by Amy Brent
A few days passed. Nicole couldn't keep her encounter with Horatio out of her mind. She tried to rein her foolish emotions in and not get her hopes up. She'd had plenty of bad experiences in the past where a man promised to call, then she never heard from him again. But she wanted to believe that Horatio was different. She knew it was possible she was deluding herself. But she had seen the look in his eyes, and she believed that the desire there had been genuine.
Friday night, she had a long double shift at the hospital. She didn't end up getting a break until well after dinnertime. When there was finally a lull in the stream of patients coming through the emergency room doors, she headed back to the employee break room, aching to get off her feet and relax for a bit. She retrieved her phone from her locker and heated up her dinner in the break room microwave, then sat down to eat.
When she turned on her cell phone, she found she had two missed calls from an unfamiliar number. And since she hadn't been there to answer the phone, the caller had sent her a text message as well:
Hey there. I hope you're still interested in getting together this weekend. I've been looking forward to seeing you again. Give me a call. -H
She smiled, glad that her mystery man from the other night hadn't forgotten about her. She realized that she barely knew anything about him—where he was from, what he did for a living, even his last name—but here was her chance to get to know him better.
She called him back, holding her breath while the phone rang. When Horatio answered, she could hear the excitement in his voice. “Hello, Nicole. So glad to hear from you. I was afraid you were ignoring my calls.”
“No, no, of course, I wasn't,” she said. “I was just busy at work. It's been a long day.”
“Ahh, of course. Forgive me for making assumptions. So, how have you been?”
“Not too bad,” she said. “Busy, of course. But I'm glad you called.”
“And I'm glad to hear your voice.”
Nicole felt her face heating up at his words.
“I'd love to get together,” Horatio said. “Tonight, if possible.”
“Tonight?” Nicole looked at the clock on the wall. She wouldn't be finished her double shift for another two hours, which would mean going out after eight o'clock after a twelve-hour day. She wasn't sure if she had enough energy for it after the day she'd had, though she truly wanted to go.
“I'm going to be leaving town on business tomorrow afternoon,” Horatio said. “I won't be back for two weeks. It would really make me happy if I could see you before I go.”
Nicole chewed on her lip. She wasn't sure what to say, but she didn't want to miss this opportunity. If she waited another two weeks before seeing him, would he lose interest in her? She didn't want to think like that, but she couldn't help herself.
“I'd love to,” she said. She'd just have to catch up on her sleep another day.
“Great. How about dinner? What time can I pick you up?”
They spent a few minutes going over the details, and she gave him the address to her apartment building so he could pick her up after she got done work. Then she spent the rest of her shift distracted, thinking ahead to how the night would go and what she would wear.
She met Horatio in front of her apartment building at nine o'clock, freshly showered and changed into a navy blue dress that hugged her generous curves. He pulled up to the building in a Porsche, and her eyes widened when she saw the beautiful, sleek lines of the silver car. It made her wonder just what he did for a living and how much he was worth.
Horatio got out of the car and walked over to her, holding a single red rose. A beaming smile spread across her face as she accepted it. “Well, well, aren't you the charmer?” she asked.
“Only when a lady captivates me so,” he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Horatio led her to the car and held the door open for her in a gentlemanly fashion. They made small talk on the way to the restaurant, which turned out to be a rather high-class place that Nicole knew was well out of her price range. She looked around the room as they were led to their table, dazzled by the expensive decor, from the paintings on the walls to the solid gold light fixtures. Once they had their menus and the waiter left to get them a bottle of wine, Nicole looked at Horatio with her eyebrow raised and asked, “Are you trying to impress me?”
“Not at all,” Horatio said. “Just trying to show you a nice time.”
“Well, you're doing a good job so far.”
After the waiter returned with the wine, they shared a toast. Nicole eyed Horatio over the rim of her wine glass, a million questions running through her head. This man wasn't just some ordinary boy picking women up at a club. But she didn't know where to begin peeling away the layers of the mystery sitting before her.
“So,” she finally said. “Where are you from? You said you're only in town on business?”
“I live in New York,” he said. “Though I make my way down to Philly fairly regularly for business, and I do a lot of traveling overseas.”
“Overseas? What sort of business are you in?”
“International finance,” he said. “Boring stuff, really.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Mostly board meetings, meeting with shareholders, that sort of thing. But it lets me travel a lot, so I do enjoy that part.”
“Wow.” Nicole sipped her wine, her head spinning at the thought of so much world travel and big business. “I've never been outside the States. Well, except driving up to Canada once or twice when I was younger, but that barely counts.”
“You should see Europe,” Horatio said. “Beautiful countries out there. So much history.”
Nicole laughed and shook her head. “As if I could ever afford a vacation like that.”
“Well, you never know,” he said, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
“Is that where you're going tomorrow?” Nicole asked. “Europe?”
“That's right. Only for a few days, then I'll be back in New York. Though I'm sure I could make some time to come down this way, for the right company.” He flashed her a charming smile and she felt her face heating up.
“I think I might like that,” she said, smiling coyly at him.
He asked her about her work, and she spent some time talking about what it was like in the hospital, from the grueling hours to the gossip that inevitably spread among the nursing staff.
