He’d been pelted with questions and then ignored. Nick leaned back and observed the animated exchange between Shelby and the effervescent Ms. Tangier. He would have given a good-sized reward for another cup of coffee and looked around for the carafe that emitted the magical aroma of hot java.
“Do you agree, Mr. Gualdoni?”
“Me?” Oh hell, they now included him in their tea party. “Yes, ma’am, I agree.”
The two women laughed in apparent glee at his admission.
“Ms. Rand is a well-respected architect. You will surely be contracting her to design for you in the future.”
Nick fairly snarled his reply. “The likelihood of that is small to none.”
Shelby sat forward and worked her shoulders in the manner of a stripper dropping the straps of her gown. “What Nick means is, I no longer have time to waste…I mean, time to spare on such small scale projects.”
“Ms. Rand probably meant to say, it’s too much responsibility for her fledgling corporation to handle and meet the extra security required if she ever got her mitts on new plans of mine again.”
The outburst of laughter in the background alerted Nick to the fact he traded insults with a woman on syndicated television and his parents as well as her father would most assuredly view the segment. Too late to smooth it over. Shelby appeared ready to explode.
Nick grazed his knuckles along his jaw and posed a quiet question to Ms. Tangier. “I don’t suppose there is any chance you would erase that film and forget this entire incident?”
Ms. Tangier dropped her jaw in a look of stunned disbelief. “That’s impossible. This is the next thing we air and there is nothing to replace it. That will be all, thank you.” With a final scornful look in their direction, she walked away to confer with her cameramen, grumbling under her breath. “We’ll have to fill in with extra fluff pieces.”
More muffled laughter from the group down the hall. Shelby leaned over him to stare into his eyes, whispering her comment. “I hope you’re happy. You really have a knack for looking like an idiot. I wouldn’t care how big an ass you make of yourself, but this time you dragged me along behind you.”
Nick’s brows lifted with his bemused smile. “You pretty much led the parade, lady.” He stood up to glare at her. “I knew this had to be a mistake.”
“You’re the biggest mistake I’ve had the misfortune of making. God, I can’t tell you how much I detest you. And I noticed you had a good time with Ms. Tangier. The way she drooled over your zipper was sickening.” She stood up and sliced everyone present with her glacial blue glower.
“Another cute one, Ms. Rand. You with your skirts up to your ass.” He leaned over to stare into her glaring eyes. “I didn’t say a word about those two bozos playing touchy feely with you and you wriggling like a fish in hot oil. Crap.” His whispered curse came out in a painful rasp.
He tore the mike from his lapel and threw it on the chair. She shook out her hair in his face and yanked on the hem of her skirt before shouldering past him.
“Anything is preferable to you. You’re nothing but a savage.”
They didn’t stay for the scheduled after filming chitchat with the hostess. Shelby walked away with Nick bringing up the rear and they took turns slamming the doors behind them.
Chapter 5
Shelby gripped the steering wheel and glanced in the rearview mirror. Nick’s black tank of a car gained on her. She compressed her lips, and leaned over the steering wheel, pushing the accelerator to the floor. Ahead a traffic light still blinked caution yellow.
She could either fly through the intersection or slow down. Fear of dying loomed stronger than the desire to get away from Nick and she hit the brakes. The grating sound of screeching tires to her left got little more than a glance of reaction from her.
Nick motioned for her to lower her window. His mouth worked furiously over the curse words he let fly, most of which she knew he favored. She lowered her window to catch the last few syllables and glared back at him. He had parked at an angle and sat eyeing her with poorly contained outrage. If it had been rush hour, he would have done the exact same thing to stop her.
“Get off my ass, Nick, or I’ll call the cops.”
“I’m too pissed right now to laugh at that.” He pointed at her. “You just missed rolling that bucket you call a car at that last curve.”
“So? I’m serious, Nick. Back off, or we’re going to have real trouble.”
