by Emma Hillman
“Nick.” She traced his knuckles with her fingertips, her eyes following the movements of her fingers. “You do. It’s written all over your face when you look at her.”
“Is it?”
She looked up just in time to catch his horrified expression. Nodding, she added, “Yeah. I don’t understand why Kevin’s not saying anything for that matter. How long have they been married?”
“Years,” he answered. “It’s complicated. We…never mind. This needs to stop!” He stood up abruptly, almost sending her toppling to the floor. He grabbed her shoulders at the last minute and pulled her to an upright position. His hands still on her, he said, “I need your help.”
She licked her lips, wondering what he was going to tell her. He had such an absolute determined look on his face. The same one than he had when he was on the field, back in the day. She gulped. “What?”
“I need to stop thinking of her, remembering-” He cut himself off. “Can you please not leave, Leah?”
“Why?” She just wasn’t following his train of thoughts anymore.
“I know it was rude of me to invite you here knowing you’d meet her, but I truly do like you. I’m attracted to you.”
“You are?” He was? It hadn’t been a lie? Hold on a second! “Isn’t it just because I could be her twin?”
He shook his head almost violently. “No!” She sent him a disbelieving look. “No, promise, it wasn’t that. Oh, it was at first, I’ll admit it. But I’ve come to know you and I do like you. I want you.”
“You’ve just had me,” she couldn’t help but answer, her fingers twisting around each other in front of her. This wasn’t the way she’d planned this conversation to go. What was going on?
“Yes and no. I wasn’t in the right state of mind, and I don’t think you really enjoyed it, did you?” She shook her head, unable to lie about something like that. He sighed. “I’m sorry I hurt you. Stay here, and we’ll go to my house in the morning and spend some time together.”
“I don’t know, Nick. I don’t want to come between-”
He cut her off. “There’s nothing between me and Mia! Do you really expect Kevin to accept something like that?” His head was suddenly filled with images of them three on a bed, naked and sweaty and reeking of sex. Fuck! Luckily, Leah answered him.
“No, you’re right. He doesn’t have a reputation for being too nice.”
“See?” Thank God for that.
“Maybe.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m just not sure if it’s worth it.”
Okay, time to get matters back under his control. “Do you like me, Leah?”
She started. “Sure.”
“Do you want me?” She just stared at him in silence. He stepped closer and added, “Do you like it when I kiss you?” He slipped his hands around her waist and brought her forward. His mouth hovering above hers, he said, “I want to see if we can have a relationship, baby. I wasn’t lying when I said you were my girlfriend…” He claimed her lips for another one of his shattering kisses, Leah’s mind whirling with everything that had just happened.
He might have said and even acted as if she was his girlfriend but he had still been in love with someone else. The thought slashed through her brain and she closed her eyes, suddenly feeling defeated. Pulling back, she smiled sadly and announced she wanted to go to bed now. To sleep. Alone.
Nick nodded and escorted her to the bed, righting the duvet before tugging it over her. “Sleep tight, baby. Dream of me,” he whispered as he dropped a soft kiss on her hair.
He slipped out of the room and went downstairs, eager to drown his sorrows. He still wasn’t sure if Leah would stay or hurry home when morning came. He winced as he downed a glass of bourbon, alcohol burning his throat. He couldn’t take being here if she wasn’t with him however. Not now that Mia and Kevin were cutting him from their lives. He had no hope left, nothing to look forward to.
The memory of Leah’s soft body underneath him interrupted his thoughts and for the first time that night, he smiled. He really did like her.
* * * *
The other couple was still in bed by the time Nick and Leah emerged from the house the next morning. Neither of them had talked about it, but it was clear Kevin and Mia were giving them space, having probably heard the argument. Trying not to think about it, Leah climbed into his truck and waited for him to start the car. They were going to his house and then, god knew what would happen.
“Ready?” Nick turned the ignition on and started backing down the drive. She nodded and clung to her purse, her vision blurred from a sleepless night. “It’s gonna be fine, baby. Trust me,” Nick added as he accelerated.
