《CHASING TROUBLE》


 1

    ¡°He stood in the shadows of the night. Dark. Dangerous. A lethal predator. Glittering ck eyes stared in at the woman through the window as she moved about the bedroom wearing only a towel draped about her silken nakedness. A slight smile curved her lips and she remainedpletely unaware of the danger thaty in wait for her outside in the darkness.¡±


    Caroline Anderson felt a shiver down her spine as she looked up from the book she was reading to her own bedroom window, wishing now that she had thought to draw the curtains before getting into bed. Except, like the woman in the story, Caroline had believed no one would be able to see into the second storey bedroom window of this remote house, perched high on the rugged cliffs. The tide must be in, covering the sandy beach, Caroline realized as she heard the roughness of the sea pounding against the cliffs. She repressed another shiver before reading the next paragraph of her book.


    ¡°Shoulder-length dark hair framed a face of hard, sensual maism. Those intense ck eyes focused on the long creamy column of the woman¡¯s exposed throat and he could see the blood pulsing hotly through her veins. He possessed harshly hewn cheeks, a fierce sh of a nose, and chiseled lips that now drew back in a hiss to reveal elongated incisors as the woman dropped the towel to reveal the naked perfection of her body-¡±


    Crash!


    So intent had Caroline been on the description of the sexy predator stalking the heroine that the sound of ss breaking somewhere downstairs made her gasp out loud, even as her fingers tightened about the book that had already seeded in frightening the life out of her without this added scare!


    What the fuck was that?


    Not a good choice of words, Caroline admonished herself shakily as she clutched the book to her before slowly sliding out from beneath the bedcovers.


    There was something-or someone-downstairs! More than likely someone. Caroline didn¡¯t believe for a moment that her own intruder was a real live vampire; the reason she enjoyed books like the one she was reading was because she knew that the night monsters and predators in these stories were totally fictional.


    No, the intruder wasn¡¯t any monster or a demon. More likely a burr. There had been several break-ins in the area recently, and no doubt every burr within a twenty-mile radius was aware by now that Frank Connelly, the owner of the House, wasn¡¯t around¡­ He was hardly around as he only came down to the house whenever he wanted to ¡®get away¡¯. What those burrs probably didn¡¯t know was that Caroline Anderson had arrived two days ago, employed by Frank to catalog the books in the Anderson library, and meet up with one of Frank¡¯s clients as she was also his personal assistant and he was busy with other projects.


    What should she do about the noise downstairs? What could she do?


    Mrs Cooper, housekeeper at the house, lived in a t above the stableplex, to where she had disappeared once she had served Caroline her dinner and cleared away in the kitchen. Meaning the other woman probably had no idea that the main house had been broken into.


    Caroline almost groaned in frustration when she realized that she had stupidly left her phone in the library earlier. She¡¯d been working and had forgotten it there and now she was going to regret it. Caroline¡¯s  heart began to pound as she heard more muffled sounds from the floor below. It sounded like a voice muttering. A male voice, its tone impatiently aggressive.


    Great. She couldn¡¯t just have a burr break in; he had to be an angry one into the bargain!


    Well, Caroline couldn¡¯t just stand here and wait for the man toe up the stairs in search of valuables, only to find her cowering under the duvet in one of the bedrooms, hoping not to be noticed. Burr or not, she would have to go down and confront him. But obviously not without a weapon of some kind!Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Tucking her book distractedly under her arm, she moved stealthily across the bedroom to the door, opening it quietly to step out into the hallway, and pausing long enough to pick up the heavy brass ornament that stood on a table in the wide corridor. She made her way softly to the top of the stairs on the first floor so that she could look down into the huge reception hall. An eerie glow told her that someone had put a light on somewhere downstairs since she had gone up to bed half an hour or so ago.


    The house was a three-storey mansion, originally built a couple of centuries ago for the head of some now defunct titled family, and several doors led off the marble-pired reception hall. All of those doors remained firmly closed, with no visible light showing beneath them, not even a shlight. Caroline leant further over the polished oak banister, able to see now that the light wasing from the back of the house. The kitchen, most probably. Although what a burr would find of value to steal in there, she had no idea; the only things that weren¡¯t integral parts of the kitchen were a microwave and an electric mixer. But there was also a set of sharp knives on top of one of the work surfaces, Caroline remembered in rm. Any one of which could do serious damage to a person who dared to disturb the burr!


    Get a grip, Caroline, she instructed herself sternly, and she straightened her shoulders determinedly. There was no way she could cower and hide and hope that the burr would just quickly take what he wanted and then go away. Whether she liked it or not-and she didn¡¯t!- Caroline had to confront the man and hope that her presence here would be enough to scare him off.


    If it didn¡¯t¡­ She wasn¡¯t going to think about what would happen if the situation backfired on her. She was an independent woman of twenty six and she had to protect herself.


    Had the wooden staircase always creaked like this? She wondered in rm as she began to descend it. She hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but she did now, as every step she took seemed to make the stairs groan in an rming way that might alert the burr to her presence before she was ready to confront him!

 2

    ¡°Damn and double damn!¡± The curse came from inside the kitchen even as Caroline crept stealthily down the hallway and saw the door was slightly ajar, allowing her to look into the kitchen through the narrow crack between the hinges of the door. She pressed herself urgently back against the wall as a dark-clothed figure moved across the brightly lit room.


    Of course the man was wearing dark clothing; didn¡¯t all burrs? Caroline drew in a deep breath, the shaking fingers of her left hand tightening about the brass ornament even as she reached out with her right hand to push the kitchen door inwards. She stepped inside the room, her blue gaze intent as she quickly scanned the kitchen, looking for the location of the intruder.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    Caroline was so shocked to hear the harsh but melodic voiceing from behind her that as she turned the brass ornament slipped from between her fingers.


    ¡°Ow!¡±


    Straight onto the burr¡¯s foot, she realized, as the man turned his back on her to bend down and grasp the top of his boot, where the heavy ornament had obviouslynded, with painful results, before dropping to the tiled floor and rolling well out of Caroline¡¯s reach.


    She looked around for another weapon to defend herself with, and very quickly realized that the burr stood between her and that block of sharp knives. The book she had been reading! Caroline had forgotten it was still tucked under her arm, but she grabbed it now and proceeded to hit the man repeatedly over the head with it.


    ¡°What the fuuk-!¡± The man straightened and turned, before reaching out to grasp both of Caroline¡¯s wrists and hold her hands up and away from him, well out of hitting distance. ¡°Will you stop attacking me, woman?¡± he growled.


    Caroline became very still, eyes wide as she stared up at him.  It was the man from the book she had been reading! Or at least he looked so much like him. The same narrowed and glittering ck eyes. The same shoulder-length, silky dark hair. The same harshly sculptured face; prominent cheekbones, a hard sh of a nose, chiseled lips set in a grim line, and a square, determined jaw. The same very tall and lithely muscled body,pletely dressed in ck¡­ The same predator?


    For the first time in her life, Caroline fainted¡­


    _________


    ¡°Well, that was certainly different!¡± Nichs Connelly drawled derisively, as the woman he had picked up in his arms and then carried to the sitting-room sofa finally began to stir and regain consciousness.


    She was a tiny woman, probably aged in herte twenties, and a whole foot shorter than him at only a couple of inches over five feet. She had long, auburn hair, a creamy, heart-shaped face; delicate cheekbones, a short, straight nose, a full bow of a mouth, and a small pointed chin that could be raised determinedly if she felt so inclined. As it had been earlier, when she had attacked him-first with a brass ornament and then with a book, of all things!


    Her eyes, as they opened, were a deep sky-blue, and surrounded by the thickest, darkestshes Nichs had ever seen, he discovered as she sat up abruptly on the sofa to look across at him with the apprehension of a startled deer.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¡°Why are you still here?¡± she breathed warily.


    ¡°Why am I still here?¡± he repeated incredulously.


    The woman moistened dry lips. ¡°You had plenty of time to get away when I-when I¡­¡±


    ¡°Swooned?¡± Nichs suggested mockingly.


    ¡°Fainted!¡± A dark frown appeared between those blue eyes. ¡°A perfectly normal reaction to being attacked by a burr!¡±


    Yes, that chin could definitely be very determined when this woman wished it to be! The bristling stance of that slender body beneath her slightly overrge cotton pajamas also attested to her indignation. Nichs had never particrly cared for the idea of women wearing pajamas, preferring the woman in his bed to wear either nothing at all or something feminine in silk. Except this woman somehow managed to wear unttering blue cotton pajamas and still look sexy!


    Maybe it was the way the material only hinted at the curves beneath? Or could it be that the pale blue material made her eyes look bigger and bluer? Whatever it was, his little attacker was one very sexy package. So what was she doing here?


    His mouth tightened slightly. ¡°Perfectly natural,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°Except for two things. Firstly,¡± he bit out harshly as she raised questioning brows, ¡°Im not a burr. Secondly,¡± he continued, when she would have interrupted him, ¡°You were the one doing the attacking. As evidenced by my bruised foot and battered head!¡±


    Caroline felt the warm color in her cheeks. She had attacked him. Firstly by dropping the ornament on his foot, and then by hitting him with the book.


    The same book that nowy open across one muscled, denim-d thigh! As if he had been reading it while waiting for her to regain consciousness. Oh, good grief¡­!


    Her chin rose defensively. ¡°I very much doubt that the police will be too interested in my efforts to defend myself considering that you are the one who broke in!¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be too sure about that,¡± the man taunted. ¡°I¡¯ve seen several cases in the newspapers recently where the burr was givenpensation for being attacked by the owner of the house he had just broken into.¡±


    Caroline had seen the same newspaper reports-and she questioned the sanity of the legal system!


    ¡°There¡¯s also the fact,¡± the man continued relentlessly, ¡°That I didn¡¯t break in.¡±


    ¡°You-¡±


    ¡°I unlocked the door into the kitchen by using the key from under the third flowerpot to the left on the windowsill outside,¡± he exined.


    What key under the third flowerpot to the left on the windowsill outside? More to the point, how had this man known there was a key under that particr flower pot in the first ce?


    ¡°Have you been watching the house?¡± she gasped usingly.


    ¡°Casing the joint, you mean?¡± he said scathingly.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Caroline red at him indignantly, hating even the thought of someone-this man!- watching the recent dailyings and goings of the members of the household before attempting to break in.


    ¡°Interesting thought.¡± He nodded. ¡°This house is certainly remote enough; there isn¡¯t another house for miles. The spare key was conveniently left under a nt pot outside. No dog to bark at unusual noises in the night. In fact, no real security to talk of. At least none that¡¯s actually active at the moment.¡±

 3

    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Caroline screeched. Not even the movement-sensor rm in the house had been put on at night as neither Mrs Cooper nor Caroline knew how to set it.


    ¡°No shing red light on the sensor.¡± He gave a pointed look at the monitor near the ceiling in the corner of the sitting room. ¡°Burrs have to be a bit more high-tech these days.¡± He shrugged dismissive shoulders beneath a thin ck sweater.


    Caroline¡¯s mouth tightened. ¡°Are you going to leave quietly and empty handed? Or do you intend to wait until the police arrive? I called them beforeing downstairs,¡± she added defiantly as he raised dark, questioning brows.


    ¡°Did you?¡± he asked with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Yes!¡± replied Caroline.


    She was a plucky little thing; Nichs would give her that. She showed a lot of courage in the face of adversity. Although he very much doubted that a real burr would have stopped to chat like this, let alone bothered to carry a woman to the sitting room after she had fainted! He gave her a considering look.


    ¡°Did you know that when you lie you tend to bunch your left hand into a fist?¡±


    ¡°I do no-¡± She broke off her protest to stare down at her clenched fist, carefully unclenching it before adding, ¡°I did call the police, and they will be arriving any minute!¡±


    Nichs rxed back in his chair to ce the ankle of one booted foot on top of his other ck-denim-covered knee with a distinctck of concern. ¡°That¡¯s going to be rather embarrassing for you,¡± he drawled ruefully.


    Her eyes widened. ¡°For me?¡± she said. ¡°You are the one who broke in-¡±


    ¡°I used a key, remember?¡±


    ¡°Only because you knew it was under the nt pot!¡± she used.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Nichs chuckled softly at her obvious indignation. ¡°Perhaps you ought to consider another reason than my having ¡°cased the joint¡± to exin how I knew the key was there? It might also be an idea, when you go to bed at night, to read something a little less¡­¡± he picked up the book and read the first paragraph, ¡°¡­graphic, is probably the most polite description I cane up with!¡± He read the next paragraph. And the next. ¡°I had no idea that books about vampires could be so-¡±


    ¡°Give me that!¡± Caroline snapped.


    The fiery little redhead almost flew across the room to snatch the book out of his hand and thrust it behind her back, before ring down at him. ¡°Are you going to leave now or not?¡±


    Nichs mildly returned that fierce gaze. ¡°Not.¡±


    She frowned her consternation at his reply. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t want to be arrested?¡±


    He gave another shrug. ¡°That isnt going to happen any time soon.¡±


    ¡°When the police get here-¡±


    ¡°If the police get here,¡± he corrected pointedly, before continuing softly, ¡°I assure you they aren¡¯t going to arrest me.¡±


    Caroline stared down at him in frustration, totally at a loss to know what to do or say next now that this man-no, this burr!-actually refused to leave the house before the police got here. The fact that she¡¯d had no phone upstairs with which to call the police was irrelevant; he should have made good his escape long ago! For the first time she noticed the blood-soaked paper towel wrapped about the palm of one long hard hand.


    ¡°How did you cut your hand if you didn¡¯t break a window to get in?¡± she pounced triumphantly.


    He nced down at his hand before looking back up at her. ¡°I dropped the damned milk bottle when I was getting it out of the fridge.¡± He scowled darkly. ¡°A piece of the ss pierced my hand when I got down on the floor to mop up the mess.¡±


    That exined the crash Caroline had heard earlier. Although not the reason this man had been taking a milk bottle from the fridge in the first ce¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t seriously expect me, or the police, to believe that exnation, do you?¡± she scorned.


    Nichs had been traveling for hours. Fraught, tense hours, during which he hadn¡¯t been able to sleep. Consequently he was tired and still thirsty, and, amusing as this woman undoubtedly was, he was tired of answering her questions. Especially when for him there was still the more obvious question to be answered of what she was doing at the house at all!


    He stood up, his expression bing impatient as the redhead immediately took a step away from him.


    ¡°I would really rather drink a cup of the tea I was making earlier than your blood!¡±


    ¡°You were in the kitchen making a cup of tea?¡± she echoed incredulously.


    Nichs raised dark brows. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So I don¡¯t -For your information, I read those sort of books purely for escapism!¡± she snapped defensively, as his earlier remark about not wanting to drink her blood suddenly registered with her.


    Nichs smiled slightly. ¡°From the little I just read, I should think they might give you sexual inspiration, too!¡±


    Her cheeks coloured bright red at his obvious mockery. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Ah, atst a sensible question,¡± he murmured appreciatively, before turning to stroll from the room and return down the hallway to the kitchen, to lift the teapot and pour himself a cup of the dark liquid that was no doubtpletely stewed by now. So much for his intention of drinking a leisurely cup of tea before going upstairs and grabbing a decent night¡¯s sleep!


    ¡°Well?¡± The little firebrand had followed him to the kitchen and was now standing challengingly in the doorway.


    Nichs took a sip of the tea before attempting to answer her. As he had suspected, it was slightly bitter. ¡°Well, what?¡± he snapped as he turned to refill the kettle before switching it on.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± she repeated forcefully.


    His mouth twisted derisively. ¡°Obviously not a burr!¡±


    Caroline was very quicklying to appreciate that fact. This man might look like every forbidden fantasy she had ever had, but a burr wouldn¡¯t have stopped in the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea before stealing all the valuables! Or cleaned up the mess when a bottle of milk fell and smashed on the floor.

 4

    Neither would he bother lifting a fainting female from that same floor in order to carry her to afortable sofa. And he certainly wouldn¡¯t enter into conversation about the book she had been reading before she went to sleep¡­ How embarrassing was it that this man-a man whose every movement was as smoothly lethal as the predator hero in her book-had discovered her weakness for sexy vampire stories? It wasn¡¯t just embarrassing-it was mortifying!


    ¡°Are you a rtive of Mrs Cooper?¡±


    Although what a rtive of the housekeeper would be doing in the main house was beyond Caroline.


    The intruder obviously thought the same thing, as he gave her a mocking nce before replying, ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to tell me who you are, or-?¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡± He leant back against one of the work-units, arms folded across the broad width of that seriously muscled chest, those dark eyes narrowed on her ominously. ¡°I think a more interesting question to answer might be who are you?¡± he said. ¡°More to the point, what the hell are you doing in Frank Connelly¡¯s house.¡±


    Caroline, momentarily mesmerized by the ripple of muscle clearly shown beneath the man¡¯s tight ck sweater, now recoiled as she heard the anger in his voice. ¡°I work here. I mean, I¡¯m here for work,¡±


    ¡°As what?¡±


    Caroline wasn¡¯t sure she particrly cared for the insult that she detected in his tone. ¡°Not that it¡¯s any of your business, but my name is Caroline Anderson, and I¡¯m staying here so that I might catalog Mr Connelly¡¯s extensive library for him¡­. And meet up with a client for him tomorrow,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Frank Connelly¡¯s assistant?¡± The man straightened, his dark gaze incredulous as it ran over Caroline from her head to her toes.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct, yes,¡± she confirmed guardedly, wondering why that should mean anything to him. At the same time she felt incredibly warm under the intensity of his dark gaze.


    ¡°And he knows you¡¯re here?¡±


    She swallowed hard. ¡°Well¡­yes. It was in fact his idea that I stay here while I get the job done,¡± Why was she exining herself to this man? What was it about him thatpelled her to answer him? That made the very air about him seem to crackle with the force of his will?


    ¡°And here I was, expecting to have some time to myself before going home,¡± the burr-who-wasn¡¯t-a-burr murmured, with a self-derisive shake of his head. ¡°My father sure knows how to ruin everything,¡±


    Caroline gaped at him. There was no other word to describe it. Caroline Anderson, most definitely gaped! This tall, dark and maically handsome man was Nichs Connelly himself. The son of Frank Connelly, who, as Frank had once told Caroline, hadn¡¯t been back home for over seven years!


    ______


    ¡°Tea¡­?¡± Nichs prompted mockingly as Caroline Anderson moved dazedly across the kitchen to sit down on one of the breakfast stools, even while she continued to stare at him with a frown on her face. She probably had to sit down before she fell down, Nichs acknowledged ruefully. No doubt it had been unnerving earlier, for this woman to suddenly hear someone banging and crashing about the kitchen and believing it to be a burr. Only to discover it was Frank Connelly¡¯s sone to visit.


    ¡°Tea would be¡­lovely,¡±she epted.   ¡°Um¡­. Did your father know that you wereing here? I mean, does he know that you¡¯re here?¡± Surely Frank wouldn¡¯t have sent her here without telling her about his son¡¯s impending visit.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Nichs said shortly.


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Nichs¡¯ mouth twisted as he took pity on her dismayed expression. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell him that I wasing, Caroline. I thought I¡¯d justy low here for a few days beforeing home, but as you can see, that n is definitely not going to work now,¡±


    How could Caroline have missed the fact that this man did have some physical resemnce with his father? Probably because she had been too captivated by those deep and melodious tones to notice!


    If she hadn¡¯t been so mesmerized then she might have added two and two together and realized this man was probably rted to Frank Connelly. That he was, in fact, Frank¡¯s son¡­


    ¡°Looking for any physical resemnce between me and my dad?¡± Nichs Connelly rasped harshly,


    ¡°I was just thinking that I should probably call your father and let him know that you are here,¡± she said defensively. ¡°Something you should have done too¡±


    He grimaced. ¡°Of course, do what you have to do,¡±


    She frowned at his skeptical tone. This son of Frank was clearly a handful. He had his father¡¯s mouth, eyes and wit too. She remembered that Frank had once told her that he had one child. An only son who Caroline  now realized was looking at her with far too much familiarity. That warm chocte gaze moved slowly over her pajama-d body, pausing on the firm thrust of her breasts against the thin cotton material.


    Caroline moved ufortably as she felt that gaze like a lick of heat across her skin. ¡°Would you excuse me for a few moments? If we are going to continue this conversation I would like to go upstairs and collect a robe,¡± she added pointedly, as Nichs Connelly raised questioning brows.


    ¡°Oh, we are going to continue it,¡± he confirmed.  ¡°And isn¡¯t it a littlete for modesty?¡±


    Caroline¡¯s cheeks coloured warmly as she stood up, thinking of being carried in this man¡¯s strong arms wearing nothing more than a pair of thin cotton pajamas¡­  ¡°Nevertheless, I believe I would feel morefortable in my robe,¡± she said firmly.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Nichs epted uninterestedly and he turned away, pretty sure that the good assistant was going upstairs in order to regroup as much as anything else.


    Before heading upstairs, Caroline took the opportunity to grab her phone from the library. The first thing she did when she got to her room was call Frank, who picked up after she called twice. He sounded grumpy too, like he¡¯d been asleep.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Caroline,¡± he asked when he picked up, ¡°Why are you calling sote at night? Is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sure,¡± Caroline replied, ¡°I¡¯m very sorry to bother you, sir, but your son showed up at the house not too long ago and I thought I should let you know. I didn¡¯t know what else to do,¡±

 5

    There was silence on the other end for a while before Frank finally spoke, ¡°Oh well, I guess he finally decided to visit. I¡¯ve been asking him for weeks now. Is he with you right now, please put him on the phone,¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not here sir,¡± Caroline replied, ¡°I left him downstairs so I could call you. Would you hold on so I can head downstairs?¡±


    _______


    Caroline certainly looked morefortable when she returned a few minutester, Nichs thought. She was wearing a serviceable blue and white striped robe tied neatly at the waist over those cotton pajamas. Obviously Caroline Anderson was an altogether no-nonsense sort of woman. Not his father¡¯s type, he would have thought¡­


    He watched her hand the phone she was holding to him. ¡°Your father wants to talk to you,¡± she told him.


    Without saying a word, he took the phone from her and put it to his ear, ¡°Hi dad,¡± he said without taking his eyes off Caroline, ¡°Really good to know that you¡¯re using the house as a business center too. Is any house safe from you at this point?¡±


    There was a pause, and Caroline tried not to eavesdrop on their conversation, but it was hard because he was standing right there and she knew that they were talking about her, although she couldn¡¯t really hear what Frank was saying.


    ¡°Rx¡­. I never said that I wasining,¡± Nichs added with a grin as he continued to watch her.


    Caroline rolled her eyes and looked away. It seemed to amuse him even further because his grin widened.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be home soon, dad. I just needed some time to cool off,¡± Nichs concluded, then he hung up and handed the phone back to her, ¡°Real nice telling on me to my father,¡± he said,


    Caroline red at him, ¡°What did you expect me to do? Not tell him that you were here? He¡¯s my boss!¡±


    Nichs said nothing. He ced two fresh mugs of tea down forcefully onto the breakfast bar, before sitting on the stool opposite Caroline to regard her with narrowed, assessing eyes. She straightened, obviously extremely ufortable.


    ¡°My father must really trust you if he lets you handle business on your own,¡± He gave a humorless smile.  ¡°How long have you been working for him?¡±


    Caroline picked up the mug of tea and took a reviving sip, some of the color returning to her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve been working for your father for almost three years now.¡± she replied, then added before he could reply, ¡°It may have been more convenient if you had called your father or Mrs Cooper to let her know of your imminent arrival. There have been several burries in the area recently as she informed me, and if we had been expecting you I wouldn¡¯t have attacked you!¡± she added, slightly usingly.


    Caroline Anderson was now embarrassed by her earlier behavior, Nichs guessed easily. Not that she had any reason to be. His decision toe home had not been nned, but his father would not stop pestering him about ittely, so he decided to get it over with. Consequently, Nichs hadn¡¯t thought to let anyone know of his arrival. Mrs Cooper would have recognised him instantly, of course, despite the fact that he hadn¡¯t so much as been back to the house once for thest seven years, but there was no reason why Caroline Anderson should have done so.


    All the same, that embarrassed color in her cheeks was rather attractive, making her eyes appear a deeper, more sparkling blue. Embarrassment, no doubt, at having made such a monumental error as to use the son of the house of being a burr! Well, she didn¡¯t have to worry about that. Nichs hadn¡¯t considered himself as the son of the house for years. The years he had spent in the army had kept him busy and since his mother died he never really cared much about his father¡¯s riches or thepany he was to take over some day.


    He gave a dismissive shrug. ¡°Forget it. It isn¡¯t important.¡±


    Maybe not to him, Caroline epted. But if she had known of Nichs imminent arrival it might have saved her from embarrassing herself in that ridiculous way. And there was no way she could forget she had attacked him with a book, of all things. The brass ornament dropping on his foot had probably left a bruise too, despite the heavy ck boots he was wearing.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Caroline looked across at him with new, assessing eyes. All harshly sculptured extremely handsome angles¡­ Nichs Connelly really did resemble those darkly dangerous and sexy heroes who so often appeared in the vampire and demon books Caroline read for rxation after a long day of work. No excuse, she admitted, but she enjoyed reading those types of books because of theirplete escapism. She certainly hadn¡¯t appreciated having this man taunt her about them!


    ¡°So, what is your rtionship with my father?¡± Those dark eyes were hard as onyx as Nichs looked across at her in an ufortably assessing manner.


    Caroline frowned. ¡°I believe I already told you. I¡¯m his assistant, and I¡¯m here to catalog your father¡¯s library and meet up with a client tomorrow,¡±


    ¡°You said that, yeah¡­¡± he drawled. ¡°I meant that my father is a workaholic and knowing him, he¡¯d prefer to meet up with clients himself¡­. Unless maybe you have a more¡­ Personal rtionship with him,¡±


    ¡°Exactly what are you implying, Mr Connelly?¡± Caroline demanded indignantly, as she saw spection in those mocking eyes.


    He shrugged. ¡°That my dad is a single man and maybe you¡¯re more than just his assistant,¡±


    Caroline gasped. ¡°Are you implying that I¡¯m sleeping with my boss?¡±


    ¡°You tell me,¡± Nichs taunted; this woman really was very beautiful when she lost her temper! Her eyes glittered deeply blue, and there was heated color in her cheeks. The fullness of her lips was set determinedly, her pointed chin was raised challengingly, and the spiky style of that red hair gave the overall impression of an indignant hedgehog! ¡°My father hardlyes here unless he has business to attend to, and the library has always been the way it is. I don¡¯t recall him ever considering having it cataloged before,¡± Nichs goaded deliberately.


    A nerve pulsed in her stubbornly set jaw. ¡°And how would you know what your father may or may not have considered doing when the only contact you have had with him, for thest five years at least, has been through the phone,¡±

 6

    Nichs narrowed his eyes menacingly. ¡°I would advise you not to specte about things you dont understand, Care¡±


    That angry color drained as quickly from her cheeks as it had appeared. ¡°I prefer to be called Caroline or Miss Anderson,¡± she bit out stiltedly.


    Nichs eyed her consideringly. Obviously he had hit on a raw nerve of some kind by the shortening of her name. ¡°Okay, so don¡¯t specte about things you don¡¯t know or understand¡­Caroline,¡± he conceded dryly.


    What Caroline didn¡¯t understand was why she was responding to this man¡¯s taunts and insinuations at all!  As Caroline Anderson, a woman of considerable financial independence, she made a point of avoiding any and all situations that might lead to emotional confrontation of any kind. Especially with a man whose very presence unnerved her!


    ¡°Unlike you, I¡¯m not so hot on formality,¡± Nichs said. ¡°My friends call me Nick,¡± he exined, and Caroline gave a confused frown.


    Nick¡­


    How fitting a name was that for this dangerously disturbing man!


    ¡°How lucky for me, then, that I don¡¯t happen to be one of your friends,¡± she answered coolly. ¡°I would prefer to use Mr Connelly, or Nichs if you insist on informality.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I do, Caroline, I most certainly do,¡± he murmured huskily.


    She avoided meeting that warm and mocking dark gaze. ¡°Perhaps we should resume this conversation in the morning, Nichs? We don¡¯t seem to be achieving very much tonight.¡±


    ¡°Except being rude to each other,¡± Nichs pointed out.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± She nodded briskly. ¡°You are obviously tired after your journey-¡±


    She broke off as Nichs gave a chuckle, a disconcerted frown on her brow as she looked across at him questioningly. And she felt the lurch in her chest, the swelling of her breasts and tightening of her nipples, at the way the amusement in his face made him appear even more dangerous¡­ Appear dangerous? This man was dangerous! And he induced an awareness in Caroline, a physical arousal, that was totally alien to her.


    ¡°Nice cop-out, Caroline,¡± Nichs jeered, stretching wearily. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m always this outspoken-what¡¯s your excuse?¡±


    It took all of Caroline¡¯s will-power to drag her gaze away from the flexing of those muscles in the broadness of Nichs¡¯s shoulders. Even so, her nipples actually ached now, and there was an unustomed warmth between her thighs¡­ Her mouth firmed and she straightened suddenly. ¡°It¡¯ste, I was terrified out of my wits a short time ago, and I¡¯m tired¡­¡±


    ¡°Terrified out of your wits?¡± he echoed incredulously, that dark gaze once againpelling. ¡°I¡¯d hate to see what your response would be if you weren¡¯t so terrified!¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    He touched his temple pointedly, a slight redness of the skin showing where Caroline had struck him with her book. A book whose predatory hero was no doubt going to seem very one-dimensional after she hade face to face with the very real-and very disturbing-flesh-and-blood man!


    Caroline watched his long fingers as they ran lightly across his bruised flesh before pushing back the long length of his dark hair in a movement that seemed habitual. That hair looked as soft as silk. A silkiness Caroline longed to touch and thread her own fingers into before pulling his head down and-


    She gathered herself up. ¡°No doubt you know which bedroom to use?¡± she bit out sharply.


    ¡°No doubt,¡± Nichs drawled, those ck eyes openlyughing at her.


    Caroline had almost reached the kitchen door, almost made her dignified exit, and was congratting herself on how well she had regrouped after physically attacking Nichs, when he made his ownst mockingment.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to get your book from the drawing room¡­¡± he said,


    She faltered slightly, her eyes closing briefly in embarrassment at this second taunting reminder of the book she had been reading earlier.


    ¡°The cover alone would be enough to shock Mrs Cooper senseless, let alone its contents!¡± he added.


    Caroline drew in a deep, controlling breath before she turned to re across the room at him. ¡°I should put something on that cut on your hand, if I were you. It would be such a pity if it were to be infected. It might even result in lockjaw!¡± she added with sharin sweetness.


    ¡°I can imagine how much that might bother you.¡± He gave an appreciative chuckle.


    ¡°You have no idea!¡± Caroline gave him onest scathing nce before sweeping out of the kitchen. Well, sweeping as much as she could when she was wearing a pair of blue cotton pajamas and a striped bathrobe!


    She paused long enough in the drawing room to take advantage of Nichs jeering advice concerning taking her book back upstairs with her.


    All the time she was aware that any dreams or erotic fantasies she might have tonight would all be about a dark-haired, dark-eyed, dangerous man dressedpletely in ck.


    A man known to his friends as Nick¡­


    ________


    ¡°Mrs Cooper seemed to be of the opinion that we would be eating breakfast together, and I didn¡¯t like to disappoint her,¡± Nichs said the following morning, as Caroline came to an abrupt halt in the doorway of the breakfast room the moment she saw he was already seated at the small table.


    A slightly more officious-looking Caroline Anderson than the night before; she wore a silky cream blouse tucked into ck tailored trousers, with t court shoes. That red hair was as perky and spiky as the previous evening, but she had added mascara to those already dark, sootyshes, and a deep peach gloss to the fullness of her lips.


    Officious, but still beautiful, Nichs decided approvingly as he stood up to hold a chair for her to sit down after she had reluctantly entered the room. ¡°Just so that you know I do remember some of the manners my mother taught me all those years ago,¡± he bent to murmur derisively beside her left ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m pleased to hear it!¡± Caroline ignored his close proximity and picked up her napkin. She ced it purposefully across her trouser-d knees before continuing to ignore him as she looked over the contents of the table. All the time she waspletely aware of how devastatingly male Nichs looked, with that long dark hair still damp from the shower. He was wearing a ck T-shirt that clearly defined his muscled chest and arms, with ckbat trousers sitting low down on the leanness of his waist and emphasizing the powerful length of his legs¡­

 7

    ¡°Would you like me to pour you some coffee?¡± he offered as he raised the cafetiere invitingly, and in the process once again stood just a little too close to Caroline forfort.


    The feral grin he gave as she shot him a slightly nervous nce told her that he was totally aware of the effect his close proximity was having on her equilibrium. That he¡¯d already noted the flush in her cheeks, the way she couldn¡¯t seem to breathe properly, and the slight trembling of her hands.


    How could she not be affected? Caroline epted ruefully. Men like Nichs Connelly-hard, tough, dangerous-werepletely beyond her everyday acquaintance. The only males she usually met on a day-to-day basis were either clients or stuck up, rich men at the parties she sometimes attended with Frank Connelly.


    She asionally epted an innocuous luncheon or dinner invitation from one of her male colleagues, but other than that Caroline preferred to keep her life uplicated by personal rtionships. She had certainly never met anyone even remotely like Nichs before!


    But she certainly wasn¡¯t so disconcerted by all this tantly disyed testosterone that she was willing to forgo her morning cup of coffee because of it! ¡°Thank you,¡± she epted, with a dismissive nce in his direction.


    Mistake!


    As she had known she would, Caroline had dreamt about this manst night. Once she had finally managed to fall asleep at all, that was. Intense, disturbing dreams that had included fulfilling the fantasy she¡¯d hadst night of running her fingers through that over-long dark hair, before moving lower to caress the width of those muscled shoulders and down the hardness of his back. In her dream she had also caressed other ces she would really rather not think about right now!


    But the reality of the man was so much more disturbing than any dream. He simply oozed hard masculinity from every pore in his muscled body, from that hewn and ruggedly handsome face to the strength of his perfectly toned body. He even smelt male, his aftershave sharp and tangy, with a hint of spice that tantalized the senses almost as much as the man did himself.


    He knew it too, and was perfectlyfortable with all that tant masculinity, Caroline acknowledged slightly resentfully.


    ¡°Are you expecting to suddenly have to go intobat?¡± she taunted, with a scathing nce at the dark clothing and heavy ck boots he seemed to favor wearing.


    He shrugged. ¡°I just threw a few things into a holdall. Besides, I find it¡¯s always best to be prepared.¡± Nichs eyed her mockingly as he resumed his seat opposite her at the intimately small table. ¡°After all, one never knows when and where one might be attacked!¡±


    Warm color entered those slightly hollow cheeks at the deliberateness of his taunt.


    ¡°Mrs Cooper mentioned you left the army two years ago?¡± She obviously chose to take his taunt at face value.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he confirmed evenly.


    ¡°What career do you have now?¡±


    ¡°I keep busy with this and that.¡±


    ¡°What sort of this and that?¡±


    Nichs narrowed his gaze darkly. ¡°You are very nosy for an assistant who supposedly only came here to catalog my father¡¯s library for him.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no ¡°supposedly¡± about it,¡± she assured primly. ¡°I was merely attempting to make conversation.¡±


    ¡°Make it about something else,¡± he bit out curtly.


    Nichs didn¡¯t discuss the work he did. With anyone. Least of all a woman he had only met eight hours ago. Although it was starting to seem much longer than that¡­After he left the army and became a personal bodyguard to a famous politician, his father had done everything in his power to discourage him. He wanted Nichs with him¡­ By his side. Ready to take over the family business, but Nichs didn¡¯t really know if that was what he wanted for himself. Hopefully he¡¯d find out during this visit.


    ¡°If I¡¯m nosy, then you¡¯repletelycking in manners!¡± Caroline  frowned at his rudeness.


    Nichs gave an uninterested shrug. ¡°What else did you expect from a man whose father¡¯s only means of contacting him for years was through the phone,¡±


    A nerve pulsed in her cheek. ¡°I wasn¡¯t meaning to be rude when I made thatment.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you?¡± Nichs asked knowingly.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Okay, yes, she had been, Caroline epted guiltily. Which was a little unfair of her when she really knew nothing about their family situation. When this man¡¯s father was just her boss.


    ¡°What about you, Caroline?¡± Nichs arched a dark brow in query. ¡°What does Caroline Anderson do when she isn¡¯t being an assistant or cataloging someone¡¯s library?¡±


    ¡°She reads. Most of the time, history books¡± she expanded when his eyebrow lifted, knowing that he was thinking about the book he¡¯d seen with her the previous night. God, were they ever going to get past that, she thought.


    ¡°Wow,¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a subject I happen to love.¡± She bristled defensively at the obviousck of enthusiasm in his voice. ¡°Especially when I was still in school,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯refortable with things that have already happened rather than those that haven¡¯t?¡±


    Caroline had never thought of it in that particr way before¡­¡±Is there something wrong with that?¡± she asked.


    A shrug stretched the ck material of his T-shirt tighter across the wide width of his shoulders. ¡°Not at all. Except a life with no surprises must be¡­¡±


    ¡°Comfortable?¡± Caroline supplied tersely.


    ¡°Boring,¡± Nichs finished with an unrepentant grin, his teeth very white and even against that lightly bronzed skin.


    ¡°That happens to be the way I prefer it.¡± She stood up abruptly. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take my coffee with me into the library and get started on some work.¡±


    Dark brows rose teasingly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to meet up with a client today?¡± he asked, knowing hisment had somewhat pissed her off.


    She nodded tersely. ¡°I am, but that will be in the afternoon,¡±


    Nichs¡¯s attention turned to the doorway as he saw Mrs Cooper standing there hesitantly.


    ¡°I wondered if I could get either of you something hot for breakfast?¡± the elderly housekeeper offered huskily, the strain of thest few days evident in the paleness of her cheeks and the slight redness of her eyes.


    ¡°Caroline?¡± Nichs prompted crisply.


    ¡°Not for me, thanks.¡± She gave the older woman a regretful smile.


    ¡°Or me,¡± Nichs said. ¡°We will both be finished in here in a few minutes, if you want to clear away then,¡± he assured Mrs Cooper lightly, having only vague memories of the sixty-year-old widow who had moved to the house with a sixteen-year-old son twenty years ago.

 8

    Nichs leant back in his chair to look at Caroline with enigmatic dark eyes once they were alone again, arms now folded across that wide, muscled chest. ¡°So, did you find any priceless treasures in the library?¡± he wanted to know.


    ¡°One or two, yes.¡± She nodded. ¡°A first edition of Charles Darwin¡¯s Origin of the Species alone is worth a considerable amount of money.¡±


    His brows rose. ¡°How much money?¡±


    ¡°I¡­. I¡¯m not sure. You should ask your dad. They¡¯re also very collectible.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really not that interested, Caroline,¡± Nichs rasped.


    Her cheeks became flushed. ¡°Then why bother to ask?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    He gave a shrug. ¡°It seemed like a good idea at the time.¡±


    ¡°And is your interest usually this fleeting?¡±


    A slow smile curved those sculptured lips even as the dark eyes once again openlyughed at her. ¡°It depends what that interest happens to be¡­¡±


    There was no mistaking the deliberate innuendo in Nichs¡¯ tone. Nor Caroline¡¯s longing to wipe that smile from his ruggedly handsome face!


    What was it about Nichs Connelly that brought out these uncharacteristic feelings of violence in her? That caused her to be constantly antagonized by him? The answer to that was easy! Everything about him made her feel defensive, while at the same time making her feel vulnerable and very feminine in a way that was totally unfamiliar to her. As well as ufortable¡­


    Caroline Anderson was defensive, nosy and confrontational, Nichs recognised as he continued to look at her admiringly from between narrowed lids. An interestingbination for an assistant who read steamy vampire novels when she was alone in bed at night and didn¡¯t like surprises in her personal life. Whereas Nichs was an adrenaline junkie who lived for the challenges in his own life, personal and otherwise!


    Caroline¡¯s mouth firmed. ¡°Obviously your¡­interest doesn¡¯t lie in rare books.¡±


    ¡°Obviously not,¡± Nichs agreed, inwardly starting to regret deliberately baiting her.


    Caroline no longer knew what to say¡­. Or think¡­. about Nichs Connelly, so without a reply, she headed out of the room and towards the library.


    ______________


    ¡°This is very kind of you,¡± Nichs said as he sat beside Caroline as she drove her car into town that afternoon.