“Oh come on, Shel. I’m trying to talk sense to you, though God only knows why.”
She glanced at the passenger seat next to her and wanted to scream. The clipboard taking up room belonged to the Gualdoni project, a list of things she wanted to check out this morning. More of his stuff. In desperation she came up with a solution to the mess she was in. “Nick.”
He ran his hand around the steering wheel and grimaced. “Yes, Shel.”
“To get you off my back, I’ll buy your project.”
If only she could call her words back, his startled grin wouldn’t have become a roaring laugh. He shook his head and bumped his forehead on the steering wheel, apparently trying to stop his laughter.
“Now really, Shel. Save yourself ten million bucks and tell me the truth. It’s that simple.” His narrowed gaze flicked over her. “I’d get off your tail if you told me the truth.” He opened his door and got out to lean against her door.
“Nick. I can’t believe what a bastard you are.” Tears wouldn’t be denied and she’d taken all she could to continue playing the stone maiden. “Your bumper is in my way. Move.”
He looked at her with a hint of a smile. “I followed you to apologize for what happened back there.”
She didn’t know why his apology hurt her so deeply. Her confusion boiled to the surface and she began to cry.
“I hate you, Nick.” The simple statement echoed in the quiet morning air and they gazed at each other while all their lovely memories dissolved before their eyes. “I really do.”
She maneuvered around his car, driving away before he could react.
Getting to the complex site didn’t take long at that early hour. Shelby pulled into the empty parking area, stopping next to the golf cart the men used to get around the huge area in a hurry. She got out, taking the heavy clipboard with her. The sun had barely risen but the heat forced her to shrug off her jacket. She carried it over her arm and walked up the hill toward the courtyard.
Concern for her safety struck her. Being a woman alone at a construction site where more stuff vanished than anyone knew hadn’t been a wise decision. No telling who might be hanging around the place.
Shrugging against her worry, she skirted the piles of gravel and bags of concrete mix to sit in the half finished courtyard.
She sat down on a stone bench and took several deep breaths, listening to the birds that hung around the site. The sound of footsteps on the gravel set her nerves on end. Someone was coming and she had been stupid to come here alone.
“Shel.”
She forced herself to stay where she sat and not run into Nick’s arms. But, her heart thumped with relief to hear his voice and the idea he’d been worried about her.
He sprinted to the center of the courtyard and stopped when he saw her. Jamming his hands on his hips, he turned in a circle, looking up at the generator a crane held above the ground. “Shel. You know you shouldn’t be here when the crew is gone.” He ran a hand over his hair.
“Go away.”
She still hated him, but she could breathe again, just seeing him instead of someone bent on hurting her. He moved closer to the half finished rock wall.
He approached her carefully, his gaze taking in the sight of her bare feet and sheer cotton blouse. She knew her appearance was deplorable. No shoes and she’d twisted her long hair up in a knot at the crown of her head. To him, she probably looked a complete mess.
“I thought I’d find you here.”
She hugged the clipboard to her breasts. “Why would you want
to?” Her gaze darted away from him and she got to her feet.
“It’s not safe for you to be here alone, Shel.” He took several steps toward her, but stopped when she bent over to slip her shoes on.
“I have to keep reminding you, what I do is none of your business, Nick.” She grabbed up her jacket and hurried off to the outside freight elevator the craftsmen used.
“Shelby. Wait, please.” He caught up with her. “Let me say something before you run away.”
“I’d rather you never spoke to me again.”
“I’ll honor your wishes later, but not until I tell you how much I regret what happened this morning. Shel, I’m sorry.”
“Nick….” Her hand trembled against her hair and she turned away to unlock the door to the wire cage, and press the up button on the panel. She bit her lip when it didn’t respond, kicking a piece of cardboard aside.
Nick leaned around her shoulder to look at her. He crossed his arms over his chest, watching her punch buttons. “Maybe we shouldn’t use it.”