Leah rolled her eyes at his words. Hadn’t he said the same thing yesterday in the plane? Look how well that had turned out!
Twenty minutes later, they rolled through a heavy gate, his house rising in the distance. It was a ranch, a honest-to-goodness ranch. Oh, there were no cows or horses, but the barn had been converted into a glass-enclosed home. She stepped out of the car and breathed in the sweet smell of the meadows close by.
“Like it?”
“It’s amazing,” she responded truthfully, stepping behind him as he climbed onto the porch and dropped their suitcases at his feet. Rummaging through a set of keys, he quickly found the right one and unlocked the bolt. Hurrying to a complicated alarm system, he turned it off before gesturing her in. She stepped into a fantasy house.
Wood and glass met her eyes. That was all there was, apart from the furniture. Beams rose from the floor and criss-crossed over her head, large panels of glass intercepting them. The view was breathtaking, unlike anything she’d seen before. No, that wasn’t true. His condo in Miami overlooking the ocean had given out the same impression. He clearly loved open spaces. She twirled around and stared at the intricaly carved staircase leading upstairs, wondering if the views were just as amazing from up there.
Nick watched her, loving the way she was taking everything in. She might not have said a word, but he’d already read the look on her face. She loved it. She’d passed the first test and she didn’t even know it. Grinning, he grabbed her hand and said, “Want to tour upstairs?”
“Yes!” she immediately replied before realizing that upstairs meant bedrooms. “I mean…”
He smiled. “It’s okay, baby. You can lead the way while I carry the suitcases.”
“Oh, right.” She took one step at a time, her fingers running over the carvings, taking in the rich detailing and obvious amount of work that had gone into it. “This is just amazing.”
“I know. I fell in love with it and had to have it. You don’t want to know how much the guy made me pay for it though.”
“I can guess.” She stepped onto the landing and glanced down. All that glass gave the impression the room was huge but it wasn’t that big after all. It was cozy even.
“The master bedroom is at the end and there are also two guest rooms on either side. Each has an en-suite,” Nick announced as he motioned her forward. She seemed rooted into place however, so he led the way down the corridor. Opening the final door, he stepped into his bedroom and exhaled deeply. God, he loved it here. This was his home, the one he’d helped build. His haven. He dropped the bags on the bench at the foot of the bed and turned around, only to find Leah frozen in the threshold. “What’s wrong, baby? You don’t like it?”
Leah stared at Nick’s bedroom, his mark on every piece of furniture or art so easily guessed at. The walls had been painted a dark blue, just like the depth of the sea, the contrasting color of the bright white linen covering the four-poster bed a brilliant scheme. Blown-up pictures of fish or dolphins covered every surface, each having obviously been taken by an amateur. Nick, she thought. He’d taken these and had them printed so they decorated his walls.
Oh, he was so cute. She shook her head at the silly notion. This was Apollo Hamilton and he was nothing but cute. But look at this! Her mind countered and she was forced to admit it might have a point. It was a s
ide of him she had never seen before, and she felt as if the room was full of secrets needing to be discovered. She stepped towards a console, her fingers stopping on a weird-shaped object.
“I found it on a dive a few years ago. I’m still not sure what it is, but it’s exciting that I still haven’t managed to find its origin.”
“What about that?” She pointed to the opalescent figurine next to it.
“That’s a seashell. Or rather a carving made out of seashell. It took a lot of dexterity to turn something so fragile into a mermaid.”
She looked up at his face and saw the far-away expression in his eyes. He really did love the sea. She’d never really understood why he’d left his high-flying career, with all its perks. He’d been a high-ranking football player when he’d announced to the whole world that he was quitting to study marine biology. Everyone had thought he was crazy, and she had to admit she had too. He’d been at the top of his game, still young enough to have a few good more years ahead of him. And yet, he’d left it all and moved to Florida.