    Caroline briefly turned her attention from driving along the narrow road to shoot him a narrow-eyed nce. Kindness on her part had nothing to do with the two of them being here together. How could it, when Nichs had more or lessmandeered both Caroline and her car so that he might meet up with an old friend in town?


    Having flown inte the previous night, and feeling tired after a long flight, it appeared that instead of hiring a car Nichs had simply got in a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the house. Consequently, he had no transport of his own.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck,¡± she warned him tersely.


    He arched dark brows. ¡°Is that what I¡¯m doing?¡±


    ¡°You know you are.¡±


    His close proximity-those muscled arms and long, powerful legs only inches from her own-was a little disturbing, to say the least¡­


    Nichs nced out of the side window, down the cliffs to where the sea was currentlypping gently onto the golden sand. ¡°I¡¯d forgotten how ruggedly beautiful it is here¡­¡±


    ¡°I expect it¡¯s a lot different from New York?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Except Nichs wasn¡¯t always in New York¡­ He didn¡¯t really live anywhere on a permanent basis, was never in one ce long enough to put down any roots. Anyone important who needed to get in contact with him urgently had his phone number. Including his father. He could sense that Caroline disapproved of this, but well, she would just have to go on disapproving!


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be too long,¡± he told Caroline once she had parked the car and he stepped out.


    ¡°Take your time,¡± she answered distractedly. ¡°I have a little personal shopping to do when I¡¯m done with the client anyway.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± He nodded. ¡°I suggest we meet back under the clock-tower here in the square in an hour or so, and then find somewhere to have lunch.¡±


    ¡°Lunch?¡± Caroline  echoed sharply, and she straightened so suddenly from locking the car that her head briefly swam.


    ¡°Lunch,¡± Nichs reiterated firmly. ¡°We are in town anyway, and it will be almost lunchtime, maybe a littlete, but why not?¡±


    Why not? Because Caroline didnt want to have lunch with thispelling and disturbing man. In fact, she was quicklying to realize that she wanted as little to do with Nichs Connelly as humanly possible! Not an easy thing to do when for the moment, they were actually staying in the same house¡­but it was a good thing she¡¯d be leaving the next day when she finished with the library in the morning.


    ¡°Okay, lunch in an hour, she conceded.


    ¡°Or so,¡± Nichs added.


    ¡°Whatever.¡± Caroline gave him onest impatient nce before turning away to walk determinedly towards the shops on the other side of the square.


    ____________


    ¡°Fuck it, Rachael! Do whatever you want. I don¡¯t care!¡± Nichs snapped into his phone as he strode restlessly up and down in front of the clock-tower, waiting for Caroline to rejoin him so they could have lunch together.


    ¡°You¡¯ve be such an asshole, Nick,¡±


    ¡°Then stay the hell away from me then!¡± Nichs growled, turning to pace back the other way and instantly finding himself face to face with a pale and wide-eyed Caroline Anderson.


    ¡°Goodbye, Rachael¡± he said curtly, before ending the call and dropping his phone into the back pocket of the ck denims he had changed into beforeing out.


    ¡°I-Did your meeting with your friend go well?¡±


    Nichs gave a hard smile. ¡°Yeah it did¡­. It was nice seeing him again,¡±


    Colour heightened Caroline¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You didn¡¯t sound so good over the phone just now,¡±


    ¡°No?¡± he jeered.


    ¡°No,¡± She frowned. ¡°But It¡¯s really none of my business, is it?¡±


    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t,¡± Nichs agreed. ¡°Nevertheless, I¡¯m sure you have an opinion on the subject!¡±


    Caroline was having to force herself to concentrate on what Nichs was saying. Not easy after overhearing his end of the telephone conversation with someone called Rachael!


    Then stay the hell away from me¡­ She frowned as she remembered the imcable tone of voice he¡¯d used towards the other person¡­Obviously a woman judging by her name.

 9

    Nichs Connelly was obviously not a man it would be wise to cross! Or be attracted to¡­ Unfortunately, Caroline suspected it was already toote to warn herself off being attracted to him. Just looking at him sent shivers of awareness up and down her spine. That over-long dark hair. Those dark and piercing eyes. The firm sensuality of his mouth. The lean sensitivity of his hands. The leashed power in that perfectly muscled body¡­


    ¡°No doubt you have one of those perfect lives¡± Nichs continued scathingly. ¡°Perfect life. Perfect friends. Perfect parents. Perfect rtionships. Perfect everything.¡±


    Perfect rtionships? He had no idea! Caroline thought.


    ¡°Come on, Care-¡±


    ¡°I believe I told you I prefer to be called Caroline!¡±


    Nichs nced at her, irritated with himself because of how attractive he found the way the color came and went in her cheeks, and the way her eyes sparkled with emotion when she was angry or annoyed- Whoa! Caroline Anderson wasn¡¯t his type. At all. Nichs preferred his women to be tall, soft and feminine. Women who knew and epted that a rtionship with him had no future. He wanted nothing to do with a woman who was short and prickly, a personal assistant immersed up to her pretty neck in vampire romance novels and history, whose ideal was no doubt the house with the picket fence and two point four children!


    All the same, Nichs couldn¡¯t stop himself from flirting with her just a little, to see how ufortable-and beautiful-it made her. He deliberately took a step closer, crowding her.


    ¡°Care is so much more-friendly, don¡¯t you think¡­?¡± he murmured huskily.


    Those deep blue eyes narrowed to warning slits. ¡°I have no wish to be friendly with a man who can speak to people like you just did on your phone,¡± she said scornfully.


    Nichs¡¯ eyes widened. So Caroline had overheard part of his conversation with Rachael, had she? And she¡¯d obviously drawn her own conclusions from it too. No doubt helped along by an over-active imagination from reading too many vampire books!  Well, Nichs had ceased even trying to exin himself a long time ago-least of all to a woman as unbending as this one.


    ¡°What can I say?¡± He gave an unconcerned shrug. ¡°Sometimes a little aggression is necessary when people won¡¯t do as they are told the first time.¡±


    Caroline repressed a shudder of apprehension at the callousness of his tone. Her first impression of this manst night had been the correct one after all; he really was dangerous!


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so worried, Caroline,¡± Nichs murmured softly. ¡°The only time I enjoy hearing a woman scream is in bed¡­¡±


    The erotic images that statement instantly conjured into Caroline¡¯s head, of a lithe, bronzed and naked body entwined with a much paler and softer one, caused the color to once again burn hotly in her cheeks.


    She turned away. ¡°Perhaps we should get back to the house after all.¡±


    ¡°Running scared, Caroline?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ¡°Of you?¡± Her eyes glittered as she red at him. ¡°I hardly think so!¡±


    ¡°You could have fooled me!¡± Nichs gave her another one of those mocking smiles. ¡°We are only going to have lunch, Caroline, we are not going out on a date together.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t imagined for one moment that their lunch together could be called a date. It was just a little disconcerting-more than a little, if she were brutally honest with herself-to think of spending time alone in a restaurant with a man who was so tantly, breathtakingly male that just looking at him made even her teeth ache in awareness! It was a raw attraction that waspletely corroborated at that moment, as a woman passing by on the pavement happened to nce casually their way-only for her attention to suddenly be riveted on Nichs, a flush warming her cheeks as he shot her azy smile. Nichs Connelly wasn¡¯t just dangerous-he was utterly lethal!


    Caroline scowled. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry after all,¡± she snapped. ¡°It must be all that aggressive talk earlier on-you¡¯re nothing but a bully!¡± she added challengingly.


    Nichs looked at her rigidly disapproving face and chose not to exin his discussion with Rachael to her. She was an ex who just wouldn¡¯t understand that it was over between them.


    ¡°Hasn¡¯t affected my appetite,¡± Nichs assured her blithely, giving her no more opportunity to disagree with him as he took a firm hold of her arm and strode forcefully towards the Hotel, across the other side of the square.


    ¡°So, what shall we talk about?¡± Caroline said dryly to Nichs once they were seated at a table in the saloon bar of the hotel where he had decided they were having lunch. He sat back against the bench seat, seemingly unaware of the interested female stares that had beening his way ever since he had gone up to the crowded bar to order their food. Including Caroline¡¯s own more surreptitious nces! Had she ever been this physically aware of a man before? Not that she could remember. But she was so aware of Nichs, on so many levels, that she felt she could see and hear practically nothing else but him.


    Her skin felt hotter than the temperature in the bar warranted. Her breasts were swollen, the nipples slightly tingly, and there was a telling dampness between her thighs that shocked her¡­ Ridiculous. From the little Caroline had overheard of his telephone conversation with someone called Rachael, Nichs Connelly was little more than a thug. No doubt his years in the army, the physical discipline he had learnt there, had made him as lethal as any of the weapons he had been trained to use.


    As a woman who had always valued intellect rather than muscle, how could Caroline possibly find all that leashed physical power arousing? Except¡­she did! To such an extent that she could imagine nothing more pleasurable than ripping all that ck clothing from Nichs¡¯ bronzed and muscr body so that she might caress every powerful, rugged inch of him.


    In fact, just thinking about doing those things increased the temperature of her own body to an almost unbearable degree!


    Nichs gave a dismissive shrug. ¡°Who says we have to talk at all? I came here for food, not conversation.¡±

 10

    Caroline frowned even as she sat back to allow the barmaid to ce their tes of food on the table. A young and pretty barmaid, who could no more take her eyes off Nichs, as sheid out their knives and forks, than the woman in the square had a few minutes ago.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Nichs gave the young girl the samezy grin that had so enthralled the woman in the square earlier.


    Caroline shot him a scathing nce as that grin once again caused a slightly flustered response, but in the young barmaid this time. Really, this man ought toe with a ¡®danger¡¯bel attached!


    ¡°What?¡± he prompted irritably, once he and Caroline were alone again and he looked up to see her disgusted expression.


    Caroline gave a slight shake of her head. ¡°Just deploring my own gender for their obvious gullibility to a sexy smile!¡±


    He raised spective brows. ¡°So you think I have a sexy smile?¡±


    She frowned her irritation. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that-¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you did.¡±


    Yes, she had, Caroline acknowledged with an inner groan. Damn the man! She sat forward to pick up her knife and fork in preparation for eating the chicken sd that was looking less and less appetizing as this embarrassing conversation continued. ¡°You probably practice in front of a mirror for hours just to get that effect,¡± she said, in an effort to puncture his enormous ego.


    Nichs gave an appreciative chuckle at her disgruntled usation. ¡°Not true. I had no idea my smile was at all sexy until you said it was.¡±


    ¡°Could we just eat?¡± Caroline snapped.


    Nichs grinned unabashedly at her obvious difort. ¡°If you think that you still can!¡±


    Blue eyes shot sparks at him. ¡°You are not my type, Mr Connelly,¡± she said waspishly.


    ¡°Now, there¡¯s a challenge if ever I heard one¡­¡± Nichs mused.


    Her eyes widened in rm. ¡°It certainly wasn¡¯t meant as one!¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Nichs ected enigmatically, dark eyes narrowed. ¡°So what is your usual type, Caroline?¡± he asked, as he picked up his fork and began to eat the steak and ale pie he had ordered for his own lunch..


    She avoided that probing gaze. ¡°I thought you preferred not to talk?¡±


    ¡°I have changed my mind.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately for you, so have I!¡±


    ¡°Humour me, Caroline, hmm?¡± he encouraged softly.


    Caroline didn¡¯t want to humor this man. In fact, she wished they had never started this conversation! Especially as she did find his smile sexy-as did every other woman who so much as looked at him! Her chin rose defensively. ¡°If you must know, I prefer brains over brawn.¡±


    He became very still. Watchfully, dangerously so. ¡°You think I¡¯m just muscle and no brain?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that-¡±


    ¡°As good as,¡± he bit out. ¡°What constitutes an intelligent man to you, Caroline?¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to sound insulting-¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think that you did,¡± Nichs grated harshly. ¡°Does a first-ss degree in Computer Science and a doctorate in Computer Analysis pass as intelligent in your book?¡±


    Caroline swallowed hard. ¡°I thought you had been in the army for most of thest five years at least,¡±


    ¡°Where, if you¡¯re so inclined, they teach you to use your brain as well as how to shoot guns!¡± he assured her.


    There was no mistaking the anger in Nichs¡¯ tone now. And rightly so. Somehow in thest years this man had achieved a first-ss degree and a doctorate, for goodness¡¯ sake. Giving him the right to use the title of doctor if he so chose.


    She gave an awkward grimace. ¡°I apologize if I sounded rude. But-¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just leave it at the apology, hmm, Caroline?¡± he advised in an off-hand manner. ¡°Any more insults from you and I¡¯m likely to lose my appetite!¡±


    Caroline already had lost her appetite. Completely. And it wasn¡¯t all due to thest verbal exchange with Nichs. Some of it was due to the fascination of watching the lean strength of his hands as he ate his meal with silent efficiency, as if he needed the fuel it would provide rather than obtaining any real enjoyment from the food itself.


    This was a man totally beyond Caroline¡¯s experience. An enigma, in fact. He looked rough, tough and quite frankly dangerous. But his degree and doctorate also proimed him to be a man of high intelligence. Something she should perhaps have realized before she insulted him¡­ She swallowed hard. ¡°I really am sorry if I sounded less than polite just now, Mr Connelly,¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    So he was back to being ¡®Mr Connelly¡¯, was he? Nichs mused cynically. ¡°Don¡¯t give it another thought, Caroline,¡± he replied. ¡°You obviously can¡¯t help being insulting,¡± he added challengingly.


    Her cheeks coloured attractively, making her hair appear redder and spikier. ¡°Now who¡¯s being rude?¡±


    Nichs chuckled softly. ¡°It must be catching! Most people consider me something of a pussycat,¡± he teased.


    ¡°The lethal type that stalks in a jungle, perhaps?¡± Caroline said dryly.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he dismissed evenly; until he¡¯d left the military years ago, she would have been closer than she realized!


    ¡°So,¡± she went on. ¡°What is it you do, exactly, with your degree in Computer Science and your doctorate in Computer Analysis?¡±


    ¡°Analyze¡­?¡±


    She gave a pained frown. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to make polite conversation, Mr Connelly; you might at least try to reciprocate!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s what people do!¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Nichs murmured. ¡°Perhaps if you were to start calling me Nick instead of Mr Connelly I might feel more inclined to reciprocate?¡±


    She shifted ufortably. ¡°I agreed to use the name Nichs,¡±


    ¡°But not Nick?¡± he taunted.


    ¡°No.¡± She grimaced.


    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Nichs leant back against the bench seat to look across at her through narrowed lids. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten very much.¡± He frowned at her almost untouched te.


    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± She gave up any pretense of eating and pushed her te away. ¡°I forgot to ask earlier how your hand is today,¡± she added politely.


    ¡°Are you offering to kiss it better?¡± Nichs responded mockingly, after ncing down at the already healing nick on the palm of his right hand. He had several scars on other parts of his body that would no doubt make this self-contained woman scream in horror at the thought of the violence behind them!


    ¡°I¡¯m not your mother, Nichs!¡± Her eyes shed with temper.


    A temper Nichs was pretty sure this controlled woman was usually at pains to conceal.

 11

    Interesting¡­ ¡°No, I can definitely vouch for that,¡± he said dryly; the primly correct Caroline Anderson was absolutely nothing like his mother.


    ¡°Are you like her?¡± Caroline¡¯s curiosity had obviously got the better of her.


    Nichs¡¯ mouth tightened. ¡°In coloring, yes. But I don¡¯t have her tolerance for the weakness of human nature. Or her belief in the ultimate good to be found in others,¡± Nichs added. ¡°My father is a lot like her. Probably why they got along so much,¡±


    The frown deepened between Caroline¡¯s eyes. ¡°I think your dad is a nice, kind man. I found him an easy man to work for and get along with during the week I knew him¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I know that¡­He has always been that way. After my mother died, he shut down for a while¡­. Then he  had all the photographs of her removed and put away,¡± he exined grimly, a nerve pulsing in his tightly clenched jaw.


    Caroline¡¯s face softened in sympathy. ¡°Perhaps it was just too painful for him to see reminders of your mother around the house every day?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess so,¡± he stood up abruptly, ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the house,¡±


    _________


    For the second time that day, Caroline found herself in her car with Nichs Connelly, and again, she noticed him.


    Barely leashed power oozed from every pore of his muscr body, sending out a purely physical  challenge that heightened Caroline¡¯s senses, both sight and smell. Her fingers tightened about the steering wheel as she resisted the urge to reach out and touch the lean strength of his hands where theyy clenched on his powerful thighs.


    She¡¯d never reacted to a man in this way. At least¡­she never had until Nichs Connelly¡¯s sudden appearance at the Housest night. Since then her nerve-endings-and every other part of her!-had been on constant alert. She had to finish her work in the library faster so she could get the hell out of that house as quickly as possible.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± he suddenly wanted to know.


    Caroline¡¯s fingers gripped the steering wheel even tighter. ¡°I was simply wondering if your long hair is a reaction to being in the army for so many years, or if you¡¯ve just forgotten to go to a barber recently.¡±


    ¡°Liar,¡± Nichs murmured huskily, well aware that Caroline had been shooting him surreptitious nces from beneath those sootyshes for thest few minutes. And he was experienced enough to know that Caroline Anderson was aroused by what she saw when she looked at him.


    Her eyes were fever-bright. Her cheeks were flushed. Her breathing was soft and uneven. Also, her breasts were full, with the nipples showing hard and aroused against the soft material of her blouse. Every starchy inch of Caroline was aware of him, and he found that knowledge delicious!


    She bristled at the usation. ¡°I-¡±


    ¡°You are clenching your left hand again, Caroline,¡± he warned softly.


    She frowned at the observation, but instantly lessened the tightness of the grip she had on the steering wheel. ¡°You-¡°.


    ¡°Admit it, Care,¡± He deliberately gave her that sexy smile as he used the name he knew she objected to so strongly. ¡°When you look at me, you like what you see!¡±


    Her jaw tightened disapprovingly, although the blush in her cheeks and the catching of her breath in her throat told apletely different story¡­¡±I told you not to call me-¡±


    ¡°I like calling you Care,¡± Nichs turned in his seat so that he could look at her fully. ¡°With your eyes shining brightly, and that color in your cheeks, you¡¯re much more of a Care than you are a stiff and unapproachable Caroline,¡± he said appreciatively.


    ¡°Stiff and-!¡± She gave an impatient shake of her head. ¡°Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?¡±


    He quirked dark brows. ¡°Am I seeding?¡±


    ¡°Very much so!¡±


    He grinned unrepentantly. ¡°Enough to make sure that you definitely decide to high-tail it out of the house as soon as you can make the appropriate excuses?¡±


    That blush in her cheeks deepened as she gasped softly. ¡°How did you know¡­?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you were thinking about doing a few minutes ago,¡± Nichs finished dryly. ¡°You¡¯re pretty easy to read, Caroline,¡± He gave an unconcerned shrug. Nichs had not just learned to analyzeputers over the years; he had learned to read people too. Although this woman was a little moreplicated than most. No, make that a lot moreplicated!


    Did she ever let anyone past that spiky exterior? Nichs wondered. More to the point, had she ever let a man past that bristly exterior and into her body¡­?


    Caroline wasn¡¯t sure she liked Nichs finding her ¡®easy to read¡¯-especially considering some of the thoughts she had been having about him since first setting eyes on him the previous night!


    Her mouth firmed. ¡°I have no intention of ¡®high-tailing¡¯ out of the house¡¯, as you put it.¡±


    Not any more, she didn¡¯t. Not when he seemed to have so easily guessed that he would be the reason for her leaving!


    ¡°Your father engaged me to catalog his library, and I¡¯ll be done with it tomorrow. Then I¡¯ll leave. It has absolutely nothing to do with you,¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    His mouth twisted. ¡°Big on obligation, are you?¡±


    Caroline stiffened at the taunt she heard in his tone. ¡°I believe that once given, a person¡¯s word should be honored, yes. And besides, this is my job. I have to do it,¡±


    Implying, Nichs would guess, that someone close to her-or someone she had allowed close to her?-had once let her down pretty badly.


    He nodded. ¡°Alright. We better use what little time we have left to get to know each other better then,¡±


    Caroline remained silent, knowing that if she said anything, he¡¯d simply reply with ament she couldn¡¯t ignore and they¡¯d just keep going around in circles. She didn¡¯t want to get to know Nichs Connelly better. He seriously threatened her peace of mind¡­


    ________


    ¡°I-What are you doing in here?¡±


    Caroline came to a stop in the library doorway as she saw Nichs, sitting behind the leather-topped mahogany desk, herptop open in front of him.


    He looked up to raise an unimpressed eyebrow. ¡°As Frank Connelly¡¯s son, don¡¯t you think I have a perfect right to be in here?¡±

 12

    Well¡­of course he had a right to enter the library. Caroline was just surprised, havinge to the library with the intention of working again that evening, once she had been upstairs to freshen up after they¡¯d returned from town, to find Nichs had beaten her to it.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    She stood in front of the desk to arch her own auburn brows. ¡°Find anything of interest on myptop?¡±


    Nichs sat back. ¡°Yourptop?¡± he murmured slowly. ¡°I thought it was one of thepany¡¯sptops¡­. You know, since you¡¯re here for work,¡±


    Caroline smiled at having atst been able to disconcert a man who was so self-confident he made her want to scream. ¡°I prefer to work with equipment I¡¯m familiar with¡­ And while I do have one of thosepany¡¯sptops, I didn¡¯t bring it here with me,¡±


    There it was again, Nichs noted with a frown. Caroline Anderson liked her life ordered and predictable, even down to theptop she used for whatever work she happened to be doing. He grimaced. ¡°I had some emails I wanted to send. Didn¡¯t want to use my phone¡­ small screen and all,¡±


    Damn it, if he had known this was herptop he might have had a look through some of her other files. Just in the interest of gaining further insight into what made her tick, of course. It was something Nichs was always careful to do with the people that were around him on a day-to-day basis.


    He already knew what Caroline did; it was the rest of the information on her that was still a little sketchy. Where she came from. Who her family was. Who her friends were. For different reasons, most probably, Caroline kept her personal life as close to her chest as Nichs did his own¡­


    ¡°Sorry about that.¡± He shut theptop down before standing up, his eyes narrowing at the instinctive way Caroline instantly took a step away from him.


    What the hell? Was this woman scared of him?


    No, that wasn¡¯t fear Nichs could see in her eyes, but something else. Something much more interesting¡­


    Caroline took another step back as Nichs moved out from behind the desk, once again finding herself overwhelmed by the sheer animal maism of the man. He really was like that predator she had been reading aboutst night, his movements slow and stealthy, soundless on the carpeted floor. The muscles moved smoothly in his legs and beneath his tight-fitting T-shirt as he came ever closer, the very air about him seeming to part in deference to all that rippling power.


    Her eyes were wide with apprehension. ¡°I-What are you doing?¡± she asked him.


    He raised dark brows over those inky eyes. ¡°What does it look like I¡¯m doing?¡±


    Even his voice sounded lower, husky, purposeful¡­ Caroline swallowed hard. ¡°I came in here to work-¡±


    ¡°Later.¡±


    ¡°Later?¡± she repeated, with a nervous sweep of her tongue across suddenly dry lips.


    The ckness of Nichs¡¯ gaze locked on to that nervous movement. ¡°Later,¡± he confirmed gruffly.


    He was standing so close to her now that Caroline could feel the heat of his body enveloping her, and that heat and the subtle scent of him were acting like a drug on her already heightened senses. The same senses that had been on alert from the moment she first set eyes on this man. Sight. Smell. Touch¡­ Caroline gave a shake of her head in an effort to clear her mind of the foggy haze that seemed to be epassing her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what game you¡¯re ying, Nichs-¡±


    ¡°I never y games, Care,¡± he assured her softly.


    He had called her by that name again, but for the moment Caroline was too concerned by the threat he represented to her, to her equilibrium, to bother correcting him. ¡°You are ying one right now. And it isn¡¯t funny,¡± she reproved.


    Nichs didn¡¯t find this situation funny, either. In fact, he deeply regretted having started this, and was no longer sure who was challenging whom.


    Caroline¡¯s eyes were such a deep and drowning blue. Those sootyshes a dark sweep against the creaminess of her cheeks. Her mouth, those full and pouting lips that had just felt the moist touch of her tongue, was tempting him to do the same. She smelled so damned good too: a mixture of some elusive floral scent and a warm and sexy femininity¡­ Nichs gave a low groan in his throat as he felt his body respond to her, his thighs stirring, hardening, pulsing. Aching!


    ¡°Nichs¡­?¡± Even the way she spoke his name, so huskily, so warily, was arousing. Too much so for Nichs to be able to resist tasting her. Just one taste, he promised himself. One taste of her lips, with the feel of those slender curves pressed against his much harder ones, the crush of the softness of her breasts against his chest, her thighs against his, and he would let her go.


    Caroline barely had time to raise her hands, with the intention of warding him off, before his arms moved about her. He pulled her in tightly against the hardness of his body and his head lowered so that his mouth could im hers.


    Fiercely. Hungrily. Crushing, parting her lips beneath his as he deepened the kiss. His tongue surged past her lips and into the heated cavern of her mouth. The hands she had raised to hold Nichs at bay instead clung to him. Her fingers curled into the front of his T-shirt as she met and returned the intensity of that kiss. Those fingers tightened and she held on to the ck material for support as desire ripped shockingly through her body. She could feel her breasts swelling, the nipples hard and aching, the warmth between her thighs bing a burning sensation as she felt herself bing wet and swollen with a need she had never known before.


    She could feel the pulse of his arousal against the tness of her stomach as he pressed her even closer against him. Every long, thick, hard inch of him throbbed rhythmically against her, in a promise that would ease the increasing ache between Caroline¡¯s own thighs as he surged powerfully inside her.

 13

    Nichs knew he had to stop this. Now. Before things gotpletely out of control. Except she tasted so good. Felt so good. The softness of her curves was a perfect fit against the hardness of his. All of her was perfect, he discovered as he moved his hand beneath her blouse to touch the silky heat of her bare flesh, caressing upwards, until his fingers curved about the soft, up-tilting swell of her breast. Not too small. Not toorge. Just a perfect fit in the palm of his hand.


    His own body throbbed anew as Caroline gave a throaty groan and her head dropped back to break the kiss.


    As Nichs moved the soft pad of his thumb against the puckered pout of her nipple her breathing becamebored and ragged, and he kissed down the length of her creamy throat to push aside the cor of her blouse so that his tongue and teeth could seek out the hollows at the base of her neck.


    She tasted better than anything he had ever experienced before. The feel of her skin against his lips was a beguilingbination of feminine softness and spice.


    He could feel the heat of Caroline¡¯s arousal as she pressed her hips into his, sensed how ready she was for him.


    So ready he wanted to lie her down on the carpeted floor and take her right here and now. To thrust into her time and time again, until she screamed out his name as she climaxed, wildly, fiercely, as spasm after spasm of pleasure wrapped itself around him and she took him over that edge with her.


    Nichs nudged her back towards the desk, feeling the added pressure of her body against his as the wood pressed against the back of her legs. He pushed those legs apart to step in between them, grinding his arousal against her tempting heat in an effort to relieve some of the fierceness of his own need.


    He seeded only in increasing that need until he could only move rhythmically against her, the barrier of their clothing no hindrance to the heat, the satisfaction he found between Caroline¡¯s legs as he continued to surge against her. Again and again. Harder. Faster. Until he felt he would lose his mind if he didn¡¯t soon possess her for real!


    This was insane, Caroline acknowledged achingly, as she felt the thick length of his shaft pressed against the swollen nub between her legs, creating a fire deep inside her that quickly spread and threatened to me totally out of control. She couldn¡¯t do this¡­ She wouldn¡¯t do this!


    ¡°No, Nichs!¡± she gasped, even as she pushed against the hardness of his chest. ¡°No!¡± she cried again, entangling her fingers in his over-long dark hair and pulling his head back and away from her when her verbal protest had no effect on those questing, arousing lips. ¡°No,¡± she said again firmly, and she looked up appealingly into the unfocused darkness of his eyes.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Eyes as wild, dark, and dangerous as those of the lethal predator she had initially thought him to be! The very air between them seemed to crackle with tension, and Caroline could only wait tensely to see if her pleas would have any effect. Because if they didn¡¯t then she knew she was seriously in danger, crushed as she was between Nichs and the desk, every hard muscle and sinew of his body imprinted upon her own. There was no way, absolutely no way, that she would be able to physically fight off a man asrge and fit as Nichs undoubtedly was. And at this moment, breathing in his scent, still weak from the touch of his hands against the bareness of her flesh, she wasn¡¯t sure that she really wanted to¡­


    She continued to stare up at him for long, timeless seconds, not breathing, not moving, the palms of her hands damp with tension, her legs trembling beneath her. His jaw clenched even as the fierceness slowly left the dark unfathomable depths of his eyes. He stepped abruptly away from her, the muscles still tense in his back as he turned away from her to smooth the wildness of his hair back from his face and draw deep, controlling breaths into his lungs.


    Allowing Caroline to draw in a couple of much-needed breaths herself. What on earth had happened just now? More to the point, how had it happened? She rarely even dated, let alone allowed men to get close to her in this way. This totally physical way! She hadn¡¯t exactly allowed Nichs to get close to her; he had just taken the opportunity.


    And she had responded¡­ Responded to that animal maism that drew her like a moth to a me. To the hunger of his lips on hers. To the caress of his hand against the bareness of her skin. To the fierceness of his hard and demanding thighs pressed so intimately against hers¡­ Caroline felt another warm rush of heat between her legs just at remembering the hardness of his thighs pressed against the throb of her own arousal. An arousal he had found with unerring uracy as he rubbed himself against her and took her ever higher, ever nearer to a release she had never known.


    She had wanted Nichs just now. Desperately. So much so that she wouldn¡¯t have been able to stop him if he had chosen to continue kissing and touching her. If he had thrown off their clothes beforeying her back on the desk and satisfying their desire for one another.


    Dear God¡­!


    _____


    Nichs was still breathing raggedly as he turned back to face Caroline. ¡°Well, that was-¡±


    ¡°Stupid!¡± she supplied forcefully, her cheeks flushed and her eyes brightly using, her breasts rapidly rising and falling beneath her blouse in her agitation.


    His mouthpressed. ¡°I was going to say unexpected¡­¡±


    This spiky woman-his father¡¯s assistant, for heaven¡¯s sake!-simply wasn¡¯t his type. Absolutely not. Except it had aroused Nichs just to be able to pierce through all that prim self-righteousness. To see this obviously controlled woman totallye apart in his arms¡­ Nichs lived his life as he wanted. As he chose. And where he chose. With no involvements, emotional or otherwise. That had worked for him for the past fifteen years, and he fully intended for it to continue working for him for the foreseeable future.

 14

    Even if Caroline had seeded in getting to him, in breaching his guard, in a way he couldn¡¯t remember any other woman ever doing before¡­ His mouth thinned. ¡°You are right, it was stupid,¡± he acknowledged harshly. ¡°Let¡¯s just forg-¡± He broke off as his phone began to vibrate against his hip.¡± Excuse me.¡±


    He took the phone out to take the call-no doubt a telephoned answer to one of the e-mails he had just sent.


    Caroline didn¡¯t know which of them she was most angry with. Herself for having responded to Nichs in the way she had. Or Nichs for the way he had so readily agreed their behavior had been stupid.


    Thetter, probably¡­


    ¡°Tell her I¡¯ll call her when I have the time,¡± Nichs said decisively into his mobile, even as he kept his coldly dark gaze fixed steadily on Caroline. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn what she wants, Adam; you can tell her I¡¯ll call her when I¡¯m good and ready!¡±


    Her? Don¡¯t give a damn what she wants? I¡¯ll call her when I¡¯m good and ready¡­ Nichs couldn¡¯t have told Caroline any more clearly that there was already a woman in his life. No doubt a woman who also lived in New York. A woman who had believed she could trust Nichs to be apart from her for a few days without the fear that he would end up with another woman in his arms. Another woman who had allowed Nichs to kiss and touch her in a way she had never been kissed and touched before!


    ¡°What did I do wrong now?¡±


    Caroline had been so full of self-condemnation for her own gullibility that she hadn¡¯t even realized that Nichs had ended his call and was now studying her from between narrowed lids.


    ¡°Who said you had done anything wrong?¡±She red at him.


    He scowled.¡± Your disgusted expression said it for you.¡±


    Caroline scowled at him.¡± I can¡¯t imagine what makes you think that.¡±


    ¡°Male intuition?¡±


    ¡°Men don¡¯t have intuition!¡± she shed back.


    ¡°Ah.¡± He grimaced. ¡°You are one of those.¡±


    Her eyes widened. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±


    Nichs shrugged. ¡°A man-hater.¡±


    Caroline felt heat in her cheeks at the taunt. ¡°I don¡¯t hate men.¡±


    ¡°Just me, hmm?¡± he said knowingly.


    Caroline only wished that she did hate this man. But the truth was just being in the same room with Nichs disturbed her more than any other man ever had. As for being kissed by him, touched by him¡­!


    ¡°Not at all, Nichs,¡± she denied coolly.


    ¡°But I had no sooner walked in here and found you using myptop than you began kissing me-¡±


    She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she found him watching her, with one of those boyish grins on his face. She forced herself to stay focused, ¡°-Please don¡¯t do it again,¡± she concluded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do what?¡±


    Caroline looked away, ¡°Kiss me¡­Don¡¯t kiss me again, Nichs. It¡¯s inappropriate and it shouldn¡¯t have happened,¡±


    He shrugged, ¡°You share the me as much as I do, Caroline. You kissed me back, remember?¡±


    ¡°Stop teasing me, Nichs,¡±


    ¡°Who says I¡¯m teasing?¡± He quirked dark brows.


    ¡°I do.¡± Caroline red at him.


    Nichs rubbed his forehead, ¡°Look, Caroline, I¡¯m not in the habit of exining myself or my actions to anyone. But you and I know that you enjoyed that kiss just as much as I did, so please stop acting like a victim here,¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    She drew her breath in sharply. ¡°I wasn¡¯t-¡± she began


    ¡°Oh, yes, you most certainly were,¡± he rasped. ¡°And, enjoyable as those kisses were-and probably would be again, given the opportunity-¡±


    ¡°Which there won¡¯t be!¡±


    ¡°I think you should know that I don¡¯t do permanent rtionships!¡± Nichs concluded harshly, as if she hadn¡¯t interrupted.


    Caroline had never felt so ufortable and humiliated in the whole of her life! Nichs couldn¡¯t have told her any more clearly not to read anything into the kisses they had just shared. As if! Caroline was as anxious to forget them as he obviously was.


    She gave him a scathing nce. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just fine-because neither do I, and I don¡¯t remember asking you for a rtionship!¡±


    He looked at her spectively. ¡°Does that mean you do casual instead?¡±


    ¡°It means that where you¡¯re concerned I don¡¯t do any sort of rtionship whatsoever! We¡¯re only here together because of circumstances.¡±


    And Caroline wished now that she hadn¡¯t been goaded into staying on. ¡°I will be leaving tomorrow and I suggest that for the rest of my time here we stay well out of each other¡¯s way!¡±


    Nichs gave a terse inclination of his head. ¡°I¡¯m d we got that straightened out.¡±


    ¡°So am I!¡± Caroline had never felt quite so much like hitting someone as she did Nichs at that moment.


    He gave a slow, taunting smile. ¡°Does that mean you won¡¯t be joining me for dinner?¡±


    Dinner? Caroline was so angry-with herself as much as Nichs-that she wasn¡¯t sure she would be able to eat anything for the rest of the day!


    Her chin rose. ¡°I will be quite happy to have a tray in my room.¡±


    ¡°That seems a little unfriendly, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    A frown appeared between her eyes. ¡°I thought we had just agreed that neither of us does friendly?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I do friendly. Just not forever,¡± Nichs regarded her mockingly. ¡°Did you eat dinner on a tray in your room when I wasn¡¯t here?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then you don¡¯t need to do it now, either,¡± he pointed out.


    Need? What Caroline needed was some time-and space-away from Nichs Connelly, in which to regain some of her shatteredposure. ¡°I would like to get on with some work now, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± She deliberately turned her back on him.


    ¡°No problem,¡± Nichs came back nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at dinner.¡±


    Caroline continued to stand unmoving in the middle of the library long after she knew Nichs had gone. Nichs had kissed her, and she had kissed him back. Damn it, she hadn¡¯t just kissed him, she had been hungry for him! Hadn¡¯t been able to get enough of him! To get close enough to him! Still ached with wanting him¡­ He was everything she had ever fantasized about. Everything she had never thought to encounter in her quite frankly boring life, she told herself wryly.


    Maybe.


    But for her to have totally lost all inhibition with a man she knew nothing about was seriously worrying.

 15

    She knew Nichs had kissed her as if he¡¯d wanted to devour her. As if he¡¯d wanted to taste and touch every part of her. As if he¡¯d wanted to bury himself deep inside her and- She knew nothing positive about the man!


    Nichs had arrived in the middle of the night. He had used herptop, somehow without even bothering to check who it belonged to. He had totally dismissed the need to contact his girlfriend. Worst of all, he was mysterious about his past, and obviously had no intention of sharing any important details about himself with her. Well, that was okay, because she didn¡¯t want to share any details about herself with him.


    Caroline hadn¡¯t just been stupid when she had responded so wantonly to Nichs, she had behaved totally recklessly. And reckless was something that she never was where a man was concerned. Let alone a man who had so told her so inly that he wanted no permanent ties in his life¡­


    _________


    ¡°ss of red wine?¡± Nichs indicated the ss he held.


    ¡°Caroline?¡± he prompted with a frown as she made no effort to move away from the doorway of the drawing room.


    But for the moment Caroline couldn¡¯t move. In fact, she had been rooted to the spot from the moment she had first entered the room and seen Nichs..


    Nichs who looked so handsome this evening he literally took her breath away!


    Over thest hours she had be ustomed to seeing him in the ck clothing and boots he habitually wore, and which somehow seemed to suit the aura of danger that always surrounded him. Tonight he wore a silk shirt the color of freshly brewed espresso coffee that hinted at the muscled chest beneath rather than emphasized it, and a pair of expertly tailored trousers in the same dark coffee color. With his long hair brushed back from that intelligent brow, and those dark, enigmatic eyes, Nichs appeared every bit as threatening, if not more so, as he had in the ck clothing he preferred.


    ¡°Caroline,¡± Nichs pressed again impatiently; what on earth was wrong with the woman?


    After her earlierments concerning the clothes he wore, he had decided to change before dinner. But as the time to eat had drawn nearer, with no sign of her, he had been starting to wonder if she was going to join him after all. If he hadn¡¯t frightened her offpletely earlier this afternoon after almost taken her on top of his father¡¯s desk!


    Only to turn a few seconds ago and see her standing in the doorway. Unmoving, and warily silent. So far in their acquaintance Caroline had seemed to have plenty to say about everything. Including himself.


    Not that it was any chore to just look at her. Her auburn hair was arranged in its usual perky style, those sootyshes perfectly framed the deep blue of her eyes, and she had brushed a peach gloss onto the fullness of her lips. In a fitted knee-length sleeveless dress of midnight-blue silk, Caroline was certainly easy on the eye.


    Who would ever have guessed that, beneath those unttering cotton pajamas and the tailored trousers he¡¯d seen her wear, Caroline had the most gloriously sexy legs Nichs had ever seen? Lightly tanned, they were slender and shapely, the ankles appearing delicate above the two-inch heels of the strappy dark blue sandals she wore.


    Caroline Anderson wasn¡¯t just beautiful; she was hot!


    ¡°No red wine for me, thank you.¡± The snappy anger in the deep blue of her eyes as she walked further into the room told Nichs that she had noted his admiring gaze and didn¡¯t appreciate it.


    Well, that was just too bad. If she didn¡¯t want anyone to look-didn¡¯t want him to look-then she should have stayed in the safe businesslike ck trousers and blouse!


    Nichs looked amused. ¡°Is that because you would prefer white wine, or would you like something else instead?¡±


    ¡°No, thank you. I don¡¯t drink alcohol,¡± Caroline  answered abruptly as she sat down in one of the armchairs. ¡°At all,¡± she added, just so that there should be no more confusion.