Her eyes widened in outrage. “We? I’m going up to the top floor to check on something.” She hit the panel hard. “Why are you going?”
He hesitated in answering and grinned wryly. “To see why you are. Must be a hell of a mess up there for you to be so damned determined.”
He tried to grab her arm before she could enter the elevator. She dodged his grasp and stepped inside the wire-enclosed cage, trying to close the gate before he could follow her.
“You shouldn’t be going up there, Shel.” He shouldered his way inside with her. “Not before the men get here.”
She scowled his way. “What’s wrong? Afraid you won’t look macho?”
“Never happen.” He flicked his fingers in agitation at the panel of buttons she continued to slug. “I remember Matt saying this thing isn’t working as it should. Now, let's get the hell off.” He reached for the door.
“And I think you’re lying. Matt said no such thing.” She brushed his hand away with a warning. “Keep your paws off that gate. I’m serious.”
“Okay. I’m damn well not letting you go alone.” He inclined his head toward her in a gesture of yielding and went to the back of the cage to lounge against the heavy wire wall. He looked up and whistled softly as if he might be waiting in line at a movie.
Shelby cast several wary glances his way while willing the damn elevator to hurry. She wished he hadn’t followed her. Her resistance had been minimal and he looked especially male this morning. The fact she hated him had little to do with the sweet, languorous need that brewed in her soul.
The elevator’s motor groaned and the slight tremor under her feet startled her, making her seek safety with Nick. She turned to look at him. He smiled at her and she became self-conscious. His dark gaze stroked her body and set little fires in her blood and she knew her will to be celibate had flown off with a pair of cardinals that nested in a nearby cedar tree.
Her mouth softened when he moved away from the wall and held his arms out, just a hint, nothing demanding. Her body quickened and her pulse raced with desire for union with this man. He didn’t try to hide the fact he became aroused. She would have known, sensing the same rush of heat that swept over her consumed him. Her jacket slipped from her fingers and dropped to the floor.
The cage shook and gears ground, throwing her against him. It was forbidden, someplace between heaven and hell. She pulled back, gesturing toward the blinking panel.
“Do something, Nick,” she demanded.
He drew her back, pressing her close to his body. “Shel, be still. I’ll take care of you.”
“I don’t … I’m not….” She gave her clipboard a toss and scant consideration to the papers that fluttered in the breeze. Nick held her tight and she slowly melted against him. The delicious way his arms held her secure and the intent in his gaze met her every expectation. With each beat of her heart, she hurried toward the euphoria he could offer. Her lashes lowered in reaction to the hypnotic sound of his voice cloaking her.
“Hello, baby. What are you doing in a place like this?”
She heard the lure of promised secret delight in his rich laugh.
He flirted with her, apparently trying to ease her concern about possibly falling forty feet. Shelby no longer cared why he did it or the fact he wanted only one thing. If having him meant getting over her anger for ten minutes, she would make the sacrifice. Aflame with her longing, she leaned back and slowly worked her hips against his.
“Just hanging around.” She liked the way his large hands cupped her bottom and held her against his hard sex. The sensation rivaled hot lead and she ignited, gasping with unrestrained appreciation of his endowments. A tiny jolt of shame stabbed her pride, but she kicked the useless emotion aside. Nothing as dull as common sense would interfere with his seduction.
Her gaze played with his mouth and the nice size of his nose until the buttons of his shirt caught her attention and she set to work, releasing them all before pulling his shirt free. His buff upper body laid bare for her viewing, making her dry lips demand moisture. She licked them and ignored the satisfied little smile working over her mouth.
Her lips stilled to let his press a lingering kiss and allow his tongue to slip into her mouth and claim her as his own. She accepted his invasion and loved the warm firm texture of his mouth against hers. The emotions he wrung from her were too strong to be touched by the ordinary.
