He dropped a quick kiss on her neck and then turned back to his office. He had a night to plan for. He was going to make Pam’s last evening in New York one to remember.
Pam smoothed down the white dress. She knew she looked good in it. And obviously Nick liked it. A shiver brushed down her spine as she recalled his whispered words in her ear, requesting she wear the dress.
‘Pam, sweetheart, are you ready?’ His words were muffled from behind the door. She wondered if he suspected that if he walked into the room, they wouldn’t leave. He had kissed her senseless on the drive home from the office, and even though she’d wanted to continue with the kissing when they arrived home, Nick had pushed her towards her room and told her to get ready.
Then she’d received an email from the debt collectors again. The last thing she wanted to do was think about what was going to greet her when she returned to Perth. She had hoped she’d be able to tell them that in thirty days the sale on her house would be finalised and she’d be able to pay them out. Now she was back to avoiding their calls and trying to work out how to sort out the mess that was the financial part of her life.
But she wasn’t going to think about that. Tonight was her last night in New York and she was spending it with the most handsome man she’d ever met. The fact he found her attractive was still something she couldn’t comprehend.
Pam couldn’t wait for what was going to happen tonight. She hoped they were going dancing. To be held in Nick’s arms again while they moved to music was sensual foreplay. Giving herself another look, pleased with how the dress looked, she picked her purse up from the bed, along with her wrap, and opened the door.
Her resolve to not drag Nick into her room was severely tested with the sight that greeted her. He was lounging by the side of her room, looking sexy in black trousers and a black shirt. His matching jacket was folded over his arm.
‘Going for the opposite of what I’m wearing, huh?’ she commented on a laugh.
Shrugging his shoulder negligently, he took hold of her hand, raising it to his lips to place a gentle kiss on top. ‘I’m dressed so you can shine tonight.’
Pam was glad Nick had hold of her hand, as she was positive if he hadn’t she’d have fallen in a puddle at his feet. He couldn’t have said anything nicer to her. In that moment she felt like she was his one and only. So special, and he was happy to take a backseat to her.
‘Thank you, Nick, but I like to think we complement each other.’
His response was to lean forward and give her a quick kiss on her lips. ‘Let’s go, shall we?’
‘Where are we going?’
‘It’s a surprise, but trust me, sweetheart. You’re going to enjoy every minute of it.’
They made their way through the apartment. As they went, Pam took note of everything so she could remember her time in this fabulous city. The time she spent it in the most amazing apartment with views others only dream about.
When they got downstairs, she gave the doorman a wide smile as he opened the door for them to pass through.
‘You’re looking extra lovely this evening, Pam,’ Rob said as he tipped his hat to her. ‘Going somewhere special?’
‘Thank you. And I have no idea where we’re going. Nick’s going to surprise me.’
‘Have a pleasant evening.’
‘We will,’ Nick replied as he slipped the man some money. The action of tipping Rob was still a concept she found mind-boggling. But she knew most of the people worked for minimum wages, so tips helped them with their everyday needs.
A black limousine waited at the curb for them, the engine purring quietly. This was another luxury Pam would miss once they returned to Perth. There was nothing quite like being driven around in the back of a car with blacked-out windows and feeling like a superstar.
She got herself settled and waited while Nick spoke quietly to the driver. Anticipation of where they were going hummed through her.
‘All set?’ Nick asked, as he took hold of her hand and rested it on his leg.
‘Sure am, I can’t wait. Now are you going to tell me where we’re going?’
‘No, but you’ll find out soon enough.’
‘You don’t play fair.’ She stuck her lip out, acting like a spoiled child, but all the while trying not to laugh.
His eyes twinkled, like shining stars, in amusement at her antics. ‘You know you’ll stay like that if the wind changes.’
This time she couldn’t stop the laughter from erupting from her. She sidled closer to Nick and lay her head on his shoulder. His hand came up and stroked her hair sweetly.
‘Thank you,’ she murmured after a moment.
‘My pleasure.’
They sat in companionable silence while the car made its way through the New York traffic. Pam could look out the window but there’d be no point. Even after almost two weeks in the city she couldn’t tell which direction they were heading. She trusted that Nick would keep her safe.
Soon the car pulled to a stop. The driver killed the engine and got out to get the door for Nick. When he was out, Nick bent forward and held out his hand.
‘Are you ready, sweetheart?’
Pam had no hesitation in putting her hand in his. The realisation that she was falling in love with him had hit her as they sat quietly in the car. Nick could’ve taken her anywhere. Could’ve done anything, but she knew he’d planned out a night to remember, just for her. To give her a wonderful memory of her time in New York. Those actions spoke of a man who had to care for her a little bit.
But she wasn’t going to risk spoiling the evening by blurting out the feelings of love, which were taking root in her heart and spreading out their joyous arms until they captured her whole soul.
She was ready for anything.
Placing her hand in his. ‘I’m ready for this adventure you’re about to take me on. I trust you’re going to give me a night to remember.’