    ¡°Good for you,¡± he drawled, before moving to sit in the armchair opposite hers, that dark gaze narrow and enigmatic. ¡°Do you smoke?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Take drugs?¡±


    Her mouth thinned in distaste. ¡°Certainly not!¡±


    ¡°Sleep with married men?¡±


    Her gaze narrowed impatiently. ¡°Nichs-¡±


    ¡°Just kidding!¡± He grinned, even as he held up his hand in apology. ¡°So, you¡¯re a woman without vices¡­¡±


    It was a statement rather than a question, and Caroline didn¡¯t bother to answer. How could she when this afternoon she had literally melted in this man¡¯s arms?


    ¡°How about you, Nichs? Obviously you drink alcohol.¡±


    ¡°In moderation,¡± he put in softly, and he raised his ss in a silent toast to her before taking a sip of the ruby-red wine.


    ¡°Smoke?¡±


    ¡°Not for years.¡±


    ¡°Take drugs?¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± he answered, as tly as she had earlier.


    Caroline raised auburn brows. ¡°Sleep with married women?¡±


    ¡°Again, never,¡± he stated.


    Her mouth twisted humorlessly. ¡°How about unmarried women?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thirty six years old, Caroline; what do you think?¡± he taunted with a hard grin.


    Caroline thought she should never have joined in this ridiculous conversation! ¡°I think, as you pointed out earlier-¡± oh-so-sinctly! ¡°-that it¡¯s none of my business!¡±


    Nichs grin widened, his teeth very white and even against that bronzed skin. ¡°My guess is you didn¡¯t mean to ask thatst question.¡±


    No, she hadn¡¯t. Of course Nichs Connelly slept with unmarried women-although ¡®slept with¡¯ was probably aplete misnomer for what he did when he was in bed with a woman!


    Caroline wasn¡¯t happy about the way his dark gaze followed the movement as she nervously crossed one bare knee over the other¡­ She instantly uncrossed them. ¡°Perhaps we should go through to dinner?¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°You seem a little¡­tense this evening, Caroline,¡± He met her gaze with steady intensity.


    Her eyes widened. ¡°I¡¯m not in the least tense.¡±


    ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Caroline denied vehemently, knowing that her tone, and the way she stood up so suddenly, instantly gave the lie to her im. What was it about this man that made her so ufortable? So on edge? So totally removed from her normallyposed and efficient self? Whatever it was, she had better put a stop to it. ¡°I believe it¡¯s time we went in to dinner,¡± she reminded him again, more evenly this time.

 16

    ¡°Fine,¡± he agreed lightly, and he rose smoothly to his feet beside her.


    Instantly making Caroline¡¯s already raw and sensitive nerve-endings thrum!


    She didn¡¯t drink alcohol, or smoke, or sleep with men-married or otherwise-but just being in the same room with Nichs made her dearly wish she did thetter, at least. Every time she was anywhere near this man she felt the urge to rip the clothes from his body and have her way with him. Her very wicked way with him!


    Nichs watched the emotions flicker across Caroline¡¯s flushed and expressive face as she looked at him: tension, then desire, quickly followed by dismay. ¡°I¡¯d give a thousand dors to know what your thoughts were just now,¡± he murmured throatily.


    Her eyes widened in rm before she quickly looked away. ¡°You would be wasting your money.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my money to waste.¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°I was only thinking of the books I intend cataloging before leaving tomorrow.¡±


    Nichs gave a casual nce down at Caroline¡¯s left hand, knowing by the way it was clenched that she wasn¡¯t telling the truth. Knowing by the way she instantly unclenched her hand that she knew he knew it too!


    ¡± Having a giveaway is annoying, isn¡¯t it?¡± he murmured conversationally.


    Her chin rose determinedly. ¡°I have no idea what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Sure you don¡¯t ¡­¡± he drawled.


    ¡°I believe you now owe me a thousand dors¡­¡±


    He gave a rueful shake of his head.  ¡°We both know you just lied and I don¡¯t owe you a damn thing.¡± he stood back to allow her to precede him out of the room, his politeness owing as much to the fact that he wanted to continue admiring her legs and the gentle sway of her hips as she walked in front of him to the dining room as it did to good manners.


    ¡°When did you say you intended returning to New York?¡± Caroline asked Nichs coolly, once Mrs Cooper had left the room after serving the first course of smoked salmon.


    The two of them were once again seated at the small family dining table. The evening sun shining in through the huge bay window made the lighting of the candles on the table unnecessary. Thank goodness! Candlelight would have made it appear too much like a romantic dinner for two¡­ Something this most certainly wasn¡¯t! Caroline didn¡¯t fool herself for a moment, and knew that ordinarily Nichs wouldn¡¯t have even noticed a woman like her. She felt sure that his usual taste in women ran to something a little more exotic than an assistant who, at the age of twenty six, neither drank, smoked, nor slept around. In fact, the phrase ¡®beggars can¡¯t be choosers¡¯ came to mind!


    Nichs scowled darkly. ¡°I don¡¯t remember saying when I was leaving.¡±


    She frowned slightly. ¡°I had assumed that you would be returning after visiting your father,¡±


    ¡°Well, I have no idea if I¡¯m going to leave or stay after my visit. We¡¯ll just have to find out.¡± He stared at her for a few seconds, then he saw, ¡°No doubt you are a dutiful daughter and visit your own parents once a week? Probably for Sunday lunch?¡±


    He wasn¡¯tpletely right. She didn¡¯t visit her parents often as they lived in a different state, but she spoke to them regrly on the phone and she had a great rtionship with them. Besides, she didn¡¯t want to open up to Nichs about her personal life in any way. ¡°No doubt,¡± she answered stiltedly.


    Nichs¡¯ gaze became piercing as he heard theck of conviction in Caroline¡¯s tone. ¡°Or perhaps dinner on a Friday evening?¡± he said.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡±


    Nichs was certain of the hollowness to her tone that time¡­¡±Or perhaps you prefer to stay the hell away from them?¡±


    Warm color crept up into the pallor of her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t believe this conversation was about me-¡±


    ¡°Sure it was.¡± Nichs gave up all pretense of eating the smoked salmon and sat back in his chair to study her through narrowed lids. ¡°We can do this the hard way or the easy way, Caroline.


    Your choice.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think-¡±


    ¡°Okay, the hard way.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Are both your parents still alive?¡±


    Her jaw hardened, but she said nothing.


    ¡°Going to ignore me, are you?¡±


    A nerve pulsed in that clenched jaw. ¡°Nichs-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t like to talk about yourself much, do you?¡± he jeered. ¡°Just humor me, hmm, Caroline,¡± he murmured.


    She gave a deep sigh. ¡°My parents are still very much alive.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And I have a good rtionship with them. I don¡¯t get to see them often because they live in another state, but I speak to them regrly.¡±


    Nichs watched her. Deep down, where it really mattered, he and Caroline were more alike than he liked¡­. Or wanted them to be.


    _______


    The following day, Caroline carried her small suitcase with her down the stairs, ready to head home. It had been a weird week. One that had started with work and boredom, but had suddenly taken a whole new turn when Nichs showed up.


    She knew that he¡¯d being down to see his father, but she wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d see him again and honestly wasn¡¯t sure that she wanted to. They had this weird chemistry going on between them that she really didn¡¯t understand, and she sure as hell didn¡¯t want to think about the fact that she¡¯d kissed her boss¡¯ son and she didn¡¯t want anyone to find out about it either.


    She found him in the living room, wearing another ck shirt with equally ck pants, and she wondered why he loved that color so much. Probably because it made him look dangerous, and judging by how fast things had gone after spending barely two days with him, she concluded that Nichs Connelly was indeed dangerous to be around. Good thing she was in the process of fixing that.


    Nichs looked up at her when she entered the room and lifted an eyebrow, ¡°Leaving without saying goodbye?¡± he asked with a grin.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t start this today, Nichs,¡± said Caroline, ¡°You knew I was leaving today and you¡¯re here now, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    He stood up and walked towards her until he was standing in front of her, ¡°I like teasing you, Caroline. Getting under your skin is fun¡­ It makes you act wild and I love it,¡±

 17

    Caroline moved past him, afraid that she¡¯d do something crazy like give him a goodbye kiss if she continued to stare into those sexy eyes of his, ¡°Good for me that I won¡¯t have to deal with your teasing anymore,¡± she said as she began to head for the door.


    Nichs followed her, ¡°Let me help you with that,¡± he said, and took her suitcase from her without waiting for her to reply.


    When they got to her car and he transferred the suitcase to the boot, he faced her again, ¡°Drive safely, Care,¡± he said, intentionally using the name she¡¯d told him several times not to use. He noticed the frown on her face and grinned, ¡°I¡¯ll see you again,¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    See her again? Not a chance in hell, Caroline thought before she got into her car and drove off. She¡¯d let him get under her skin probably because she¡¯d had to stay in the same house with him, but she wasn¡¯t going to let it happen again. She couldn¡¯t afford to.


    _______


    Frank Connelly was a very nice man, and although Caroline had only worked for him for about three years, she had grown to really like him because of the way he treated her. He was cheerful and funny, with brown eyes and patches of gray hair on his head. Now that she had met his son, Caroline could see certain simrities in them, like the way his lips tilted upward on one side when he smiled¡­. Just like Nichs¡¯ lips did when he gave her one of those smiles he knew was an assault on her senses.


    It had been almost two weeks since she left the house where she¡¯d and Nichs had met, and although she had no idea why, she wondered if he¡¯d alreadye to visit his father and had gone again. His father had not said anything about his arrival and she didn¡¯t want to ask because it was none of her business. Besides, wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a good thing if she never saw Nichs again? The both of them had no business being together, and if they never saw each other again, she would be able to forget about that kiss ¨C except that it was harder than she thought it¡¯d be, and Nichs absence seemed to intensify the memories of his lips against hers.


    ¡°Miss Anderson,¡±


    Caroline snapped out of her day dreaming to see that everyone at the meeting was staring at her. She straightened in her chair, and hoped that no one had noticed how absent minded she must have looked, ¡°Yes Sir,¡± she said, and focused her attention on Frank Connelly, who was seated not too far away from her.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to work hand in hand with the advertising department so we don¡¯t let Kay Corp down,¡± Frank told her, ¡°Thankfully, they¡¯ve agreed to let us work with them and you all know what this could mean for us, so I want all hands on deck. If there are any new developments, I want you to tell me about it immediately. No room for errors, Understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, I understand,¡± Caroline replied. She knew how important this was to Frank. Kay Corp was a smallerpany, but it was getting stronger and Frank wanted a merger as it would benefit hispany greatly. The only problem was Collins Morgan. He owned Kay Corp and was open to a merger, but he was tough and was also considering otherpanies.


    The door to the conference room opened that very minute and Caroline looked up to see Nics Connelly walk calmly into the room.


    If Nichs looked great in his casual outfits, then he looked absolutely breathtaking in office clothes. His dark hair was neatly pulled back and tied at his nape, white and perfectly ironed shirt tucked into ck pants and shoes to match, Caroline had to admit that this man was perfect¡­ At least physically. He looked better than any man had a right to look, and of course, being the kind of man he was, he¡¯d arrivete just to be the center of attention.


    She wasn¡¯t particrly surprised to see him, but his entrance hade so unexpectedly and it was enough to rattle her. She watched as he walked over to take the seat next to his father and she had a feeling that he was definitely enjoying the attention he got from everyone in the room, especially thedies who sent wide eyed nces at each other.


    Caroline rolled her eyes. Such a show off, she thought as his eyes finally met hers. She noticed his lip tilt upward in that knowing grin of his, but he did it so fast before turning away that she almost thought she¡¯d imagined it. Well to hell with him and his sexy ass smile.


    Frank Connelly was speaking again, ¡°¡­. I¡¯m delighted to introduce my son, Nichs Connelly to you all,¡± he was saying, ¡°Nichs has been in the army until five years ago. He has just returned home and he will be joining us here at thepany for a while. Please assist him with everything he¡¯ll be needing to get settled and catch up as much as possible during his period here. The more people we have on this project, the easier it will be tond this once and for all,¡±


    Caroline¡¯s breath seized in her throat at Frank¡¯s announcement. Nichs was going to be here¡­ Everyday¡­ For God knows how long. The man¡¯s presence alone was distracting enough, and now she was going to have to deal with him everyday. She watched Nichs stand to give a small speech of his own but as she was so lost in her own thoughts, she could barely listen to any of it.


    He sat back in his chair after his short speech and leaned onto the headrest, his fingers silently drumming on the table. Caroline¡¯s eyes followed the movement, remembering how amazing it had felt to have those hands on her and felt a shiver run down her spine at the ridiculous thoughts she was having in the damn conference room. When her eyes lifted, she saw that he was watching her. Knew by the look on his face that he knew what she was thinking.

 18

    Embarrassed, she looked away. He was being just obnoxious enough for only her to notice, she told herself. He could tap those fingers on the table all day; she refused to look at him. This is going to be horrible. She knew it, but no matter what she felt, she knew that the kissing incident could not be repeated. She had to make sure of it.


    ________


    Barely thirty minutes after Caroline returned to her office from the meeting she¡¯d left in a hurry, Frank Connelly came into her office, followed closely by Nichs.


    Frank barely came into her office. Whenever he needed her, he called her into his office, so she was a little surprised when she saw hime in. Caroline stood up, ignoring Nichs who stood beside her father, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr Connelly, did you need me?¡± she asked with concern,


    Frank shook his head, ¡°Oh, No not at all,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m just showing Nick around¡­ You know¡­ Meeting the managers in person. He didn¡¯t think the introduction earlier was enough to create the needed connection with most of the staff,¡±


    Caroline nodded, knowing that Nichs was watching her keenly. Of course Nichs would want to meet everyone in person¡­ He was probably prepared to use those charms of his on everyone¡­. Just like he¡¯d done with her. She refused to look in his direction and instead kept her eyes on his father.


    Nichs on the other hand watched her with both awe and amusement.


    Her reaction to see him walk into the meeting had been hrious, and although Nichs had been prepared to see her again after their brief encounter, his reaction when she stood up and left the room after the meeting could only be described as nothing but pure lust. He¡¯d known that Caroline was a beautiful woman, but the mere sight of her in a pencil-slim navy skirt and a high-necked white blouse with a trim navy zer should have called to mind visions of repressed Catholic schoolgirls. Instead it yed havoc with his hormones and gave them decidedly inappropriate ideas. Inappropriate ideas were thest thing he needed right now.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Now I know you guys have already met,¡± Frank Connelly said,


    ¡°Yeah, of course we have,¡± Nichs suddenly interrupted, and he stretched out a hand to her, ¡°Miss Caroline Anderson, am I right?¡± he asked,  savoring her name as if it were some rich chocte dessert. ¡°It is nice to see you again¡±


    Was that supposed to be a question for her to answer? She knew they hadn¡¯t been around each other for too long, but he should definitely remember her name. Two weeks wasn¡¯t such a very long time, and even if it was, what kind of person made out with someone like he had with her and forgot their names after two weeks? Probably someone who made out of lots of women that it was hard to keep up. What was the name of that woman on the phone again? Rachael right? She almost rolled her eyes in disgust as she stretched out her hand to meet his.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± she replied, hoping that he could read the look in her eyes and understand that she was only being nice to him for his father¡¯s benefit. Judging by the amusement in his eyes, he understood perfectly. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Mr Connelly,¡± she concluded.


    Nichs smirked. Mr Connelly¡­ How formal and professional, he thought. There was nothing professional about the way she¡¯d clung to him when he kissed her senseless weeks ago. Her hand felt warm in his. A lot smaller than his and soft too. He held her hand longer than necessary, and he let his thumb brush against the back of her hand¡­. Once¡­ Twice, and he smiled. Heat rushed up her chest and throat and poured into her face. She looked away from him and swallowed hard, trying to conceal the flush that surely stained her cheekbones, then she pulled her hand away with more force than necessary.


    But he saw.


    The bastard, she thought. She wanted to kill him.


    Oblivious to what was going on, Frank continued, ¡°You¡¯ve been working hand in hand with me since we started this whole thing with Kay Corp, so I thought that you¡¯d be the best person to brief Nick on it while I attend to other things. Hope it won¡¯t be a problem?¡±


    ¡°Not at all sir,¡± Caroline replied and shook her head. What was she supposed to say? Yes, I think it would be a huge inconvenience for me to stay and hang around your ridiculously handsome son who I made out with weeks ago?


    ¡°Good,¡±  Frank concluded, ¡°Then I guess I better leave both of you to it then. I hope you enjoy working together,¡±


    Nichs smiled at thatstment. Oh, he nned to enjoy working with her alright, he thought.


    ___________


    After Frank left the office, Caroline took her seat, but Nichs made no effort to leave. He remained standing and took the opportunity to look around her office. It wasn¡¯t arge office, but it was the right size and it served its purpose.


    There were white blinds on the windows, two flower vases¡­. The smaller one on her desk and the other on the other end opposite her chair and brown tiles on the floor.


    Caroline watched him look around and wondered what he was thinking. This man had the annoying ability to read her like a book and she winced when he took the framed picture of her family from her desk and stared intensely at it.


    The picture was taken five years ago at a family vacation and it had Caroline, her parents and her sister in it.


    Nichs ced it back on her desk and finally met her gaze, ¡°Didn¡¯t know you had a sibling,¡±


    Caroline swallowed before she responded, ¡°I do. She¡¯s currently in her final year in college but she visits me whenever she has the chance,¡±


    Nichs nodded, ¡°Must be nice,¡± he said.


    Caroline shook her head. This was her office. She was here to work and she certainly didn¡¯t have time to make small talk with Nichs Connelly. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to, so she said, ¡°Mr Connelly, Would you like to discuss Kay Corp right now or would you like to schedule a time when you¡¯d be less busy?¡±


    Nichs frowned, ¡°Mr Connelly?¡± he repeated, ¡°That¡¯s too formal for my liking, besides my father is not here anymore so you don¡¯t have to continue with the act.¡±

 19

    ¡°First of all, it¡¯s not an act, and Secondly, It is your name, is it not?¡± Caroline shot back,¡±


    ¡°Actually, it¡¯s my father¡¯s name, and I thought we were past that Caroline. You agreed to call me Nick,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember agreeing to that. I agreed to use Nichs, but now that you¡¯re technically my boss, I think I¡¯d rather stick to Mr Connelly from now on.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see why that should be a problem,¡±


    ¡°I never said it was a problem. I just think that certain boundaries should be kept since we work together. I suggest we should keep things¡­ Professional between us,¡± Caroline didn¡¯t mean to sound defensive, but something about Nichs made her put an extra wall around herself, almost like she couldn¡¯t trust herself to be around him. Her time with him at the Connelly house had proven that she had little self control around him, and if she was going to keep her job, then she had to keep him at arms length.


    Nichs nodded, ¡°So I see that we¡¯re back to being rude to each other,¡± he said.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    It was more of a statement than a question, so Caroline said nothing. If being rude was going to take these feelings away, then so be it. She wished he¡¯d go away so she¡¯d have some time to pull herself together. She didn¡¯t like how good he looked. She didn¡¯t like how the office seemed to get smaller simply because he was in it, and she didn¡¯t like his perfume clouding her senses. She lifted her chin, proud of herself for holding it together, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, Mr Connelly, I have a lot of work to do and I¡¯d like to get to it,¡±


    Nichs got the message quite clearly. She didn¡¯t want to be friendly at all. Well if she wanted to be like that way, then who was he to act otherwise? He dug his hands into his pants pocket and straightened, ¡°Fine,¡± he said, ¡°I suggest we meet tomorrow at the coffee shop down the road during your lunch break so we can discuss Kay Corp,¡±


    ¡°That sounds fine by me,¡± Caroline replied, and watched as Nichs turned and left the office so she could finally breathe properly once again.


    _______


    Caroline put more thought into her outfit the next day than she usually did, and she hated the fact that she tired so hard. This wasn¡¯t a date, and she didn¡¯t want to impress Nichs with her outfit, she told herself over and over again, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that she had put in that extra effort just because of him.


    It was even more embarrassing since she¡¯d given him that speech about being professional and here she was, making sure that her outfit would look appealing to him. Why did his opinion matter and what did that make her? A hypocrite. At least she was honest with herself.


    It was time for her Lunch break, and Caroline headed out of her office. She didn¡¯t want to bete, but she didn¡¯t want to seem too eager, so she took controlled, but not very slow steps towards the elevator, out the building and towards the nearby coffee shop. She could have taken her car, but she decided to walk since the coffee shop wasn¡¯t so far away.


    The coffee shop wasn¡¯t filled up at the moment and as she was about to find a table to sit and wait, someone lifted a hand to call her attention. Caroline¡¯s heart sank. Nichs had beat her to the ce and as she moved towards him, she could tell by his expression that he wasn¡¯t in a good mood.


    Nichs watched Caroline approach, and mentally scolded himself noticing her. Caroline, no matter how beautiful she was, was not his type. Yeah, she was sexy as hell even when she wasn¡¯t trying, but he felt she was too good for him. She was smart, cool, collected and she argued with him about everything. He liked his women submissive. The kind who didn¡¯t ask too many questions and never challenged him, but Caroline was theplete opposite of that.


    Why then did he feel like this when she was near? He noticed everything about her. From her auburn hair which was tied neatly into a bun at the back of her head, to the white shirt underneath the blue jacket, to the matching blue skirt that stopped just above her knee, to the white shoes, and to the red nail polish on her perfectly pedicured toenails.


    Nichs had never noticed or cared about the color of polish on a woman¡¯s toenails before, but he did now and it angered him a little bit. She wanted to keep things professional between them, and that was how it was going to be.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Mr Connelly,¡± Caroline said and took her seat, ¡°You¡¯re here early,¡±


    ¡°And you are five minuteste,¡± he shot back angrily.


    Caroline¡¯s eyes met his. She saw the anger in them, but managed to keep her cool, which only infuriated him the more. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr Connelly,¡± she said calmly in that voice of hers that sounded like sin, ¡°I tried to be here as soon as possible,¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t let it happen again,¡± said Nichs, dismissing her statement, ¡°If we¡¯re going to be working together, then I suggest we stick to the agreed time and not a minute after. Isn¡¯t that the professional thing to do?¡±


    Caroline closed her eyes and mentally counted up to ten before she opened them again. Thest thing she wanted was to lose a job she¡¯d had for almost three years simply because she gave the boss¡¯ son a piece of her mind, but boy, did she want to say something to him. Nichs clearly thought he could just swoop in, take over everything and give orders the way he wanted¡­. Well, clearly he could but that was not the point. She also hadn¡¯t failed to notice the way he¡¯d put emphasis on the word ¡®professional¡¯ when he spoke. It told her that he was still mad about their conversation the previous day, and the knowledge that she¡¯d gotten so far under her skin brought her somefort. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she repeated, even if she didn¡¯t mean it, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to make sure that it doesn¡¯t happen again,¡±

 20

    Nichs ignored her apology and leaned back in his seat as a waitress appeared at their table with coffee and some zed Doughnuts. ¡°I took the liberty of ordering something for you,¡± he exined, ¡°Feel free to ask for something else if you¡¯d prefer,¡±


    Thoughtful, Caroline thought, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that he was still an ass, ¡°Thank you, but this will do,¡±


    ¡°Good, now let¡¯s get down to business, shall we? Tell me about Kay Corp,¡±


    __________


    Caroline straightened in her seat.


    She had a job to do. She had to impress this man with her brains and her skills, her drive and her determination. She could do all that.


    ¡°Kay Corp has been around for a while, but not as long as ourpany, and they¡¯ve been sessful. Thepany has assets that could appreciate¡­ Given the right time. For some reason Collins Morgan wants a merger. I don¡¯t know why but it¡¯s really not our ce to ask, what we should be concerned about is getting Kay Corp to merge with us. Now Collins doesn¡¯t want everything he has built to go into the wrong hands, and we have to show him that we¡¯re in the best bet out there,¡±


    Nichs blinked, set his coffee down and stared across at her. ¡°Okay. So what was decided?¡±


    ¡°Well, since ourpany and Kay Corp operate in the same industry. Competition is higher. A merger reduces that problem because synergies and potential gains in market share are much greater for merging firms. We have one lesspany to worry about if we are one. We have already pitched our idea of a merger to Kay Corp but they are still considering it. I guess trying to see if merging with anotherpany will be more beneficial to them,¡±


    ¡°And do you think we have a chance?¡± Nichs asked,


    Caroline angled her head to the side, ¡°Actually I do,¡± she replied, ¡°We are offering them a good deal. As for their shareholders, they have a number of options. Their exercised shares could be paid out in cash after the merger or be converted intomon shares of the ourpany¡­ Being the quiringpany. They may also get the chance to exercise shares during or shortly after the deal closes.¡±


    Nichs nodded. So far the n sounded like a good one and he admired the way she spoke. Straight to the point and confident. He liked that, but then again, he liked everything about this woman. ¡°So when do we expect them to finally make a decision?¡±


    ¡°Next week I suppose,¡± Caroline replied, ¡°But they are throwing a party this week and we have been invited, along with the managers of the otherpanies interested in the merger. I suggested to your father that it would be a good idea if he attended. It would be an opportunity for him to speak to Collins Morgan and¡­. influence his decision positively. It would be good to have him on our side. If he is, then it won¡¯t be very hard to get the shareholders to agree to the merger¡­ Or at least a significant number of them,¡±


    ¡°Do you do a lot of¡­ suggesting and Influencing? ¡± he asked suddenly, going off topic without attempting to stop himself.


    Caroline lifted an eyebrow, puzzled, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°My father mentioned that he gave you a free hand when he was working on the interior of Happy Valley Park. He said he took most of your advice and it was one of the best business moves he¡¯d ever made,¡± he said ruefully. ¡°Apparently the hotel was renovated and the conference center has been open for a month now, being managed very sessfully too by Michael Hall,¡±


    Caroline didn¡¯t understand what that had to do with hisment about influencing, ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°I was wondering how good you were ating up with ideas to influence other people. It seems like you¡¯re really good at it,¡±


    Caroline straightened in her seat and tried to look neutral, ¡°Mr Connelly,¡± she began, ¡°I¡¯m your father¡¯s assistant¡­. I think it¡¯s part of my job to make suggestions that would affect thepany positively. It¡¯s your father¡¯s decision to take those suggestions into consideration, and as his son, I¡¯d think you¡¯d be fine with that. I honestly don¡¯t know if I should take your statement as criticism or as apliment,¡±


    ¡°It is whatever you want it to be, Caroline,¡± he replied, then dismissed the topic as quickly as he had brought it up. ¡°I assume you¡¯ll be attending the party this weekend too?¡±


    ¡°Seeing as I¡¯m your father¡¯s assistant, sometimes I¡¯m required to attend some of these gatherings with him, but I¡¯m not sure about this one,¡± she replied without enthusiasm.


    Nichs almostughed. Of course, he forgot that he was speaking to Caroline. Caroline, who loved books and never drank alcohol¡­ Or dated anyone¡­ although he found thatst one hard to believe. He suddenly had an idea, one he was sure would certainly rattle her defenses and he grinned inwardly, ¡°Well, you¡¯ll be attending this one,¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Caroline shifted ufortably in her seat, ¡°I¡¯d have to run that by your father first, Mr Connelly, seeing as I¡¯m his assistant. Secondly, I really don¡¯t see why my presence would be needed there. Not only will you and your father be present, but there will be managers and department heads as well. I am certain that if Collins Morgan decides to talk to anyone, then it wouldn¡¯t be me,¡±


    ¡°And you are so sure of that because?¡± he asked, then continued before she could reply, ¡°Caroline, I was impressed with the way you spoke and I¡¯ve only listened to you talk about this merger for about ten minutes or so. What makes you think your presence there wouldn¡¯t be needed¡­ Or even appreciated. You never know how things might turn out,¡±


    Caroline shook her head. He didn¡¯t understand and she didn¡¯t know how to let him know. Yes, she wasn¡¯t very thrilled about the party, but she didn¡¯t want to be around Nichs Connelly unless she had a good reason to be. She had toe up with another excuse, ¡°I¡¯m sorry but your father is my boss and he hasn¡¯t said anything about me attending the party. Besides, he might need to sort some things out for him that day and I need to be avable,¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll talk to him,¡± said Nichs and almost grinned when her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Just leave it to me,¡±

 21

    The Kay Corp party was turning out to be every bit the crush of people Nichs had expected it might be. Most of them were introduced to him by his father and there were a lot of men who wanted to renew their acquaintance with Frank Connelly and some just wanted to start one with him. The women were making no secret of the fact that they found his dark and brooding looks attractive. Not that Nichs had anyints about thatst part. He had enjoyed a healthy sex life during his years in the army and after, and he sincerely hoped to continue doing so now.


    Nevertheless, even surrounded by beautiful women as he was, all seemingly vying for his attention, Nichs still noticed the woman in the figure-hugging red gown, standing across the room¡­Caroline Anderson.


    She stood out from the rest of the ¡®beautiful people¡¯ present in as much as she was making no effort to respond to the ttering conversation of most of the men who approached her


    but instead seemed totally bored-both by them and by her surroundings.


    Her hair cascaded lushly over her shoulders and halfway down her spine, and her blue eyes were surrounded by thick darkshes. Her features were delicate and lovely, and the fullness of her lips was glossed the same tempting red as that utterly decadent gown she wore. Her only jewelry was a pair of delicate gold filigree earrings which dangled almost to the bareness of her shoulders and a thin, glittery ne.


    All of that would certainly be enough reason for any man to give her a second nce, but still it wasn¡¯t what had caught and held Nichs¡¯ attention, what had caused his body to harden in instant arousal the moment he looked at her.


    Every other woman in the room wore masses of expensive jewels at their ears, throat, wrists and fingers and, whether tall or short, they were all very fashionable. Caroline wore only earrings, and a smaller ne, but her figure was¡­. There was a word for her type of figure. Perfect! That was it!


    The dress she wore showed off her figure: curvy in the right ces, lushly, sexy and perfect. Her shoulders were bare, that expanse of skin the same smooth baster as her face, and that wickedly enticing gown enhanced the fullness of breasts that were obviously bare beneath the silky material that swept over her waist before clinging lovingly to the sweet curve of her hips. The material finished a couple of inches above her knees to reveal long and shapely legs, with three-inch heeled red strappy sandals on her elegantly slender feet.


    Nichs had never seen her look so beautiful. His breath now caught in his throat as she looked over the top of the heads of the men surrounding her, ncing around the room in obvious uninterest-almost as if she was aware of someone watching her, but had no idea who or why. His earlier impression of herplete boredom with her admirers and her surroundings was confirmed as she repressed a yawn. At the same time as their nces met.


    Met and then, as her gaze shifted slowly back to his, held.


    Nichs quirked a questioning brow-only to receive a nk stare and then an uninterested shrug in reply, before she turned away to ept a fresh ss of champagne from one of the men surrounding her, to all intents and purposes as if she had already forgotten his existence.


    While it might be a refreshing change after thisst couple of hours of having women throw themselves before him like sacrificial offerings, this certainly wasn¡¯t the reaction Nichs was used to receiving when he showed an interest in a beautiful woman.


    Nichs had never been naive enough to believe it was his looks alone which attracted women to him. Nor did he believe that every woman he met had to find his height and dark looks attractive. But still, it irked him that Caroline had dismissed him so easily andpletely. Just what was it about this woman that he couldn¡¯t seem to stop thinking about her even after she¡¯d made it clear that their rtionship was going to be purely professional. He couldn¡¯t seem to forget the way her body had felt against his when they kissed¡­. But that was weeks ago.


    He didn¡¯t care that she worked for his father, Nichs thought. He wanted Caroline Anderson and he was going to get her. It was with that thought in mind that Nichs distractedly made his excuses to the women crowded about him before crossing the room towards Caroline.


    __________


    Like Moses parting the Red Sea, Caroline noted ruefully as the people around her instinctively stood aside for the tall, dark and arrogantly handsome man who making his way so determinedly across the room towards her.


    She had noticed him hours ago at the party even though she¡¯d barely spoken to him. Of course she had. What woman wouldn¡¯t notice this dark and broodingly handsome man?


    He looked great tonight too. Caroline stood five eleven in her three-inch-heeled red sandals, but Nichs was still several inches taller. Tall enough that he could look down at her with warm and broodingly sensual dark eyes. His dark hair was neatly tied at his nape as usual, and his gaze was now narrowed and assessing, set in an arrestingly handsome face that looked as if it might have been carved from mellow gold stone: high and hard cheekbones, a long de of a nose, chiseled lips, and a square and determined chin. The perfectly tailored ck evening suit did little to hide his wide and muscled shoulders and chest, t and tapered abdomen, lean hips, and long, long legs.


    No doubt about it. When it came to charisma and good-looks, Nichs Connelly had it in spades! It was perhaps unfortunate-for both of them-that Caroline knew him to be exactly the sort of man she wanted nothing to do with. Personally or professionally. She didn¡¯t have that choice professionally anymore, but it was okay. She and Nichs would never be involved personally. She¡¯d make sure of it.


    ¡°Enjoying the party, Caroline?¡± He quirked dark, questioning brows over enigmatic dark eyes.


    Even his voice was sexy as hell, Caroline thought. Deep and husky, with an undertone of dark and sensual. The sort of voice guaranteed to send a shiver of delight down women¡¯s spines.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Other women¡¯s spines, Caroline corrected firmly. Fortunately she was totally immune to conceited men like Nichs¡­. okay maybe not totally immune, but boy was she trying.

 22

    ¡°I¡¯m very sure you can see that I¡¯m not having fun,¡± she said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not?¡± His brow arched questioningly, although there was a smile on his face.


    Caroline gave a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the reason why I¡¯m here, Mr Connelly. I told you there was no need for me toe and you insisted on it by telling your father to invite me too. Now look at me, looking lost. I don¡¯t belong here because I don¡¯t have any role to y tonight. It¡¯s up to Kay Corp to make a decision. Maybe your presence and your father¡¯s presence would help with that, but I have nothing to do with it. I will not forgive you for this,¡±


    Nichs¡¯ smile faded and he studied her through narrowed lids as he detected the mockery beneath her smoky tone. Her beauty was all the more apparent now that he was standing next to those blue eyes, the perfect nose, the full and sensuous lips above a pointed chin. Her skin had the fine smooth appearance of porcin in the bareness of her shoulders in the strapless gown. And she was most definitely naked beneath that gown!


    Well¡­her breasts certainly were. The berry-like nipples were temptingly outlined against the silky material, the perfect fit of the gown over the fullness of her hips surely only allowed for a pair of gossamer-thin panties. Panties the same vibrant red as her gown? And would they be made ofce? Or silk?


    Nichs drew in a deep breath as his already hot and aroused shaft gave a throb of response just at the thought of Caroline wearing only a pair of brief and silky red panties. He shook his head when he realized that he¡¯d not been paying attention to what she¡¯d been saying. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± he said.


    Caroline gasped, ¡°Nichs! You¡¯re not even listening. I was talking to myself.


    You know you¡¯re not making it hard to stay mad at you,¡±


    His smile was teasing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Caroline but you just look so beautiful tonight. I got carried away,¡±


    ¡°ttery will get you nowhere with me, Mr Connelly. Especially not tonight¡±


    ¡°I believe you just called me Nichs a few seconds ago. Why am I back to being Mr Connelly? And why on earth would I be ttering you?¡±


    Caroline shut her eyes tightly and opened them again. ¡°That was a mistake,¡± she said, ¡°I was a bit angry that you weren¡¯t listening, and thank you for not ttering me. I really appreciate the effort,¡± she added sarcastically.


    His nostrils red, ¡°You know, I didn¡¯t know that I was being such a horrible person to get you invited to the party. I honestly don¡¯t understand why you have to be so uptight all the time and I thought a party would¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ loosen you up a little bit. I¡¯m sorry I tried. I forgot you prefer a boring life¡­ All work and no fun,¡±


    Anger red in her eyes as she red at him and Nichs was a bit confused on how he should react to the look on her face. He didn¡¯t know if he should take a step back, or if he was turned on.


    ¡°I never asked you to help me fix my boring life or help me loosen up¡­. whatever that means, Mr Connelly. And if this is your idea of fun, then I hate to break it to you, but it sucks. You¡¯ve been busy getting acquainted with every business man and woman in the room and you¡¯ve barely spent five minutes talking to me, so what fun are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s it? You¡¯re mad at me because I wasn¡¯t by your side this whole time?¡±


    Well¡­ Yes¡­ Maybe, Caroline thought, but was he really expecting her to admit that? There was no way in hell she was going to do that, and the fact that he was somewhat urate only fueled her anger, ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself, Mr Connelly. I don¡¯t care one bit about what you¡¯re doing here, or at the office and wherever or whatever you used to do before we met,¡±


    Nichs¡¯ mouth tightened and he gave a stiff inclination of his head. ¡°Fine Caroline, I see my presence has made your mood even worse so I¡¯d better leave. I trust I did not interrupt your enjoyment of the evening for too long,¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°Like I said before, I wasn¡¯t enjoying it much even before you came over and spoke to me.¡±


    ¡°And my conversation has added to thatck of enjoyment?¡± he asked, as if looking for a confirmation to his earlier statement. Why he did that he didn¡¯t know, given that it¡¯d only make him feel worse if she said yes.


    Caroline shrugged. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t let it bother you, Mr Connelly; it¡¯s really nothing personal.¡±


    ¡°On the contrary. I believe yourments have been very personal,¡± he responded tersely.


    Caroline looked up at him, realizing that although he appeared outwardly controlled, inwardly Nichs Connelly was quietly, chillingly angry-as the tightness of his jaw and the angry glitter of those dark eyes testified. Maybe ying this silly game of cat-and-mouse with him over this past week had not been a good move on her part.


    She gave a dismissive shake of her head. ¡°I just thought I would save you wasting any of your time in attempting to charm me¡­ Or loosen me up as you put it,¡±


    ¡°Would it be wasted?¡±


    ¡°Most definitely,¡± Caroline confirmed with feeling.


    His eyes became cial. ¡°In that case, I will relieve you of the necessity of suffering mypany a moment longer.¡±


    Was that disappointment Caroline now felt at his eptance of her scathing dismissal of him? Surely it couldn¡¯t be. He was everything she was supposed to stay well away from. Too rich.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Too handsome. Far too powerful. And, as she now knew, too immediately and lethally sensual! It was perhaps thetter trait that Caroline found most disturbing. She knew that she wasn¡¯t as immune to that inborn sensuality, the way this man looked, or the hard leanness of his body, as she might have hoped or wished to be.


    She had met dozens of handsome and charming men in her years. Especially when she went out with Frank Connelly-had even tried dating some of them. But not a single one of those men had touched her emotions, and nor had they dispelled the cynicism of feeling she now felt in regard to rtionships.

 23

    Nichs Connelly was such a forceful presence, even in a room full of equally powerful men and Caroline had been aware of him the moment he¡¯d arrived at the party. When he had looked at her a few minutes ago she had felt a shiver down the length of her spine as she¡¯d seen the admiration in his heated dark gaze.


    ¡°I will leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening,¡± Caroline finally replied derisively. ¡°I¡¯m sure all the otherdies present will be only too happy to entertain you.¡±


    Nichs looked down at her piercingly and forced the tension from his shoulders. ¡°You-¡±


    ¡°Ah, there you are, Caroline baby.¡± A tall, blond-haired man in histe thirties moved in beside Caroline. His blue gaze was curious as he turned to smile at Nichs, his teeth very white and straight against his slight tan. ¡°Great party, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Nichs echoed, as he inwardly acknowledged that he wasn¡¯t pleased at seeing the other man¡¯s arm draped possessively about Caroline¡¯s waist. This was ridiculous of him, when she had made it so obvious that she had no interest in him. Perhaps the other man¡¯s proprietorial attitude exined thatck of interest?


    Maybe. Although Caroline hadn¡¯t looked particrly pleased at being called ¡®Caroline baby¡¯.


    She straightened away from that possessive arm about her waist before making the introductions. ¡°Nichs, this is Glen Asher. Glen, meet Nichs Connelly,¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Really? Connelly, as in Frank Connelly¡¯s son,¡± Glen prompted warmly as the two men shook hands.


    ¡°Yes, really,¡± Caroline confirmed, and said to Nichs, ¡°Glen works at Kay Corp and I¡¯ve known him for a few months now,¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± Nichs replied, not knowing how to respond. Although in his head he was wondering just how much they knew each other. Friends? Acquaintances? Friends with benefits? Boyfriend? Ex? His mind was wandering.


    ¡°Well if things go well tonight, we will be working for the samepany, won¡¯t we?¡± Glen added, and winked at Caroline, who gave an awkward smile in return. ¡°And we can see each other more often,¡±


    That statement did not make Nichs feel better at all. He didn¡¯t like seeing this man around Caroline, especially since she didn¡¯t look veryfortable with him around.