But now she understood. He loved it. Somehow, that made her like him even more. That he’d had the courage to follow his dreams, even if his road had already been paved for him.
He smiled at her then and took her hand. “What would you like to do? Do you want to take a shower or…” He let his voice trail but her response was preceded by her stomach grumbling. He chuckled, “Or maybe we could have breakfast.”
Leah blushed. “I’m sorry. I’m not that hungry.”
“Sure you are. I know I’m famished.” He pushed her out of the door and led her downstairs. “I’m sure my housekeeper will have left some stuff in the fridge. Let’s go, baby.”
She followed him, her steps slowing as she realized she was going to have to eat. Shoot, she was supposed to be on a diet!
* * * *
She pushed eggs around her plate, her fork drawing elaborate patterns in yellow and white.
“Eat up, Leah. I can still hear your stomach from here.” Nick stared at her across the kitchen table, his eyes daring her to take a bite. “It’s not that bad.”
“It’s fine.”
“So why aren’t you eating?”
Because she wanted to lose weight? Because an omelette made with six eggs and cream and butter wasn’t the best thing to have when you were supposed to be on a diet? Instead of saying those things however, she forced a small smile on her face and replied, “I’m just not very hungry.”
“Is it because of last night?” His voice was low, his face tensing as he remembered what’d happened. How he’d forced her. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve already apologized a million times, Nick; it’s okay.”
“It’s obviously not, if you’re still not over it.”
She sighed. They were going round in circles, weren’t they? “Fine, I’ll eat.”
“Good.” Nick watched her take a bite then another one before asking, “What do you want to do today?”
Leah shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
“That’s not very helpful.” He grinned at her.
“I don’t know what one can do around here, do I?” She snapped her mouth shut when she realized she was starting to sound like a nagging girlfriend. “I’m sorry, Nick; I haven’t slept well.”
“Oh.” He pushed his empty plate further down the table and said, “That’s right. Would you like to take a nap first?”
She shook her head and pushed her plate alongside his, although hers was still half-full. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”
“You sure?” She nodded. “Okay then, would you like a tour of the rest of the house and grounds?” She was on her feet before he could look at her plate and tell her off once again. Nick followed her out of the kitchen, his arm wrapping around her waist making her jump in surprise. “You okay?”
She looked up at him and spotted the amusement in his eyes. “I’m fine. So where to first?”
He stared at her for a few silent seconds before a wide grin crossed his face. “I know!” His hand on her lower back, he propelled her towards a small door. It opened to reveal a wide space, the room once more encircled by wide panels of glass. Except this time, it was slightly different. “A pool?”
“Indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Isn’t it cool?” He paused a few feet away and knelt down. “Take your shoes off, babe.”
Leah watched him kick his trainers off then roll up his jeans. “What are you doing?”
“Let’s put our feet in the water. It’ll relax you, trust me.”
She sat down on a deck chair and took her shoes off as ordered, wriggling her toes as they hit the cold tiles. She wasn’t too sure how this would relax her, but what did she know? It wasn’t as if she’d ever owned a pool before after all. “Okay then.” She followed him to the edge of the pool and sat down, somewhat laboriously, beside him. Her skirt was short enough —okay so it stopped right at her knees— that she could dangle her legs in the water, which turned out to be extremely hot. “Wow, are you sure that’s not the Jacuzzi?”
“Nah.” Nick laughed. “I just like it hot.” His eyebrows wriggled.
“Is that right?” She leaned back on her hands, kicking her feet a little. This was nice.
“Yup.” His voice was lower this time and yet he’d moved closer. “Hey.”
She blinked at his face suddenly so near. “Hey yourself. What’s up?”
He couldn’t help but smile at her reaction. “I just feel like kissing you. Is that all right?”
She licked her lips. “Now?”
“Yeah.” His eyes had followed the movement of her tongue, his pants starting to feel too tight. “Okay?”