“It must be fulfilling work, though,” he said. “Helping people. Saving lives.”
“Sometimes,” she said. “But then you get the paranoid parents who bring their kids in whenever they get a slight fever, and we basically tell them they need some children's cold medicine, plenty of fluids, and bed rest. Or people who read up on their symptoms on the internet and end up convinced they have cancer when all they have is the flu. I mean, I'd rather see people coming in and being safe, instead of ignoring a possible problem when it could be something worse, but sometimes I wish people would use some common sense.”
Horatio chuckled. “Well, common sense is the one thing most people seem to be lacking. Which makes me think that maybe it isn't so common after all. But there's a definite satisfaction to know that you've been able to help people. To save their lives.”
Nicole's eyebrows went up. “Have you ever saved someone's life?” There was a conviction behind his words that made her think he was speaking from personal experience, though she wasn't sure how international finance ever helped save someone's life.
He lowered his eyes, his tone becoming more guarded. “Well, no, not exactly. What I suppose I meant was that we can help improve people's lives. My company does a lot of Samaritan work overseas. Providing disaster relief funding, financing schools and hospitals, that sort of thing.”
“Ahh. Well, that's wonderful. There must be a lot of people who are grateful for what you do for them.”
He looked away, sipping his wine. A slight frown touched Nicole's lips. She had the feeling there was something Horatio wasn't saying. But it didn't seem important enough to
press him on.
The conversation moved on to more mundane things, and they spoke for a time about their interests and what they did with their free time. She learned that Horatio enjoyed mountain climbing and other outdoor sports, which didn't surprise her, considering his physique. She told him about her love for animals, and how she'd almost gone into veterinary medicine instead of becoming a nurse. As the conversation carried on, she grew more and more comfortable with him, and it felt like she could tell him anything without fear of judgment or ridicule. It had been a long time since she'd met someone she could talk with so freely, and it was a pleasant relief.
After dessert, Horatio put her arm through his and led her back out to the car. “I've had a lovely evening,” he said. “I truly hope we can do this again when I get back from my trip.”
“Me too,” she said, smiling up at him.
He paused, reaching up to touch her cheek. “I wish the night didn't have to end yet. It would be a shame for it to be over so quickly.”
Nicole swallowed a lump in her throat, her face heating up. She didn't want the night to end either, but she didn't know if she was bold enough to ask him for what she really wanted. But then, she thought about not seeing him again for two whole weeks, and she knew she had to seize the moment and take everything she could get out of this evening.
“The night doesn't have to end yet,” she whispered, looking up into his eyes.
He held her gaze, caressing her cheek. “I was hoping you'd say that.”
He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, his hand sliding back to caress her dark curls. She leaned close to him, feeling his warmth as his body pressed against hers. She could feel the desire radiating from him, and she knew that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
He pulled back and lifted her hand to his lips, planting a gentle kiss on the backs of her fingers. “My hotel isn't far from here,” he whispered.
She couldn't find her voice. She simply nodded, unable to contain her excitement or find the words to express her desire.
She could barely wait to get to the hotel. While they drove, her hand strayed over to Horatio's knee. She started rubbing his leg gently, sending shivers up his spine. He grinned at her while he drove, and spread his legs apart a bit to give her easier access. She let her hand slide up higher, teasing his inner thigh through the thin silken material of his pants. He shifted in his seat a bit, letting out a slight groan. She could already see the bulge growing in his pants.
She brushed her fingers against it and Horatio tensed, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. He slowed down a bit, driving extra carefully as she teased him. She rubbed gently, taking her time and driving him wild with the tender, sensual touches. By the time they pulled into the parking garage at the hotel, Horatio looked like he was about to lose control.
They parked the car and hurried over to the elevator. As soon as they got inside, Horatio took her into his arms, tracing his fingers across her delicate caramel skin. He kissed her ear, her neck, her shoulder, sending little shivers down her body with each touch of his lips against her flesh. His hand slid into her hair and he tilted her head to the side, then he started sucking softly on the skin at the side of her neck.
The elevator chimed and the doors opened out into the lobby. Nicole and Horatio pulled apart, both of them blushing as a bellboy entered, pushing a luggage cart. He cast an eye over them, and then turned away, studiously ignoring them. They waited until he got off on the third floor before they resumed pawing at each other, Horatio pinning Nicole against the wall and grinding against her.
As soon as they got into the hotel room, Horatio started pulling off her dress. It fell to the floor in a heap and she stepped out of it, kicking her shoes off as she went. Horatio lowered her down onto the bed, planting a trail of kisses down her chest as he pulled off her bra, then her panties. His fingers roamed between her legs, teasing her the way she'd teased him earlier. His touch sent chills down her spine, and Nicole's back arched as the raw ecstasy poured over her.
Then he was inside her, standing at the edge of the bed with her legs propped up on his shoulders. She grabbed the bed sheets in her fists, closing her eyes and letting out moans so loud she was sure that whoever was in the next room would hear. But she didn't care. She let all her inhibitions go, abandoning herself to the pleasure of Horatio's touch, letting him fill her and make her feel complete. She felt like she was floating, and the darkness that cloaked her in the shadowy hotel room made her vision spin. She pulled Horatio down on top of her, clinging to his shoulders, burying her face against his neck to stifle her moans as she came.