    ¡°I guess we would be,¡± replied Caroline.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have a drink together,¡±


    He attempted to take her hand, but Caroline moved out of reach before he could, ¡°I¡¯m sure that would have been nice and It was really nice to see you tonight, Glen, but I was just about to leave the party,¡±


    He looked crestfallen, ¡°But I haven¡¯t had time to talk to you all night,¡± said Glen, ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ I can drive you home after,¡±


    Caroline shook her head and gave him a polite smile, ¡°Maybe some other time,¡±


    Nichs watched the interaction. He had never thought of himself as being a masochist before, but maybe this move, and the over-abundance of beautiful women vying for his attention this past few weeks, was turning him into one-because if anything his attraction to Caroline had only deepened in thest few minutes.


    He looked down at her from between hooded lids. ¡°I would be more than happy to escort Caroline to her home if you would like to remain at the party a while longer, Glen.¡± he said.


    Blue eyes widened in what looked like horror at the suggestion, even as bright spots of color brightened those pale cheeks. ¡°If Glen wishes to stay, I¡¯m perfectly capable of ordering a cab and taking myself home, thank you,¡± Caroline replied tightly.


    He continued to look down at her. ¡°There¡¯s no need when my car is parked downstairs.¡±


    Caroline wanted to tell Nichs what he could do with his car! But, even more important than that, she deeply regretted meeting Glen here. Glen had asked her out several times, and she¡¯d agreed to go out once with him just so he¡¯d stop asking. The date was not a horrible one, but Caroline wasn¡¯t very thrilled about it because she wasn¡¯t into him that way.


    Although Glen seemed to have a very different idea of where their rtionship was going¡­ She gave Nichs a brightly insincere smile. ¡°It¡¯s very kind of you to offer, Nichs, but-¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s absolutely no need when I¡¯m happy to leave with Caroline,¡± Glen cut in with smooth confidence, his arm once again moving about Caroline¡¯s waist. ¡°I can give her a ride home. The drink doesn¡¯t matter at all. There¡¯s always going to be time for that,¡± he added.


    A ride that he was no doubt hoping would result in the two of them sharing the bed in his apartmentter on this night, or possibly in Caroline¡¯s. But Caroline knew that sharing Glen¡¯s bed-or any other man¡¯s,e to that-simply wasn¡¯t going to happen.


    ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, Glen.¡± She smiled warmly, more for Nichs¡¯ benefit than Glen¡¯s. Her smile faded as she turned to look at him . ¡°If you will excuse us?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Nichs gave a slight inclination of his head, wondering what thoughts had been going through Caroline¡¯s head these past few minutes to form that frown between those blue eyes. Whatever they had been, he certainly didn¡¯t hold out a lot of hope for Glen Asher¡¯s chances of sharing her bed tonight. ¡°It was a pleasure to meet you.¡± He said without meaning a word.


    ¡°And you,¡± Glen assured him warmly.


    It was a warmth that was in no way reflected in Caroline¡¯s incredible eyes, and she made no effort to echo her escort¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°We¡¯ll wish you a good evening, then, Mr Connelly.¡±


    His eyesughed down into hers. ¡°I believe you called me Nichs earlier.¡±


    ¡°Did I?¡± she dismissed coolly. ¡°How over-familiar of me!¡±


    Not familiar enough for Nichs. He turned to watch Caroline and Glen cross the room and saying goodbye to some of the guests before leaving. All without those blue eyes giving so much as a nce back in his direction. Nichs continued to watch the sensuous sway of those curvaceous hips so lovingly outlined in that clinging red gown, and made a silent promise to himself as the doorman closed the door behind Caroline¡¯s departure.


    A promise that one day-or night; it didn¡¯t really matter what time it was!- he would hear Caroline scream his name as he made love to her.

 24

    Nichs had thought about Caroline long and hard over the weekend, finally deciding that if Caroline Anderson wanted to y games then he was happy to oblige her. With that in mind he had called her to his office that morning and demanded to speak to her personally. After a short dy there had been a more or less one-sided conversation during which Nichs had informed her that he needed her in his office without any furtherints or excuses from her.  Her only answer had been to end the call abruptly, causing Nichs to chuckle wryly as he slowly ced the phone down.


    ¡°You¡¯re unusually quiet today,¡± he remarked, lifting his dark brows mockingly as he watched her after she came into his office.


    Oh, Caroline had plenty she wanted to say to this man. She was just erring on the side of caution-for the moment.


    She had realized after the party on Saturday-that it probably hadn¡¯t been a wise move on her part to antagonize a man as powerful as Nichs. Unwise and not a little childish, she now epted reproachfully. As if it would really matter to a man like Nichs if some assistant chose to snub him!C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Except, having seen her leave with Glen on Saturday evening, it obviously did matter to him. It didn¡¯t help, having  arrived at his office, that she was now totally aware of the way in which Nichs managed to exude a predatory air-despite the expensive elegance of his tailored dark gray suit and paler gray silk shirt, with matching tie knotted meticulously at his throat.


    ¡°Did you and Glen enjoy your ¡®ride home¡¯ on Saturday evening?¡± he prompted softly.


    Caroline¡¯s mouth tightened at this reminder of the time she and Glen had spent together in his car after leaving the party. Several minutes during which she had desperately tried to pay attention to Glen and what he was saying, but instead she had beenparing his features to the hard and chiseled features of the man now standing in front of her.


    Months ago, Caroline had been convinced that she was destined to be  a woman who wouldn¡¯t ever be stupid enough to fall under the sensual spell of lethal charm and charismatic good-looks. Which only went to prove what an arrogant fool she had been.


    Because Caroline now knew she only had to be in the same room as Nichs to be aware of every single thing about him. She could feel the tug of that desire even now, causing her hands to tremble slightly, her breasts to feel hot and swollen, and a dampness between her thighs. She could see the same desire reflected towards her in the warmth of those dark eyes. It was a physical attunement that seemed to make the very air between them crackle and dance.


    ¡°It was fine,¡± Caroline dismissed abruptly. ¡°Now, if you could-¡±


    ¡°Have you and Glen been together long?¡±


    Caroline frowned slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that it¡¯s any of your business, but we haven¡¯t ¡°been together¡± at all.¡±


    Caroline had gently but firmly refused Glen¡¯s suggestion, before they parted on Saturday evening, that the two of them might go out together this week.


    Nichs raised questioning brows.¡± Yet¡­?¡± he probed.


    ¡°Really, Mr Connelly-¡±


    ¡°Nick,¡±


    ¡°Nichs.¡± She gave a brief, meaningless smile of acknowledgement. ¡°I really didn¡¯te here to discuss my personal life with you-so if we could we just get down to why you called me to your office?¡±


    Nichs settled morefortably against the front of the desk and folded his arms across his chest. He considered Caroline with narrowed but appreciative eyes. Her features really were extremely delicate: those blue eyes, high cheekbones, slender jaw, those full and sensuous lips glossed a deep peach today. With her hair secured at her crown it was now possible to see the slender arch of her delicious throat, with skin as delicate as pale china.


    It was a delectable delicacy that Nichs found himself aching to taste.


    Presumably that wasn¡¯tpletely out of the question, if Caroline and Glen really weren¡¯t together.


    He straightened slowly. ¡°That¡¯s a pity, because the only thing that I¡¯m in the least interested in talking about this morning is your personal life.¡±


    Those blue eyes widened warily. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°No?¡± Nichs found himself watching intently as she moistened those peach-glossed lips before speaking again.


    ¡°I understood from our conversation on the phone that you wanted me here and I assumed that it was something about work,¡±


    Nichs smiled slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t remember saying anything about work when I asked you toe here,¡±


    ¡°Well¡­no,¡± she conceded slowly, after a few seconds¡¯ thought. ¡°But what else was I supposed to assume you wanted to talk about?¡±


    Nichs nodded slowly, his interest well and truly piqued by the woman  standing in front of him. More than piqued, if he were honest. Nichs had no idea why it should be, but he found everything about Caroline Anderson intriguing. From her lippy conversation to her desirable hourss figure. ¡°I didn¡¯t call you to talk about work. I was honestly wondering why you went out of your way to leave the party with Glen when it was obvious that you didn¡¯t want to. Unless you obviously felt an urgent need to have someone warm your bed and too self righteous to admit what you want or who you really want, ¡±


    Those blue eyes widened in nk shock, her cheeks filling with color as she gasped her indignation. Nichs chuckled at her expense. And that chuckle developed into full-throatedughter as he saw that he really had seeded in rendering thisplicated woman speechless. ¡°My God, Caroline, you should see your face!¡± he finally managed through hisughter. ¡°Or maybe not; you look a little like a fish out of water at the moment.¡±


    Probably because Caroline felt like a fish out of water at that moment. Mouth opening and shutting, her chest rapidly rising and falling as she gasped for breath, her eyes wide and staring. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you just said that!¡±


    ¡°Actually, neither can I.¡± He sobered. ¡°My Aunt Beck would consider my conversation most ungentlemanly. Unfortunately for you, I¡¯m more than happy to risk her disapproval if I¡¯ve seeded in rendering you speechless for once!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really,¡± Nichs confirmed teasingly, aware that Caroline was still having trouble regaining her usual spiky confidence.


    She gave a disbelieving shake of her head. ¡°Your Aunt Beck would be perfectly correct in her assessment of your behavior just now.¡±

 25

    ¡°She usually was,¡± he acknowledged ruefully.


    A frown appeared between those blue eyes. ¡°Was?¡±


    Nichs gave an affectionate smile. ¡°Yeah. She died years ago. I was much younger then,¡±


    Caroline drew her breath in sharply as she heard the pain underlying the practicality of Nichs¡¯ tone.  ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± she murmured finally.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he epted gruffly. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry about myment earlier. It was inappropriate,¡±


    Caroline took in a deep breath. ¡°I may have been a little¡­impolite to you at the party on Saturday evening.¡± she said.


    ¡°May have been?¡± he taunted softly.


    ¡°I was impolite,¡± she conceded.


    ¡°Any particr reason why¡­?¡±


    ¡°Does there have to be a reason?¡± Caroline stared at Nichs, totally aware of how close he was now standing to her. Close enough for her to inhale the headybination of the lemon soap and sandalwood aftershave. Close enough that their arms were almost touching. Close enough that Caroline was now fully aware of the heat emanating from his body. Close enough that Caroline could barely breathe for wanting to close that short distance between them and lose herself to the feel of those sensuously chiseled lips devouring her own.


    Instead she rushed into speech. ¡°I was rude-and I apologize.¡±


    He arched dark brows. ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ve reconsidered and are now willing to give me the benefit of the doubt¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I would go that far,¡± she said warily.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Liar,¡± Nichs murmured huskily. He¡¯d seen the way those luscious blue eyes had darkened, the slight flush appearing in her cheeks. Her lips were slightly moist and parted. As if waiting to be kissed.


    As if she realized that was Nichs¡¯s intention, Caroline took a step back and away from him. ¡°I really do have to go now. If you need be to help you with anything -¡±


    She broke off as Nichs took another step forward, until they were now once again standing so close they were almost touching. She gave a determined shake of her head. ¡°Mr Connelly,¡±


    ¡°Nick,¡± he corrected,


    ¡°Nichs¡±


    ¡°Nick,¡± he repeated,


    Caroline was a bit frustrated, ¡°Nick,¡± she bit out, ¡°if you¡¯re trying to intimidate me then I think I should warn you-¡±


    ¡°Warn me of what¡­?¡± Nichs murmured throatily, even as he raised one of his hands to cup the warmth of her cheek, before moving the soft pad of his thumb over the softness of her lips, feeling the warmth of her breath against his fingers as he parted those lips in preparation for his kiss. His own arousal intensified at the feel of that sensual warmth against his skin. His shaft was hard and pulsing, demanding.


    Caroline¡¯s eyes were wide, deep amber pools as she stared up at him. ¡°I should warn you-¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Nichs prompted softly, holding that wide and startled gaze with his own as his head began to lower towards hers.


    She breathed softly. ¡°I really should warn you-¡±


    ¡°Warn meter, hmm?¡± he dismissed gruffly, before finally iming those full and pouting lips with his own.


    Caroline totally forgot what it was she wanted to warn Nichs about as his other arm moved firmly about her waist and he pulled her in tightly against the heat of his body, angling her face up to his before his mouth finally took possession of hers.


    Nichs¡¯ kiss was everything that Caroline knew it was and more¡­ The kiss was not in any way a gentle exploration, but an instant explosion of the senses, taste, smell, feel, and it felt so good to be against the hard heat of his body as they kissed hungrily, deeply, lips devouring, tongues dueling.


    Caroline tightly gripped Nichs¡¯ shoulders, her legs feeling weak as he crushed the ache of her breasts against his chest. Heat pooled between her thighs as she felt the hard throb of his arousal pressing insistently against her.


    The sky could have fallen at that moment, the building copsed around them, and she wouldn¡¯t have noticed, too lost in the heat that consumed them both as Nichs¡¯ hands moved down to cup her bottom and pull her in more tightly. He ground his erection against and into her even as their mouths drank greedily of each other.


    Caroline was on fire, her inner ice melting, and her fingers became entangled in the dark hair at his nape as she returned that heat, needing, wanting- She wanted Nichs Connelly¡­!


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m terribly sorry! I had no idea¡­!¡±


    Caroline wrenched her mouth free of Nichs to push against the hardness of his chest in an effort to free herself as she heard that startled gasp from the other side of the room. Her cheeks were ame with embarrassed color as she turned to see the middle-aged woman who worked in one of the offices close by -now standing in the open doorway, her eyes wide with shock at having interrupted them in a moment of intimacy.


    Caroline¡¯s efforts to free herself proved totally ineffective as Nichs¡¯ arms tightened about her. ¡°Let go of me!¡± she said fiercely under her breath.


    His only answer was to give her an amused nce before turning to look at the woman still standing in the doorway. ¡°Did you get everything ready in the file?¡±


    The woman looked flustered. ¡°Well, yes I am. You asked me to let you know when I was done and I called but you weren¡¯t answering so I came up to tell you because you said it was important. I- Yes, the file is ready, sir.¡±


    In stark contrast, Nichs appearedpletely at his ease as he nodded.


    ¡°Thanks, Lena, I¡¯ll let you know if I need anything else from you,¡±


    ¡°Mr Connelly. Ms Anderson.¡± The woman didn¡¯t meet either of their gazes before she quickly turned and left the room, closing the door briskly behind her.


    ¡°I asked you to let go of me!¡± Caroline instructed, agitated as she once again pushed against the solid muscle that was Nichs¡¯ chest. That particr moment of madness was definitely over.


    ¡°Do I have to?¡±


    Was he crazy? ¡°Yes!¡± she replied.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Caroline red up at him. ¡°Because I asked you to.¡±


    He regarded her with amused eyes. ¡°And do you always get what you ask for?¡±


    Sometimes Caroline got a lot more than she asked for! For instance, she hadn¡¯t asked to be attracted to this man.

 26

    Just as she hadn¡¯t asked to enjoy his experienced lips moving so surely and sensually against and over her own. Or to feel her heart almost leap out of her chest as she recognised her own desire to feel and taste the hardness of Nichs¡¯ obvious arousal throbbing against the heat of her thighs. All of them were emotions Caroline had believed herself to be incapable of feeling. Emotions she didn¡¯t want to feel!


    ¡°Let me go, Nichs please,¡± she said again, and this time he did.


    She moved away from him immediately. Then straightened her jacket before checking that her hair was still neatly secured at her nape, sincerely hoping that Nichs couldn¡¯t see that her hands were trembling as she did so.


    Oh God. Someone had seen them. This was the one thing she didn¡¯t want to happen and now someone had seen them in his office¡­ Kissing. She covered her face with her palm and turned away in frustration, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her up. Not only was she ashamed because someone had seen them, she was also ashamed of how easily he¡¯d gotten her to kiss him back. She hadn¡¯t even resisted at all, instead she¡¯d clung to him like her life depended on the kiss.


    Nichs grimaced as he once again leant back against his desk, watching her. ¡°Penny for your thoughts?¡± he said.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She raised dark brows, ¡°Are you serious right now? Do you realize that Lena saw us kissing?¡±


    He regarded her from between narrowed lids for several long seconds.


    ¡°Yes I realize that. What¡¯s the big deal? So she saw us kissing? So what?¡±


    ¡°So what?¡± She gave a derisiveugh. ¡°Do you realize that I¡¯m going to be the subject of gossip in the office for God knows how long? Your father is my boss. What do you think he¡¯s going to say or do if he finds out? Probably fire me? I could lose my job and no one is going to take me seriously because I¡¯m going to be known as the girl who tried to sleep her way to the top. You know you wouldn¡¯t understand. Not everyone can be rted to the boss and some of us have to behave so we don¡¯t lose our jobs,¡±


    ¡°You and I both know that¡¯s not going to happen. Who cares about a little gossip? And no one is going to fire you. You forget that I¡¯m also the boss here,¡±


    ¡°What a typically arrogant malement,¡± said Caroline.


    He shrugged broad shoulders, unconcerned. ¡°That¡¯s probably because I am a typically arrogant male.¡±


    ¡°And obviously proud of it,¡± she scorned.


    He shrugged, ¡°Believe what you want, Care. All I can tell you is that you are being worried for nothing. Your job is safe,¡±


    Caroline was mad at him. This was all his fault. If he hadn¡¯t called her in here to ask silly questions about her personal life, then this wouldn¡¯t have happened. She straightened and faced him, determined to keep whatever dignity she had left intact,  ¡°I have to go back to my office now, Mr Connelly,¡± she said, ¡°I think enough has happened already,¡±


    ¡°Wait, Caroline,¡± He said and pushed himself off the desk, ¡°I do have something work rted to tell you. I guess I just got¡­ carried away,¡± His eyes roamed up and down her body, ¡°I mean, how could I not,¡±


    Caroline fought the urge to roll her eyes. The man didn¡¯t even try to be subtle at all, but what embarrassed her even more was that deep down, there was a silly part of her that liked it and she hated that she did. It made her a hypocrite, which was why she was trying to fight it.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to Texas for a few days,¡±


    Caroline frowned, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°You and I,¡± Nichs replied casually, as if what he was saying meantplete sense to him, ¡°¡®Now that Happy Valley Park has opened, my father and I were discussing another big project to work on. There¡¯s a castle in Texas and we are thinking of buying it.¡±


    ¡°And you want me to go with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡±


    ¡°I think we both know that¡¯s not going to happen,¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    What kind of question was that? Was he really serious asking her that? She wanted to scream. Did she need to tell him that she couldn¡¯t go anywhere with him when they had this mind blowing, crazy attraction going on? Hell, this was the second time they¡¯d lost control¡­ What did he think was going to happen if she went to Texas with him? Caroline knew what was going to happen, and she felt herself shiver just by thinking about it.


    She wanted to blurt all of these out, but instead she found herself saying, ¡°I can¡¯t go to Texas with you. I don¡¯t work for you. I am your father¡¯s personal assistant,¡±


    ¡°Well you¡¯re my assistant as long as I¡¯m in charge of this project.¡± Nichs told her, ¡°Believe me when I say this, my father is very happy to see me getting involved with thepany and he¡¯s trying to do everything possible to make sure that I stay involved, so believe me when I tell you that you¡¯re going to do what I say and I say¡­. We¡¯re going to Texas ,¡±


    Caroline gave a self-disgusted grimace as she wrapped her arms around her body.¡± Which airport are we flying to?¡± she prompted briskly, thankfully able to breathe a little easier as Nichs moved away slightly.


    ¡°I thought I might drive up in my Range Rover.¡±


    ¡°Drive?¡± Caroline nced out of the window at the bleakness of the sky. ¡°It¡¯s going to be snowing,¡±


    ¡°Stop being picky, Caroline,¡± Nichs rasped dismissively. ¡°Anyone would think you don¡¯t want to go to Texas with me.¡±


    That was because she didn¡¯t!


    Just the thought of being alone in Texas with Nichs for several days, when she was now so physically aware of him, made her stomach-muscles clench and her pulse race.


    He scowled down at her.¡± What is your problem, Care? Do you have other ns for this weekend? A romantic tryst, perhaps?¡± he added mockingly.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± she snapped.


    Nichs gave a taunting smile. ¡°Of course not,¡± he parroted derisively. ¡°Coward.¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± she gasped softly.


    Once again he shrugged those broad shoulders. ¡°I called you a coward.¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to go to Texas with you?¡± She eyed him incredulously.

 27

    Nichs shook his head slowly. ¡°Because we both know the reason why you don¡¯t want toe with me,¡±


    Her jaw tightened. ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid.¡±


    You think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± she said disbelievingly.


    ¡°I think that you¡¯re afraid of how you feel when you¡¯re with me,¡± Nichs corrected softly. ¡°You¡¯re morefortable in thepany of a man like Glen Asher because you know you can manipte and control him in a way you would never be able to do with me.¡±


    All the color drained from Caroline¡¯s cheeks. She knew that every word Nichs spoke was the truth. Oh, not about Glen. But she was frightened-of Nichs, and of what he made her feel when she was with him. She didn¡¯t want to feel that way about any man. To now realize that Nichs Connelly had prated her emotions, if only on a physical level, was not a wee revtion.


    ¡°Has anyone ever told you that you have an ego the size of Manhattan?¡± She snorted disgustedly.


    ¡°Not that I recall, no.¡± He gave a slow and confident smile. ¡°Was anything I said to you just now untrue?¡±


    Her mouth thinned. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you.¡±


    ¡°Then why not prove it by agreeing toe with me to Texas?¡±


    Caroline gave a disbelieving shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-six, Nichs, not nine, and as such I¡¯m not about to be goaded into a juvenile game of dare with you. Especially when I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea for me to go anywhere with you,¡±


    He frowned darkly. ¡°Are youing to Texas with me or not?¡±


    Caroline gave a cool inclination of her head, and tried to act like she wasn¡¯t bothered. ¡°Of course I will apany you, if that¡¯s what you want, but I need to talk to your father about it first.¡±


    ¡°What I want from you, Caroline, is your input on the castle we intend to buy in Texas. For God¡¯s sake it¡¯s just three days. My father says you did a good job with Happy Valley Park; so we could use your help,¡± he stated clearly, ¡°And just so you know, my father already knows about this and he¡¯s on board with youing with me. Ever since I arrived, he has basically left most of the work to me and honestly, I think he needs the rest,¡±


    Caroline was silent for a few seconds, ¡°Still¡­ I¡¯d like to talk to him about it first,¡±


    Nichs shrugged, ¡°Suit yourself,¡±


    Caroline frowned at him. Their two gazes were locked in a battle of wills, her own using, Nichs challenging. Caroline¡¯s gaze was the first to drop. ¡°Do you want me to book a hotel for all three nights?¡± she prompted stiffly.


    ¡°We aren¡¯t staying at a hotel any of the nights,¡± Nichs informed her tersely. ¡°I¡¯ve made my own arrangements,¡± he added yfully as Caroline raised questioning brows.


    She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll need to know where we¡¯re staying so that I can let my friend know where I am.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He nodded abruptly, obviously still annoyed about her earlier usation of duplicity. ¡°Worried I might kidnap you?¡±


    ¡°Nichs!¡±


    ¡°We will be staying at my Aunt Mae¡¯s, tomorrow night. Then I¡¯ve arranged-¡±


    ¡°At your Aunt Mae¡¯s¡­?¡± Caroline repeated, with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.


    Nichs raised arrogant brows. ¡°You have a problem with that?¡±


    Not a problem, exactly. More a reservation. It was hard enough for Caroline to keep her emotional distance from Nichs in the office, when she dealt with him only in a business capacity. Actually staying with him at the home of one of his rtives was far too intimate forfort-Caroline¡¯sfort. Her time with him at the house where they met had proven that to her.


    She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sure your aunt won¡¯t want one of your employees intruding on your visit.¡±


    ¡°On the contrary,¡± Nichs drawled derisively, ¡°She will be fine with it. She¡¯s my father¡¯s younger sister and she has been wanting to see me for years. This is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, and I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll like you too,¡±


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°She will?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes.¡± He nodded mockingly. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she like you when you¡¯re such a ray of sunshine,¡±


    Caroline frowned, ¡°Was that sarcasm?¡±


    ¡°Are you fishing for apliment?¡±


    Caroline rolled her eyes, ¡°No. Yourpliment means nothing to me. I¡¯m going back to my office,¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Nichs said, stopping her movement to the door, ¡°You can take the rest of the day off so you can go prepare for the trip,¡±


    That was actually kinda thoughtful, Caroline thought, but she didn¡¯t smile at him. ¡°Thank you, Mr Connelly,¡± she said. She saw the frown on his face, and that gave her some pleasure. Then she hurried out before he could say anything else.


    ___________


    ¡°So you¡¯re going to Texas with him. I thought you said you didn¡¯t like him,¡± Kate said and chuckled mischievously.


    Caroline rolled her eyes and tightened her grip on her phone, ¡°First of all, I never said that I didn¡¯t like him, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I do. I¡¯m¡­. neutral when ites to Nichs Connelly, and Secondly, it¡¯s my job and it¡¯s not like I have a choice. Frank seems to be okay with it too. I think he¡¯s just happy that his son is finally getting involved so he just agrees to everything,¡±


    Kate couldn¡¯t stop giggling,¡± Okay then. Think of it as an adventure. Seriously, when was thest time you took a vacation? And Texas? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bad ce. The problem with you is that you are too uptight. You have the opportunity to do something really cool but you keep holding yourself back,¡±


    Caroline sighed,¡±Kate, I¡¯m not going on a vacation, besides, this isn¡¯t the emotional support I called you for. You¡¯re supposed to tell me what a jerk Nichs is, not take sides with him,¡±


    ¡°How can I take sides with him? I don¡¯t even know him,¡±


    ¡°Well, I do, and he¡¯s an asshole,¡± Caroline said.


    ¡°An asshole you kissed barely forty eight hours after you met him¡­.¡± Kate replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. I¡¯m hanging up,¡±


    Kate wasughing loudly now, ¡°Fine. Run away, but I want to hear all the gist when youe back. Especially the naughty, dirty ones,¡±

 28

    ¡°There will be no gist to tell,¡± said Caroline, although even she could hear the doubt in her voice, ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m confused. Are you trying to convince me or convince yourself?¡±


    Caroline had had enough, ¡°Bye Kate,¡±


    There was another round ofughter from Kate, ¡°Fine. Goodbye. Have fun, and do everything I would do,¡± she said before she hung up.


    Caroline stared at the phone in her hand for a few seconds. Do everything Kate would do? She knew what that meant, but there was no chance in hell that she was going to take that advice.


    _________


    ¡°I thought you said it wasn¡¯t going to snow,¡±


    ¡°Okay, so it turns out I was wrong.¡± Nichs scowled darkly as he sat behind the wheel of the Range Rover, trying to see the road ahead through the heavily falling snow.


    They had set out very early that morning, stopping off somewhere for lunch before continuing the drive. It was dark as the snow began to fall softly almost as soon as they drove over the border, that snow bing heavier the further they drove towards his aunt¡¯s home.


    ¡°Perhaps you should have checked the weather forecast before we set out,¡± he added impatiently.


    ¡°I should have? You gave me the impression that you had everything about this trip under control,¡± Caroline murmured dryly.


    ¡°Unfortunately, even I can¡¯t control the weather!¡± It really was foul, Nichs acknowledged grimly as it urred to him he could see barely six feet in front. Their progress was bing slower by the minute. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t let up soon, then we may have to look for somewhere else to stay for the night.¡±


    He could feel Caroline¡¯s gaze on him as she gave him a sharp look.  ¡°Is it really that bad?¡±


    ¡°You can see that for yourself.¡± He nodded in the direction of the road ahead. The grass verge and the road were hardly distinguishable from each other now; the road itself was rapidly being covered in a treacherousyer of slippery snow.


    Not that the Range Rover wasn¡¯t up to dealing with it, but it was no good if Nichs couldn¡¯t see where he was going. The fact that he hadn¡¯t seen any trafficing down the road the other way for some time now told him that the way ahead was probably even worse than it was here.


    ¡°I have no intention of sleeping in the Range Rover, so look out for somewhere we can stop for the night.¡±


    Nichs grimly kept his concentration on the road in front of them. Caroline turned her attention to looking through the falling snow for any sign of habitation, especially for the lights of an inn or a hotel where they could rest until the snow eased. She felt overwhelmingly guilty because she hadn¡¯t checked the weather forecast and wasn¡¯t more prepared. Feeling disgruntled with Nichs was really no excuse.


    ¡°Over there!¡± she suddenly cried, pointing to a light ahead of them on the left-hand side of the road. ¡°It could be an inn, or-No, it¡¯s just a streetmp.¡± She grimaced her disappointment.


    ¡°A streetmp has to mean habitation of some kind.¡± narrowed his gaze in the direction she had pointed. ¡°Yes! A short way down thatne-at least, I hope it¡¯s ane.¡± He frowned darkly as he turned the vehicle in the direction of the lights, the covering of snow obscuring everything but a t nket of white that he sincerely hoped had some sort of firm surface beneath.¡± It¡¯s an inn,¡± Nichs added with satisfaction as he saw the sign, bearing a thistle and a stag, swinging in the gusting wind. He turned the Range Rover into what he hoped was the otherwise deserted car-park, easing the tension in his shoulders as he gently put on the brakes and brought the vehicle to a stop. ¡°Not a very big inn, but it will have to do.¡± He grimaced out of the window at the small, barely discernible building.


    ¡°Feel like making a run for it?¡± Ruefully, he turned to prompt Caroline.


    She grimaced. ¡°Do we have any other choice?¡±


    ¡°No-but I thought I would ask anyway,¡± Nichs baited her as he reached in the back of the vehicle to get their coats, handing Caroline¡¯s to her before pulling on his own. ¡°Don¡¯t get out until Ie round for you,¡± he advised firmly as he braced himself for opening the door and facing the freezing weather outside. ¡°If I lose you in this, I might never find you again!¡±.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Caroline shivered as she felt the st of ice-cold wind when Nichs quickly opened the door and climbed out, before closing it again. The snow was falling so thickly now that she couldn¡¯t even see him as he made his way round the vehicle to her side; she was only aware that he had done so when the door was wrenched open beside her.


    It had only been a few seconds, but Nichs was already covered in snow, his coat hidden beneath the icy kes, the darkness of his hair bearing a frosting of the fluffy whiteness too. ¡°Careful; it¡¯s icy,¡± he warned as Caroline lowered her feet to the ground.


    His warning came a little toote as her feet slipped from under her and she had to reach out quickly to grasp the front of Nichs¡¯ coat to stop herself from falling. ¡°Sorry,¡± she muttered between gritted teeth as she tried to steady herself. The wind and snow were so icy-cold that her face and jaw already felt frozen, her hair whipping about her face in wet tangles. ¡°This is terrible!¡± she attempted to shout above the roar of the wind, knowing Nichs hadn¡¯t heard her as he gave an irritated shake of his head, dislodging some of the snow in his hair so that it dripped down the grimness of his face and quickly melted against the heat of his skin.


    Nichs took a firm hold of her hand and turned to fight against the wind as they began to struggle towards the inn. The going was slow, and Caroline was surprised at how far away it still looked when she nced up, the icy wind beating against them so remorselessly that it seemed to deliberately hinder their progress. Almost as if it didn¡¯t want them to reach the shelter and warmth the inn promised. Caroline couldn¡¯t breathe properly through her nose, her throat burning when she attempted to breathe through her mouth instead. All the time the snow beat against her face, hard and painful as it stung against her flesh.

 29

    ¡°Damn it, we¡¯re getting nowhere like this!¡±


    She barely heard Nichs¡¯ impatient exmation before it was carried away on the howling wind, so she was totally unprepared when he turned to swing her up into his arms and hold her close against his chest as he walked more determinedly towards the lights of the inn.


    Caroline¡¯s arms were thrown about his neck as she burrowed her face against him to shelter from the icy-cold wind. Even the dampness of his coat was morefortable than the burning in her throat as she tried to breathe through that frosty battering. Incredible to think that, although it had been cold, the sun had actually been trying to shine when they¡¯d left earlier this morning; it was like being in another world.


    What would happen to them if Nichs couldn¡¯t make it as far as the inn? Her arms tightened about his neck as sheced her frozen fingers tightly together. She should have thought to wear gloves. And a hat.


    ¡°Almost there!¡± Nichs rasped grimly, obviously suffering as much as she was from the wind that was so cold it seemed to rip right through them. ¡°Get the door,¡± he prompted forcefully secondster.


    Caroline raised her head and saw that they had actually reached the inn;


    light shone weingly through the small, frosted windows, and what looked like the warm glow of a fire too.


    Her fingers were so cold, so numbed, that she had trouble ucing them. The snow cracked on the sleeve of her coat and then fell away as she moved her arm towards the doorknob, fingers slipping at first before she managed to grasp and turn it. The two of them almost fell through the open doorway straight into what looked like the public bar. Much to the incredulity of thendlord, as he gazed across at them with disbelieving eyes, his mouth having fallen open in surprise at anyone being out at all on an evening like this.


    ¡°Shut the door behind us, would you?¡± Nichs instructed the other man grimly as he carried Caroline over to where a fire burned warmly in the hearth in the otherwise deserted bar. He sat down, still holding Caroline against him, as she seemed unable to release her clenched fingers from the shoulders of his jacket, her teeth chattering uncontrobly.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Care,¡± he murmured reassuringly. ¡°We¡¯re okay,¡± he added with satisfaction as the warmth of the fire began to thaw his numbed face and hands.


    The tingling sensation that ensued was almost as painful, but it was a wee pain after the worry of thest few minutes. He really hadn¡¯t been sure they were going to make it as far as the inn as the snowstorm had be a blizzard, visibility down to almost nil, each step bing a triumph of survival. Not that Nichs intended telling Caroline that. He knew that she was strong, but the way she still clung to him so tightly now showed she had definitely reached the end of her endurance.


    Arousingly so, Nichs realized as he looked down at her with narrowed eyes. She looked so tiny in his arms, vulnerable, even, her hair stered to her head and across her face in damp tendrils, her eyes huge as she raised her head to look at him. A man could willingly drown in those depths, Nichs realized with a sharp intake of breath; could lose his own will, his very soul, and not give a damn as long as Caroline continued to look up at him with that warmth in her eyes. He noticed how long hershes were, thick and dark. Her lips were a deep pink, full and pouting, as if waiting to be kissed.


    ¡°Get the other side of this,d. And your gooddy, too.¡±


    Nichs wrenched his gaze away from Caroline to look at thendlord as he stood beside the armchair holding two sses of amber liquid. Probably whisky, Nichs acknowledged ruefully as he gratefully took one of the sses and held the rim next to Caroline¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Drink,¡± he instructed firmly as she made no effort to do so.


    Caroline¡¯s throat moved convulsively as she acknowledged that there was something in Nichs¡¯ eyes just now as he looked down at her, an awareness that only increased her own wariness about spending these four days alone with him in Texas. She obediently sipped the golden liquid, almost choking on the unustomed alcohol as the whisky slid down her throat to burst into a fiery warmth as it reached her stomach, warming her from the inside out. Thawing Caroline enough for her to realize she was sitting on Nichs¡¯ thighs and still cradled in his arms.


    She struggled to sit up, taking the ss of whisky from his hand as she stood up and moved sharply away from him, averting her face to stare into the fire as she sensed his questioning gaze following her movements.


    What had happened just now?


    She had looked up into his face and seen-what? Awareness, certainly. Desire, possibly. Almost as if Nichs had been looking at her for the first time. And perhaps he had. Caroline certainly bore little resemnce today to the prim no-nonsense PA she chose to present in the office. Her hair fell loosely about her shoulders; her denims and jumper were much more casual than anything she would ever wear to the office. She felt strangely vulnerable without the shield of her tailored business-suits and blouses. Especially if that change had also affected the way Nichs viewed her.


    She suddenly became aware of the conversation taking ce between Nichs and thendlord.


    ¡°Get my wife to make up the room,¡± thendlord murmured before hurrying away and disappearing through a door marked ¡®private¡¯.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Do you want the good news or the bad news?¡±


    There was a frown between Caroline¡¯s brows as she turned to look at Nichs, her inability to think clearly telling her that she still hadn¡¯t recovered from the freezing cold outside. Or perhaps that was the effect of the whisky. Or, more likely, being held in his arms a few minutes ago¡­


    ¡°The bad news first, I suppose,¡± she invited through lips that tingled painfully with renewed feeling.


    Nichs nodded. ¡°The bad news is this is just a pub, not a hotel, so thendlord doesn¡¯t normally rent out rooms for the night.¡±


    Caroline blinked. ¡°And the good news¡­?¡± she prompted warily.

 30

    He grimaced. ¡°He does have a bedroom he can let us use for the night. It¡¯s his daughter¡¯s bedroom, but she¡¯s away at university at the moment.¡±


    Caroline moistened dry lips. ¡°A bedroom-singr¡­?¡±


    ¡°Bedroom, singr,¡± Nichs confirmed, his eyes narrowed.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t suggesting the two of us share that bedroom?¡± Caroline frowned across the room at him, those blue eyes gleaming with indignation.


    Nichs scowled darkly at Caroline¡¯s obvious dismay at the mere suggestion they might have to share a bedroom for the night. What the hell did she think he was going to do, ravish her as soon as they were alone in the bedroom together? Not that it was an altogether uneptable idea when she was looking so damned beautiful; he just didn¡¯t like the obvious implication that he couldn¡¯t keep his hands-or any other part of his anatomy!-to himself.


    His gaze narrowed. ¡°You would prefer that we go back out into the snow instead and try to look for somewhere that has two bedrooms avable?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not.¡± She snapped her irritation.  ¡°But-it-you could always sleep down here,¡± she added hopefully.


    Apart from the armchair Nichs was sitting in, there was only one other, and then bench seats and dining-room chairs ced about the empty tables.


    He shook his head. ¡°I prefer thefort of a bed. I have no objections to you sleeping down here if that¡¯s what you want to do,¡± he added harshly as Caroline¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Of course, thendlord might think that a little strange, as he seems to have assumed that we¡¯re a couple.¡±


    ¡°Then you can just unassume him!¡± The hand not holding the whisky ss clenched into a fist at her side. ¡°I am not sharing a bedroom with you, Nichs,¡±  she repeated firmly.


    ¡°What is your problem, Caroline?¡± Nichs barked impatiently.


    ¡°I -you-we¡­¡± Caroline gave an incredulous shake of her head, totally panicked-aware of him as she was-at the thought of sharing a bedroom with Nichs. ¡°You¡¯re like¡­ my boss now. I work for you!¡±


    His eyes glittered mockingly. ¡°And that precludes us sharing a bedroom?¡±


    ¡°ording to you, yes!¡± she reminded him a little more desperately than she would have wished. ¡°We can¡¯t get involved in that way¡­ Not anymore¡± she added when she remembered the kiss in his office,¡±


    ¡°Sharing a bedroom doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re involved.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re uninvolved, either!¡±


    Nichs¡¯ gaze moved over her in slow appraisal. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my hands to myself if you will.¡±


    ¡°This is so-so ungentlemanly of you!¡±


    Nichs shrugged, unconcerned. ¡°I don¡¯t remember ever iming to be a gentleman.¡±


    ¡°Just as well!¡± she breathed frustratedly. ¡°You-¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about thister, Care,¡± Nichs  snapped, and turned questioningly to thendlord as he bustled back into the room.


    ¡°The missus already had some broth simmering in the pot,¡± the elderly man announced with satisfaction. ¡°She¡¯s put some bread in to bake to go with it while she goes upstairs to make the bed.¡±


    It felt good to hear that, ¡°Thank you, sir. We really appreciate the help.¡± said Nichs.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°How long do you expect this blizzard tost?¡± Caroline was the one to question thendlord tightly.


    ¡°Och, this is not a blizzard,¡± the elderly man assured her indulgently, ¡°This is not but a bit of a flurry.¡±


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened. A bit of a flurry¡­God help them if it should turn into a blizzard!


    ¡°Damn it,¡± said Nichs.


    Caroline turned back to thendlord. ¡°How long is this flurry expected tost, then?¡±


    ¡°No more than a couple of days,¡± he said dismissively.


    ¡°A couple of days?¡± Caroline echoed with dismay as visions of herself and Nichs marooned here for two days-and nights-popped unbidden into her head.


    ¡°A blizzard usuallysts a week or more.¡± Thendlord nodded, unconcerned.