Leah opened her mouth to answer but he was faster. His lips melded over hers, his tongue instantly dipping inside for a quick taste. She moaned, her hands automatically moving up to cup his head. Except she’d forgotten she was holding herself up. She fell onto her back, Nick’s body toppling over hers.
Wincing at his weight, she struggled a little but he was still kissing her. By the time his mouth left hers, her arms were hooked around his neck and she was softly panting.
He braced himself on his elbows and looked down at her flushed face. “Hey there.”
“Hey.”
That was all it took for him to lean down and kiss her breath away. Again.
Chapter Seven
They were lying side by side, staring at the ceiling with their feet in the warm water. It was peaceful in here, Leah thought as she felt her eyes start to close. Nick’d been right; she did feel much better. All right, so maybe his earlier kisses had something to do with it.
She’d never known kisses like these. It was as if he could make her lose her sense of reality with just his lips and tongue. It was quite, quite amazing.
“A penny for your thoughts.”
She opened her eyes and turned to her side, frowning when her legs came out of the water. “They’re way more expensive than that.”
Nick chuckled at her answer. “Are they now? Does that mean I’d be very interested in them?”
“Oh yeah.” Her voice had turned husky all of a sudden, surprising her. She licked her lips and missed the way Nick’s eyes darkened to a deep blue.
“What were you thinking of, little witch?”
Her eyebrows rose. “Little witch?”
“You know what I mean.” He pushed himself up onto his left elbow. “Wanna try the Jacuzzi?” Unsure at his change of topic, she nevertheless nodded and yelped when he tugged her up. In two seconds flat, he had her standing beside the tub, her hands clasped in his. “Strip.”
She started. “What?”
“Strip, baby, you can’t wear clothes in a hot tub.”
“I don’t think I-”
He cut her off, “Come on, Leah. I’ve seen you naked. What about this?” He took a step back and pulled his t-shirt off. “I’ll get naked first, okay?”
She didn’t answer, simply stared at him as he took his clothes off. He was magnificent, all
smooth and golden skin. Muscles bunched in his stomach as he opened his jeans and drew them down his thighs. She hiccupped at the sight of him. He’d pulled everything off, and he was naked, and…oh my god. “Nick!”
He stopped short, his clothes lying in disarray at his feet. “Yes?”
“You’re…you’re…” She couldn’t find anything to say, her mind blank. He was far too handsome for her. He looked like a god for pity’s sake! “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Why not?” He crossed his arms over his chest.
She felt frozen into place. He was hard! She wasn’t imagining it. It really was there, waving at her in all its glory. “Oh.”
He followed her gaze and smirked. “Yeah, that’s what kissing you did to me.”
“Really?” She licked her lips again, her hands clenching at her sides.
“Yep. So, Leah, why shouldn’t we be doing this?”
“Uhhh.” She tried remembering why she’d thought it was a bad idea, but she couldn’t stop staring at him. He was just so handsome, and his erection looked very nice too. Shit, what the hell was she thinking? She took a step back. “I should go.”
“Why?” He leaned forward and grabbed her right hand, straightening her fingers so he could hold onto them. “We don’t have to do anything. I mean, we can just sit in the water and relax. Nothing has to happen, baby; you know that, right?”
She didn’t know that actually. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Come on.” He tugged her forward until she stood beside the tub. “You’re in control, Leah.”
“What does that mean?” She frowned up at him.
“From now on, you’ll be the one to decide what we do or don’t do. We can stay here together or we can leave. We can go out, we can do whatever you want. This weekend is for you, okay?”
“For me?” she repeated, her voice sounding strangled.
“Just for you.” Nick smiled as he lowered his head and brushed her mouth in a soft kiss. He leaned back and asked, “So, what will it be?”
Leah stared up at him, her mind in shambles. She wasn’t ready for him to see her naked. He might say that he had already seen her the night before, but it’d been different. He’d been out of it and he’d thought she was someone else, and… No, it wasn’t the same.
