by Gina Wilkins
She pointed it at the set, pushed the Off button, and then tossed the remote carelessly to the floor. “Now,” she purred, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Where were we?”
“Right here,” he murmured and kissed her again.
At the moment there was nowhere else on earth he’d rather be.
FOR THE FIRST TIME in longer than he could remember, Andrew didn’t want to get out of bed the next morning. Usually, he was up before the alarm, methodically dressing for the office while his thoughts raced ahead, neatly categorizing and preparing for any eventuality in his workday. Usually, there was no reason to stay in bed.
This was not a usual day.
He stood for several long moments beside the bed, thinking that watching Nicole sleep could easily become addictive. And then he made himself turn away and go into the bathroom. He couldn’t help noticing that his shower was rather lonely without Nicole to share it with him.
He dressed as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb her. He was just knotting his tie when she stirred and opened her eyes.
“I tried to be quiet,” he said apologetically. “It’s still early, if you want to go back to sleep.”
She yawned and pushed her hair away from her face. “Where are you going?”
He shrugged into his suit jacket. “To the office. The holiday’s over, I’m afraid. Work calls.”
Holding the sheet to her chest, she sat up. “You’re the boss. Can’t you play hooky for a day?”
He smiled faintly. “The company would probably be bankrupt by lunchtime without me there to supervise it.”
She returned the smile. “I hope you don’t really believe that.”
“No,” he admitted. “But I have a meeting this morning I really can’t miss. If it hadn’t been scheduled for over a month, I’d forget about work today and crawl back into bed with you.”
Her eyes widened. “Something tells me that’s quite a compliment.”
He leaned over to brush a kiss over her mouth. “Believe it. I haven’t been tempted to miss a day of work in at least five years.”
She traced his lower lip with her finger. “Mmm. You tempt me to try harder to tempt you.”
He groaned. “You wouldn’t have to try very hard. But I really do have to attend this meeting.”
She sighed deeply. “All right. I’ll be good. Dam it.”
He kissed her again—but quickly, since he wasn’t at all sure of his usually impressive willpower.
“I don’t have time for breakfast,” he said, stepping rather too quickly away from her. “Feel free to ask Martha for whatever you like. She likes to cook.”
She nodded, and he hesitated, uncertain what to say next. He wanted to ask about her plans for the day—but he wasn’t sure she’d consider that any of his business.
He wanted to ask her not to leave—but he wouldn’t pressure her to stay here if she was ready to go.
He wanted to know that their time together hadn’t ended just because real life had intruded—but he didn’t know how to ask if she wanted to see him again after today.
It had been a very long time, if ever, since Andrew had felt so tongue-tied and unsure of himself. “Uh... Is there anything else you need before I go?”
“No, thank you.”
“I should be home by six. Would you like to go out for a movie or something later?” he asked, awkward as a schoolboy.
He couldn’t quite read her expression as she studied him. Was she surprised that he’d asked? Was she trying to think of a good excuse to turn him down? Was she—
“Yes, I’d like that,” she said.
He inhaled in quick relief. “All right. Then I’ll see you this evening.”
“Yes.”
He wanted to kiss her again. He took another look at her, sitting in his bed with her hair appealingly disheveled, her skin still lightly flushed from sleep, her bare shoulders rising above the sheet she held lightly against her chest, and he knew he’d better not get within touching distance of her if he wanted to make his meeting.
He cleared his throat. “I’d better go. Make yourself at home. Anything you need, just ask Martha. If you want to go anywhere, I’ll leave your name with the security gate so you’ll be able to come back in without a hassle.”
He didn’t think he could make it any clearer that she was still welcome in his home.
“I’ll be fine, Andrew. Don’t be late for your meeting because of me.”
He nodded and turned toward the door. He paused there and looked over his shoulder to find her watching him. He felt the need to say something meaningful, something that would let her know how much the past few hours had meant to him.
Yet all he could do was nod and repeat, “I’ll see you this evening.” He had a feeling he would be reminding himself of that all day.
NICKY PULLED UP her knees and rested her chin on them, staring thoughtfully at the door Andrew had closed behind him when he left. He’d seemed awfully reluctant to leave. She liked knowing that he’d wanted to spend more time with her.
He was an odd man. Darned if she could tell what he was thinking most of the time. But he could still make her tremble with a look, make her melt with a touch.
And when he’d made love to her, it had, quite simply, been like nothing she’d ever known before.
Something about him drew her. Something she saw in his eyes at times made her want to hold him, tease him, make him smile. He needed her, she mused. She’d known it since that first, powerful midnight kiss.
But, as they spent more time together, would Andrew reach the same conclusion? Or would he convince himself that he’d been better off before she’d entered his life?
8
“YOU DID WHAT?” Amy Holiday stared in frank disbelief at her older sister, a can of cola suspended, forgotten, halfway to her mouth.
Sitting at the kitchen table in her sister’s tiny rental mobile home, Nicky winced. “You heard me. I met a guy at the New Year’s Eve party at Joyce and Norvell’s club and I spent the night with him.”