    ¡°How¡­reassuring,¡± Caroline murmured weakly as she dropped down into the armchair opposite Nichs-a mockingly amused Nichs if the tauntingughter in those dark eyes was anything to go by.


    Caroline could find nothing about this situation that was in the least amusing. How could she, when just the thought of sharing a bedroom with him made her feel weak at the knees? Especially so after the intimacy of his earlier remarks.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just go and check on your food,¡± thendlord murmured nervously after shooting nces at Caroline and Nichs as their gazes remained locked in silent battle.


    Caroline sat forward in her chair once the two of them were alone. ¡°Nichs, you really can¡¯t be serious about the two of us staying here and sharing a bedroom?¡±


    Nichs shrugged out of the warmth of his jacket before answering her. ¡°I¡¯m open to any other suggestions you might have. Viable ones,¡± he added warningly as she would have spoken. He raised mocking brows as he settled back into his chair. ¡°Just because I¡¯m a man and you¡¯re a woman does not mean I¡¯m going to pounce on you as soon as we¡¯re alone in a bedroom together!¡±


    Her cheeks flushed. ¡°I never imagined that it did.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you think you might be tempted to pounce on me?¡±


    Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Nichs!¡±


    ¡°Caroline,¡± he came back challengingly.


    Once again Caroline¡¯s chaotic thoughts were brought to an abrupt halt as instead she eyed him uncertainly, the dangerous glitter of his gaze enough to tell her she would be unwise to pursue this particr subject at the moment.


    The whole idea of her and Nichs sharing a bedroom for the night was unwise¡­ She drew in a ragged breath. ¡°This is all your fault.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hardly responsible for the weather, Care,¡± He gave an impatient shake of his head.


    Her eyes darkened almost to ck. ¡°Stop calling me that. You¡¯re responsible for my being in here-that¡¯s enough reason for me to me you entirely for this mess!¡±


    ¡°What mess?¡± he bit out impatiently. ¡°As thendlord has already said, this is nothing but a bit of a flurry. He shrugged. ¡°A couple of days and we can be on our way.¡±


    ¡°Just in time for that stupid football match you were talking about in the car, I suppose?¡± she retorted.


    ¡°It¡¯s not stupid,¡± Nichs¡¯ mouth tightened.


    Caroline stood up in one fluid movement, relieved as she did so to find that her limbs hadpletely thawed out now. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask thendlord if he has a bathroom where I can freshen up,¡± she said abruptly. ¡°If you¡¯re serious about our staying here tonight.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I am, Care,¡± he murmured huskily.

 31

    ¡°Then our bags are still outside in the Range Rover,¡± she told him pointedly, her expression turning to one of quiet satisfaction as Nichs¡¯ face creased into a pained grimace. He turned to look out of the window and realized he would have to go back out into the still heavily falling snow to retrieve those bags. ¡°Have fun!¡± she added tauntingly as she went through the doorway marked ¡®private¡¯.


    Her smile faded, however, as soon as she was alone in the hallway, and she paused to lean back weakly against the wall. She couldn¡¯t share a bedroom with Nichs tonight. Possibly tomorrow night too, if the weather didn¡¯t let up. In fact, she trembled just at the thought of it.


    Nichs¡¯plete dismissal of the significance of the two of them sharing a bedroom wasn¡¯t ttering, either. It had been a while since she¡¯d been attracted to a man¡­. until Nichs showed up. And slowly that insidious awareness of him had crept into her battered emotions.  Even after this trip, she still had to work with him. How could any healthy, red-blooded woman work with him on a day-to-day basis and not be aware of the hard vitality of his body and the rugged handsomeness of his chiseled features?


    Caroline certainly couldn¡¯t. Which wasn¡¯t going to help the situation at all when she found herself alone in a bedroom with himter this evening!


    ________


    ¡°There is only one bed!¡±


    ¡°And your point is¡­?¡± Nichs came back dryly as he carried their bags into the small butfortable bedroom that had been assigned to them for the night. A warming fire already burned in the small hearth; the only furniture in the room was a bed, a chair and a desk.


    He had taken advantage of Caroline¡¯s absence to pull his jacket back on and go back outside for their bags. The snow was still falling as heavily, and the wind just as remorseless and icy cold. Nichs had been relieved just to make it back to the inn.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything about there being only one bed,¡± Caroline persisted, her cheeks flushed as she continued to stare at that bed.


    Whether with temper or something else, Nichs wasn¡¯t sure.


    ¡°Jim and Jennie have one daughter, hence there¡¯s only one bed.¡± He dropped their bags onto the carpeted floor,pletely ignoring Caroline¡¯s pained wince as theynded with a thud.


    Her gaze was using. ¡°You knew there was only one bed?¡±


    Nichs shrugged. ¡°I guessed that might be the case, yes. Stop being such a damned prude, Care.¡± He scowled as she continued to look at him wide-eyed.


    The heated emotions Nichs aroused in Caroline were totally new to her, and all the more disturbing. Because, although Caroline had had boyfriends before, she had never been sopletely physically aware of any of them as she was Nichs. She was so aware of him that she trembled just at the thought of having to share that bed with him.


    If Caroline had learnt anything about Nichs in the little time since she¡¯d met him, it was that he had absolutely no interest in a permanent rtionship. The moment any woman who flitted in and out of his bed showed any signs of expecting amitment from him, they were probably quietly and discreetly excluded from his life¡­. She was sure of that. She remembered the woman he¡¯d called back then¡­ Rachael. Did he even bother to call her back or fix whatever thing he had with her? Probably not.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re worried, sharing a bed, you might be driven mad with lust for me?¡± Nichs mocked softly.


    ¡°Hardly,¡± Caroline snapped.


    ¡°Then there¡¯s no problem, is there?¡± He dismissed her unconcerned.


    Caroline drew in a sharp breath. ¡°Have you shared a bed with any woman in thest twenty years or so and not made love with her?¡±


    ¡°Of course I-¡± Nichs broke off his instant rebuttal to give the question careful consideration instead. ¡°No, I never have,¡± he finally conceded.¡± But I¡¯m sure there has to be a first time for everything.¡±


    ¡°Does there?¡±


    ¡°You know, you¡¯re really starting to irritate me now, Care,¡± Nichs rasped harshly. ¡°Okay, so you¡¯re beautiful and you have a fantastic body- especially in those tight denims and that body-hugging green sweater you¡¯re currently wearing-but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to attempt to make love to you the moment I have you alone in a bed!¡±


    Caroline¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil. Nichs thought she was beautiful and had a fantastic body¡­ The knowledge almost made her want to groan out loud. It certainly made herpletely aware of the tight denims and body-hugging green sweater she was currently wearing. ¡°Well, that¡¯s really helped to rify the situation,¡± she muttered disgustedly. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the chair.¡±


    Nichs arched dark brows. ¡°Trying to make me feel bad, Care?¡±


    ¡°Am I seeding?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± He grimaced.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± She gave a rueful nod.


    Caroline looked at him searchingly, noting as she did so the lines of tiredness beside his eyes and mouth. Those sculptured lips that had surely been designed to drive a woman wild¡­ Stop it, Caroline, she instantly instructed herself firmly. Imagining his kiss, to feel his lips and hands on her body, really wasn¡¯t helping this already fraught situation.


    Why was it that just looking at Nichs made her so physically aware of both herself and him? She sighed. ¡°It would have been much simpler if you had just corrected thendlord when he assumed we were a couple.¡±.


    Nichs shrugged, unconcerned. ¡°Even if I had exined our working rtionship to thendlord I still doubt it would have made a difference. There is only one room. Besides, you¡¯re a beautiful woman, Care, and I¡¯m a red-blooded man,¡± he exined impatiently.


    Caroline¡¯s frown did not detract in the slightest from that ethereal beauty.


    Her hair had dried now, falling in silky waves onto her shoulders, those pretty eyes unfathomable; the color had returned to her cheeks, and her lips were full and inviting above her stubbornly pointed chin.


    ¡°You still should have tried to exin our real rtionship,¡± she insisted stubbornly. ¡°But obviously it¡¯s toote now.¡± She grimaced.


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Nichs drawled dismissively.


    Her gaze was frosty. ¡°I suggest we both return downstairs. Our food is probably ready by now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll join you in a few minutes,¡± Nichs replied wearily. ¡°Like you, I need to freshen up before we eat,¡± he added tersely as Caroline paused to give him a searching look. ¡°I take it we¡¯re also sharing a bathroom with thendlord and his wife?¡±

 32

    ¡°It would appear so,¡± Caroline nodded. The bathroom she had used earlier was a short distance down the hallway, and contained toiletries for both men and women. ¡°It¡¯s very kind of them to offer us the use of their daughter¡¯s bedroom in this way.¡±


    Nichs nodded. ¡°I suggest you tell them that when you get downstairs.¡±


    ¡°I intended doing so,¡± she snapped, her eyes glittering with resentment at Nichs¡¯ rebuke. ¡°It¡¯s you I¡¯m annoyed with, Nichs, not Jim and his wife.¡±


    ¡°Lucky, lucky me,¡± he drawled dryly.


    ¡°You¡¯re impossible!¡± Caroline told him impatiently.


    He shrugged unrepentantly. ¡°So I¡¯m told.¡±


    Then Caroline remembered. She had his Aunt Mae to meet in the next few days. Surely she wasn¡¯t expecting the both of them to share a bedroom too¡­? ¡°I trust that your Aunt Mae, at least, is aware of our separate sleeping arrangements?¡± Caroline prompted tartly.


    ¡°Perfectly.¡± Nichs¡¯ gaze silentlyughed at her. ¡°In fact, I think you mighte as something of a surprise to my Aunt Mae.¡±


    Caroline eyed him warily. ¡°In what way¡±


    He shrugged dismissive shoulders. ¡°I believe she may have the impression that you are slightly older than you actually are.¡±


    Caroline¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°And why would she think that?¡±


    Nichs raised dark brows. ¡°Probably because the description ¡°prim, officious and efficient¡± sounds like it belongs to an older woman.¡±.


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Is that what you told your aunt about me?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think the description fits?¡±


    Well, yes, it fitted. It just sounded so boring, Caroline acknowledged unhappily. Dry and boring-desated, even. She sounded like a woman twice her age! Was that really how Nichs saw her? If he did, then she obviously needed to have absolutely no worries concerning sharing a bedroom with him tonight.


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± she muttered resentfully. ¡°Perhaps you should call her and tell her that we¡¯ve been dyed?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, Care, but I called her before bringing up the bags,¡± Nichs replied dismissively. ¡°The snow is as bad in her area, so she had already guessed we might have to stop off somewhere along the way.¡±


    Only Caroline, it seemed, was dissatisfied with their current sleeping-arrangements. Although she cheered up slightly when the ¡®broth¡¯ turned out to be a huge bowl of meaty stew, CTapanied by freshly baked bread and soft, golden butter. The four of them ate together in the small dining-room off the main bar. Thendlord¡¯s wife Jennie was a plump, middle-aged woman whose warmth at the two unexpected guests thrust upon her was neverthelesspletely genuine.


    ¡°Texans are a warm and friendly lot,¡± Nichs answered dryly at Caroline¡¯sment to that effect once Jim and Jennie had retired to the kitchen, after refusing their offer to help tidy away the remains of the meal.


    ¡°Yeah I can see that,¡± she replied.


    Nichs reached across the table to cover her hand with one of his as he gazed deeply into her eyes. ¡°You need to stop worrying about everything, Care. We¡¯ll be fine,¡±


    Caroline couldn¡¯t look away, but instead found herself mesmerized by those amazing eyes. ¡°This isn¡¯t a good idea, Nichs¡­¡± Her words came out as a breathless sigh.


    No, it wasn¡¯t, Nichs conceded. But for the moment, looking into those melting eyes, caressing her fingers with his own, he couldn¡¯t think of anything else.


    ¡°Nichs?¡± The slightly panicked edge to her voice prated his concentration on her slightly parted, eminently kissable lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he rasped, releasing her hand to sit back.


    Caroline¡¯s fingers tingled from his touch, her cheeks feeling flushed, her eyes feverish. Just because Nichs had touched her? Oh God¡­ Had she been alone so long, been so totally, absolutely self-contained, that just the touch of a man¡¯s hand-the touch of Nichs¡¯ hand-had reawakened all her senses, both tactile and visual?


    Because just looking at him now told her how aware she was of everything about him.


    His long, dark hair was slightly tousled, and a temptation for any woman to run her fingers through its silky softness. His eyes, those pale, all-seeing dark eyes, were shuttered now, hiding his thoughts from other probing eyes. His face looked as if it had been hewn out of rock, perfect in its rugged handsomeness. His shoulders were wide and muscled beneath his thick, ck sweater, his stomach taut and t, his hips lean, and his legs long in the faded ck denims.


    Nichs Connelly, Caroline acknowledged with dismay, was the most sexily attractive man she had ever set eyes on. As far as she was concerned, he was a dangerously attractive man, and it was better to keep that realization buried beneath her usual cool demeanor. Beneath her ¡®prim, officious and efficient¡¯ demeanor!


    God, how that description rankled. Enough for her to want to prove otherwise? No, it certainly didn¡¯t rankle that much.


    She stood up abruptly. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go up to bed.¡±


    Nichs looked up at her withzily amused eyes. ¡°I thought you had decided to sleep in the chair?¡±


    Caroline shot him an irritated frown. ¡°If you insist on sleeping in the bed, yes!¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Oh, I insist.¡± He nodded unrelentingly, before sighing as he saw her pained expression. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be this way, Care,¡±


    ¡°It most certainly does.¡±


    ¡°Oh, for goodness¡¯ sake, Care, you can always put a wall of pillows down the middle of the bed if that makes you feel safer!¡± he snapped impatiently.


    Nothing about sharing a bedroom with Nichs made Caroline feel safe. And that uncertainty had nothing to do with his intentions towards her and everything to do with her own confused emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯m merely trying to be sensible, Nichs,¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re merely behaving like some Victorian virgin who fears for her innocence,¡± he came back cuttingly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Nichs,¡± she snapped. ¡°I am merely trying to maintain the formality of our working rtionship.¡±


    His mouth twisted humorlessly. ¡°Perhaps if I were to give you some dictation before we fall asleep?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t take dictation-of any kind,¡± Caroline assured him waspishly.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t, do you?¡± Nichs conceded wearily. ¡°Okay, Care, you win; I¡¯ll sleep in the chair. I hope that isn¡¯t a smile of triumph I see on your lips,¡± he added slowly, his gaze narrowing.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± she assured him, her expression innocent.


    Too innocent, Nichs acknowledged impatiently. ¡°As I have to suffer the difort of sleeping in the chair, I think I¡¯ll stay down here and enjoy another ss of whisky beforeing upstairs.¡±

 33

    It would also give Caroline the time and privacy she needed to get into bed.


    In truth, Nichs wasn¡¯t any morefortable now with the idea of sharing a bedroom with Caroline either; those few minutes of awareness a short time ago told him that they weren¡¯t as immune to each other as he would have wished. Her skin had felt as soft as velvet, and just as sensuous; theughter in her eyes a few seconds ago had been warm and inviting. The promise of gently swaying hips as she left the room to go upstairs was an enticement he wasn¡¯t sure he could resist once alone in a bedroom with her. What the hell was wrong with him? It wasn¡¯t as if he was feeling sexually deprived. Admittedly, his most recent rtionship hade to an end several months ago, but that certainly didn¡¯t exin his awareness of Caroline and his heated thoughts about her. The cool, the distant, the stylish Caroline Anderson.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡ª¡ª¨C


    ¡°Will you please stop fidgeting and just go to sleep?¡±


    Caroline instantly became still in the bed. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to getfortable.¡± Nichs¡¯ presence in the room had Caroline on edge.


    ¡°Then maybe I got the better part of the deal after all,¡± he murmured with satisfaction. ¡°This chair isn¡¯t half bad.¡±


    ¡°Sadist!¡±


    Heughed softly in the darkness. The only light in the room came from the damped down fire and the moonlight reflecting the pristine-white snow outside as it shone through the window. ¡°Do you want to swap?¡± he offered irritably as Caroline began to fidget again.


    ¡°Then you wouldn¡¯t befortable.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t my impression earlier that you cared about myfort.¡± Nichsy on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He did his damnedest to block out the memory of Caroline snuggled under the bedclothes when he¡¯de up to the room, her hair cascading across the pillow beneath her, her eyes dark and luminous as she¡¯d looked across at him.


    ¡°I gave you one of the nkets.¡± Her tone was slightly indignant.


    ¡°One of them,¡± he conceded dryly. ¡°It may have escaped your notice, Care, snuggled up cozily beneath the bedclothes as you are, but it¡¯s damned cold in here in spite of the fire,¡±


    Caroline sat up to punch her pillows into a morefortable shape, inwardly aware that it wasn¡¯t the bed that was ufortable but her. She was just so aware of Nichs as he lounged in the chair a short distance away. She could hear the even tenor of his breathing. Could just feel his presence mere feet away. And she didn¡¯t want to be aware of any of those things.


    ¡°Care, will you just go to sleep?¡±


    You aren¡¯t asleep either, despite iming earlier that you were exhausted.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t settle down and go to sleep soon, then I¡¯m going toe over there and join you!¡±


    Caroline became very still, barely breathing, but at the same time was aware of the rapid beat of her heart. So loud that surely Nichs must be able to hear it.


    ¡°I thought that might quieten you down.¡± Nichs chuckled softly in the darkness.


    Shey still, willing herself not to move, not to show by so much as a twitch that she waspletely aware of him and the promise behind his words. What was wrong with her? He was her boss now and she wasn¡¯t handling this very well. She was also aware that she was the one upying the bed while Nichs tried to make himselffortable in the armchair. That he was the employer and she was the employee. She drew in a ragged breath, wanting desperately to invite him to share the bed, but fearing what might happen.


    Caroline squeaked in panic as she suddenly became aware of Nichs getting up to cross the room before standing ominously beside the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this,¡± he conceded as he moved to lie on the bed beside her.


    She stared up at him with wide, apprehensive eyes. ¡°Nichs¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided to just get this out of the way and then maybe we can both get some sleep!¡± he rasped purposefully.


    ¡®This¡¯ being to lower his head before his mouth imed Caroline¡¯s in a kiss that totally robbed her of breath. Of resistance.


    Resistance? As soon as his lips found hers, parting them to deepen the kiss, his arms molding her body close to his despite the bedclothes that separated them, Carolinepletely melted, both physically and emotionally.


    He tasted so good; his lips felt so sure and purposeful against hers, his body hard and muscled as he halfy across her, his weight exquisite as he pressed her down into the mattress and his hands roamed restlessly down the length of her body.


    Caroline freed her arms, gasping slightly as her hands came into contact with the heated bareness of his shoulders and then lingered there.


    Nichs felt so warm and strong beneath her fingers, muscles rippling.


    She couldn¡¯t control her hands as they moved caressingly over that firmness, before exploring the curved nes of his back and down to his waist, and then lower still to caress the tense hardness of his bare buttocks.


    Dear God, he waspletely naked!


    Caroline began to struggle, her hands moving to push against his chest even as she wrenched her mouth away from his. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she gasped breathlessly.


    That was far better than he had anticipated, and sleep was now thest thing on his mind! He moved back slightly to look down at her, easily able to discern the angry, dark glitter of her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m unlikely to get any sleep at all now!¡± he acknowledged. ¡°Unless, of course, you feel in the mood to finish what we just started¡­?¡± he prompted.


    ¡°No, I do not feel in the mood to finish what you just started!¡± Caroline snapped indignantly. And once again she pushed against his chest. ¡°For your information, I was not expecting you to make a pass.¡±


    She scooted to the side of the bed, as far away from him as it was possible to be without actually getting out of it. Her eyes had adjusted enough now in the dimness of the reflected light in the room to be able to see Nichs in all his naked glory; he looked as good as she had imagined he would. His shoulders and chest were wide and powerful, his waist tapered, his thighs¡­He was aroused!

 34

    Her gaze quickly returned to the hard nes of his face. ¡°This is all your fault,¡± she challenged firmly. ¡°You kissed me,¡±


    ¡°You kissed me right back,¡± he challenged.


    Caroline drew in a hissing breath, the fact that she knew she deserved the usation only increased her anger. ¡°You were all over me before I had a chance to protest.¡±


    ¡°You were all over me too,¡± he rasped. ¡°All the way from my shoulders down to my-¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were naked!¡± she defended herself.


    He shrugged unconcerned shoulders. ¡°So now you know.¡±


    Caroline red at him frustratedly. ¡°Will you just get off the bed and go back to the chair?¡±


    His mouth tightened. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that I will.¡±


    ¡°No?¡± Caroline  stared at him incredulously.


    ¡°Lower your voice, will you?¡± Nichs hissed. ¡°Jim and Jennie will think we¡¯re having an argument.¡±


    ¡°We are having an argument!¡±


    ¡°No, Care, you¡¯re having an argument,¡± Nichs taunted her. ¡°I just want to get some sleep.¡± He moved slightly so that he could slip beneath the bedclothes. ¡°That feels good,¡± he murmured as he settledfortably on the pillows, cing his hands behind his head.


    Caroline sat up to stare at him. ¡°You can¡¯t sleep there!¡±


    ¡°I hate to contradict you, Care, but this is exactly where I intend sleeping.¡± He yawned as if to prove the point.


    ¡°No you are not!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s going to stop me?¡± He opened one derisive eye as he turned to look at her.


    Caroline was infuriated, enraged by his mocking attitude. That wasn¡¯t the only thing infuriating her, she acknowledged in self-disgust, but for the moment that was what she intended to focus on.


    ¡°You¡¯re despicable!¡± she snapped as she climbed out of the other side of the bed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you intend to make me sleep in the chair!¡± She stood beside the bed, ring down at him as heyfortably beneath the warm covers, repressing her own shiver at how cold it had be in the bedroom now that the fire had died down slightly.


    Nichs shrugged.¡± You¡¯re the one who¡¯s insisting on sleeping in the chair.¡±


    ¡°Only because you aren¡¯t gentlemanly enough to-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the second time you¡¯ve made that usation!¡± Nichs got out of the bed and stood up so fast that Caroline didn¡¯t have time to move away, her arms now grasped tightly in his steely fingers as he looked down at her with angrily gleaming eyes. ¡°I suppose Glen Asher would have slept in the chair without argument?¡± he taunted.


    ¡°Glen is certainly a gentleman-¡± She broke off abruptly as that gleam in Nichs¡¯ eyes turned to a dangerous glitter. ¡°Obviously I¡¯ve never been in a situation like this with Glen,¡± she said stiffly.


    Nichs¡¯ mouth twisted. ¡°You mean if you were, you wouldn¡¯t have felt the same reluctance at sleeping with him?¡±


    Caroline stiffened. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it was sleep you had in mind a few minutes ago.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, it wasn¡¯t,¡± Nichs teased.


    He didn¡¯t have sleep in mind now, either. He might have his arousal under control but it was definitely still there. Looking at Caroline as she stood so ethereal and lovely in her pale nightgown wasn¡¯t helping that situation-although talking of Glen Asher was certainly putting a damper on the proceedings.


    ¡°Take the bed,¡± he rasped. ¡°I believe I¡¯ll settle for the chair after all.¡±


    She looked at him suspiciously for several long seconds. ¡°What guarantee do I have that you aren¡¯t going to change your mind halfway through the night?¡±


    ¡°Care, what gives you the impression I find you so irresistible?¡± There was a steely edge to his voice.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Caroline felt the color drain from her cheeks. ¡°I wasn¡¯t implying you found me irresistible.¡±


    ¡°The alternative, then, seems to be that you believe me incapable of sharing a bedroom, let alone a bed, with any woman without attempting to make love to her.¡±


    ¡°I suggest we just forget this, and the conversation, and get some sleep,¡± she muttered wearily as she climbed back into the bed. ¡°I¡¯m sure that everything will look different in the morning.¡± She was also hoping that by morning the snow would have melted awaypletely and they could continue with their journey. Although she very much doubted that that would be the case¡­  It wasn¡¯t.


    _________


    Caroline didn¡¯t even need to climb out of the warmth of the bed to know that the snow was still on the ground. She could tell from the brightness of the daylight filtering into the room between the undrawn curtains that the reason for that brightness was the light reflecting on the snow outside. All sound seemed slightly muffled by that soft whiteness. She hadn¡¯t slept well. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking. How could she after Nichs had kissed her, when she had kissed him back? When she was so totally aware of him across the room as he once again made himselffortable in the armchair?


    Caroline hadin awake for what seemed like hours after she¡¯d been sure Nichs had fallen asleep, unable to put the memory of that kiss out of her mind. Or the fact that she had responded. More than responded; she had wanted more. Much more. Her body was still aching and restless from the desire he had ignited with that single kiss.


    She must have dozed off some time during the night, although the aching lethargy of her body told her that it had not been a refreshing sleep. Only her eyes moved as she checked on whether Nichs was still in the bedroom with her. Hey sprawled in the armchair, that single nket wrapped around his torso and thighs, thank goodness, leaving the long length of his legs and feet bared.


    He really was a magnificent specimen of virile manhood. Who was she kidding? Nichs was absolutely gorgeous! That long dark hair was tousled now and falling endearingly over his forehead. The hardness of his features was rxed in sleep, making him appear much younger than his thirty-six years.


    Caroline admired the masculine perfection of his body: shoulders broad, arms muscled, chest and stomach t, thighs powerful; his bare legs were long and tanned. Gosh! Even his feet were attractive, so long and slender.


    What was wrong with her?

 35

    Nichs felt cramped, unrested and decidedly bad-tempered when he woke up. The fact that Caroline had got up some time during the night to cover him with a second nket did very little to lighten his mood. So it was as well that she had already left the bedroom, probably in search of breakfast. Or possibly a way out of here! Nichs very much doubted that she would relish the idea of staying on, sharing this bedroom with him, for a second night.


    One nce out of the window showed him that she was out of luck. Yet more snow seemed to have fallen during the night. At least nine or ten inches of it covered the ground around the Range Rover, with drifts two or three feet deep in ces. He nced back at the empty bed. The fact that it was now neatly remade did not detract from his memories of lying there with Caroline the previous night. Of kissing her. Touching her.


    She had the sexiest mouth he had ever kissed, so soft and yielding, her lips full and sensual. As for that curvaceous body¡­ Nichs gave a low groan as his body stirred just thinking about how good she had felt when he¡¯d pulled her close against him, her curves full and luscious to the touch. If he intended for her to continue working for him, then he should stop these thoughts right now! And he had to stop kissing her too.


    Nichs eyed Caroline warily as he came into therge kitchen where she lingered over her second cup of coffee. The single slice of toast she had eaten for her breakfast seemed to have settled the butterflies in her stomach.


    Or, at least, it had until she was once again face to face with Nichs.


    Jennie, thendy, had excused herself a few minutes ago to go and light the fire in the bar while Jim cleared the snow from the front doorway. It didn¡¯t help that Nichs was looking particrly ruggedly attractive in a sweater and ck denims.


    ¡°Coffee?¡± she offered him briskly.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± He nodded before moving to sit in the chair opposite hers at the table.


    Caroline got up to get another mug and bring the pot of steaming coffee to the table. ¡°Milk and sugar?¡± She kept her tone deliberately light as she poured the coffee.


    Nichs gave her a scowling nce. ¡°In the little time you¡¯ve worked with me at the office, have I ever taken either?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­no.¡± Caroline felt the warmth of color entering her cheeks. ¡°I was just being polite, Nichs,¡± she added, exasperated as he remained unimpressed.


    So it was going to be like that, was it? Nichs epted it as he took a wee sip of his ck, unsweetened coffee before leaning back in his chair to look across at Caroline with narrowed, assessing eyes. The no-nonsense style of her hair, secured in a band at her nape, should have told him how things stood between them today.


    ¡°Is politeness to be the order of the day?¡± he taunted.


    Caroline stiffened as she heard his obvious mockery. ¡°I trust that I am always polite, Nichs,¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t very politest night,¡± he challenged. He raised dark brows. ¡°And, as I remember, you implied that Ick the attributes of a gentleman.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Caroline shook her head, her efforts at politeness obviouslypletely wasted when he was in this provoking mood. ¡°I didn¡¯t imply it at all, Nichs,¡±


    Nichs¡¯ eyes narrowed to slits. ¡°You also implied Glen Asher would have behaved differently in the same circumstances.¡±


    His voice was deceptively soft. Nevertheless Caroline heard that slight edge of contempt that crept into his tone.  ¡°I never said that,¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t answer my question,¡±


    ¡°Glen, I am sure, would have slept in the chair withoutint. In fact, I doubt he would have insisted on sharing the bedroom with me at all. He would probably have offered to sleep downstairs in one of the chairs in the bar,¡± she added.


    ¡°Then he hardly sounds like a man!¡± Nichs muttered disgustedly.


    Caroline bristled resentfully. ¡°How dare you-?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m merelymenting on theck of red blood in the man¡¯s veins.¡± Nichs shrugged dismissively.


    ¡°You were insulting a man who isn¡¯t here to defend himself.¡± She red at him.


    There were several things Nichs would have liked to say to Glen Asher if he had him alone in a room right now. Not least that the man didn¡¯t deserve to have a woman as sexy and as loyal as Caroline as far as he was concerned, but the question was, did he?


    ¡°I find your attitude distasteful.¡± said Caroline.


    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think you find everything about me distasteful!¡± Nichs rasped as he stood up. ¡°Which makes me wonder why you came here with me in the first ce.¡±


    ¡°As I recall, you didn¡¯t give me much choice in the matter!¡± Caroline¡¯s cheeks were very pale, her eyes huge, blue wells of emotion in that pallor.


    A nerve pulsed in Nichs¡¯ tightly clenched jaw. ¡°Would you like me to give you the choice now?¡±


    Caroline frowned, knowing-as no doubt Nichs did too-she didn¡¯t really have that choice. Not only did she need her job, but she liked it too¡­ Well, until Nichs had shown up.   ¡°I don¡¯t think this is the appropriate time to discuss this, Nichs,¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ll let me know when you think it is the appropriate time,¡± he bit out before turning sharply on his heel and striding forcefully across the room.


    Caroline watched him dazedly. ¡°Where are you going?¡± His eyes zed as he nced back at her. ¡°To help Jim clear some of the snow away, of course. With any luck, we¡¯ll be able to dig ourselves out of here some timeter today!¡± The door closed forcefully behind him.


    Caroline breathed shakily as she slumped back in her chair, totally bewildered by their conversation. By the anger boiling beneath the surface in both of them. She knew the reason for her own anger. It was not towards Nichs, but towards herself-for dropping her guard so badlyst night that she could see no way back to a rtionship of employer and employee.


    The reason for Nichs¡¯ anger, however, was aplete mystery to her. Except she knew that it was there. Forceful. Harsh.


    Dangerous¡­

 36

    ¡°Get your coat on, Care. We¡¯re going for a walk,¡± Nichs encouraged her abruptly once lunch was over and Caroline sat huddled beside the warm fire in the bar.


    She didn¡¯t look impressed by his suggestion as she turned to nce out of the frosted window.¡± It¡¯s been snowing again.¡±


    ¡°I noticed,¡± Nichs drawled. The snow had started to fall again as he¡¯d helped Jim spade the worst of it away from the pathway leading to the front of the inn. ¡°Come on, Care,¡± he cajoled. ¡°It will be fun!¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°I can¡¯t see any fun in getting cold and wet.¡±


    Nichs eyed her darkly. Was she still annoyed with him over their conversation earlier this morning? ¡°Didn¡¯t you ever go out and y in the snow when you were a child?¡±


    She raised her brows. ¡°I¡¯m not a child anymore,¡±


    ¡°Come on, Care. It will be fun,¡± he prompted, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you how to make and throw snowballs.¡±


    She eyed him unenthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I have no desire to end up wet and cold.¡± She was still annoyed with him.


    ¡°That¡¯s half the fun.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Maybe to you it is,¡± she came back. ¡°Nichs, I¡¯m perfectly happy where I am, thank you very much. What are you doing?¡± she protested as he crossed the room in two long strides to take hold of her arm and pull her effortlessly to her feet. ¡°I am not going outside, Nichs!¡±


    Her eyes sparkled rebelliously as he began to march her towards the door.


    He came to an abrupt halt, green gaze narrowing as he looked down at her. ¡°The way I see it, Care, you have two choices. You can either put on your coat, hat and gloves, ande outside with me willingly. Or-¡± he paused for effect  ¡°-I¡¯m going to just pick you up exactly as you are before I carry you outside and drop you into a snowdrift!¡±


    Caroline stared up at Nichs, her earlier anger now added to by indignation as he refused to let her shake off the tightness of his grip on her arm.¡± I don¡¯t want-¡±


    ¡°Toote; you had your chance.¡± Nichs bent and swung her up effortlessly into his arms before striding towards the door.


    ¡°Nichs, stop this!¡± she squirmed frantically in his arms. ¡°Nichs, put me down!¡± she ordered furiously as she pushed ineffectually against the hardness of his chest.


    ¡°Nope.¡± His face teased her. ¡°Snowdrift, here youe,¡± he warned as he bent slightly to open the door, at once admitting a cold st of wind and snow.


    ¡°These are expensive boots! If you ruin them-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll rece them,¡± he came back mildly, having paused in the open doorway. ¡°Make your mind up, Care. Willingly, or not?¡± He gave a devilish grin as he eyed one of the deep snow drifts outside.


    ¡°Okay, okay!¡± Caroline cried protestingly, ring up at him, knowing he would make good on his threat if she didn¡¯tply. ¡°I¡¯ll go and change these boots and get my coat,¡± she muttered impatiently. ¡°But the first thing I¡¯m going to do when I get outside is stuff a nice, big, wet snowball down your neck!¡± she warned as he slowly ced her back on her feet.


    He grinned down at her, unconcerned. ¡°You¡¯ll have to catch me first.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she grated. ¡°I¡¯ll catch you!¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯re getting into the spirit of it.¡±


    ¡°No-now I¡¯m going to take my revenge!¡± she assured him.


    He was nothing but a bully, Caroline decided as she stomped up the stairs to collect her hat and coat. A heartless, uncaring bully. A sexy, heartless, uncaring bully. A very sexy bully¡­ she sank down onto the side of the bed. The bed where Nichs hadin with her, so briefly, the night before.


    Damn it, she was never going to be able to think of him as just Nichs Connelly, her employer, not after all these kisses. This was the third time now.


    She was always so aware of him. She found herself looking at him, studying him, when she hadn¡¯t even been aware of doing so. She realized how those ruggedly hewn features could make her heart beat a little faster. How his eyes could be so cold andpelling one minute and then wickedly sensual the next. Most of all she¡¯d found herself looking at his mouth; his bottom lip was slightly fuller than the top one; his teeth were very white and even when he gave one of his wolfish grins, or less often a burst of full-throatedughter. And his hands¡­Nichs had long hands that he moved with unconscious grace, the fingers slender, the nails kept short.


    She found herself wondering how it would feel to have those hands caressing her¡­ More than he had the previous night. Or how it would feel if he made love to her. Would he be soft and sensual? Or hard and demanding?


    Afterst night she could guess the answer to those two questions at least, She reminded herself as she stood up impatiently. The answer was both, of course.


    Forget it, Caroline, she told herself firmly as she picked up her coat and gloves. Nichs was her boss¡­or her boss¡¯s son. If Caroline wanted him to remain that way, she had to get rid of these feelings, but did she really want to?


    She didn¡¯t even know anymore.


    __________


    ¡°You aren¡¯t still mad at me?¡± Nichs prompted as Caroline walked silently beside him in the snow in the direction of the pine forest at the back of the inn. The majestic trees were weighted down by the snowfall. Caroline had been upstairs much longer than he had expected, and he had been on the verge of climbing the stairs to go and get her. But before he could do so she had arrived back downstairs in the bar, having changed her expensive boots for walking boots. She was also wearing her coat and gloves, with a woolen hat pulled on over her hair and dark sses perched on the bridge of her nose against the re of the snow, effectively shielding the expression in her eyes from his searching gaze.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that I was mad at you.¡± She shrugged, her face red and glowing, her breath a delicate mist in the coldness of the air.

 37

    Before Nichs was even aware of what she was doing, Caroline had bent down, scooped up some snow and sessfully dropped the icy coldness down the front of his sweater, taking advantage of the fact that his gloveless hands were pushed into the pockets of his coat.


    ¡°Why, you little-!¡± Nichs finally managed to free his hands to scoop up some snow of his own, pelting her with it before bending down to scoop up some more and throw that at her too.


    What followed was a free-for-all of badly aimed snowballs on Caroline¡¯s part and more urate ones on Nichs¡¯. Both of them ended up sttered with damp snow and out of breath ten minutes or soter.


    ¡°Truce,¡± Nichs raised freezing-cold hands, grinning broadly. ¡°I can¡¯t feel my fingers, they¡¯re so cold!¡±


    ¡°Serves you right,¡± Caroline came back unsympathetically, her grin as wide as his.


    ¡°Admit it, Care, it was fun.¡±


    ¡°It was fun,¡± she acknowledged ruefully.


    ¡°Especially as you now look like the Abominable Snowman!¡± She chuckled lightly as she looked at Nichs, his hair in wet tendrils about his face, his coat and ck denims covered in snow.


    He looked about him admiringly as by tacit consent they turned to resume their walk towards the forest. ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful here,¡±


    Caroline nodded in agreement. They spend twenty more minutes talking about random things before she drew in a ragged breath. ¡°I think it¡¯s time we returned to the inn now, don¡¯t you? It¡¯s getting colder.¡±


    Nichs looked at her between narrowed lids. ¡°Okay,¡± he answered as he turned back towards the inn, ¡°Jim thinks that the snow ploughs should get out this way byter this afternoon,¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± He nodded. ¡°Toote to drive anywhere today, though. But hopefully it means we should be able to continue our journey some time tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡± The dismay was easily recognizable in Caroline¡¯s tone.


    Nichs¡¯ mouth twisted as he nced down at her. ¡°We have to spend another night at the inn.¡±


    Caroline frowned up at him from behind the shield of her dark sses. ¡°I can always sleep downstairs in the bar tonight.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous and you know it,¡± Nichs snapped. ¡°I will try and keep my hands to myself tonight, if you can¡­¡±


    She bristled angrily, knowing that the brief time of peace was most definitely over. ¡°I have no intention of putting my hands anywhere near you!¡±


    ¡°You didst night¡­¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t bring it up.¡± Caroline flushed with embarrassment.


    Nichs scowled. ¡°This bickering is even more childish than your suggestion of sleeping in a chair downstairs in the bar tonight.¡±


    Caroline scowled. ¡°It takes two to bicker.¡±


    He drew in a sharp, angry breath. ¡°God, you¡¯re a stubborn woman!¡±


    ¡°It takes one to know one,¡± she quoted with a sharin-sweet smile. ¡°Although in your case it¡¯s obviously a stubborn man.¡±


    Nichs gave a shake of his head. ¡°I need to get back to the inn to make some phone calls.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Caroline snapped.


    ¡°Absolutely fine,¡± Nichs bit out gratingly.


    She raised her brows as he still made no effort to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t let me keep you.¡± She continued to look up at him for several long seconds before he turned sharply on his heel and strode forcefully back towards the inn.


    Her breath exhaled slowly, shakily, as she watched him leave. Caroline acknowledged that their rtionship was crumbling surely as her defenses against her growing attraction to him.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ______________


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to allow you to sit down here all night, you know.¡± Nichs spoke softly as the clock behind the bar struck midnight.


    To say things had been strained between he and Caroline this evening was an understatement. They had talked to Jennie and Jim, both separately and together, during the evening meal, but never to each other. Thendlord and his wife had excused themselves and gone up to bed over an hour ago, leaving their guests to linger downstairs. That hour had been spent in absolute silence. Putting it bluntly, Nichs had had enough of feeling as if he was somehow to me for the awkwardness between them.


    He was used to the women he became involved with asionally being temperamental if they felt he wasn¡¯t paying them enough attention.


    But, damn it, Caroline worked for him and they were not involved. They were employer and employee¡­ It didn¡¯t matter if it was temporary. They weren¡¯t supposed to argue. He certainly shouldn¡¯t be feeling guilty because of this tension between them.


    ¡°Allow me, Nichs?¡± Caroline repeated softly, one brow raised.