‘You can count on it.’ He pulled her hand slightly and she eased out of the car. He wrapped his arm around her waist, anchoring her to his side. She took a moment to look around to see if she could recognise where they were.
They were at the place where they’d caught the ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty. Except off to the side a bit. She looked around, and spied a massive white boat moored to the side of the jetty.
‘Are we going on that?’ she asked as she pointed to it.
‘Yes.’
‘But it’s huge.’ A flash of disappointment threatened to dissolve her excitement of the evening. A boat that big wouldn’t be just for the two of them. There had to be more people going on it. It didn’t make sense, though; they were the only two people in close proximity to the boat. Maybe this was the first stop and then they would pick more people up at another location. She tried to inject excitement back into her voice. ‘Are we going to a party?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh, well, I’m sure that’s going to be fun.’
Nick leaned down and whispered in her ear. ‘It’s a party for two.’
She whipped her head around, almost knocking him out with the movement. ‘What? Just us?’
‘Yes. I promised you a night to remember and I always keep my promises.’
A night on a boat, just two of them. Nothing could be more perfect. What else did Nick have planned for her?
Chapter 14
A gentle breeze whispered over her, ruffling her hair and blowing strands across her face. She pushed the offending wisps away, not wanting to miss out on the scene in front of her. They’d been cruising around the Hudson River for a couple of hours. Eaten dinner on the deck under the watchful eye of the Statue of Liberty. The city at night, all lit up, sparkling like the brightest star, was a sight she would never forget.
She wished they weren’t flying back to Perth the next day. There was still so much more of the city she knew she wanted to see and experience. She hadn’t seen a show on Broadway. Hadn’t visited Chinatown or Soho, or the Met; so much culture and history
to soak up. But if she continued working with Nick then perhaps she’d come back again. That is, if he wanted her to still work for him. He’d initially wanted her to help him sort out this New York deal and now it’s completed and they were heading back to Perth. What happened next for her?
Warm arms slipped around her waist, pulling her against a strong, hard chest. ‘You shouldn’t be thinking so hard. You should be enjoying the view.’
Pam laid her hands over Nick’s. The evening had been so perfect. A beautiful yacht, with a beautiful setting and a beautiful man who was all hers.
For the moment.
The voice of reason kept reminding her. She didn’t want to listen to that voice tonight. Nick was right. Tonight was about enjoying their last night in New York, and each other.
She turned in his arms and looped hers around his neck, teasing the back of his neck with her fingers.
‘I am enjoying the view. How can you not?’ She went up on her tiptoes and gave his lips the briefest of touches. His lips were cool and firm. She would never get tired of tasting them. ‘Thank you for such a wonderful evening, Nick. I’m not sure I deserve all this.’
‘This isn’t payment for a job well done, if that’s what you’re thinking. I did this because I wanted to give you a wonderful memory of your time in New York.’
‘And you have. I won’t ever forget coming here. I almost don’t want to leave,’ she finished off wistfully. ‘Do we have to go back? Can’t we keep sailing around?’
Nick chuckled against her ear. A shiver rippled through her. ‘As much as I would love to stay here, I only hired the boat for the evening. But let’s not worry about tomorrow. Let’s enjoy tonight.’
He swooped down and kissed the corners of her mouth before settling his lips over hers. She tasted champagne and the essence she was recognising as essentially Nick. It was intoxicating and she couldn’t get enough of it. Pam tightened her arms around his neck, pressing the lower part of her body against his, feeling his hardness against her belly in response to her action.
She arched her neck as Nick trailed his lips down her neck. His light five o’clock shadow rough against her neck. A contrast from the softness of his lips.
With a groan, he pulled his lips from where they had been nipping lightly at her neck.
‘Why did you stop?’
Nick rested his forehead against hers. ‘I don’t want to start something I can’t follow through on and I know we will be pulling up to the jetty any minute now.’
‘Oh.’
If only she could slow time down and make the hours drag, instead of flying by like they were doing right now.
Pam twisted around again so she could take one last look at the city. With Nick standing behind her, his arms loosely clasped around her, she let herself imagine they were a true couple. That they were totally committed to each other and were planning to spend the rest of their lives together.
Before she was ready, the boat pulled by the side of the jetty. The crew, which she’d had no idea were onboard, having kept themselves totally hidden while they’d cruised around, began pulling ropes out and throwing them onto the jetty. In a matter of minutes, the boat was securely moored and Nick was leading her down the gangplank back onto the jetty.
Waiting where it had dropped them off was the limousine from earlier in the evening. The door stood open, waiting for her to slip into the car. Pam glanced over her shoulder for one last look at the yacht and the Statue of Liberty. She vowed to herself that one day she would come back. The city was too unique not to want to visit it over and over again.
‘We’ll be back, I promise.’ Nick uttered the words as the car pulled away from the kerb.
His words surprised her. Had he just hinted at wanting to have a future with her? That once they got back to Perth he’d still want her as his assistant and lover? Should she bring it up with him now and possibly spoil the rest of the night? It was only ten in the evening and, as their flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until four the next afternoon, Nick could’ve arranged for another surprise for her. Or they could be heading home. She wouldn’t be able to enjoy herself if she didn’t know what his promise meant.