Afterward, she held him tight against her, feeling the heat of his body pressed against hers. He laid his head against her chest, catching his breath. She let her fingers trail through his dirty blonde hair, a blissful smile on her face. And when she finally drifted off to sleep, she was more peaceful and content than she could remember being for a very long time.
3
In the morning, Nicole woke up in a blissful state of relaxation. She knew she had to be at work soon, but she didn't even want to think about such things. Not when she was still savoring the experience she'd shared with Horatio last night. She was in too good of a mood to let anything spoil it.
She opened her eyes and looked around the room. A room service cart was parked by the bed, and the succulent smells of breakfast wafted from under the tray's lid. The curtains were open just a bit, letting the morning light into the room.
Nicole stretched out on the bed, and then frowned, looking for Horatio. She sat up, wondering where he could have gone. Then she heard the sound of the shower running in the bathroom.
She grinned and got up, lifting the lid on the food tray and snagging a bit of sausage. She nibbled on it as she headed to the bathroom on her tiptoes, planning to surprise Horatio by joining him in the shower. But she paused at the door when she heard Horatio's voice. He was speaking to someone, very softly, though she could barely make out what he was saying.
She leaned closer to the door, holding her breath and trying not to make a sound. There was no other voice in the room, so she assumed he must have been on the phone. Probably, she figured, speaking to one of his business associates about the trip he was leaving on later today. But his voice sounded heated, and she found herself curious what he could possibly be talking about.
“No, extraction shouldn't be a problem,” Horatio said. “Yes. Yes, I know. Don't worry, it's all taken care of.”
He was quiet for a moment. Nicole froze, wondering if he had heard her by the door. She held still and waited, feeling like a snoop but unable to resist her curiosity.
“Understood,” Horatio said. “ETA is eleven p.m. local time. That's right. Understood. Over and out.”
Nicole frowned, pondering the meaning of the strange, one-sided conversation. But she knew she couldn't say anything about it. She didn't want to anger Horatio by admitting that she'd been eavesdropping.
The faucet squeaked as Horatio turned off the shower. Nicole hurried back over to the bed, bringing the breakfast tray with her. When Horatio emerged from the bathroom, she smiled at him, pretending she had just been waking up to breakfast.
“Good morning,” he said, flashing a charming smile at her.
“Morning yourself,” she said. “Thank you for breakfast. This looks amazing.” She picked up the fork, scooping up some scrambled eggs.
Horatio gave her a kiss, and then he started getting dressed. “I hate to rush out so early, but I need to get going if I'm going to make my flight. It's a ten-hour flight, so I had to book the earliest one I could find.”
“I'll get dressed,” Nicole said, setting the breakfast tray aside.
“No, you don't need to rush yourself.” He smiled at her and gently traced his fingers along her cheek. “Take your time. Enjoy breakfast. I'll have a car waiting for you to take you home.”
Horatio finished getting dressed, and then gave her a long, sensual kiss before he le
ft. Nicole lounged in bed for a little bit longer, taking her time eating and relaxing before she had to go back to work. The night in the hotel felt like a mini-vacation, a chance for her to get away from the stresses of her life, not to mention an opportunity to start something new and exciting. She didn't want to break the spell yet, though she knew she had no choice.
When she knew she couldn't delay it any longer, Nicole got dressed and headed downstairs. She found a man in a chauffeur's uniform waiting there, holding a card with her name on it. She walked up to him, smiling. She hadn't expected Horatio to go to so much trouble.
“Hi, I'm Nicole,” she said.
“Good morning, ma'am,” the chauffeur said, tipping his hat. “I'm to drive you home, or anywhere else you need.”
He led her out to a black luxury car, and he held open the door for her as she got in. The seats were made of the softest leather she'd ever touched, and the car was decked out with a mini fridge, a TV, and all the amenities. She looked around at the fancy interior of the car, wondering again just how much Horatio was worth. Not that she cared about such things. She wasn't dating him for his money. At least, that's what she kept telling herself.
By the time Nicole got home, changed into her work clothes, and drove to the hospital, it was starting to feel like the entire night with Horatio had been a dream. He remained in her thoughts throughout the day, and whenever she had a break between patients, she thought about calling him, just to see how he was doing and to make sure he hadn't just been a figment of her imagination. But then, she remembered that he was on a plane to Europe, and she had no way of reaching him.
The next day, while she was enjoying her day off at home, she was surprised to hear her doorbell ring. When she answered the door, she found a deliveryman there, holding a bouquet of flowers. She accepted them, smiling like a schoolgirl in love. The card read, “My Dear Nicole, our night together was magical. You'll be in my thoughts until I return. -H”
She held the bouquet up and inhaled the sweet scent of the flowers. It had been a long time since any man had given her flowers, and none had ever had a bouquet delivered to her home like this. It made her feel once more like Horatio was the perfect man. Though she couldn't help the nagging feeling that he was simply too good to be true.