    His mouth tightened. ¡°I am not going to have another argument with you, Care.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s arguing?¡±


    Nichs tightly clenched his jaw to prevent his knee-jerk reaction to her stubbornness. ¡°My Aunt Mae always says that a couple should never go to bed with an unresolved argument between them.¡±


    Caroline shook her head. ¡°For one thing, we aren¡¯t a couple. For another,¡± she continued before he could interrupt, ¡°There is no argument between us to resolve.¡±


    Nichs gave a disgusted snort. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you talking to me?¡±


    ¡°I am talking to you.¡±


    ¡°Like I¡¯m some stranger you have to be excessively polite to.¡±


    Caroline gave a humorless smile, knowing Nichs was right, but unsure what to do about it when she was now so aware of him that she could barely think straight. She had lingered outside for more than half an hour longer than him this afternoon as she¡¯d tried to get her chaotic thoughts and feelings under control. She had thought she had managed to do that until she¡¯d walked back into the inn and looked at him as he sat in the deserted bar talking on the phone. Just one nce at him had told her that no amount of time, or attempts at self-discipline on her part, was going to change the fact that she was so totally aware of Nichs now that just looking at him made her pulse race and brought a flush to her cheeks.


    The thought of being alone with him in the bedroom again, of lying there and beingpletely aware of his every breath and movement, was enough to throw her into a panic.


    ¡°Juste to bed, Care,¡± His hands were clenched at his sides.


    Caroline felt the warmth in her cheeks even as her breath caught in her throat. Come to bed, Care¡­Dear God, what longings those words awoke in her.

 38

    She had never thought of herself as a particrly sensuous person, but the truth was that Caroline wanted Nichs to like her. She wasn¡¯t fooling herself into thinking that if a physical rtionship between them ever were to happen-as it so easily could have donest night-she would mean any more to him than any women who probably flitted in and out of his life. But she wanted him anyway.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She would be damned to no longer being able to work for him or his father if she did, damned to living with this ever-increasing aching need if she didn¡¯t. Neither alternative held any appeal.


    She gave a weary sigh. ¡°I just think it¡¯s better this way, Nichs,¡±


    What way? Nichs scowled, frustrated. What thoughts were going through her head as she sat there so quietly and coollyposed? So unreachable. He had admired her ssiness, this style and coolness about her, from the moment they¡¯d first met. Had coveted it, even. Now he just wanted to do something, to say something, anything, that would shatter that coolness.


    His mouth set grimly. ¡°How long are you going to continue living your life like this, Care?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She gave him a startled look as she sat forward stiffly.


    ¡°You lock everyone and every new experience out,¡±


    Caroline gave a dazed shake of her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to open your eyes to other opportunities,¡± Nichs bit out.


    ¡°Stop it, Nichs,¡± she told him shakily, desperately.


    ¡°No way,¡± he rasped firmly, his mouth tight. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be focused. But what you¡¯re doing-the way you live your life.¡± He gave a decisive shake of his head. ¡°It isn¡¯t normal, Care. In fact, it¡¯s unhealthy!¡±


    Caroline stood up, her expression pained. ¡°You¡¯re being unnecessarily cruel, Nichs,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being truthful.¡± He scowled darkly. ¡°How many men have you gone out with in thest few months, Care? How many men have you gone to bed with?¡±


    Caroline¡¯s breath felt as if it were burning her chest as she put out a hand to tightly grip the back of the chair so that he couldn¡¯t see how much that hand was shaking in reaction to this unexpected attack.¡± I don¡¯t have to answer your questions, Nichs. It¡¯s none of your business,¡± She shook her head, her face very pale.


    ¡°Then let me answer them for you,¡± he bit out disgustedly. ¡°None, Care. I know I haven¡¯t known you for too long, but I know enough about you to know that the answer is none. No dates. Not one single man in your life for thest few months, maybe even a year or more,¡±


    Caroline shook her head as if to ward off the pained reality of his usation.¡± You can¡¯t know that, Nichs. You have no idea how I live my life when I¡¯m not in the office with you, the friends that I see.¡±


    ¡°Wrong, Care,¡± he retorted scathingly.


    Her gaze narrowed. ¡°What do you want? Would you rather I have a session of men in my life in the same way that you probably have a session of women in yours?¡±


    His brows rose. ¡°I don¡¯t believe we were talking about my life, Care,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not, when you feel nopunction in discussing mine!¡± she was breathing hard in her agitation. ¡°And who is that Rachael woman who wouldn¡¯t stop calling you when we met? Someone you left or abandoned in New York? A girlfriend maybe¡­.¡± She challenged tauntingly. ¡°Could it be because you¡¯re frightened ofmitment¡­.¡±


    ¡°Choose your words carefully, Care,¡± he warned in a dangerously soft voice.


    Caroline was beyond the caution his words, his whole tense demeanor, advised. ¡°You started it by criticizing my lifestyle, so why shouldn¡¯t I be allowed to criticize your own lifestyle in the same way? Or the reason for it?¡±


    A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you are talking about.


    ¡°Oh really, but I¡¯m not so far from the truth, am I?¡±


    ¡°You know what? Screw it! Do whatever the hell you want,¡± he said and looked away.


    Caroline said nothing. They just stood there in silence. Caroline hated the conversation they just had, but she had to admit to herself that he was kind of right. She¡¯d been so busy shielding herself and her heart, that she¡¯d forgotten to live. She¡¯d shut every man out¡­ Until  Nichs. And that was because she was rapidly falling in love with him, that was why! If she wasn¡¯t already in love with him already¡­. She had to admit that to herself, even though she couldn¡¯t understand how or why it had happened. Especially so fast.


    ¡°Nichs! I¡­I¡¯m sorry about my remark earlier-when I implied you avoidedmitment,¡± she exined reluctantly as he frowned his puzzlement. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business what happened in New York or who Rachael is and I shouldn¡¯t have said that.¡±


    ¡°Just for the record, Care,¡± he exined, ¡°l¡¯m not frightened ofmitment. I¡¯ve just never seen the point. If I meet the right woman, then I may consider settling down and getting married, okay? So far I haven¡¯t met that woman, but when I do I have every intention of asking her to marry me, okay?¡±


    Caroline had a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach. When Nichs met the right woman he might get married.


    Just the thought of him marrying this as-yet faceless, nameless woman was enough to make her feel ill. How was she going to feel when he married? How would she be able to go on working for him, knowing that at the end of each day he would be going home to his wife, to the bed they shared? Caroline couldn¡¯t even bear the thought of it.


    The things Nichs had implied about her life paled intoplete insignificance next to the thought of him ever getting married. She shied away from looking too deeply at her feelings for him, knowing it would only result in pain she wasn¡¯t ready to deal with.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she epted huskily.


    She looked so small and forlorn as she stood there alone beside the fire, Nichs acknowledged with restless impatience. The mes reflected in her hair, turning it to red-gold. That same gold sheen was in the depths of her eyes, and the honey glow to her cheeks. She was so beautiful¡­ Nichs¡¯ breath caught in his throat as she returned his gaze. As those blue eyes seemed to turn to liquid gold, and a slight flush coloured her cheeks.

 39

    Nichs didn¡¯t allow himself to think as he took the three strides that took him back to Caroline¡¯s side; as he lifted a hand and cupped it lightly against the warmth of her cheek; as he gazed down into the  depths of her eyes.


    Caroline gazed right back at him. Not challengingly, but questioningly.


    It was Nichs¡¯ cue to stop this right now. To bring a halt to something that would ultimately lead to disaster. Except he couldn¡¯t do it. He wanted to kiss Caroline. Wanted to do more than kiss her. But he would settle for tasting her. For feeling the warm response of her mouth beneath his. For now¡­


    Nichs lowered his head slowly, all the time holding her gaze with his own, his groanpletely involuntary as his lips came into contact with hers. She tasted so good! So sweet, like nectar. ¡°Open your mouth for me, Care,¡± he groaned huskily against her lips. ¡°Let me in!¡± he encouraged achingly even as his tongue moved in a light caress against the softness of her lips.


    Lips that parted invitingly as Caroline stepped fully into his arms, her own arms moving up to curve about his shoulders as her fingers became entangled in the dark thickness of the hair at his nape. It was all the encouragement he needed to deepen the kiss, his lips hard and demanding against hers as he dipped his tongue into her honeyed sweetness.


    Caroline trembled as the thrust of Nichs¡¯ tongue imed her mouth, seeking, possessing, taking. Igniting.


    She pressed close against him as the kiss deepened hungrily, her breasts highly sensitized as they came into contact with the hardness of his chest, that hardness abrasive against her aroused nipples and sending hot rivulets of arousal down to her already-heated thighs.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nichs¡¯ hand left the curve of her cheek to travel slowly, caressingly down over her breast, the dip of her waist and lower still. His fingers curved over her bottom to pull her even closer against his arousal, the hard feel of him there causing a wild rush of pleasure that had Caroline wet and aching within seconds as she moved restlessly against him. That ache deepened to near pain as his hand moved to the curve of her breast, cupping, lightly squeezing, the soft pad of his thumb unerringly finding the thrust of her nipple against the soft wool of her jumper.


    Caroline groaned softly as the whole of her body seemed to melt, that ache between her thighs bing a heated throb, her fingers clinging to Nichs¡¯ shoulders as his mouth left hers to trail down her throat to the deep hollows beneath, tongue dipping, tasting.


    Her neck arched in invitation, supplication, as he moved back slightly to sit on the arm of the chair before pushing her jumper up above her breasts. One hand moved to cup and caress even as his head lowered, and he suckled the other fiery tip into the heat and moisture of his mouth.


    Caroline¡¯s legs buckled at this dual assault upon her senses, the smooth caress of the pad of his thumb and the rasping caress of his tongue. It was¡­sublime. Ecstasy. Unlike anything she had ever known before. Her fingers were tangled in his hair as she held him to her, unwilling for this pleasure to ever stop. Her gasp became a groan as Nichs turned the attention of his mouth to her other breast, licking, tasting, before suckling deeply.


    Nichs felt Caroline¡¯s restlessness as her thighs pressed urgently against his, his own arousal so hard and tight it was almost painful as he felt the heat of her need.


    Her stomach was t and hot as he loosened the button on her denims before slipping his hand beneath, her curls soft and silky as he sought the center of her need, lightly caressing with his fingers as he found that hardened nub. Stroking her. Once. Twice. He was able to feel her quivers of release on his third stroke, and Nichs suckled harder on her breast as he took her over the edge. She came in spasm after spasm as release shook her heated slickness.


    Caroline felt herselfing apart. Disintegrating. Shattering into a thousand, a million, pieces as her body convulsed and shook in a burning release that was beyond imagining, seemingly never-ending. Until reality hit her with the force of a blow.


    Her forehead rested on Nichs¡¯ shoulder as she became aware of her surroundings. Of the softness of his sweater cool against her heated skin. The air feeling cool too against her bared breasts. Both his arms were lightly about her waist now.


    Caroline shivered, not with cold but with reaction. What had she just done? What had she just allowed to happen? She couldn¡¯t have stopped that if she had tried; she had been totally lost from the moment he had begun to kiss her.


    What must he think of her? He had kissed her more intimately than any other man. Had touched her more intimately than any other man. Had given her more pleasure¡­


    Nichs felt it as Caroline began to shiver in reaction, his arms tightening about her as she would have moved sharply away from him. ¡°You were beautiful, Care,¡± he told her gruffly. ¡°Absolutely beautiful.¡±


    She raised her head slowly, eyes dark and shadowed, the hollows in her cheeks more pronounced beneath those shadowy depths. Her expression was one of regret as well as embarrassment.


    Nichs groaned softly as he saw that regret in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t, Care,¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t what?¡± Her voice broke emotionally as she pulled out of his arms, turned away and straightened her clothing. ¡°Don¡¯t feel embarrassed? Mortified?¡± Her voice rose angrily as she turned back to look at him with sparkling eyes. ¡°How do you want me to feel, Nichs?¡± she challenged harshly. ¡°Warm and soft? Girlish and coy? Or will just grateful do?¡±


    Nichs could feel the nerve pulsing in his cheek as he fought to contain his own anger. Anything he and Caroline said to each other now was going to sound wrong. Better to walk away from this before one or both of them said something they were going to regret. As he already regretted letting this situation between them get so out of control¡­


    ¡°Go to bed, Care,¡± he rasped as he turned away from her. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep down here tonight. We¡¯ll talk in the morning.¡±

 40

    Caroline stared at the hard rigidness of Nichs¡¯ back, wondering what he was thinking. What he thought of her. Whatever it was, it couldn¡¯t be any worse than what she thought of herself. She wondered now how everything was going to change.


    ¡°What is there left for us to talk about?¡± she bit out. ¡°Whether or not you are going to fire me when we get home,¡±


    His eyes had narrowed to slits as he turned to look at her. ¡°Who said anything about firing you?¡±


    Caroline gave a disbelieving snort. ¡°What else is there when this keeps happening between us? We can¡¯t work together like this,¡± She breathed shakily, wondering if she could possibly feel any worse than she already did. She trembled just at the memory of the intimacies they had shared. ¡°How can we continue working together?¡±


    His mouth tightened. ¡°Do you want us to continue working together?¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t think what I wantes into it, do you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think that it does.¡± He nodded slowly, pale gaze unreadable.


    Caroline closed her eyes briefly before raising her lids to look at him once again. ¡°I want just now not to have happened,¡± she muttered gruffly. ¡°I want us to have a professional rtionship,¡±


    Nichs gave a humorless smile. ¡°And if that proves to be impossible?¡±


    She swallowed hard.  ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to consider leaving.¡±


    He continued to look at her for several long minutes before nodding abruptly. ¡°In that case, I suggest we try to keep our hands off one another from now on. I don¡¯t see the need for your resignation.¡±


    How different this could have been if Nichs had loved her, Caroline wished achingly. If he loved her as she was starting to love him¡­ Because she did love him. She had absolutely no doubts about that now. She knew she could never have behaved in the way she just had, never have responded in that way, if she wasn¡¯t already in love with him.


    Just as Caroline knew that the only way she could stay in his life was if he never knew that she loved him. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe-¡± Caroline broke off with a self-conscious groan. ¡°Jim or Jennie could have walked in on us a few minutes ago!¡±


    ¡°But they didn¡¯t.¡± His eyes shed.


    ¡°More by luck than judgment!¡± Caroline¡¯s eyes red darkly, knowing that anger was probably a safer emotion than theplete devastation she really felt.


    ¡°Stop beating yourself up, Care, and just go to bed,¡± Nichs rasped wearily.


    One look at the grimness of his expression told her that he didn¡¯t want to talk about this any more tonight, either. If ever! Which suited her perfectly. Caroline could imagine nothing more cringe-making, more embarrassing, than discussing herpleteck of control a few minutes ago. Ack of control that still made her body tremble and quake with remembered pleasure¡­ ¡°Fine.¡± She nodded abruptly. ¡°I-I¡¯ll see you in the morning, then.


    ¡°No doubt,¡± Nichs bit out.


    Caroline hesitated only long enough to give him onest, lingering nce before hurrying from the room and up the stairs to the bedroom, closing the door sharply behind her, wishing she could as easily close the door on her memories.


    How would she ever be able to so much as look at him without those memories zing between them?


    She would certainly never be able to look at Nichs without knowing that she was falling for him¡­


    __________


    ¡°It was kind of Jim and Jennie to pack lunch for us,¡± Caroline ventured softlyter the next morning as she turned to wave to thendlord and his wife as they stood in the doorway of the inn, watching them leave. The snow-plough had done its job and cleared the minor road earlier this morning now that the major roads were driveable.


    Nichs nted her a brief nce. ¡°And you could use a little kindness right now, hmm?¡± He watched as a bing blush coloured her cheeks. Cheeks that until a few minutes ago had been deathly pale.


    Not that Nichs felt much better. He hadn¡¯t slept well the previous night, and thatck of sleep owed nothing to the ufortableness of the chair he¡¯d slept in and more to the fact that he couldn¡¯t get Caroline out of his head. Kissing her. How she had felt. How soft and creamy her skin was. How responsive her body was to the slightest caress. Of how she hadpletelye apart in his arms.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He had still been able to taste her. To feel her. Her skin had felt so satin-smooth. Her breasts had fit perfectly into his hands. Her curls had been soft and silky to the touch as he¡¯d sought and found the center of her arousal. Caroline had been so responsive, sopletely beautiful, as he¡¯d felt her climax against his stroking fingers.


    Nichs hadn¡¯t been able to get the memory of that from his head. He still couldn¡¯t. So much so that all he wanted to do right now was take Caroline to the nearest bed and finish what they had startedst night. He wanted to see her naked. He wanted to know if those silky-soft curls were as her hair. Wanted to touch and kiss the petalled rose between her thighs, to drive her over that edge with the touch of his lips and tongue. Most of all, he wanted to bury himself inside that rosy moistness, to stroke himself inside her again and again until they both found release.


    In the circumstances it was probably as well that he had to concentrate so hard on his driving. The roads were still slightly icy despite having been gritted overnight. Although that didn¡¯t stop his thoughts from constantly returning to the previous evening¡­ What the hell was happening between the two of them?


    Last night, Caroline was amazing. Her coolness hadpletely melted to reveal a woman with physical passions that ran as fiercely as his own. She had been so hot and responsive, almost wild in her pleasure. Had she ever reacted in the same way in another man¡¯s arms? Jealousy wasn¡¯t an emotion Nichs recognized. In the same way he didn¡¯t recognize possessiveness. He had never had any use for either emotion. And yet just the thought of any other man bringing her to the same release he hadst night filled Nichs with anger.


    ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t like my particr brand of kindness?¡± he rasped insultingly.

 41

    Caroline drew in a sharp breath at what she was sure was Nichs¡¯ deliberate attempt to humiliate her. What other reason could he have for reminding her so forcibly, so tauntingly, of what had happened between them the previous evening?


    A memory she had been trying so hard to forget but couldn¡¯t¡­ How could she possibly forget that he had kissed her, touched her, aroused her? Well maybe she would never be able to forget any of those things, but she certainly didn¡¯t have to let Nichs know about them.


    ¡°There¡¯s no perhaps about it,¡± she came back coldly.


    He shot her a scathing nce. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem so sure of thatst night!¡±


    This time Caroline¡¯s gasp was audible, and the colour once again faded from her cheeks.


    He sighed heavily. ¡°I didn¡¯t get much sleepst night, okay?¡±


    Caroline epted this probably wasn¡¯t the best time in the world for them to discuss the events ofst night-she doubted there would ever be a good time. Although she was curious as to why he hadn¡¯t slept well either¡­ Now that she looked at him, she could see thatck of sleep in the heaviness of his eyes, with their dark shadows beneath, and in the grim set of his mouth and jaw.


    Could it be that he had been as affected by their passionate clinch as she had? Oh, she knew Nichs had been aroused-the physical evidence of that had been all too obvious as he¡¯d molded her body against his-but had it been more than that for both of them?


    No, of course it hadn¡¯t, Caroline answered herself harshly. Nichs was a ¡®bed ¡¯em and leave ¡¯em¡¯ man, and If he hadn¡¯t slept wellst night it had to be because he had found the chair ufortable, not because he had been thinking about her.


    ¡°Perhaps it would be better if we didn¡¯t talk,¡± he suggested practically.


    Easier said than done, he realized unhappily as they continued the rest of the drive to his Aunt Mae¡¯s in silence. A silence far removed from the easypanionship that had existed between them beforest night.


    But how could it be any different when he waspletely aware of everything about Caroline this morning? Of the soft sweep of her hair as it flowed loosely about her shoulders; the pale oval of her face; those blue eyes, dark and unfathomable. The way the brown sweater and denims fitted over the soft curves of her body. The delicate perfume she always wore: light, slightly floral, almost elusive. Like Caroline herself.


    Whether he liked it or not, something was happening between them. Something tangible. But what it was, Nichs had no idea¡­


    ¡°My Aunt Mae doesn¡¯t bite,¡± Nichs assured her mockingly when Caroline joined him at the back of the Range Rover as he took their luggage out of the boot.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Caroline shot him an irritated look. She doubted whether the older woman could fail to pick up on the tension that undoubtedly existed between Nichs and her. A tension that surely shouldn¡¯t exist between her nephew and the woman who worked for him.


    ¡°Very funny,¡± she muttered as she picked up her overnight bag, before turning away.


    Just in time to see a small, wirydy with iron-grey hair pulled back in a no-nonsense bun, and wearing a floral pinafore over her woolen dress. She came out of the small cottage, eyes the same brown as Nichs¡¯ fixed affectionately on her nephew as she hurried down the pathway to join them.


    Caroline stood politely to one side as Nichs turned to swing his Aunt Mae up in his arms in a hug that would have crushed a less robust woman.


    ¡°Put me down, ye wee heathen, and introduce me to my guest!¡± his aunt finally instructed, the sternness of her expression belied by the tears of pleasure that glistened in her eyes as she looked proudly at him.


    Nichs¡¯ grin was mischievous as he slowly lowered the elderlydy back onto her slippered feet.¡± Aunt Mae, this is Caroline Anderson. Care, my aunt, Mae Harrison.¡±


    ¡°Call me Mae,¡± the elderlydy invited warmly as she took Caroline¡¯s hand in a surprisingly strong grip, at the same time as that dark gaze swept over Caroline with the astuteness she had suspected, and dreaded, would be there.


    ¡°Caroline,¡± she returned lightly as she kept her expression deliberately neutral under that piercing gaze. ¡°Come inside and have some tea and cake,¡± the older woman invited with brisk warmth as she turned and led the way back into the cottage.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just bring the bags in, shall I?¡± Nichs muttered.


    ¡°It¡¯s one of the few things men are good for,¡± his aunt returned without so much as a turn of her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t put ideas in Caroline¡¯s head!¡± he called after them dryly.


    Once inside, Caroline sat, slightly dazed. Mae Harrison was every bit as astute as she had thought she might be. But she was also much more-warm. Kind. Obviously incredibly proud of her nephew, the fierce love she felt for him shining in those wonderful eyes so like Nichs¡¯ own.


    ¡°So, what do you think?¡±


    Caroline gave a start before she turned sharply to look at Nichs, as he stood in the doorway grinning across at her. ¡°What do I think about what?¡± she came back guardedly.


    ¡°Aunt Mae.¡± His grin widened as he came further into the room; his earlier look of strain seemed to havepletely dissipated, and he stood in front of the zing fire to warm himself.


    He looked different in these surroundings, Caroline realized. Less the arrogant Nichs Connelly, and more boyish Nichs Connelly, Mae Harrison¡¯s nephew.


    Caroline suddenly felt her cheeks warm, and not from the heat of the fire. Not because she was shocked by the sentiment but because of how close she and Nichs hade to crossing the boundary of their rtionship the evening before.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± his aunt announced briskly as she came in carrying theden tea-tray.


    Nichs crossed the room to take the tray from his aunt¡¯s unresisting fingers, before he ced it on the small cloth-covered table at the back of the room that served as dining room as well as sitting room. This cottage had seemed very small to Nichs thest time he was here as a teenager, the low ceilingspletely unsuitable for his height even then. But he hade to love this cottage and the rugged beauty of its surrounding countryside almost as much as he loved his Aunt Mae.

 42

    ¡°Is pouring tea another use we men have?¡± he teased his deceptively brisk aunt; beneath her gruff exterior, Mae had a heart almost as big as she was.


    ¡°I trust you¡¯ll excuse my nephew, Caroline,¡± His aunt frowned at him disapprovingly as she made herselffortable in the armchair opposite Caroline¡¯s. ¡°I assure you, I never taught him to be so disrespectful


    Neither did his father.¡±


    Nichs grinned, unconcerned. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡±


    Caroline was very much enjoying the exchange between Nichs and his aunt, and doubted very much that he ever got the better of the sharp-tongued Mae Harrison.


    Although she was less sure about seeing a side of him that she had never realized existed. A lighthearted, teasing side that hid the wealth of love he obviously felt for the woman.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°So, Caroline,¡± Mae Harrison drew her attention away from Nichs. ¡°How long have you and Nick known each other? If I don¡¯t ask you, I¡¯ll never know,¡± she added confidingly. ¡°He never tells me anything about his private life.¡±


    Caroline gave the older woman a startled look. ¡°Oh, but-¡±


    ¡°Caroline isn¡¯t part of my private life, Aunt Mae,¡± Nichs informed her dryly as he handed the women two of the cups of tea he had poured, raising one dark brow in Caroline¡¯s direction as he saw the heated color enter her cheeks. ¡°Cake?¡± His expression was deceptively innocent as he gave Caroline an empty te before offering the te containing his Aunt Mae¡¯s fruit cake, no doubt baked especially for the asion.


    Caroline seemed slightly in a daze as she absently took a piece of the fruit cake. ¡°You seem to be under some sort of misapprehension as to my identity, Mrs Harrison.¡±


    ¡°Now, didn¡¯t I ask you to call me Mae?¡± Nichs¡¯  aunt rebuked her gently, at the same time shooting him a questioning nce.


    Nichs easily guessed the reason for Mae¡¯s puzzlement; as he had already exined to Caroline, she really wasn¡¯t what his aunt had been expecting from his own description of his PA as being ¡®prim, officious and efficient¡¯. A description that he had genuinely thought applied to Caroline. But not any more¡­ He frowned slightly. ¡°Caroline  is my PA, Aunt Mae,¡± he supplied abruptly as he turned away to collect his own cup of tea and piece of cake, before sitting down on the foot-stool beside his aunt¡¯s chair. Nevertheless, he sensed Mae¡¯s thoughtful gaze fixed on him for several seconds. Deservedly so, considering his previousments about Caroline had given his aunt the impression that she was a much older woman, an older woman who he had no more interest in seducing than she had in being seduced.


    He had found the situation amusing when he¡¯d told Caroline yesterday. Now, with his aunt looking at him so interestedly, Nichs felt far less amused.


    ¡°Caroline seems to have finished her tea, so perhaps I could show her up to her room so that she can freshen up after our journey?¡± he suggested lightly, knowing by Caroline¡¯s slightly dazed expression as she looked down at the empty cup in her hand and the te on her knee that she had probably consumed both without even being aware of doing so. ¡°I take it Caroline has my old bedroom and I¡¯m in the box room?¡± he asked his aunt lightly as he met her searching gaze with one of deliberate ndness.


    An expression that obviously didn¡¯t fool her for one moment. ¡°Do that.¡± His aunt nodded.


    Caroline was well aware that there was some sort of exchange going on between aunt and nephew beneath the surface-politeness of their conversation. Just as she was aware that she was the subject of that exchange. But how much Mae Harrison knew, or had guessed, about Caroline¡¯s rtionship with Nichs she wasn¡¯t sure¡­ ¡°There¡¯s really no need for Nichs to give up his bedroom for me,¡± she assured her brightly. ¡°I¡¯m sure I would be perfectlyfortable in the box room.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hear of it,¡± Mae Harrison told her decisively as she stood up. ¡°Never turn down an act of self-sacrifice on a man¡¯s part, Caroline,¡± she reproved lightly. ¡°They have things far too much their own way in this world as it is.¡±


    Caroline gave a rueful smile. ¡°Nichs very generously gave up his bed for mest night-¡± She broke off abruptly, fiery color entering her cheeks at the realization that she and Nichs had been stranded at the inn for two nights and not one. She shot him a beseeching nce to cover her obvious mistake.


    A nce he returned with mocking amusement. ¡°Caroline meant, of course, that due to the fact that the inn had only one spare bedroom I¡¯ve had to spend thest two nights sleeping in a chair,¡± he drawled.


    ¡°Quite right too,¡± his aunt approved briskly. ¡°It¡¯s nice to know that not all my teaching went in one ear and out the other! Well, don¡¯t keep Caroline standing there; away with you and show her to the room she¡¯s to use.¡±


    Caroline still felt slightly disoriented as she followed Nichs up the narrow staircase to the bedrooms above. She had known this visit to his aunt was going to be awkward the moment he¡¯d mentioned it to her, but it was so much worse than she had even imagined it would be. She couldn¡¯t hide the feelings she felt for the dynamic Nichs Connelly, a man who was as arrogant as he was sessful. But the Nichs Connelly she had seen thest couple of days-the man who was Mae Harrison¡¯s nephew, who not only respected his aunt but obviously adored her-was so much more endearing.


    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s a little cold up here.¡± Nichs looked down at Caroline as he saw her shiver when they entered the room that had been his bedroom when he visited during his teens.


    Caroline gave him a smile. ¡°I-Please don¡¯t linger up here on my ount. I¡¯m sure that you and your aunt have a lot of catching up to do.¡±


    Nichs already knew that most of that ¡®catching up¡¯ would be about Caroline herself. ¡°Care¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯lle down in a few minutes,¡± she assured him huskily, her gaze not meeting his as she looked about the bedroom instead.

 43

    Nichs frowned down at her. ¡°Care?¡±


    ¡°Nichs, would you mind giving me some time to freshen up?¡± she asked as she looked up at him.  ¡°Thisst couple of days, traveling up to Texas and then getting stranded in the snow, has been quite hard.¡±


    Hard? That wasn¡¯t quite the description that Nichs would have used concerning thest two days. But perhaps to Caroline, forced by circumstances into such close proximity with him, that was exactly what it had been. Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have brought her to Texas with him at all.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he bit out. ¡°There¡¯s only the one small bathroom, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll manage, Nichs,¡± she concluded.


    He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s just down the hallway on the right. Come downstairs when you¡¯re ready.¡± He gave another nod before leaving.


    Caroline sat down abruptly on the single bed as she heard him returning down stairs, not sure she would ever be ¡®ready¡¯ to face him again, let alone the searching gaze of his aunt.


    But as she looked about the bedroom that had once been his, she didn¡¯t think she would be able to remain up here for too long, either.


    The walls were mainly covered in posters. Not of the scantily-d females she might have expected from the teenager he had been when he¡¯d visited here; instead there were dozens of posters on ser. The yers. The fixtures. The stadiums.


    The single bookcase beside the bed held a much-read collection of paperbacks. His taste was eclectic as it ranged from the ssics to murder-mysteries, and of course ser. Even the duvet cover on the bed Caroline sat on was styled in the colors of some ser team!


    Everywhere Caroline looked she was surrounded by the evidence of Nichs living here, by his presence. And this was the bedroom she was expected to sleep in tonight!


    ______


    ¡°Come in and sit by the range where it¡¯s warm¡± Mae Harrison invited as Caroline hesitated in the kitchen doorway.


    The kitchen was cozy and warm, and filled with the smell of food cooking as Mae fried onions in a pan on top of the range. A wooden rocking-chair was ced to one side, obviously one that the elderlydy often used herself, the cushions old and faded.


    The homeliness of the cottage was such a contrast to the apartment Frank Connelly asionally used at the top of Happy Valley Park. The taste there ran torge,fortable furniture in the sitting room, and a streamlined kitchen in ck and yellow with all the modern electrical-conveniences at his disposal.


    ¡°The floor is original,¡± the elderlydy announced proudly as she saw Caroline¡¯s admiring gaze on the pale-stone floor and mellowed-oak cupboards. ¡°Once when Nichs called, he was talking about installing a newfangled gas Aga too.¡± Mae wrinkled her nose scathingly. ¡°But, as I told him, I¡¯ve had this old wood-burning range for over  years and I know its foibles as well as it knows mine!¡±


    Caroline smiled. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± she offered politely.


    ¡°Just sit yourself down,¡± the older woman assured her briskly. ¡°I¡¯m making Nichs¡¯ favorite-cottage pie,¡± she confided as she saw Caroline¡¯s interest in what she was doing.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Mae confirmed affectionately. ¡°Of course, he probably eats all that fancy food, but whenever hees here it¡¯s a cottage pie he always asks for. I¡¯ll never tell him so, of course, but he¡¯s a goodd,¡± she added warmly. ¡°Wild and angry with the world sometimes, of course.¡± She frowned. ¡°But what teenager wouldn¡¯t be when the mother he adored had just died? His father couldn¡¯t handle him sometimes¡­ And I can¡¯t me him much¡­ He was mourning his wife too. He loved her dearly,¡±


    Caroline murmured something appropriate, not sure she wanted to hear any of this. Afterst night, it was much easier for her to think of Nichs only as the rich and sessful man who used and discarded women, rather than to be told how wonderful he was by the elderly aunt who had helped to bring him up.


    ¡°Nichs is strong willed and a little stubborn, and although he may have left home, he has never forgotten his roots,¡± snorted Mae.


    ¡°Singing my praises again, Aunt Mae?¡± Nichs mocked as he opened the kitchen door and allowed a st of cold air to st into the room with him. He was carrying a stack of wood across the room and dropped it into the basket beside the range before straightening.¡±I hope you haven¡¯t been regaling Caroline with any of the deeds of my misspent youth?¡± he added teasingly.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Caroline toe downstairs before he returned from chopping the wood, and wondered now exactly what Aunt Mae had been talking about in his absence. If it was anything like the twenty questions about Caroline that his aunt had given him a short time ago, then he felt sorry for her!


    ¡°You may have had your issues,¡± his aunt retorted sternly. ¡°But not while you were here. I would never have allowed it while you were under my roof!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Nichs drawled. ¡°She was worse than Sherlock Holmes,¡± he confided in Caroline dryly. ¡°Knew what I¡¯d done before I¡¯d even done it. I tried one cigarette-one,¡± he emphasized. ¡°When I was sixteen. And as soon as I walked back in the door she sat me down in that rocking chair you¡¯re sitting in now and gave me a lecture on the perils of the dreaded weed. With graphic details, I might add.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± His aunt nodded unrepentantly. ¡°Now, take Caroline into the sitting room and offer her a ss of sherry before supper so that I can get on with my cooking.¡±


    Caroline frowned slightly. ¡°I hope I haven¡¯t been too much of a nuisance.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t been a nuisance at all,¡± Mae assured her briskly. ¡°I simply can¡¯t abide having a man in my kitchen.¡±


    Nichs chuckled softly as he opened the door for Caroline to precede him into the adjoining sitting-room. ¡°So how¡¯s it going?¡± he asked her.


    Caroline took the ss he handed her, taking a sip of the sherry before answering him, grateful for the feel of the warming liquid inside her.


    ¡°I really wish you hadn¡¯t brought me here, Nichs,¡± She looked ufortable.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Nichs rasped irritably as he moved away from her to stand beside the fire. ¡°I realize the cottage isn¡¯t quite what you¡¯re used to by way of amodation, but-¡±


    ¡°That ispletely unfair, Nichs!¡± Caroline protested indignantly. ¡°The cottage is charming. As is your aunt.¡±

 44

    He scowled darkly. ¡°That would appear to leave only me you aren¡¯tfortable with¡­?¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t you either.¡± She sighed impatiently. Well¡­not exactly.


    ¡°Then what is the problem?¡± He threw his own sherry to the back of his throat before crossing the room to refill his ss.


    Caroline turned away, wondering how she could best exin herself without revealing too much of her inner turmoil. Being here like this with him, was ying havoc with her need to hold herself distant from him. Afterst night there didn¡¯t seem to be any other option open to her, and yet it was impossible to remain detached, removed, while in the presence of his aunt and the easy affection that existed between the two of them.


    Especially as Mae Harrison¡¯s shrewd gaze seemed to have noticed there was something other than the rtionship of employer and employee between them. What other reason could the other woman have for talking to her about Nichs so defensively?


    ¡°What did you tell your aunt about me, Nichs?¡± she asked.


    ¡°What do you think I told her?¡± he rasped, his eyes narrowed in warning.


    ¡°You don¡¯t imagine that I¡¯ve told her what happened between usst night?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not!¡± Colour burned Caroline¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I simply-She wasn¡¯t talking to me just now as if I were your employee.¡± She shook her head, frowning. ¡°I feel somehow as if I¡¯m here under false pretenses.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s rubbish, Care, and you know it.¡± Nichs crossed the room in two strides, standing dangerously close now. ¡°I think you¡¯re projecting your own feelings of awkwardness onto Aunt Mae.¡±


    ¡°I am?¡± Caroline blinked up at him, wishing he wasn¡¯t standing quite so close-so close that she could see the gold flecks his eyes. So close that she had only to reach out and¡­¡±I really shouldn¡¯t be here, Nichs,¡± she insisted firmly, as her hand tightened about the sherry ss she held and her other hand clenched at her side. ¡°This is your home. It¡¯s not like the house where we met. Your Aunt is very close to you,¡±


    ¡°And so what?¡± Nichs bit out grimly.


    ¡°Never mind.¡± She turned away dismissively. ¡°You obviously don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Nichs studied her, frustrated, for several seconds. The soft curtain of her hair partly obscured her face, but what he could see of her features looked far from happy. Because she really didn¡¯t feelfortable being at his aunt¡¯s home? Or because of something else?


    Caroline had made it pretty in, both then and this morning, that she would ratherst night had never happened, that she just wanted to forget about it. But had she? Had he? Somehow he doubted that very much, on both counts.


    Caroline had been so responsive in his arms the previous evening, so absolutely, stunningly beautiful in her pleasure, that he doubted he would ever be able to put that memory from his mind. ¡°Help me to understand, Care,¡± he invited huskily as he moved even closer to her, so close he could feel the warmth of her body and smell the elusiveness of her perfume. His own body hardened in response to that dual assault upon his senses.


    Her gaze was wary as she looked up at him. It was a wariness Nichs found even more displeasing than the coolness he had felt emanating towards him all day. He realized that he didn¡¯t regret a single thing aboutst night, and doubted that he ever would. In fact, right now, he wanted nothing more than to repeat the experience. More than repeat it- he wanted Caroline fully. Wanted to bury himself inside her. Deep, deep inside her as he joined her in that mindless pleasure.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Caroline¡¯s gaze was still wary as she looked up at him. What was he thinking? Whatever it was, the thought obviously displeased him, as his mouth tightened grimly.


    ¡°Forget I asked,¡± he bit out, before moving abruptly away from her.  ¡°Just bear with me for tonight and I promise that I will get you away from here as quickly as is polite tomorrow morning.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t understand, Caroline epted heavily. How could he when it was her own emotions that were so raw? How could he possibly understand that a part of her, an increasinglyrge part of her, so wished that she were here with him as something other than his PA? That he had brought her here to introduce her to his Aunt Mae as-what? His girlfriend? His future wife? Now she really was being fanciful, Caroline recognized heavily.


    No, Nichs was right; the sooner they left here tomorrow, the better she would feel.


    _________


    ¡°Come in,¡± Caroline called softly in answer to the light tap on her bedroom door-Nichs¡¯s Bedroom! door-her eyes widening when it was Nichs himself who entered the room and closed the door quietly behind him. She had believed it to be Aunt Mae,e to check that she wasfortable before going to bed herself.


    Caroline instinctively clutched the bedclothes to her throat as she looked across the room at him, his height and the broad width of his shoulders instantly dwarfing his childhood bedroom. Surprisingly, it had been a pleasant evening, the food and Mae Harrison¡¯s presence helping to alleviate the tension that now existed between them.


    What did Nichs want now? What could they possibly have to say to each other that hadn¡¯t already been said?


    Nichs¡¯ mouth twisted derisively as he easily read the apprehension in Caroline¡¯s expression and the way she clutched the duvet to her so tightly her knuckles showed white.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so worried, Care, I¡¯m hardly going to want to continue where we left offst night with my Aunt Mae just down the hallway!¡±


    Her apprehensive gaze turned to a re. ¡°We aren¡¯t going to ¡®continue where we left offst night¡¯ here or anywhere else!¡±


    Nichs shrugged as he crossed the room to stand beside the bed, his gaze lightly mocking. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡±


    ¡°Very sure!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little selfish of you?¡±


    Caroline shook her head, frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± She said,


    ¡°Only one of us found releasest night, Care-and it wasn¡¯t me!¡± Nichs reminded her dryly.


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened even as the color faded from her cheeks at the embarrassment she felt at being reminded of herpleteck of control the previous evening.¡± What do you want, Nichs?¡± she prompted, afraid he would see her embarrassment.

 45

    ¡°Why, to see if my aunt¡¯s guest ispletelyfortable, of course,¡± he drawled. ¡°Are you?¡± he prompted huskily.


    She had been until he had entered the bedroom, Caroline acknowledged. Now her earlier tension had returned with a vengeance! And not just her tension¡­ Caroline felt at a distinct disadvantage lying here in bed, with only the duvet to cover her as Nichs looked down at her withzily appreciative eyes. She felt surprisingly hot; her breasts were tingling, the nipples hard and sensitized, and a burning ache between her thighs. An ache she knew Nichs could so easily satisfy¡­ She swallowed hard. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡±


    He gave a mocking inclination of his head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do to make you feel morefortable?¡±


    Her eyes shed darkly as color filled her cheeks again. ¡°Absolutely nothing!¡±


    ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°No! Nichs, what are you doing?¡± she demanded indignantly as he sat on the side of the bed, his weight pulling the duvet tightly across her body, the material chafing across her roused breasts and almost making her groan out loud.