Amy set the cola can on the table. “Nicky, this is so unlike you. I mean, sure, you can be impulsive, but not when it comes to men. You’ve always been so careful and selective.”
“The way I was with Stu?” Nicky asked with a touch of bitterness.
Now it was Amy’s turn to wince. “Okay, so Stu was a mistake. But you didn’t go to bed with him within hours of meeting him,” she added.
“Trust me, I know. But I never reacted to anyone the way I did to Andrew. I fell. Hard, and fast.”
Amy’s dark eyes went round. “This sounds serious.”
“I think it is.”
“You’ve only known him for a day.”
Nicky shrugged. “That doesn’t seem to matter.”
“Wow. And to think I never believed in love at first sight.”
“It wasn’t at first sight, exactly. More at first kiss,” Nicky mused.
“What are you going to do?”
Nicky shrugged. “Hope for the best.”
“I can’t wait to meet him.”
“I’ll try to arrange it soon,” Nicky promised. “I’m anxious to hear your opinion of him.”
She had always valued Amy’s opinion. She just hadn’t always heeded it. Amy had disliked Stu the first time she’d met him.
Nicky was enjoying this chance to visit with her younger sister. She’d stopped by the trailer on an impulse, and had been delighted to find Amy there alone. Classes for the new semester hadn’t yet started, and Amy had planned a day of housework and laundry. She’d welcomed her sister’s impromptu visit.
It hadn’t taken her long to find out just how Nicky had spent her holiday.
“So, have you found a place to live yet?” Amy asked.
Nicky shook her head. “I looked at a couple of apartments today, but one was too expensive and the other was a dump. I’m going to look again tomorrow.”
“And tonight?”
“I’m sure Andrew won’t mind i
f I stay with him another night.” She remembered his visible reluctance to leave her that morning, his invitation for her to spend another evening in his company. Surely that indicated he wasn’t tired of her yet, didn’t it?
Just to be safe, she’d packed up her things and stashed them in her car. If he gave any sign that he wasn’t sincerely interested in having her stay another night, she would check into a motel.
She wouldn’t stay unless she truly believed she was welcome.
“Nicky.” Amy reached across the tiny table to cover her sister’s hand with her own. “Be careful, okay? I’d hate to see you hurt again.”
Nicky grimaced. “Trust me, that’s not something I want to happen. It’s just . . . well, I can’t seem to be careful where Andrew is concerned. I think he needs me, Amy. He seems so alone.”
Amy sighed. “Enough said. That tender heart of yours is really going to get you into trouble someday.”
“This from the woman who wants to go into education and work with troubled kids,” Nicky retorted.
Amy grinned. “Just a couple of softies, aren’t we?”
“Hmm. Listen, kid, you need any money? I’m a little tight until I find another job, but I could probably come up with—”
Amy lightly slapped Nicky’s hand. “I’m fine, sis. Really. I’m still working part-time at the campus bookstore, so I’ve got enough for now. Don’t worry about me, okay? Take care of yourself for a change.”
“At least Mom’s busy with her latest boyfriend,” Nicky said a bit wearily. “It would be nice if this one works out so she’ll have someone to take care of her.”
“Like me, Mom is perfectly capable of taking care of herself when she has to. You’ve just spoiled us. And speaking of your financial burdens, how’s Nate?”
“Nate’s fine. And he’s not a burden,” Nicky said, defending her cousin loyally. “I just help him out every now and then.”
Amy rolled her eyes. “Maybe Joyce is right. Maybe you do need a rich husband.”
Nicky scowled. “Please don’t say anything like that around Andrew. I wouldn’t want him to think I’m interested in him for his money.”
“If he thinks that, then he doesn’t understand you at all.”
“How could he?” Nicky asked simply. “He’s only known me for a day and a half.”
“That should be long enough to let him know that you don’t judge people by how much money they have. In fact, usually the more money they have, the less you like them. Andrew seems to be the exception.”
“Andrew’s been the exception to a lot of my past beliefs,” Nicky admitted wryly. She glanced at her watch. “I’d better be going. He’s invited me out for a movie tonight.”
“The rich guy’s taking you to a movie?” Amy laughed. “Sounds strangely like my outings with the few poor, struggling students I’ve dated lately.”
“So what would you expect us to do? Jet over to London for a game of polo with the prince?”
Amy shrugged. “Never having dated anyone with more money than he could carry in his pocket, I wouldn’t know what to expect.”
Nicky frowned suddenly. “Don’t get hung up on the money thing, okay? Andrew’s just an average guy.”
Watching her sister’s face, Amy slowly shook her head. “Somehow I don’t think he’s average at all. At least not judging by the way you look when you talk about him.”
Okay, Amy was right, Nicky thought as she hugged her sister and then drove away. Andrew wasn’t exactly average.
To be perfectly honest, Andrew wasn’t like any man she’d ever known.
He could hurt her. Badly. But she couldn’t seem to pull back now. Whatever this was between them had begun fast and seemed to be speeding toward an inevitable destination.
It had been out of her control since they’d welcomed the New Year in with a kiss.
FOR THE FIRST TIME in years, Andrew was home before six o’clock that evening. It was. the first time home had seemed more interesting to him than the office.