Nick had his arm around her shoulders, his fingers rubbing absently at the back of her head. Her body was telling her to forget about her insane idea of pushing him to explain his words and let herself relax into his embrace. Her mind was yelling at her that before spending the night in his arms, because that was definitely going to happen, she needed to get to the truth of what was happening between them. ‘What do you mean by us coming back here? And why would you promise that?’
His wandering fingers stopped and tension radiated from him to her. She wished she’d kept her mouth shut and waited until they were back in Perth to ask the question. How was Nick going to answer it, and would she like the answer he was going to give?
The expectation and hope calling out to him from Pam’s eyes had him wishing he’d kept his mouth shut when he’d seen her gazing back at the city. He’d seen the longing and want in her look. Knew she didn’t want to say goodbye. He’d felt the same way the first time he’d visited New York and, fortunately for him, his job enabled him to return here often.
He’d wanted to make the sadness go away so he’d said the first thing that had popped into his head, and now he was regretting the impulse.
He took a deep breath, composing in his mind what he wanted to say. Only problem was, he kept drawing a blank. He knew he wanted to spend more time with Pam and show her more of the city and he would love to bring her back. But by admitting that to himself would be like admitting he wanted a long-term relationship with her. And the thought scared him.
He’d seen what love could do to a person. His mother had loved his father so desperately, to the point of suffocation; it had driven his father into the arms of another woman — a woman who happened to be his assistant. Love had ultimately led his mother to kill his father in a jealous rage, and then herself. Leaving him without anyone to love him and having him to find his parents lying in a pool of blood.
He shuddered in memory. Yeah, he knew how bad love could hurt people, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt Pam.
‘Nick?’
‘Can we leave it, Pam? Please?’
He knew it was a cop-out, but he really didn’t want to spoil the evening. Except it was too late now. The evening had been spoiled the moment she’d asked the question.
She moved away from him. The distance between them only small, but he knew the significance of the gesture. By fobbing her off, he’d killed the sensual mood that had been their companion all evening.
‘Are we going back to the apartment?’ she asked, fiddling with the strap of her evening bag.
He hadn’t planned on going back to the apartment. He’d planned for them to go to a nightclub for a little while and then head home. ‘No, I thought we might go to a club for a little while.’
‘I don’t want to go to a club. I want to go back to the apartment.’
She turned her head to the window and Nick could tell he couldn’t talk her around. With a sigh of resignation, he tapped on the glass separating them from the driver. When the window lowered, he told the driver to take them back to his place instead of the club.
Silence filled the car and Nick wanted to say something to make it go away. He could lie and say he’d bring her back as his assistant. Somehow he knew that would make the situation even worse. Telling the truth: that he wanted to explore a relationship with Pam, and wanted to bring her back to New York as more than his assistant, would create false hope for her.
He’d never done a relationship before. Hadn’t wanted to or hadn’t found the need to pursue a relationship. Casual sex for a couple of months was ideal for him. Even going without sex had been fine.
He found himself in a situation he had no idea how to handle. For one of the first times in his life, Nick had no idea what his next move should be.
They pulled up to the apartment
and Nick got out of the car, turning to help Pam out. She took his hand but the moment her feet hit the pavement she dropped it like it was a hot potato. She didn’t wait for him while he paid the driver; she marched up to the door, pulling it open even before the night duty doorman could do it for her.
He quickly slapped some money in the hands of the driver and rushed through the open door. He squeezed into the lift just before the doors closed on him, not at all surprised that she hadn’t waited for him to join her.
He deserved her anger. He had to somehow make it better. He couldn’t lose her.
Pam kept her concentration on tracking the rising numbers, willing the elevator to go faster. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep the tears at bay.
How could Nick have brushed her off like that? How could he say something so personal and then refuse to explain why he’d said it? Was this what her mother had felt like when her father had walked out without any real explanation? She could totally understand her mother’s bitterness towards men.
At last the elevator arrived, and as soon as the doors were opened she moved out swiftly and headed towards her bedroom, Nick’s footfall muffled behind her on the plush carpet.
The first trickle of a tear broke over the rim of her eye and snaked slowly down her cheek. She didn’t want to brush it away in case Nick saw the action and knew she was crying.
When she reached the closed door of her room, she fought an inner battle with herself. Her good manners were telling her to thank him for the lovely evening, and it had been wonderful until they’d left the yacht. The hurt little girl part of her was encouraging her to move inside her room.
Good manners be damned, she craved the sanctuary of her room. Her hand started to twist the door handle when a large one landed over hers. Nick engulfed her with his heat and strength from behind. His breath whispered against her ear, awareness of his close proximity had the hair on the back of her neck standing up.
‘I’m sorry,’ he murmured.
Her head fell forward and her shoulders slumped in defeat. ‘Sorry is not good enough, Nick.’
Bound By His Desire Page 14