    What was wrong with her? She wasn¡¯t this person; had never been this person. Had never been a woman who only had to look at a man-a certain man-and want to throw off all her clothes and offer her body. She shook her head determinedly. ¡°You have to go, Nichs!¡±


    ¡°Have to, Care?¡± he teased, edging close to her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see-¡± She broke off as he lifted a hand and curved that warmth against one of her heated cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t, Nick¡­. Nichs,¡± she groaned achingly as he began to lower his head towards hers.


    Nichs knew that he shouldn¡¯t. But he had to; he couldn¡¯t help himself. How could he not kiss Caroline when shey there looking so sexy?  When her every nce-although she probably wasn¡¯t even aware of it-was inviting him to do so?


    Nichs deliberately held her gaze with his as he came to a halt with his lips mere centimeters away from hers, the warmth of their breath intermingling as he looked deeply into her eyes. He had told himself earlier that he was onlying to his old bedroom to check that Caroline was okay; that once he had done that he would leave. One look at her-her hair spilling across the pillow beneath her, those eyes as warm as chocte-and Nichs knew he had only been fooling himself with that excuse, that he hade to Caroline¡¯s bedroom for one reason and one reason only: he hadn¡¯t been able to stay away.


    Why hadn¡¯t he? What was it about Caroline that drew him to her like a siren¡¯s lure? Until he had the answer to those questions, he knew he would be wise to resist that lure. He straightened abruptly. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he grated as he stood up and moved sharply away from the bed. ¡°I should go.¡±


    ¡°Nichs?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    He looked so angry, Caroline acknowledged heavily. With her? Or with himself? She wasn¡¯t sure; she only knew that whatever emotion had prompted him almost to kiss her a few seconds ago had now been reced with cold dismissal.


    She blinked. ¡°Why are you so angry, Nichs?¡±


    His mouth twisted self-effacingly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing a cold shower won¡¯t cure.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Her eyes widened as his meaning became clear. Nichs was as aroused by her as she was by him. Even here, in his aunt¡¯s cottage, he wanted her. She gave a sad shake of her head. ¡°We really need to talk, Nichs,¡±


    ¡°What is there to talk about?¡± he came back tauntingly. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s determined to hold yourself back. You don¡¯t want to let yourself experience anything new and I don¡¯t have the strength to convince you to do otherwise,¡±


    Caroline gave a pained expression. ¡°You¡¯re being unnecessarily cruel, Nichs,¡±


    Nichs gave a rueful shake of his head. ¡°Oh no, Care. Forgive me. It¡¯d be really stupid of me to give you more reason to dislike me than you already do.¡±


    Caroline could see why he thought that, but she couldn¡¯t let him know how she really felt-how she¡¯d been feeling for a while now¡­ She grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t understand you half the time, Nichs -that is somethingpletely different from dislike.¡±


    He raised his eyes to the ceiling. ¡°Heaven preserve me from any woman who tries to understand me!¡±


    He meant to wound. Caroline was sure. And he seeded. He also seeded in reminding her that he wasn¡¯t a man who had evermitted his emotions to any woman. Just as she wasn¡¯t a woman who entered into affairs with a man simply because she wanted him.


    There was nothing in the least simple about her feelings for Nichs.


    ¡°And heaven preserve me from a man who¡¯s reached the age of almost thirty-seven without evening close tomitting himself to any woman!¡± she came back, feeling no satisfaction as she saw the ice enter Nichs¡¯ gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Nichs.¡± She gave a heavy sigh. ¡°Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re just trying to hurt each other? Deliberately. Cruelly.¡± She gave a sad shake of her head.¡±I really don¡¯t want to do this.¡±


    Nichs could see that by the unhappy curve of her mouth, the pain in the dark depths of her eyes. Damn it, he didn¡¯t want to hurt Caroline. That was thest thing he wanted to do. He just didn¡¯t seem to be able to stop himself¡­


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± He nodded abruptly. ¡°Get some sleep. We have to leave early in the morning if we¡¯re going to get to the stadium in time for the match.¡±


    Her eyes widened. ¡°Won¡¯t the snow have stopped them from ying?¡±


    ¡°A little bit of snow has never stopped them from ying ser,¡± he assured her derisively. ¡°Now, I had better get out of here- before Aunt Mae decides toe and investigate!¡± he added affectionately before closing the bedroom door softly behind him as he left.


    How Caroline wished that she and Nichs could have had a normal, easy working rtionship. But today had proved that they never would. That they never could¡­Never even did in the first ce.


    _________


    Caroline felt less convinced of that the following afternoon.


    By tacit agreement she and Nichs had barely spoken on the long drive after taking early leave of Aunt Mae. The roads had been cleared of snow but the ice still made driving hazardous, requiring Nichs to keep his full attention on the road and other traffic. With a brief stop for lunch, they barely made it in time for the match to start.

 46

    Caroline was surprised by how much more exciting it was to see the match live; the atmosphere in the huge open-air stadium was electric.


    ¡°Still think the game is stupid?¡± Nichs questioned happily as he resumed his seat beside her after standing up to cheer and shout with the rest of the supporters.


    It didn¡¯t surprise her that Nichs had seats in the midst of the crowd rather than the more exclusive ones; he might be a rich man, but as Mae Harrison had imed, he had never forgotten his roots.


    Caroline found Nichs impossible to resist in this boyish mood. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, it¡¯s more fun to watch than I thought it would be.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make a convert of you yet,¡± Nichs promised as he reached out to take her hand firmly in his before turning his attention back to the game.


    Something Caroline had trouble doing with her hand held sofortably in his¡­. Was Nichs aware of what he had just done? Or was it just apletely unconscious gesture on his part, a mutualpanionship that actually meant nothing?


    Whichever it was, she was having trouble concentrating on the game now, relieved when half-time came round and they could stand up, leave their seats and move out with the other fans eager to stretch their legs and discuss the game, although Nichs kept a firm hold of her hand so that he didn¡¯t lose her in the crowd.


    He bought them both a hot drink, atst giving Caroline the opportunity to release her hand and wrap her fingers about the warming cup.


    ¡°So, how do you think it¡¯s going?¡± She attempted conversation.


    He grimaced. ¡°Not as well as I¡¯d initially hoped. Although you must be pleased,¡± he added ruefully.


    Caroline had been too aware of her hand held in Nichs¡¯, too aware of Nichs himself, to have noticed that the score had changed to other teams advantage.


    Nichs on the other hand was surprised at how much he was enjoying the match-in spite of the fact that his team was losing-in Caroline¡¯spany. He usually attended games alone. In fact, he always attended these games alone. He had certainly never thought of bringing a woman with him before, and had only done so because he wanted Caroline¡¯s opinion on the castle they were going to view tomorrow. But, strangely, he found her presence at the match quietlypanionable rather than irritating, as another woman might have been. He had even, on a couple of asions, found himself watching her enjoyment of the game rather than watching it himself- something he had never thought would happen.


    He eyed her teasingly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t find all those muscled thighs exciting?¡±


    Caroline raised her brows haughtily. ¡°I¡¯ve always been more attracted to brains than brawn.¡±


    Of course¡­ she had told him that before, Nichs acknowledged. Was that why she entertained Glen Asher? Did she think he was smart?


    ¡°Time to go back to our seats,¡± he announced abruptly as he threw his half-drunk cup of coffee into the nearest bin before striding back to their seats.


    Caroline frowned at the tense rigidity of his back as she followed him back, aware that he was displeased about something, but having no idea what it was. Perhaps it was just that his beloved team was losing the match?


    She didn¡¯t hold out much hope of his mood improving, either, when the match ended in the other team¡¯s favor.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll y better next time,¡± she attempted encouragingly once they had returned to their vehicle and were driving away from the stadium.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nichs shot her a scathing nce. ¡°There was nothing wrong with the way they yed today, they were just outssed.¡±


    There didn¡¯t seem much Caroline could say in answer to that, so she turned her attention to looking out of the window instead. ¡°You said that you had made the arrangements for tonight.¡±


    They were driving through what looked like a very affluent area, the houses huge, with Mercedes and Jaguars parked in the driveways.


    ¡°Well, We¡¯re staying at one of the houses my father intends to sell. It¡¯s been renovated too and ready for the market. I thought we¡¯d be morefortable there¡± he answered dismissively.


    Caroline really hoped none of his friends or family members were going to be there. She wasn¡¯t sure she was up to spending another evening in thepany of people who were close to Nichs. Especially if they turned out to be as perceptive as Mae Harrison had been.


    ¡°Rx. Nobody is going to be there,¡± Nichs  told her as he sensed her obvious dismay.


    Somehow Caroline didn¡¯t find this information in the least reassuring.


    ¡°Oh okay,¡± she said.


    ¡°The housekeeper knows we¡¯re stopping by tonight.¡± Nichs had turned the Range Rover onto what looked to be a private road. The houses here were even more spacious than the previous ones, iron gates at the end of several of the driveways. It was into one of these that Nichs turned the vehicle, pressing down the window button so that he could speak into the inte. The huge wrought-iron gates opened slowly in front of them.


    ¡°This road has been nicknamed Millionaire¡¯s Row,¡± Nichs supplied as he saw Caroline¡¯s eyes widen when they drove down the driveway. They were surrounded by perfectly kept grounds that led up to the long sprawl of a house. With over ten en suite bedrooms, numerous sitting rooms, an office as well as a study, a long, rambling kitchen deliberately designed with old-fashioned character.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside where it¡¯s warm,¡± he rasped abruptly once he had parked the Range Rover at the back of the house. The door into the kitchen was open as he carried in their bags. The smell of percted coffee was very inviting, as was the heat being given off by the dark-green Aga across the room; the te floor was of mellow, yellow stone, the cupboards a dark oak, herbs hanging amongst the gleaming copper pots and pans that hung above the scarred-oak table in the middle of the room.


    That Caroline liked what she saw, there was no doubt as she looked about her with obvious pleasure. ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful,¡± she said.


    Nichs¡¯ mouth twisted ruefully. ¡°Yeah I guess it is.¡± He agreed. He wondered if Caroline was as aware of the frisson of awareness between them as he was. The very air seemed stiller. Expectant. As if waiting.

 47

    He had stepped over a line with her thest few days; now it was time to get their rtionship back on track. ¡°I have some papers I need to go through before we look around the castle tomorrow, so feel free to look around. You can get something ready to eat too if you¡¯d like,¡± he drawled as he opened the door and ced the bags out in the hallway. ¡°I take it you can cook?¡±


    ¡°Of course I can cook.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± Nichs parroted wryly; he should have known this capable PA could do anything she set her mind to.


    Caroline frowned. ¡°But I thought the housekeeper opened the gates for us?¡±


    ¡°From the gate house.¡± Nichs nodded, dark eyes mocking as he saw Caroline¡¯s puzzlement. ¡°Mrs McTaggart doesn¡¯t live in, Care.¡±  He shrugged. ¡°I told her we would be fine here on our own, so she made us coffee as a wee, and she¡¯ll have left some supplies in the fridge for the makings of dinner this evening and breakfast in the morning.¡±


    Caroline thought she would rather have had the awkwardness of staying with Nichs¡¯ friends or family than finding herself alone with him in this totally private and secluded house. She just couldn¡¯t seem to make up her mind about what she wanted. She moistened dry lips as she avoided so much as looking at Nichs, who stood only feet away from her. ¡°Perhaps we would be more¡­fortable in a hotel?¡±


    ¡°If you mean that you would be morefortable in a hotel, then say so,¡± Nichs shot back. His eyes were narrowed to dark, ssy slits, his jaw tight, his mouth thinned with displeasure as Caroline looked at him beneath loweredshes. ¡°Do you imagine that just because we¡¯re alone here I¡¯m going to want to finish what we started the other night?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡± Caroline felt the warmth in her cheeks. ¡°I just thought-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of what you thought, Care,¡± he cut in fully.


    Why-after all the soul-searching, all the warnings Caroline had given herself thest forty-eight hours about the danger of revealing her newly realized feelings for Nichs -did that assurance actually fill her with disappointment rather than relief?


    She turned away. ¡°I¡¯ll see what Mrs McTaggart left for our dinner.¡±


    ¡°Care?¡±


    She stiffened before turning slowly back to face him, her expression guarded. ¡°Yes?¡±


    Nichs hated the way that she looked at him now. As if she didn¡¯t trust him. As if she saw him as nothing more than a yboy. Nichs didn¡¯t believe that even as a callow youth his actions had been ruled by that particr part of his anatomy. Even in histe teens and early twenties his main driving force had been to seed. That sess hadn¡¯t allowed for the emotional baggage of a wife and children, necessitating him choosing carefully when it hade to the women he became involved with, with the sole intention that no one got hurt.


    Those years of caution had gonepletely out of the window the moment he¡¯d kissed her.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to use the office,¡± he dismissed her irritably. ¡°Choose any bedroom you want; I¡¯ll sort something out for myselfter.¡± He strode impatiently from the room before he did or said something he or Caroline might regret. He needed space away from her to think. But once he had settled into the spacious office with its view over the back gardens he found it difficult to concentrate on the papers he had taken from his briefcase and ced on the desk in front of him. He couldn¡¯t get Caroline out of his head.


    What was he going to do about her? What did he want to do about her?


    Those, Nichs decided ruefully, were two distinctly different questions. What he needed to do was everything in his power to put their rtionship back on the employer-employee basis as it should have been right from the beginning¡­. Because he knew that nothing else would be possible. He wasn¡¯t ready for any sort of rtionship¡­ He was sure of that.


    What he wanted, what he ached to do, was strip every piece of clothing from Caroline¡¯s body before making sweet, intoxicating love to her!


    _________


    Surprisingly, once alone in the warmth and charm of the rambling kitchen, Caroline actually found she was enjoying herself as she took out prawns, steaks, potatoes and a mixture of vegetables from the refrigerator. Along with the selection of herbs strung up amongst the pots and pans in the middle of the kitchen, she had more than enough ingredients to show Nichs just how well she could cook.


    She even found herself humming happily as she made prawn cocktails, before seasoning the steaks with sea-salt ready for cooking, and then preparing the garlic potatoes and a mnge of fresh vegetables mixed with toasted almonds. She even found the ingredients to prepare a lemon souff l e for dessert as her piece de resistance.


    It seemed like years since she had actually had the time to enjoy cooking a meal.


    ¡°I hope that¡¯s going to taste as good as it smells!¡±


    Her earlier tension returned at the first sound of Nichs¡¯ voice as he entered the kitchen almost two hourster. ¡°I hope so too.¡± She kept her voice deliberately neutral.


    Nichs looked at her for several long seconds, looking broodingly handsome in a ck sweater with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows and a pair of faded-blue denims that rested low down on his hips.¡± Do you think we could call a truce for this evening, Care?¡± he finally murmured.


    She gave a pained frown. ¡°I thought we had already tried that.¡±


    ¡°Then maybe we should try harder,¡± he suggested. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but this tension between us is starting to get to me.¡±


    More than get to him, Nichs acknowledged ruefully, having done absolutely nothing during the almost-two hours he had sat in the office except stare out of the window as he¡¯d tried to find some sort of solution to the problem between himself and Caroline.


    He didn¡¯t want to quit her job because of him and he knew Caroline well enough to know that she would if things continued to get soplicated. It wouldn¡¯t be worth it, especially after he went back to New York.


    ¡°I¡¯m no happier about it than you are, Nichs,¡± Caroline admitted huskily.

 48

    That was something, at least. ¡°Care, are you crying?¡± he prompted disbelievingly as he saw what he thought were tears glistening on hershes.


    Of course she wasn¡¯t crying-well, not yet she wasn¡¯t, Caroline realized as she hastily blinked back the tears she hadn¡¯t even known were there until Nichs had pointed them out to her-tears of relief that he wanted to try to find a way to end this awkwardness between them as much as she did.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly.¡± She dismissed it. ¡°I¡¯ve been peeling onions,¡± she excused with more brightness than uracy; she had peeled the onions some time ago, a fact that Nichs would realize himself if she gave him too long to think about it. ¡°I hope you¡¯re hungry, because I¡¯ve prepared a three-course meal for us.¡±


    ¡°Starving!¡± Nichs answered lightly as he took his cue from her. ¡°Shall I open a bottle of red or white wine to go with it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t drink alcohol,¡± she said, ¡°But I¡¯d really like some tonight,¡±


    Nichs stared at her in surprise for a while, ¡°You sure?¡±


    Caroline grimaced. ¡°Yes. Strictly speaking we need both, white with the starter and red with the main course, but I¡¯m happy to settle for just red if you are.¡±


    ¡°Whatever thedy wants.¡± Nichs gave an extravagant bow before turning to peruse the wine rack for a suitable bottle of red wine.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Caroline stared at the broadness of his back for several long seconds, her heart literally feeling as if it were aching in her chest as she looked at him. She was falling deeper in love with him. She ached to reach out and touch him, to feel the ripple of muscle beneath her fingertips, to put her hands beneath his cashmere sweater and touch the hardness of his chest encased in warm velvet, to touch and caress all of him.


    Not the ideal beginning to an evening when they were trying to eliminate all the tension-including sexual-between them.


    ___________


    ¡°What can I say?¡± Nichs murmured appreciatively as he sat back in his chair at the end of their meal, totally replete with good conversation as well as food. ¡°You really can cook.¡± He raised his ss of red wine and toasted Caroline across the width of the kitchen table where they had chosen to eat, rather than the formal dining-room further down the hallway.


    Her cheeks warmed at his praise. ¡°I can¡¯t say I was exactly pleased with my mother when she insisted I take advanced cookery during myst two years at boarding school.¡± She smiled affectionately. ¡°There seemed to be so many more exciting things in life at seventeen and eighteen than learning to cook!¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡± Nichs prompted interestedly, totally at ease after the excellent meal and rxed conversation.


    ¡°Oh, boys, of course.¡± Caroline smiled at the memory.


    Nichs returned that smile. ¡°How old were you when you had your first boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°My first boyfriend¡­?¡± She frowned, considering. ¡°Twenty, I think.¡±


    ¡°Twenty!¡± Nichs repeated incredulously, remembering he had been only fourteen when he¡¯d had his first unsessful fumbling with a girl in the back row of a cinema.


    ¡°I was a very slow starter, okay?¡± Caroline defended herself slightly indignantly. ¡°Attending an all-girl boarding school didn¡¯t help. Again, my mother¡¯s idea. She said there would be plenty of time for boyster.¡±


    Except in Caroline¡¯s case there hadn¡¯t been¡­ By the time she¡¯d started university, she had been almost neen, and although she had been taught all the social graces she¡¯d had none of the assurance of her female peers when it hade to flirtation and boys. Oh, she¡¯d been able to converse capably with anyone of any sex and any age, but only in a polite and superficial way. Unfortunately, some of the boys she had met at university had seen her shyness as cool disinterest rather than thepleteck of experience it really was. Even her first boyfriend had only asked her out because she¡¯d been top of their course and he¡¯d wanted her to help him with his own work.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t funny, Nichs,¡± She glowered her irritation as she saw his grin.


    ¡°I¡¯m notughing, Care.¡± But he continued to smile. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to imagine you out on your first date at the age of twenty! Where did you go? What did you do?¡±


    Caroline red at him. ¡°We sat in the eating area of a burger takeaway and he asked to look at my notes on Midsummer Night¡¯s Dream,¡± she revealed reluctantly.


    Nichs winced. ¡°Ooh, so not cool!¡±


    ¡°The burger takeaway or the notes?¡±


    Surprisingly Caroline was starting to enjoy this conversation. It was funny, in retrospect. She simply hadn¡¯t thought so at the time. Or felt inclined to repeat those university experiences.


    ¡°Both.¡± Nichs gave a disgusted shake of his head.


    ¡°I suppose you did something much more sophisticated on your first date?¡± Caroline prompted dryly.


    ¡°I was fourteen, and as I recall we went to the cinema.¡± He grinned at the memory. ¡°I chose a horror movie in the hope that I would have a chance to take the girl in my arms during the scary bits.¡±


    ¡°That is so calcting!¡± Carolineughed huskily at the vivid image this painted of a very youthful Nichs.


    ¡°What can I say?¡± He shrugged. ¡°I was fourteen and my hormones had kicked in.¡±


    ¡°And did it work?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly, no,¡± Nichs admitted self-deprecatingly. He watched Caroline through narrowed lids, just enjoying watching her, liking the way her hips swayed slightly as she walked, her bottom firm and round against the material of her denims as she bent over to begin cing their dirty dishes in the washer; her sweater fitted snugly against the pertness of her breasts as she straightened.


    He felt his thighs harden in response to that pert fullness, his pulse starting to race as she bent over once again. Caroline really did have the most delicious bottom, so curvy and round. So¡­


    ¡°Hey, I should be doing that!¡± he stood up abruptly as he realized he had been too busy enjoying watching her rather than doing any work himself. ¡°You did the cooking; I don¡¯t think you should have to do the clearing away too.¡± He reached out and took the bowl from her hand, his fingers brushing lightly against her as he did so.


    Everything stopped. Everything. Time.


    Movement.

 49

    ¡°Dear God, Care¡­!¡± He groaned harshly as he mmed the bowl down on the side before turning back to take her firmly in his arms, molding the softness of her curves against his much harder body, knowing by the widening of her eyes as she looked up at him that she felt his arousal pressed against her. ¡°Don¡¯t hate me for this, okay?¡± he growled huskily. His head lowered and he crushed her lips beneath his, knowing as the feeling of rightness spread through his entire being that this was what he had wanted to do all evening. To hold Caroline. To crush her softness against him. To taste her.


    Caroline hadn¡¯t even seen thising. She¡¯d been feeling so rxed after their meal and the light conversation, relieved that they were actually talkingfortably together again, that the fierceness of Nichs¡¯ desire totally took her by surprise. And thrilled her.


    There was no way that she could deny the warm surge of her own desire as his lips devoured hers. He pressed her even closer to that pulsing hardness of his thighs, and ignited a burning response deep inside her as the kiss deepened and lengthened.


    It was as if they had both been waiting for this moment. As if everything else that had happened thest twenty-four hours was irrelevant. Their passion felt as intense as it had been the previous evening, totally consuming, brooking no denial.


    Caroline¡¯s arms moved up to Nichs¡¯ shoulders and her fingers became entangled in the dark thickness of the hair at his nape as she held nothing back from her response. Lips parted. Tongues dueled. Their breath hot and heavy. Labored. Nichs¡¯ hands roamed wildly down her back, her hips, before cupping her bottom to hold her against him as his hardened thighs thrust into hers with the same rhythm as his tongue imed and thrust into the moist cavern of her mouth.


    Her back arched as his mouth left hers to trail a path of heat down the length of her throat. Licking. Tasting. Biting. Sending her totally out of control. Her nipples were highly sensitized, her inner thighs on fire. Hot. Moist. Aching.


    She offered no resistance as he lifted her sweater and pulled it totally over her head, baring her breasts to his heated gaze.


    Nichs had never seen Caroline looking so wild and unkempt. Her hair was a tangle about her naked shoulders where he had pulled the sweater over her head before discarding it. Her eyes were almost ck, her mouth red and pouting, lips slightly parted.


    ¡°You are so beautiful!¡± he murmured appreciatively as the heat of his gaze fixed on the swollen softness of her breasts with their aroused and inviting, dusky-rose tips. He lifted his hands to cup each of those creamy breasts, feeling their weight in his palms as he ran the pad of his thumbs across the already roused nipples, his gaze moving quickly back to her face as she gave a low, throaty groan in response to that caress.


    Her lids were slightly lowered over glittering, blue eyes, her throat arched, lips parted, the tip of her tongue moving moistly across those parted lips as if she could still taste him there. His thumbs caressed her again, thighs pulsing anew as Caroline arched into that caress and her hands moved up to curve her fingers about his wrists. Inviting. Begging. Pleading-for more.


    Nichs gave her more, iming her mouth once again even as he continued to caress the tips of her ultra-sensitive breasts. Caroline moaned low in her throat as he took her nipples between his thumb and finger and rolled them lightly, then harder, pressing, pinching; Caroline¡¯s groans became breathless gasps, her inner thighs on fire.


    The pleasure of his caresses was overwhelming; mindless pleasure. Only the demands of her body were important. And her body demanded Nichs-all of him.


    She wrenched her mouth from his, his skin feeling hot and slightly damp as her fingers brushed lightly against him. She reached down to pull his sweater up his body and over his head, before throwing it to the floor beside her own.


    Caroline moved instinctively as she touched his bared flesh, her skin very pale against his as her fingers tangled in the dark hair that grew across his chest and then down in a vee beneath his denims.


    Nichs was just as broad-shouldered and beautifully male as Caroline had imagined he would be; his skin was slightly salty-tasting as she kissed him. Kissed his shoulders. The hollow at the base of his throat. His chest. The tight buds nestled amongst the dark hair.


    His chest moved against her as he groaned huskily, and one of his hands became entangled in the length of her hair, bunching those tresses in his clenched fist as she flicked her tongue lightly over that hardened nub.


    Once again Nichs lost his breath, all of his senses concentrated on the ministrations of her lips and tongue as she pleasured him in a way no other woman ever had. Nichs experienced pleasure he had never known before, a pleasure that shot straight to his groin and down the length of his legs.


    He had always been the lover. The instigator. The one in control. Caroline had wrenched that away from him the moment she¡¯d begun to touch him. To kiss him.


    She had turned the attentions of her mouth to his other nipple now, and her hands moved caressingly down the side of his waist and then to the length of his back, fingers lightly caressing, nails slightly rasping. Sending quivers of pleasure down the length of his spine.


    His buttocks tensed, thighs instantly thrusting, his arousal throbbing demanding. He wanted her. Now!Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    But they had too many clothes on still.


    Both of them!


    Nichs moved back slightly. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± he assured her gruffly as Caroline looked up at him protestingly for stopping her own pleasure. His gaze continued to hold hers as his hands moved to the fastening of her denims, unzipping them to pull them over the curve of her hips and down the length of her legs, before slipping her feet from them one at a time.


    Nichs focused his attention on Caroline¡¯sst article of clothing. A pair of cream silk-andce briefs was now the only thing between him and the hot center of her arousal that he had caressed before and desperately wanted to touch again.

 50

    The scrap of silk andce ripped easily in his hand, baring Carolinepletely, her gasp of surprise quickly followed by another as Nichs lifted her and sat her on top of the wooden table before parting her thighs to his avid gaze.


    She was as beautiful as Nichs had known she would be. The petals of her inner thighs open and the same dusky-rose color as her nipples.


    He touched her there, feeling how hot she was. Nichs groaned softly as he moved down onto his knees, parting her thighs even further before his hands moved to caress her.


    Caroline totally lost control the moment Nichs¡¯ tongue rasped against her before thrusting deep inside her, feeling her own release as wave after wave of pleasure surged through every particle of her, from her head down to her toes. He continued that rhythmic thrust inside her until he had drained everyst, quivering, shuddering moment from her.


    Caroline put her hands down on the table behind her to stop herself from falling as she copsed back weakly, eyes closed, her body continuing to quiver and shake. Finally she raised sleepy lids to look at him, the darkness of his hair wild on his shoulders, his eyes dark as he looked up at her, a sensual curve to his sculpted lips.


    Caroline had no idea why she should suddenly feel so shy-after all, Nichs already knew her body more intimately than any other person ever had.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Nichs grimaced as he saw her hesitation, instead standing up to step between her parted thighs. ¡°Too much too soon,¡± he epted ruefully as a hand curved gently against one of her heated cheeks.


    ¡°No.¡± She shook her head. ¡°No,¡± she assured him again huskily as she reached out tentatively to touch his chest, instantly feeling the hard throb of his heartbeat. The same throb as his arousal.


    Her gaze held his as that hand moved down to unfasten his own denims, sliding down the zip to run her fingers lightly, caressingly, against the hardness of his shaft. Instantly she felt it surge, its need to break free. Caroline slid lightly off the table as she slowly peeled those denims down his hips and thighs, taking his briefs with them and discarding both, before her hand moved and her fingers curled about the thick length of his arousal. She heard his sharply indrawn breath before he leant back against the table, hands gripping the edge either side of him.


    Caroline watched Nichs¡¯ face as she began to move her hand slowly up and down. His ragged breathing, the slight flush to his cheeks, told her how much he was enjoying the caress. Her fingers tightened slightly as she felt the hot pulse of blood beneath her hand, her thumb moving to caress the red tip, feeling the escape of moisture there.


    ¡°Lie back, Nick,¡± she encouraged huskily.


    His gaze didn¡¯t leave hers as he swept the remains of their meal to one end of the table before lowering himself back, arousal jutting temptingly, hands clenching at his sides, as Caroline began a trail of kisses, starting at his chest and slowly moving lower. He hissed in a sharp breath, eyes closing, jaw clenching as he felt the heat of her mouth close about him, the slow rasp of her tongue instantly driving him wild. He was too aroused to be able to take much more of this. He grasped her shoulders, reluctantly drawing her away from him as he lifted her up onto his chest.


    ¡°I want to be inside you, Care,¡± he grated fiercely as he moved her so that, by straddling his waist, she brought her heat against his arousal.


    Caroline wanted that too, wanted him buried deep, deep inside her. So deep inside her that she wouldn¡¯t know where she ended and he began!


    ¡°Not yet!¡± Her hands rested on his shoulders as she kissed and licked his chest.


    His head surged up from the table top as he took fierce possession of her nipple, drawing it deeply into the heat of his mouth as he began to suckle, his hand cupping her other breast as his thumb caressed her. Her second climax of the evening was even more intense than her first, the pleasure intense, seemingly never-ending, bing even more so as Nichs surged inside her.


    She gasped and he raised his head, his face dark. ¡°Care?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m alright, Nick,¡± she said. Her expression was fierce, her hair wild about her shoulders as she looked down at him. She held his gaze as she began to move, focusing on the long, deep strokes of Nichs¡¯ body inside hers. Strokes that made Nichs forget everything as he tightly gripped her hips to match her rhythm as he moved up and into her to give them both the maximum pleasure.


    It was wonderful. Nichs was wonderful. More wonderful than Caroline  could ever have imagined, and he was with her totally as she rode the crest of her next climax, until she copsed weakly against his chest, only the sound of their ragged breathing disturbing the utter peace of the moment.


    Caroline was filled with that inner peace. A deep, satisfying peace.


    Like the calm in the eye of the storm. And in that moment-this peaceful, ecstatic moment in time- she feltpletely and utterly happy.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    _____________


    Minutester, the happiness faded and Caroline was brought back to the reality of where she was, who she was with, and what had just happened.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always found regret to be a wasted emotion,¡± Nichs murmured dryly some minutester, when Caroline made no effort to lower the arm she had draped over the top of her face. As if not being able to see him would make all that had just happened go away!


    Which was pretty ridiculous when they were both still half naked¡­ Nichs moved up to lean on his elbow, looking down at her. Her breasts were slightly red from the rasp of his stubble, the nipples still engorged and dusky pink from the ministration of his lips and tongue, and those fiery curls between her legs were damp from her recent release.


    He drew in a shaky breath. ¡°Care¡­.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this now!¡± Caroline snapped fiercely, lowering her arm so that she could re up at him.


    ¡°Or ever?¡± he guessed ruefully.

 51

    ¡°Or ever!¡± she echoed as she sat up to look for her clothes. Dear God¡­!


    What had happened to her just now? How could she have allowed herself topletely unravel in his arms like that?  How could she have been so foolish!


    ¡°I like your hair all soft like this-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Caroline flinched back as Nichs would have reached out and touched the silkiness of her hair. Then hurriedly began to put her clothes back on.


    Nichs¡¯ darkened angrily as his arm dropped back to his side. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to object a few minutes ago when I touched you!¡±


    Colour burned Caroline¡¯s cheeks as she remembered all too clearly the shameful way she had pleaded for his touch. She¡¯d been so aroused, so aching, so desperate for release as she urged him to give her what she needed¡­ Something he had done beyond her wildest imaginings!  She swallowed hard, her gaze no longer meeting his. ¡°I must have been out of my mind.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you were,¡± Nichs said pointedly as he adjusted his clothes too. ¡°Completely and wildly out of your mind.¡±


    Her eyes shot furious sparks at him. ¡°Do you have to sound so-so damned triumphant?¡±


    He gave an unrepentant shrug. ¡°It¡¯s a natural reaction in a man when he knows he¡¯s just given his woman pleasure.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not your woman,¡± Caroline gasped incredulously.


    ¡°Do you want to be?¡± drawled softly, having no idea how he would handle having someone like Caroline in his life, but knowing that giving this woman pleasure once hadn¡¯t been nearly enough to satisfy his own appetite for her. He wanted to make love to her again. And again. And have her make love to him, too¡­ The throb of his thighs ached all over again just at the thought of having the fullness of her lips about him, her tiny tonguepping the length of him¡­ but it would never happen again.


    Caroline gave a disgusted shake of her head. ¡°I have absolutely no wish to be thetest woman in what I have no doubt is the very long line of your conquests!¡± She spat the words at him as though he¡¯d just mortally insulted her.


    The coldness of her rejection was like a p in the face after Nichs¡¯ imaginings. In which, knowing how much a woman like Caroline didn¡¯t belong in his world, he had wanted to take her there anyway¡­ ¡°Didn¡¯t my lovemaking measure up to your past lovers or maybe the ¡°dark predator¡± in your book?¡± he taunted sarcastically.


    Colour heated Caroline¡¯s cheeks at this reference to the book she had been reading the night they met. She¡¯d really thought they were past that. Also, after the way she had responded to him, how could he even suggest that his lovemaking hadn¡¯t measured up? Making love with him had been beyond anything she could ever have imagined it to be.


    ¡°This is just horrible,¡± she bit out abruptly. ¡°I never wanted this¡­With you¡­ Or anyone. It¡¯s wrong. You¡¯re Frank¡¯s son and I¡­ I don¡¯t know-¡±


    ¡°Stop it. Just stop, Care,¡± Nichs said. He was tired of hearing herints. He was tired of her mixed signals. He was tired of wanting her and yet not being able to have her¡­ And even if he did have her, he knew it was pointless because it wasn¡¯t going tost. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it being right or wrong¡­ Or if things are going to be awkward when we get back home because I¡¯m not going to be there. I¡¯ll be leaving after we are done with this castle business.¡±


    Caroline swallowed hard. The idea of him leaving shouldn¡¯t have felt like he¡¯d just ripped her heart out, but it did. This was what she should want, shouldn¡¯t it? Him gone¡­ And her life returning to the way it had always been¡­ That should have made her happy and relieved, but it didn¡¯t. ¡°You¡¯re leaving? You¡¯re going back to¡­. ¡±


    ¡°New York,¡± hepleted, ¡°So stop worrying about what happens after this. I won¡¯t be there to make things awkward for you,¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Caroline struggled to hold back her tears, ¡°And you decided to leave and kept it to yourself all this while. When did you make that decision?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t decide, Care. I never said that I was staying,¡±


    Caroline was quiet after that. He was right. He was never going to stay and he never said that he would. She¡¯d just assumed because she¡¯d gotten carried away by her attraction to him. He had a life in New York¡­ A girlfriend too called Rachael. How did she ever let herself do something so stupid.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, ¡°Excuse me,¡±


    ___________


    ¡°You are sure this is what you want?¡± Nichs¡¯ expression was grim as he spoke through the door of the carriage, where Caroline now stood as she waited for the train to pull out of  station.


    She had been pale and withdrawn when she¡¯d emerged from her bedroom this morning, refusing all offers of breakfast before informing him that she had decided to go home on the first avable train. Nichs had tried to talk her out of it, of course-even repeating the excuse that he needed her advice on the castle he was to view this morning-but Caroline had remained adamant in her decision. In the circumstances, Nichs had had no choice but to drive her to the railway station.


    Quite what else Caroline had decided during the long night-hours Nichs had yet to hear. For the moment it was enough that she was leaving. ¡°I thought we were going to have another talk this morning?¡± he prompted softly.


    She gave a shake of her head. Her hair was a curtain about her shoulders, her eyes huge and dark in the pallor of her face. ¡°I think what we both need at the moment is to put some distance between us.¡±


    She repeated the same argument she had made earlier for leaving this morning. What Caroline meant, Nichs felt sure, was that she needed to put some distance between herself and him. He gave a snort of frustration. ¡°How can I make a decision on this castle without your input on the ce?¡±


    She gave a humorless smile. ¡°The same way you would make a decision if I wasn¡¯t here. My input doesn¡¯t matter,¡±


    ¡°I thought we were a team.¡± He scowled, aware that his argumentcked conviction, but unable for the moment to do anything about it. Caroline was leaving. And he had no way of stopping that from happening.

 52

    Caroline¡¯s smile became rueful. ¡°I¡¯m an employee, Nichs, not part of a team.¡±


    It was a decision, a hard battle of a decision, that she hade to during the long, wakeful hours of the night. Much as she hated the idea of leaving him, dreaded it, Caroline knew it was the right thing to do. This thing between them had gone too far. She was a fool for falling in love with him, for ever allowing things to get so out of control between them, but she certainly wasn¡¯t a masochist.


    Nichs was frowning as he reached out to cover her hand with his as it rested on top of the lowered window. ¡°Don¡¯t make any crazy decisions when you go back, hmm?¡± he encouraged huskily as it was announced that the train was about to leave.


    Caroline¡¯s expression was one of deep sadness. ¡°We both know what my decision has to be, Nichs,¡±


    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t!¡± he rasped, ¡°Promise me that you won¡¯t do anything crazy,¡±


    Caroline raised her  brows. ¡°Do anything crazy, Nichs?¡± Her mouth twisted derisively. ¡°What do you imagine I¡¯m going to do-take another couple of lovers as soon as I get home so that I do have something with which topare your own performance?¡±


    His eyes narrowed even as his hand tightened painfully on hers. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡±


    Her eyes widened. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little dictatorial, even for you?¡±


    Even for him¡­ Is that what she really thought of him-that he was some sort of dictator, who insisted his instructions be obeyed? Admittedly in the past he had been pretty single-minded. He had always known what he wanted and where he was going, but that wasn¡¯t the point right now, ¡°You know what I mean, Care,¡± he said, ¡°Don¡¯t do something crazy like quitting your job.¡±


    Her smile was pained. ¡°Goodbye, Nick,¡± she murmured huskily as she got into the train and Nichs watched as it began to pull out of the station.


    ___________


    NINETEEN MONTHS LATER


    ____________


    Nichs Connelly sat in his car shaded beneath the orange trees lining the quiet street, elbow resting against the window, fist tucked under his chin. On the other side of the road ran an imposingly high fence the length of the pavement and beyond. Small intermittent signs warned trespassers against breaching it.


    Nichs¡¯s narrowed gaze rested on the gate ten meters away that admitted people onto thend behind the fence. He¡¯d watched the gate for two minutes and knew he should move on before he attracted the attention of the armed guards on the other side of it. He¡¯d wanted onest look. He¡¯d had it. Time to go.


    He switched the engine on and put the car into gear. Before he could make his intended U-turn, the gates opened.


    He put the gear stick back into neutral. A car slowly nosed its way through the gates and pulled onto the road. He held his breath as it passed him. The tinting of the car¡¯s windows made it impossible to identify the driver.


    In his rear-view mirror he watched the car shrink into the distance and take a right at the end of the street. Nichs rubbed his chin and then, with a burst of adrenaline, put his foot on the elerator and spun his Porsche around. The road the car had joined was quiet this hot mid-morning, making it easy to keep tabs. When it joined the V-21, he made sure to keep three cars between them. The deeper into the city they drove, the thicker the traffic.


    When the car indicated to turn into the huge shoppingplex, his chest tightened. By the time the automatic sensors had read his license te and he¡¯d waved his bank card in front of the scanner, he¡¯d lost sight of her the car.


    It was for the best, he thought, grimacing. He was behaving like a crazy stalker. It had been a strange burst of sentimentality that had found him outside the estate in the first ce and curiosity that found him wasting precious time tailing an old lover to an underground car park.


    A week after he¡¯d returned home, Nichs found himself asking his father questions about Caroline Anderson, although he was very subtle so his father wouldn¡¯t start to wonder why he was so interested in her. He knew that she still worked for his father, although not as his personal assistant anymore. Caroline was a department head now and he was proud of her¡­ Also grateful that she hadn¡¯t quit her job like he¡¯d been worried she would. After she¡¯d left him in Texas, he¡¯d tried to reach her before he returned to New York, but she¡¯d been adamant in her decision to cut him off, so he¡¯d gone without seeing or speaking to her.


