisses for a long time. Nick rested his hands on her waist, his fingers caressing her sides.
Sara's fingers slowly caressed the nape of his neck. After a while, Sara pulled away slightly and murmured; her lips were still a fraction of an inch from his and her eyelids heavy. "We should probably go check on Lindsey and her friends."
Nick nodded in agreement, but didn't let her out of his embrace. "Yeah, before they check on us." He leaned over and kissed her again savoring the softness of her lips against his.
They finally pulled apart reluctantly and headed back out into the living room. The movie was just ending. "You guys ready for another one?" Sara queried them.
Lindsey looked up and grinned. "Yeah."
"Ok, which one?" Nick asked, grinning at the gaggle of little girls.
The girls settled on a movie and while Nick put it into the DVD player, Sara refilled their bowl of popcorn.
After the movie had started, Nick and Sara drifted back to the kitchen. Sara pulled a couple of sodas out of the fridge and handed one to Nick. He grinned at her and leaned over and softly kissed her before he opened the soda and took a sip. Sara leaned back against the counter and studied Nick for a moment, tilting her head to the side. "You know, if one of them catches us, we're going to have a lot of explaining to do to Catherine."
Nick raised his eyebrow flirtatiously. "Well, they're not going to catch us, they're watching a movie." He stepped toward her and pinned her against the counter. He set his soda down and then took hers out of her hand and put it next to his before resting his hands on counter on either side of her.
Sara giggled. "You seem to have this planned out." She splayed her hands against his chest as she watched his eyes.
Nick nodded, grinning. "Yeah, I do." He leaned toward her and pressed his lips against hers, slowly tasting and teasing them. He felt Sara's lips part and he slid his tongue past hers as he began to explore her mouth slowly.
As the kiss intensified, his hands slowly slid up the back of her shirt. Sara moaned softly into his mouth, sliding her arms around his waist underneath the fabric of his shirt. Nick's fingers lightly caressed her skin as he trailed his fingers up and down her back. They became lost in the kiss and the sensation of touching each other.
They were brought sharply back to reality when a group of ten year old voices interrupted them. "Nick and Sara are kissing!"
They pulled apart quickly, trying to act natural. Nick hastily pulled his hands out from underneath Sara's shirt and ran his fingers through his hair.
Sara smoothed out her shirt and tried to catch her breath. "Uh, what can I do for you guys?"
Lindsey studied them for a moment. "We didn't like our movie."
"I caught my brother doing that once, he was in so much trouble when I told my mom." Lindsey's friend Kayla giggled.
"This is better than that 'Spy Kids' movie." Grinned a precocious Chelsea.
"Are you guys getting married?" Kelsey wanted to know.
Lindsey regarded Nick and Sara with a shrewdness similar to her mother. "My mom doesn't know about this does she?"
"Now, Lindsey, this isn't what it looks like." Nick began hoping to con the ten year old.
Lindsey rolled her eyes. "Nick, I wasn't born yesterday. I know what kissing looks like."
Lindsey's friend Mollie just smiled as she watched the scenario unfold.
Sara chuckled in spite of herself and decided to try another tactic. "Uh, Lindsey, your mom doesn't need to know about this. This is between Nick and I."
Lindsey flashed her a smile similar to those Catherine reserved for interrogating suspects. "Are you going to bribe us?"
Sara gave Nick a panicked look.
Nick smiled at Lindsey. "I'm sure we can work something out, if you promise not to say a word."
Lindsey raised a single eyebrow. "It's gonna cost you."
Nick crossed his arms in front of his body and raised his eyebrow at her in return. "What did you have in mind, Linds?"
"Pizza. The good kind." She began. Her friends were all grins as they stood behind Lindsey. "And ice cream. Mint chocolate chip."
"Is that all?" Nick queried them like a pro.
Lindsey glanced back at her friends to see if they had anything to add. A bunch of whispers ensued. Lindsey turned back toward Nick. "We want to see the new Lara Croft movie."
"But that isn't one of the ones your mom rented." Sara interjected hoping the stem the tide.
Nick glanced at Sara for a moment before turning back to Lindsey. "Ok, I'll go rent it. Is that it?"
Lindsey nodded. "Yeah, that'll do."
"You do realize once we shake on this, you promise not to say a word to your mom or anyone else." Nick leveled a serious gaze at the girls.
She nodded and then glanced back at her friends; they nodded. "Ok, deal." Lindsey stuck out her hand and she and Nick shook on it.
Sara just stood there with her jaw agape.