He’d gotten more than a few odd looks when he’d shown up at work with a bruised face. One of his vice presidents had half jokingly asked if he’d had an interesting New Year’s Eve. Andrew had very seriously assured him that he had, indeed. And then he’d walked away, leaving the man looking frustrated by Andrew’s refusal to elaborate.
Andrew had spent the entire day thinking about Nicole. Remembering.
That was something else that was new for him—he wasn’t used to anything interfering with his concentration at work. He’d even had to have his attention recalled once during the meeting, to the obvious surprise of his already curious co-workers.
He wasn’t sure whether to be more intrigued or alarmed by the effect Nicole Holiday had on him.
He was dismayed to discover that she wasn’t waiting for him when he got home from work. All of her things were gone from his bedroom, and he found nothing of hers in the guest room when he checked. He returned slowly to his own room, then stood in the middle of the floor, listening to the all-too-familiar silence of his home.
He could almost imagine that he’d dreamed her.
The hollow, dispassionate feeling inside him was also familiar. But it was even more disturbing now than it had been for the past few years.
For a few hours Nicole had filled him with emotions. Some pleasant, some disturbing, but all real. It seemed as though she’d taken all those emotions with her when she’d left, turning him back into the unfeeling robot his ex-fiancée had accused him of being.
Someone tapped lightly on his open bedroom door. He turned slowly, and emotion filled him again.
Nicole had come back.
She was dressed in a brightly colored sweater and dark slacks. Her hair was a glorious tangle of curls, and her mouth was curved into a warm, inviting smile that made his chest ache to look at it. “Martha let me in,” she said, hesitating in the doorway. “Am I disturbing you?”
He hadn’t heard the doorbell ring, which was just another indication of how deeply she affected him.
“No, you aren’t disturbing me.” Rather to his surprise, his voice sounded calm, normal. “I was just looking for you.”
“Well, here I am. How was your meeting?”
“Fine.”
He wanted to ask where she’d been. Who she’d seen during the hours they were apart. Whether any other man had noticed how snugly her soft sweater clung to her breasts. He said only, “I’m glad you came back.”
Her smile deepened. “Didn’t you invite me to see a movie with you this evening?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
She motioned toward his tailored gray suit. “Wouldn’t you like to slip into something more comfortable first?”
Oh, yeah. He’d like very much to slip into bed. With her. To rediscover the glorious, mindless satisfaction she’d brought him before. But he’d asked her for a date, and he didn’t want her to mistakenly think her body was the only thing that attracted him to her.
He nodded. “I won’t take long. Uh, stay and talk to me while I change?” he added quickly, when she moved as if to leave the room. He was strangely reluctant to let her out of his sight.
If she was surprised by the request, she didn’t show it. “Sure,” she said, and sat on the end of his bed, looking completely at ease. “Tell me about your day.”
He walked into his closet for a sweater and jeans. “There’s nothing much to tell,” he said, returning with the garments. “I had a meeting with the research and development staff, another meeting with a team from a new advertising agency we’re considering, and a conference call with two European distributors. Business as usual.”
She blinked. “Oh. So you’re like the Bill Gates of the South or something?” she asked ingenuously, naming the famous founder of the Microsoft Corporation.
“On a smaller scale, I suppose,” he acknowledged with a wry smile as he hung his suit jacket over the back of a chair and began to unbutton his white shirt. “My company focuses more on individualized
, accounting-specific software. My father and my uncle came into the industry just prior to the computer boom of the mid-seventies, and they were able to carve a secure niche for DataProx before the competition became as fierce as it is now.”
“You must have worked very hard to rise so high in the company at such an early age,” she commented.
Andrew couldn’t help studying her face for signs of sarcasm. She wouldn’t be the first to imply—subtly or otherwise—that his own career had been made on the coattails of his father. He’d generally proven to everyone else that he deserved his position; he didn’t want to have to defend his competence to Nicole.
“I wouldn’t have been named president of the company if my father and the board hadn’t thought I was qualified,” he said carefully.
Her eyes widened. “Well, of course not. A company doesn’t remain successful and competitive by rewarding incompetence, even when it’s in the family.”
He thought her statement a bit naive, but since it was slanted in his favor, he didn’t bother to contradict her. He merely nodded and unbuckled his belt.
Watching him with apparent interest, Nicole went on. “Have you always wanted to work for DataProx?”
He unzipped his slacks and stepped out of them, leaving him a bit self-consciously clad in white briefs and dark socks. He reached quickly for his jeans as he answered her question. “I’ve always been intrigued by modern management techniques. I flirted briefly with the idea of going into medicine when I was in high school, but even then I knew I had a taste. for business.”
“Medicine,” Nicole mused thoughtfully. “I can’t see you working day-to-day with patients, but you’d probably have excelled at medical research or surgery.”
He held his jeans in front of him, ready to step into them. “What makes you think I wouldn’t work well with patients?”
“You’re too much of a perfectionist,” she replied without hesitation. “It would drive you crazy when they didn’t take good care of their health or follow your instructions.”