If the sky fell, Shelby knew she would have asked it to wait until Nick had satisfied her yearning. The heat couldn’t end, not while he nibbled her throat and her breast swelled in his hands. The freedom of being high above the earth and with him made it all so sensuous, the cool sensation of her blouse being freed to let the breeze whisper over her bare skin, the slide of her skirt being pushed up to her hips seconds before her panties slipped down to lay about her feet. The moment she stepped out of them, the wisp of white lace lifted in the breeze and skittered off to join the papers fluttering in the corner of the cage.
Slowly, deliciously, Nick drew her to his chest, holding her fast to cover her mouth with a hard, hungry kiss, lifting her up to press her to the cool mesh wire. Urgently she found his belt buckle and zipper.
His dark gaze touched every point of her face and settled on her eyes before he smiled in his wolfish way. “I like my women hot and mean.”
Her purr muffled against his chest. “Then you should be pleased as punch.”
He made a soft growling sound that worked its way up from his chest. “Are you hot?”
“Like July.”
“And mean?” He chuckled.
“You’ll be wearing scratches on your back.” Her fingers traced a circle around his nipple.
“And you’ll be wearing a smile.”
He claimed her lips and kissed her greedily, holding her to his tense body, pressing her to the makeshift wall.
“My God, Nick,” she mildly protested. “You’re crushing me.”
“Sorry, babe.” He caressed her back and massaged her rear. “I’m so hot for you I can’t wait.”
She heard her own sultry laugh and teased him one more time. “It’s going to cost you.”
He buried his face in the curve on her neck and groaned. “Name it.”
“You stay away from the site until it’s finished.”
“Never.”
His answer had been blunt but not unexpected. She shrugged and dismissed her plan to make him suffer. Making him suffer wasn’t what she wanted, not while his mouth hovered above hers in delicious enticement.
His exploration briefly ended when the elevator came to a jarring halt. “Let’s be the first to have sex in this place.”
He picked her up and released the side door latch. It opened into a half finished apartment where carpeting had been stored. He let her down, and following her to the plush carpeting, winked at her.
“Where did we leave off?” He took several deep breaths and smiled as if he had slain a dragon for her. He caught her
face in his hands and brushed his lips over hers, picking up the foreplay talk they always indulged in. “How do you want it?”
She quickened, bumping her hips up against his. “What do you do best?” Her body ached with sweet desire, knowing well his varied and wonderful ability to please her.
“Everything.” He looked at her with the appetite of a healthy, hungry man glinting in his eyes.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” The hot and hard ridge he proudly pressed to her the only recommendation she needed.
“Get ready to pick from a gourmet menu, lady.”
“Well then,” she whispered. “I’ll have some of everything.”
“This restaurant is open twenty-four hours a day.”
“Um-hum. Then let's not rush the cook.” She ran her hand over the solid contours of his back and fought away a sob that could have been of pleasure or regret. Didn’t matter. Love for him thundered through her veins and demanded freedom.
He touched the inside of her thigh and she smiled into his eyes, arching her back in response to his exploration. Her hips convulsed up to capture the heaven his fingers created between her legs. The sweet, aching devil-ridden agony of joy grew with each stroke. She caught his hand to hold him firm against her, helping him slide his fingers inside to drive her wild with desire.
“Nick.”
“You’ve chosen something from the menu?” He skillfully freed the snap of her demi-bra. “Mind if I sample these lovely stuffed squab?” He squeezed his fingers around her breast and drew the nipple into his mouth, sucking until she laughed breathlessly.
“I want to compliment the chef.” She delighted in his rigid length, running her finger up the hot smooth underside of his sex. “This ram must be perfectly aged for the horn to be so large and perfectly formed.”
“This ram is at your command.”
Nick caught her butt in his hands and lifted her to tease her pulsing center with his hard shaft, holding back until she raised her arms to hug his neck.
The sob she had suppressed earlier bubbled free as he dropped down to the rough surface, carrying her with him. She smiled at his look of dismay.
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