Nick chuckled as he looked at her. "Why don't you get the pizza ordered and I'll go pick up the movie and the ice cream."
Sara nodded and wrinkled her brow at him. "You're good."
He grinned widely. "I'll be back in a while." He raised an eyebrow at Lindsey and her friends. "Go easy on Sara while I'm gone, ok."
They nodded as he went to find his keys to go pick up the movie and ice cream. After Nick left, Sara ordered the pizza and as she hung up the phone, the girls started to pepper her with questions.
"Nick is cute isn't he?" Chelsea grinned.
Sara couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, he is."
"Is he your boyfriend?" Kelsey giggled.
Sara nodded. "Yes, he is." Then a panicked thought crossed her mind and she looked at all the girls. "But that's a secret right now, understand?"
They nodded.
Lindsey piped up. "That's why we're getting pizza and ice cream."
Sara smirked at her.
"Are you going to marry him?" Mollie asked with wide eyes.
Sara swallowed hard. "Uh, I don't know."
"Why?" Mollie continued.
"Uh, people date each other to see if they like each other enough. I mean you have to fall in love, and then if you both decide you want to, then you talk about getting married, maybe." Sara fumbled over her answer.
Chelsea giggled. "Are you in love with him?"
Sara turned pink. She didn't expect this kind of interrogation from a bunch of ten year olds. They were nothing like she was when she was their age. "Uh, I don't know yet."
"Is he in love with you?" Kelsey was curious.
Sara stuttered slightly. "I don't know."
"Why don't you ask him?" Mollie seemed to think this was perfectly logical.
"Uh, because you just don't ask a man if he's in love with you. If he's in love with you, he'll tell you." Sara was getting very uncomfortable and glanced at the clock hoping that Nick would come back soon and rescue her.
Kayla asked the question they all wanted the answer to. "Is he a good kisser?"
Sara grinned in spite of herself. "You're ten. Aren't you a little young to be asking questions like that?"
They all shook their heads. The girls looked at her as if she was from another planet.
Kayla was insistent. "So is he?"
Sara turned a slightly deeper shade of pink. "I'm not going to answer that."
Lindsey looked at the other girls as if she knew the answer. "He must be a good kisser; they were kissing long enough."
The girls all broke out in giggles.
Sara was at a loss for words and just stared at Lindsey open mouthed.
Lindsey looked Sara directly in the eyes as she asked her next question. "Did you and Nick have sex yet?"
Sara sputtered in disbelief. "Uh, that's none of your business, young lady. That's not the kind of question you ask people."
"My mom gave me the sex talk right before my birthday, it sounds gross." Lindsey continued.
Sara was relieved when the pizza was delivered. By the time she returned with the pizza boxes, the girls had moved the topic of conversation to nail polish.
Nick finally returned a short time later with the ice cream, the movie, and a few other snacks for insurance.
After eating their pizza and ice cream, the girls settled back in front of the TV for the Lara Croft movie Nick had rented. Nick and Sara remained in the kitchen, cleaning up the evidence of the bribe.
Sara kept glancing over at Nick. "You are never leaving me alone with a room full of ten year olds again. Understand?"
He grinned sheepishly. "What did they do?"
"It was like the Spanish inquisition. They all wanted to know if you were a good kisser." Sara began.
Nick chuckled and waggled his eyebrows at her. "What did you tell them?"
Sara's eyebrows shot up. "Nick Stokes, when I was ten, I didn't give a flying leap about boys."
Nick tried to restrain a grin. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me."
She chuckled softly.
"What else did they ask you?" Nick queried her.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face as she met his gaze. "Uh, let's just say, the whole conversation was enlightening."
"So, they were pretty hard on you then?" He looked mildly amused.
Sara grinned. "You knew they would do that, didn't you?"
Nick raised his eyebrows innocently. "Hey, I was on a mission to get a movie."
She chuckled at him and stepped toward him, sliding her hands up his chest so she could wrap her arms around his neck. "So, now that they know and they've been sworn to secrecy, how safe do you think we are?"
Nick wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled at her softly. "Oh, I'm pretty sure Lindsey won't say a word, and by the time we get tired of paying her blackmail, let's hope we've gone public."
Sara looked at him perplexed. "Blackmail?"
Nick nodded. "The kid knows a good thing when she sees it; I wouldn't put it past her unless Catherine gets suspicious."
"You know, it's awfully quiet in the living room." Sara suddenly realized.
Nick released her from his embrace and they quietly walked into the living room where five ten-year old con artists were fast asleep in front of the TV.