    He would forget about her eventually, he told himself, but although he had moved on with his life, he never really forgot about her. Memories of her came back to him once in a while, and now that he was home, he wanted to see her again. Knowing the way things had ended between them thest time, he knew she wasn¡¯t going to wee him with open arms, so now here he was¡­.. Stalking her.


    It was insane, because he¡¯d never done anything like this before. As he followed the exit signs, he caught sight of the car parked ahead. It was only as he approached it that he realized it was in a row of spaces reserved for parents and children. He mmed his foot on the brake. The car behind him sounded its horn in protest.


    Why the hell would Caroline park there? Pulse suddenly surging, he cast his gaze around for a free space and, cursing under his breath, drove straight to the closest one, which was still a good distance away.


    The distance didn¡¯t matter. Out of the car, he could see clearly enough.


    What he saw made his blood freeze. Caroline, long auburn hair bouncing in all directions, was scooping a small infant from the back of her car. The blood in his head defrosted into a burn in an instant.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    She carefully ced the child in a buggy, strapped it in, then reached back into the car and removed arge bag which she slung on the back of the buggy. The elevators into theplex were directly opposite where Nichs had parked. In silent horror, he watched her stride towards them. He needed to hide. One slight turn of her head and she would see him.


    But he couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t wrench his gaze from the lover he¡¯d walked away from and the child- baby-he¡¯d had no idea existed.

 53

    Caroline Anderson scrunched a face at her appearance. Should she leave her hair down or pin it up? Yes, to the former and yes to some under-eye concealer.  Her skin had be so pale and the rings under her eyes so dark she resembled a corpse.  The ck dress she¡¯d chosen to wear only enhanced the effect, a point reinforced when her sister, Elsa, who¡¯de to visit for the week, walked into her dressing room and burst intoughter.


    ¡°I suppose funeral chic beats aubergine chic.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Caroline muttered. Only vanity had made her return the aubergine-coloured dress. It had shed horribly with her hair. This ck dress, though horrendously unstylish, was marginally more ttering colour-wise.


    Elsa stood behind her, wrapped her arms around Caroline¡¯s waist, groped for her hands and rested her chin on her shoulder. Their eyes met in the mirror. The contrast between them had never been so stark. Elsa shone with good health and happiness. Her eyes, though, brimmed with concern.


    ¡°Are you okay, sis? You don¡¯t look well.¡±


    Caroline opened her mouth to assure her sister all was well but the lie refused to form. ¡°I can¡¯t do this.¡± The words expelled in a puff.


    A line cleaved Elsa¡¯s brow.


    ¡°I can¡¯t marry attend this party with Glen,¡± she whispered, and squeezed her sister¡¯s hand tightly for support as the truth of her feelings, which had swirled inside her like steadily thickening soup for so long, suddenly solidified into truth. In a stronger voice, she said, ¡°I can¡¯t keep going out with Glen,¡± There. She¡¯d said it. Finally admitted it. ¡°You were right.¡± Her spine straightened and her lungs inted as she spoke. ¡°I keep thinking about what you said the other day about us not not beingpatible and you¡¯re right. He is not the man for me, and I don¡¯t think he wants to be a father to Charlie. They don¡¯t have any connection,¡±


    Her rtionship with Glen was very much one of convenience and she was tired of trying to connect emotionally with him. They had gone on dates and although she liked him, she had tried so hard to make herself attracted to him, but it still wasn¡¯t happening. Glen had asked her out so many times and she¡¯d finally agreed to go out on dates with him, but now she could see that he wanted them to make a realmitment to each other in their rtionship, and she wasn¡¯t ready for it. In fact she found out that she didn¡¯t want to keep trying. She couldn¡¯t.


    She felt like she was leading him on in a rtionship that was going nowhere. Even Elsa had noticed that it wasn¡¯t working since she met Glen and now Caroline thought it¡¯d be best to end it before anyone got hurt.


    Slipping her hand from Elsa¡¯s, she rubbed her forehead. ¡°What am I going to do?¡±


    ¡°End it.¡±


    ¡°I know that. I mean how am I going to end it?¡± She stepped closer to the mirror and stared at her reflection, stared at the ugly dress her subconscious had chosen for her. Her gut had known before she did that she couldn¡¯t continue her rtionship with Glen.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Call him. Do it now,¡± Elsa urged.


    She found a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t break up with him an hour before the office party. That would be like poking a hos¡¯ nest. What if he acts crazy in front of everyone. I don¡¯t want any personal drama unfolding in the presence of everyone including my boss,¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t wait too long,¡± Elsa warned.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± she promised. Now her mind was made up, she¡¯d do it as soon as possible. She managed another small smile. ¡°Although, with luck, this dress might make him decide to end it.¡±


    Leaving the dressing room, Caroline walked through her bedroom then tiptoed into the dark adjoining nursery.


    Her heart swelled as she peered into the cot. Her son, her heart, her life, was fast asleep, his little chest and podgy belly rising and falling. She kissed her fingers then gently ced them to his silky-soft cheek. How could anyone look at this child and not feel thepulsion to love and protect him?


    The swelling of her heart sharpened as she thought of her son¡¯s father. Nichs.


    Hot tears stung the back of her eyes and she hurriedly blinked them back before kissing Charlie¡¯s face. The thought of him lived as an ache in every beat of her heart. She¡¯d never told him about the pregnancy or his baby¡­ Not even his father, Frank Connelly knew about it. She never saw the point of telling him¡­ Didn¡¯t want him to think that she was trying to trap him or stop him from leaving. Besides, she¡¯d decided to keep the pregnancy when she found out, so everything was all on her. After taking a moment topose herself, she left the nursery through the main door and knocked on the door opposite.


    Elsa opened it and she was grateful that her sister hade to visit. Elsa loved Charlie dearly and was always happy to babysit whenever she could.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving now,¡± Caroline said, wringing her fingers together. ¡°Can you check if the baby monitor¡¯s working for you?¡±


    The room Elsa was staying in was so close to the nursery she¡¯d hear him sneeze before the moni-tor picked it up.


    Although Caroline trusted her sister, she hated being parted from her son. Since his birth, she only left him when she was going to work, some evenings, and a few hours here and there when it had been absolutely necessary for her to be present in person. Her mother had been around for the first six months and now that she¡¯d gone, Caroline was still adjusting.


    ¡°It¡¯s working fine.¡± Elsa held the baby monitor to her ear. ¡°I can hear his breathing.¡±


    Caroline resisted the impulse to yank the monitor from her hand and listen for herself. She knew she was a paranoid mother but she defied anyone to walk in her shoes and not be the same. ¡°You promise to call if there¡¯s any problems?¡±


    ¡°There won¡¯t be any problems but I promise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can,¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no rush, so take your time.¡± Elsa gave a wide, sympathetic smile. ¡°Enjoy the party,¡±

 54

    The thought alone made the nausea in her belly bubble afresh. Caroline liked being with her baby because she felt more at ease knowing that he was alright. It was just for the evening, she reminded herself. In a few hours, she¡¯d be back home with her son and would cuddle up with him and n how to end her engagement without provoking or hurting Glen.


    ________


    The exclusive hotel¡¯s staff had done a fabulous job of turning its function room into a glittering party pad. The guests chatting had a constant flow of champagne and canapes, the bar at the far end plentifully staffed so no one had to wait long to be served. The DJ yed a medley of tunes to suit all ages and tastes and judging by the smiles, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Everyone except Caroline.


    Her gaze kept falling on Kate and Santi, glued to each other¡¯s sides. They¡¯d finally gotten married two days ago and proimed their love for each other in front of their friends and families. Caroline had known for years that the two of them were meant for each other but suspecting something and seeing that love bloom before her eyes had been both heart-warming and heart-wrenching.


    She wished she had someone to love just like that¡­ Maybe just once. Someone to love with the whole of her heart. Swallowing the ache, she let Glen drag her around the room to talk to people together and tried to curb her irritation at his annoyance every time she checked her phone for messages from Elsa. How had she ever thought that she could make a rtionship with him work? She must have been mad.


    Once he started chatting with a group of his  friends, Caroline escaped his clutches and found her own friends, Her respitested only until the end of the DJ¡¯s first set.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She watched Glen move to the raised dais. He wanted to make a speech. Of course he wanted to make a speech.


    She almost rolled her eyes as she snatched another flute of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. The music stopped. Glen took the prepared microphone and called for everyone¡¯s attention. The floor filled, the people eager to hear what he had to say.


    ¡°On behalf of thepany, Thank you all foring tonight and for your understanding these past week,¡± he said. ¡°We know it¡¯s been a tough year, mostly for our staff as we had to push most of them to meet deadlines, especially because of the merger. It¡¯s a good thing that the project has been concluded so we can all have some breathing space.¡±


    He talked some more about thepany and the achievements so far for a few more minutes, then he congratted Kate and Santi on their recent wedding ceremony. Everyone nodded in agreement and Caroline almost choked on her drink when he added something about hoping that the both of them could have something as beautiful as what Kate and Santi had.


    Caroline swallowed hard and stared at her friends, but they were silent¡­Which was weird given what Glen had just said. Usually, Kate would have some teasingment about what Glen had just said, but then she realized that their attention had been taken by something behind her. Caroline followed the open-mouthed stares and turned to look behind her. In the newly created gangway stood a tall, solitary figure, and he was looking directly at her.


    Heart suddenly racing, prickles ran up her spine and over her skin. Certain she was hallucinating, Caroline blinked hard and tried to catch her breath, fought to keep her shaking legs from copsing beneath her. It couldn¡¯t be.


    The prickles infected her brain, reduced it to fuzzy mush. The room felt like it was spinning. Something distant smashed. She had only the faintest awareness it was the ss she¡¯d been holding before she suddenly turned away.


    ¡°Oh my God, Caroline!¡± Kate said as she reached out to hold her, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Caroline nodded, clearly embarrassed as the noise caused by the ss hitting the floor had attracted a lot of stares in her direction. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she breathed, ¡°The ss suddenly slipped,¡±


    Kate didn¡¯t look convinced. She had seen the look on Caroline¡¯s face and she knew her friend well enough to know that she had been startled by something, and she had a feeling that it had something to do with Nichs Connelly. The man Caroline had refused to talk about ever since she went on that trip with him. She had always suspected that their rtionship had been somewhat personal, but since Caroline insisted that she never wanted to talk about it, she never pushed her to.


    Caroline straightened as the ss was being cleared up. She had to leave. Now! Seeing Nichs hade as a shock to her. She had known that there was a chance she¡¯d see him again, but she¡¯d never nned for it to happen so soon, and especially not today¡­ With Glen around.


    Glen appeared by her side as he was done with his speech. He held her hand tightly, and the feel of his skin on hers made her flesh crawl. ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked her. ¡°What happened,¡±


    She nodded, ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she replied, and her tone was harsher than she¡¯d intended. The look on his face made her feel guilty. He was only trying to help, she told herself. It wasn¡¯t his fault that she had kept such a secret and was now going to have to deal with it. Judging by the way Nichs had been staring at her, she had a feeling that he knew. The look on his face had been that of determination¡­. Or even anger.


    She had to get out of here. The party was almost over. Nichs was at one end of the hall, surrounded by people who wanted to talk to him, but she could feel his eyes on her like a hawk stalking its prey. She knew Glen wouldn¡¯t let her leave now without an exnation and she had no time toe up with one because she could barely think.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, Glen,¡± she said hastily, ¡°Let me go use the restroom and freshen up a little bit. I think I¡¯m just a little tired, that¡¯s all,¡±

 55

    That exnation seemed to do the trick, because Glen nodded and released her, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be here,¡± he said, and turned to talk to a man who approached him.


    This was her time, Caroline thought as she turned and began to walk away. Except instead of heading to the restroom as she¡¯d told Glen, she headed for the nearest exit.


    ___________


    Caroline rushed towards her car, each step she took more urgent than thest. Why? Just why had he chosen to show up now? What happened to the man who left home, joined the army and didn¡¯t show up for years? Of course it was a horrible thing to think or wish. Caroline knew that, but at this moment she felt horrible and all she wanted to do was get away from Nichs.


    She was at her car now, thankfully. The huge parking was almost empty except for security and a few people, and her heels clicked loudly against the floor as she walked. Caroline grabbed her keys from her purse and was about to insert it when she heard him behind her.


    ¡°Caroline!¡­¡±


    His voice brought her to an abrupt halt. Wasn¡¯t it funny? She was the one who¡¯d told him repeatedly not to call her ¡®Care¡¯, and if anyone ever told her that a day woulde when she¡¯d wish he called her by that name he¡¯d specially coined for her, she¡¯d have called the person crazy.


    His voice brought back memories she should have let go of, or at least memories she thought she¡¯d put behind her, but they came rushing back as if someone had opened up the gates. This time, he wasn¡¯t teasing her or telling her how beautiful she was. His tone was harsh and when she finally brought herself to turn around to face him, she was scared by the anger zing in his eyes. Caroline swallowed hard and reminded herself to be calm¡­ To behave with restraint. Besides, she wasn¡¯t sure he knew about Charlie. He could be mad about something else, she thought. The chances were slim, but she could wish, right?


    ¡°Nichs¡­¡± She breathed, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be showing up today. Didn¡¯t even know you were back,¡±


    He said nothing. Just kept his gaze locked on hers while he took the steps needed to reduce the distance between them so he was standing in front of her. Caroline on the other hand fought the urge to back away from him. She didn¡¯t have any reason to be scared or worried, she told herself. She might have kept their child a secret from him, but he was the one who decided to leave, not her.


    ¡°I came back a week ago,¡± said Nichs as his eyes narrowed, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to show up tonight but I found out something very important¡­. so I had to,¡±


    Caroline willed her heart to stop beating so damn fast, ¡°Well, wee back, Nichs. I¡¯m sure your father is d to have you around once again,¡±


    Nichs stared at her and wondered how long she was going to keep up with the charade. Without letting his father suspect anything, he¡¯d subtly asked him questions about Caroline. Like how old her son was. When his father had mentioned Glen and Caroline being in a rtionship, it filled him with anger that he had no right to feel, but judging by the time his father told him they¡¯d begun dating, there was no way Glen could be her child¡¯s father.


    Seriously? Glen Asher? That was the guy she¡¯d deemed fit to be in a rtionship with? The man she deemed a ¡®gentleman¡¯? Nichs had a feeling he¡¯d react the same way if it was any other guy she was with, but that was not the reason he was here, so he went straight to the subject that had brought him here.


    ¡°You have a son.¡±


    Her eyes flickered. Okay¡­ So he knew, she thought. And if he was asking, then he knew Charlie was his too. Her secret was out.


    Nichs read the surprise in her eyes. He¡¯d often thought how their eyes were mirrors of their personalities; Caroline¡¯s blue and warm, his dark and cold. ¡°I saw you with him. Two days ago,¡± he added when her mouth dropped open.


    Tears filled her eyes. He held his breath and warily waited for them to spill over or for her tosh out at him. It didn¡¯t happen. Instead she swallowed rapidly and nodded.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°He¡¯s mine?¡±


    She brushed a falling tear and nodded again. He didn¡¯t like to see her cry¡­. He didn¡¯t like to see women cry, but at the moment he was so angry with her, so he forced himself not to care and took a deep breath. He¡¯d known the child was his in his heart but having it confirmed still came as a rush.


    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± he asked the question though he already knew the answer because his father had already told him.


    Charles Anderson. Born eleven months ago weighing three kilograms. Born nine months after he¡¯d gone back to New York.


    ¡°Charlie,¡± she said softly, ¡°Charles Anderson,¡±


    One side of his mouth curled upward, but Caroline knew Nichs well enough to know that he didn¡¯t find anything about the situation funny at all. He was angry¡­ She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was fighting to keep his emotions intact.


    His expression was stark, almost savage. The man who¡¯dughed with her in Texas a year ago had disappeared. In his ce was a man without mercy. Even in the light in the parking lot, she could see that. Olive-skinned and ck-haired, he was as handsome as ever, but something had changed. His face had an edge of fury-of cruelty. He¡¯d always been strong, but there were hard nes to his body that hadn¡¯t been there before. His shoulders were somehow broader, his arms wider, as if he¡¯d spent thest months beating opponents to a pulp in a boxing ring. His cheekbones were razor-sharp, his arms thick with muscle, his dark eyes limitless and cold. Looking into his eyes was like staring into a half-frozen sea.


    Once she¡¯d loved him; now she didn¡¯t know if hated him or if she was just scared of him.

 56

    He took another step closer, ¡°Did it ever ur to you, Care, that I would have liked to know that I have a son?¡± he asked. His voice was calm, but it didn¡¯t fool Caroline, ¡°Did it ever ur to you that I would have loved to be involved in my son¡¯s life?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t think that you¡¯d want him,¡± she stammered.


    His voice was deep, dangerous, tightly controlled. ¡°And why is that?¡±


    Caroline stared him dead in the eyes, ¡°Because you left,¡± she said.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She wasn¡¯t going to admit it, but the months after he left had been horrible, especially after she found out that she was pregnant. She had missed him terribly, wishing he was there to help her go through the pregnancy. She had cried herself to sleep so many times and the only thing that gave her strength was the thought of the child she¡¯d be bringing into the world.


    Yes, she knew that she was wrong keeping Charlie from him, but she had honestly thought that he wouldn¡¯t want to be involved in any way. The man ran frommitment like it was a gue. He¡¯d walked away from her without caring how it made her feel, and all he¡¯d been concerned about was her quitting her job. He¡¯d never stopped to ask himself why she¡¯d been so upset because he was leaving, but he¡¯d gone anyway and he never looked back. Not even a call or a text. The memory made her angry, and now she hated him.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were pregnant when I did,¡± he defended.


    ¡°Neither did I!¡± Caroline retorted, ¡°I found out veryte because I wasn¡¯t expecting it too,¡±


    ¡°Then you should have called me,¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see the point!¡±


    There was silence then. Caroline stood there, wondering what he¡¯d say next, and she wasn¡¯t expecting it when he suddenly grabbed her wrists. ¡°Well, I¡¯m back now, Care, and I will be taking my son with me. He is no longer your concern.¡±


    ¡°What! No!¡± Caroline almost screamed. Charlie was her life. The only reason why she was happy¡­ He¡¯de to her at her lowest, and he¡¯d brought her back to life


    ¡°Yes.¡± His grip was grim, imcable.


    She struggled in his arms. Once his touch had set her body ame. No longer. Not now that she knew what he nned to do.


    ¡°Nichs!¡± she shrieked helplessly.


    Nichs¡¯ grasp tightened as he pulled her closer, preventing her from thrashing her arms or wing his face. ¡°My son belongs with me.¡±


    It was exactly what she¡¯d suspected that he¡¯d say, but Caroline still staggered as if he had hit her. This time Nichs let her go. She grabbed the car to keep herself from sliding to the floor. She had to be strong- strong for her baby. She had to think of a way to save her son. In spite of her best efforts, another tear left a cold trail down her cheek. Wiping it away furiously, she raised her chin and red at Nichs with every ounce of hate she possessed. ¡°You can¡¯t do this! I won¡¯t let you.¡±


    ¡°I can and I will. You lost the right to be his mother when you hid him away from me and my father who you saw almost every goddamn day of every goddamn week. You could have told him Charlie was his grandson even if you didn¡¯t want to talk to me. What kind of a woman does something like that?¡±


    Caroline brought her hands to her mouth, knowing Nichs could use his money and power and man-eatingwyers to keep her from her son forever. She¡¯d been stupid to keep Charlie a secret from him and now her worst nightmare hade true. Her baby would grow up without her, living somewhere in New York with a heartless, womanizing billionaire and his new mistress¡­He could destroy anything he wanted. And he was going to. She could fight him, but would she win?


    She had one option left. Begging. ¡°Please,¡± she whispered. She took a deep breath and forced herself to say in a louder voice, ¡°Nick, please don¡¯t take my child. It would kill me.¡±


    He barked a harshugh. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d call a bonus.¡±


    She should have known better than to ask him for anything. ¡°You¡­you heartless bastard!¡±


    ¡°Heartless?¡± He banged the palm of his hand against the top of the car. ¡°Heartless!¡± he roared. ¡°You kept him from me for almost a year after he was born, Caroline. Why?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­..¡± She stopped.


    ¡°Because?¡± Nichs almost yelled.


    ¡°Because I didn¡¯t think I needed you. And I don¡¯t need your¡­your financial support,¡± she blurted out. But it wasn¡¯t entirely true. She¡¯d needed him, especially during the pregnancy. She¡¯d craved for him, but now she¡¯d programmed herself not to think of him anymore¡­ More like forced herself. And she had honestly believed he wouldn¡¯t want the baby¡­ Or her. He was the one who took off when things started to get a bitplicated between them. Right after they¡¯d made love, he¡¯d told her that he was leaving and her heart had broken into so many pieces. In a short time she¡¯d fallen for him, but he didn¡¯t wantmitments. And thest thing she didn¡¯t want him thinking was that she got pregnant on purpose¡­ To trap him or something.


    Anger zed from him. ¡°Being independently wealthy does not give you the right to keep me in ignorance of my own flesh and blood.¡±


    She stared at him helplessly, unable to offer any further defense for her decisions.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t it ever ur to you that I might want to provide every care to ensure that my child was safely born and well taken care of?¡±


    Suddenly afraid, Caroline drew back. ¡°Nick¡­ I was stupid to keep him from you, but¡­.¡± she whispered.


    ¡°It took you all this time to figure that out?¡±


    Caroline¡¯s breaths came in tiny rattling gasps. ¡°No. Please.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes and she grabbed at his coat sleeve. ¡°You can¡¯t take him. I¡¯m-I¡¯m still breastfeeding. Think what it would do to Charlie to lose his mother, the only parent he¡¯s ever known¡­¡±


    His eyes went dark, and Caroline wanted to bite off her tongue. He took a step closer, towering over her. ¡°Then I suggest that when you go home tonight, you start to say your goodbye.¡± he said harshly, then he turned around and walked away from her.

 57

    Caroline almost ran to the door when she finally got home that night. Her eyes blinded with tears and she knew that her makeup probably made her look like a masquerade at the moment, but she didn¡¯t care. All she could think about was her son¡­ And what Nichs nned to do.


    He wanted to take her child away and she knew that he could do it if he really put his mind to it. He was a powerful man and so was his father. They had money and connections and she had¡­. Well, she had Charlie, and she wasn¡¯t going to let anyone take him away from her.


    Elsa was asleep in the living room when she walked in, and she was very concerned when she sat up and saw  how worried Caroline looked, ¡°Are you alright, sis?¡± she asked Caroline as she stood up from the couch and hurried to her side. ¡°You look¡­. Terrible. What happened at that party?¡±


    For a minute, all Caroline could do was sob on her sister¡¯s shoulder. Her body shook and Elsa held her close. When she could finally speak without breaking up, she wiped her eyes with her palm and allowed Elsa to lead her to the nearest chair.


    ¡°I¡­. I¡­ I¡­ Nichs was at the party,¡± she finally managed to blurt out,¡±


    Elsa frowned, ¡°Nichs?¡± she repeated, ¡°You mean your secret baby daddy you refuse to talk about?¡±


    Caroline nodded, feeling so sorry for herself, ¡°He¡¯s back¡­ And he knows about Charlie,¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You mean you told him about Charlie?¡± Elsa asked.


    Caroline sniffed, ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t even know he was going to show up, but he did and he already knew about Charlie. I believe he is going to fight for custody and I¡­ I can¡¯t lose Charlie. He¡¯s all I have, Elsa and I don¡¯t know if I can take it if anyone takes him away from me, ¡±


    Elsa reached out and tucked a strand of hair that had escaped from Caroline¡¯s bun, ¡°No one is going to take Charlie away from you,¡± she assured her sister, ¡°If he wants a fight, then we will fight. Mom and Dad will help too. I¡¯m sure they will. No one will take Charlie because they¡¯ll see what I see¡­. They will see how much you both love each other.¡±


    Caroline wanted to believe her sister, but she was still worried as hell. She suddenly had an urgent need to see her son so she stood up. ¡°Charlie is in bed?¡± she asked


    ¡°Yup. Fast asleep,¡± Elsa confirmed.


    Caroline hurried up to her son, and the sight of him sleeping so peacefully almost made her cry all over again. How could anyone think of taking him away, she thought. Her beautiful boy. He had her eye color, but he took after Nichs in his other features. And she loved him¡­ More than she¡¯d ever loved anything or anyone in her life. This was a different kind of love¡­ And it filled her heart with love and sadness at the same time that she felt her heart could explode.


    If Nichs wanted Charlie, then he¡¯d have to go through her, she thought fiercely. Anyone who tried to harm her son would have to go through her.


    ____________


    Caroline groaned loudly when her phone rang for the third time the next morning. It was Glen. He¡¯d called several times the previous night, wanting to know why she¡¯d left the party so abruptly. She¡¯d sent him a text to let him know that she was fine and now he was calling again.


    Caroline had not been in the mood to exin herself to him or anyone. She was tired, sad and scared after her meet up from hell with Nichs and at the moment, all she could think about was her son and how to keep him away from Nichs. The earlier she broke up with Glen, the better, and she¡¯d told him exactly that as she texted to let him know that she¡¯d gone home to be with her son.


    Glen didn¡¯t need to know the details. All he needed to know was that she was ending their rtionship. Besides, she¡¯d wanted to do it even before Nichs showed up and ruined everything. Well at least that was what she thought, but Glen wouldn¡¯t stop calling. Maybe if she were in a better mood, she¡¯d have handled their breakup better, but she wasn¡¯t and she almost screamed when someone knocked at the door. She didn¡¯t even need to check before she knew that it was Glen.


    Elsa let him in, and Glen rushed to her side immediately he came inside the house. ¡°Caroline,¡± he said, reaching out to touch her wrists, ¡°You had me worried sick. Please tell me exactly what is going on? You can¡¯t mean what you told mest night.¡±


    Caroline pulled her hands away. His touch made her ufortable because she just wanted to be left alone. Why couldn¡¯t he understand?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I left the way I did,¡± she told him, ¡°But I just had to¡­.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Glen insisted.


    Caroline closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ All you need to know, Glen, is that we are not working. I¡¯m sorry but we are not. I¡¯m not the woman for you and the earlier we ept that, the better for the both of us. I¡¯m sorry to tell you this now but I thought that eventually we¡¯d be able to¡­. Be morepatible and work things out, but I don¡¯t see that happening anytime soon. I don¡¯t even know if I see it happening with anyone anytime soon and right now, I think I will just focus on my son, ¡±


    Glen was silent, but he looked pretty hurt and Caroline felt horrible. She didn¡¯t hurt people¡­She hated hurting people, but ending their rtionship was necessary because she couldn¡¯t string him along. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Glen, ¡°she told him, ¡°I really am,¡±


    After Glen epted her decision and left, Caroline still felt horrible knowing that her troubles were nowhere near over. She still had Nichs to take care of, and she wondered what he was nning. Was he currently making moves? Preparing to take her child away? Should she be making moves of her own? Should she take Charlie and run away now that she still had a chance? She could go somewhere he wouldn¡¯t be able to find them and start over. The questions were numerous and she had no answers to them.

 58

    Elsa emerged from her bedroom where she¡¯d gone to give Caroline and Glen some privacy, ¡°How did he take it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Okay, I guess¡± Caroline replied, ¡°He was a bit upset, but he¡¯ll be fine. I did the right thing, right? Please tell me that I did the right thing?¡±


    ¡°You did,¡± Elsa told her, ¡°It¡¯s much better than giving him false hope,¡±


    __________C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Just how much stuff was Elsa out there buying? Caroline wondered as she finished drying up the tes and put them in the rack.


    In preparation for her return back to her college, Elsa had decided to do some clothes shopping, but it already been an hour and thirty minutes and she had not returned. Elsa loved clothes and shopping, and Caroline was beginning to wonder what else her sister was out there buying.


    Finally, she heard someone drive in and smiled, wondering what exnation Elsa woulde up with for whatever she¡¯d ended up buying. Anticipating the knock before it came, she opened the front door and froze in shock as she saw who stood there.


    Nichs¡­. Thest person in the world she¡¯d expected or wanted to see. Her heart lurched, and the whole world tilted.


    ¡°No!¡± Her immediate impulse to m the door in his face was thwarted by swift action on his part. Clearly he¡¯d anticipated her response to his arrival and in a powerful movement he mmed a hand in the center of the door, resisting her attempts to close it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± heunched savagely, dark eyes connecting with hers with the lethal force of a missile, ¡°Besides I tried to call you but you didn¡¯t pick up,¡±


    ¡°And it didn¡¯t ur to you that maybe I didn¡¯t want to talk to you? When someone doesn¡¯t pick your call, it doesn¡¯t meane over,¡± She red at him, previous hostilities rising to the surface with such frightening force and speed that for a moment she struggled to breathe, swept away on a tide of emotion. ¡°And how the hell do you even know where I live?¡±


    She¡¯d moved to a new and bigger apartment after Charlie was born and It had never entered her head that one day, he¡¯d be at her door. Not after those  first miserable months  after he left where she¡¯d done nothing but stare out of the window, desperately hoping to see his car pull up outside her home. Gradually she¡¯d grown ustomed to the knowledge that he wasn¡¯ting after her. That it was well and truly over. Ended with an explosion of bitter emotion every bit as intense as the fiery rtionship that had gone before. She¡¯d walked out. He hadn¡¯t followed.


    And that had said everything there was to say about their short, fragile rtionship. To him it hadn¡¯t been worth saving and truth be told, it was never really a rtionship. It had been an unmitigated disaster and she¡¯d already promised herself that if she ever fell in love again it would be with a safe, mild-mannered, modern man, not a blisteringly ruthless, own-the-world man whose attitude to women was firmly embedded in the Stone Age.


    She stared at him furiously, her gaze drawn by the power of his broad shoulders, the arrogant tilt of his handsome head and the dangerous glint in his cold, hard eyes. It was wrong for one man to be so indecently sexy, she thought numbly, trying valiantly to ignore the kick of her heart and the sudden quickening of her pulse. She didn¡¯t want to respond like this. It was this response that had involved her with him in the first ce. Against her better judgment.


    But Nichs Connelly was not a man that women ignored. He was indecently good-looking and the aura of power that he wore with the ease of a designer suit attracted women like sharks to blood-infested water. And she¡¯d proved as vulnerable to his particr brand of macho sex appeal as all the others.


    Suddenly aware that he was staring over her shoulder into her house, she frowned. She didn¡¯t want him in her home, staring at everything and making her feel exposed. She made another futile attempt to close the door, knowing that it was a waste of time. In a battle of strength she would be the loser. Nichs was tall and powerfully built. She lifted her chin, trying not to remember those early ecstatic days they¡¯d spent together. Before reality had set in. Before they¡¯d discovered that they had absolutely nothing inmon and nothing to keep them together. ¡°So, why are you here?¡± she asked him.


    ¡°To see my son,¡± he replied harshly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that supposed to be obvious?¡±


    ¡°You mean you¡¯re here to take him¡­¡±


    He frowned, ¡°What? No¡­. You think this is the way I nned to go about getting custody? By kidnapping him?¡±


    Caroline continued to stand in his way, knowing that it wouldn¡¯t take much for him to shove her out of the way so he¡¯d get into the apartment, but he did nothing of the sort. Instead he stood there, watching her with dark eyes.


    With a sudden feeling of unease, she realized that he looked tired. And Nichs Connelly was never tired. He had more stamina than anyone she¡¯d ever met. She¡¯d never seen him like this before. He looked gray. Exhausted. Like a man at the very limit of his reserves. Instinctively she stepped to one side. ¡°You cane in,¡± she told him, ¡°But if you try anything funny you can be sure that I¡¯ll call the cops and I won¡¯t hesitate for a second,¡±


    He followed her into the house, looking around as he did. It wasn¡¯t a veryrge apartment, but it looked big enough. Beautifully decorated, and his eyesnded on some of the pictures disyed on a table with some flowers. There were mostly pictures of her and Charlie and Caroline wondered what he was thinking as he stared intensely at them, especially at the ones of their son.


    ¡°Would you like something to drink?¡± Caroline asked him shakily as he turned to look at her, brushing aside the fiery curls that threatened to obscure her vision. The gesture caught his attention and his shimmering ck gaze fixed on her wild mane of hair with almost primal fascination. The tension in the room suddenly increased. For a moment both of them had forgotten their horrible situation, too absorbed in each other to make room for the pressures of the outside world.

 59

    ¡°Do you think that¡¯s why I came here? To have a drink?¡± he finally said,


    ¡°I was just trying to be civil. The fact that you want a fight so badly doesn¡¯t mean that I want one,¡± she wished he¡¯d stop staring at her hair. She recognized that look in his eyes and it was all she could do not to groan out loud. She knew he was seconds away from sliding a possessive hand into her tangled curls and exposing her throat to the heat of his mouth. The seductive stroke of his fingers in her hair had been a prelude to making her weak for him and she couldn¡¯t afford that at the moment. Her breathing quickened. She did not want to think about that now! They¡¯d never shared anything except sex.


    Incredible, blisteringly exciting sex, the memory of which still deprived her of sleep. His gaze shifted reluctantly from her hair and settled on her pale face and she knew that his thoughts were running in the same direction as hers.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for a fight, Care. But. like it or not, Charlie is still my son,¡± he delivered, his slightly thickened tones betraying his physical response to her. ¡°And I want to see him because I¡¯ve already lost so much time with him. I¡¯m not here for you and I have no intention of resurrecting our rtionship in any shape or form. This visit isn¡¯t personal.¡±


    Pain shafted through her.  Not personal. She had known that, of course. So why did hearing him state the truth feel so brutal? Why did it hurt so much?


    ¡°Of course it isn¡¯t personal. Why would I even think that it might be?¡± Five minutes he¡¯d been in her house. Five minutes and she was ready to scratch and w until she drew blood. He just made her so angry. ¡°We never meant anything to each other anyways. All we had was an inappropriate work rtionship and a one night stand.¡±


    She heard his sharp intake of breath, saw the streaks of color appear high on his cheekbones. She could almost taste his own anger. And yet he didn¡¯t deny it. How could he when they both knew it was the truth?  The sex had been amazing but their rtionship had never been any deeper than that. It was just lust. At least, for him. For her it had been everything, and she¡¯d actually fallen for him. Which made the whole situation so much more depressing.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to discuss our rtionship or one night stand,¡± His tone was a cold warning to change the subject and if she hadn¡¯t been so miserable and so furious with him she would haveughed at hisplete inability to tackle anything emotional.


    ¡°Of course you¡¯re not. You¡¯d prefer to walk away whenever you want. Show up whenever you want. You did the same thing to your father for years and then you did it to me. I should have known better,¡± she threw back angrily.


    His anger matched hers. ¡°You were the one who walked out first,¡±


    ¡°Because you said you were leaving. You told me that immediately after we had sex. As if it was the only reason why you stayed as long as you did, and as soon as you got what you wanted, you announced that you were going back to New York. You didn¡¯t even trust me enough to let me know from the beginning! You didn¡¯t share with me!  You made your decision without so much as a flicker of consideration for my opinion or my feelings. You didn¡¯t want anymitments and didn¡¯t want to deal with whatever would happen after we had sex. Which makes it all the more incredible that you¡¯re here now when you could have just stayed where you were. I gave you what you wanted and I stayed away. It must have been incredibly difficult for you to ept that you have a son¡­ I guess it must be a huge inconvenience for you to be a father when you didn¡¯t n to be one,¡±


    His jaw was set hard.¡± I¡¯m not afraid of difficulties.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you here, Nichs? You didn¡¯t n to have a son and I¡¯m not forcing you to have one¡­ So why not leave us the hell alone and go¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ Rake across the country as much as you want. Are you just trying to frustrate me?¡±


    ¡°This is not the time for this discussion!¡± He looked at her with blinding hostility, his bodynguage tantly antagonistic. ¡°And I¡¯m not here to frustrate you. I want to be involved in my son¡¯s life. Either that happens or I fight for custody. I¡¯m giving you a choice now, Care, so which do you prefer?¡±


    Caroline thought hard about his offer. If all Nichs wanted to do now was have a rtionship with his son, why should she stop him? If he wasn¡¯t nning to take Charlie away anymore, and all he wanted to do was be in his life and be a father to their son, then wasn¡¯t that a good thing? The truth was that although she loved Charlie with every bone in her body, she knew he¡¯d need his father one day. She didn¡¯t know the reason for Nichs¡¯ sudden change of heart about fighting for custody, but she didn¡¯t want to push things.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she said softly, ¡°He¡¯s sleeping right now but I guess you can still see him,¡±


    Nichs quietly followed Caroline to the room where their son was. Hey in his bed, fast asleep. Nichs simply stood beside Caroline, watching his son¡¯s small chest rise and fall as he breathed. In that moment, He felt pride like he¡¯d never felt before. This was his son¡­ This handsome little boy in front of him was his son. He felt the urge to protect and provide for him grow inside of him and he breathed deeply, knowing that Caroline was watching him closely, and for some reason he didn¡¯t want her to know just how affected he was by this.


    And that was because he was still angry with her for keeping their son from him. For making him miss so much. He wasn¡¯t there for the birth. He wasn¡¯t there for eleven months. And it was toote for a lot of things. His own son didn¡¯t know him. He clenched his hands.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

 60

    ¡°He looks so much like you,¡± Caroline said softly.


    She was right, Nichs acknowledged, but he said nothing. Caroline gently reached out and carried the sleeping child in her arms, then she turned to him, holding up the baby. ¡°Would you like to hold him?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Nichs replied. But, looking at the baby, he suddenly felt as if he were facing a firing squad. What did he know about babies? He¡¯d never held one before. Nichs had been an only child, and he¡¯d never exactly been the sort of man to ooh and ah over the children of friends. ¡°How breakable is he?¡± he asked.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t drop him, we won¡¯t find out.¡± Caroline replied. Then she smiled. ¡°You won¡¯t drop him, so don¡¯t worry.


    Here.¡±


    She passed Charlie to him. Feeling nervous, he gathered his child from Caroline¡¯s embrace and held him awkwardly underneath the arms. The baby moved¡­as if ufortable. Having expected something light and noticeably fragile, it was a relief to feel his son¡¯s solidity, even if it dide with additional bounce.


    Heughed and met Caroline¡¯s stare again. ¡°He¡¯s beautiful,¡± he said, awestruck.


    ¡°Yes. He is.¡± said Caroline, then she took a step closer, ¡°No, er¡­Nick, tuck him closer to you. Under his bum.¡±


    Nichs tried, but he couldn¡¯t seem to get it right. The baby apparently agreed. Charlie slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Nichs, then his lower lip started to tremble. He screwed up his face and started to wail.


    ¡°I¡­I seem to be doing this wrong,¡± Nichs said, breaking into a cold sweat.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally,¡± Caroline said, ¡°He is just tired and hungry. He¡¯ll soon be right again with a bit to eat.¡±


    But Nichs could hardly hear her words over their son¡¯s panicked cries. He felt helpless. Useless. A bad father.


    ¡°He¡­I¡­I¡¯lle back when he¡¯s not so tired.¡± He thrust the baby back into her arms and fled.


    Or at least he started to, but Caroline called him back, ¡°Nick, wait,¡± she said gently.


    Nichs stopped and turned to look at them, watching as she cuddled him close and his cries subsided to small whimpers.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to leave. He¡¯s just fussy. You can wait a few minutes and then try again,¡± she told him.


    That made sense, Nichs thought. The truth was that he did want to try again. He wanted to bond with his child and he didn¡¯t want to give up. Charlie  started to whimper again and Caroline snuggled him close. ¡°You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you?¡± With some hesitation, she looked up, biting her lip. ¡°Nick, I need to feed the baby. Do you mind?¡±


    Nichs knew exactly what she meant. She wanted him to wait in the living room so she could feed Charlie. Itching for a fight, he sat down on the blue overstuffed sofa, pretending to make himselffortable. ¡°No, I don¡¯t mind at all.¡± He indicated the nearby rocking chair.


    She stared at him in amazement. ¡°You think I¡¯ll do it in front of you, do you, l?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind.¡±


    ¡°What? Are you scared?¡± He raised his eyebrows. ¡°You have no reason to be. I¡¯ve seen everything you have to offer, remember?¡±


    Although that was true, it wasn¡¯tpletely true at all. With her loose ponytail, that left tendrils cascading against her skin, she looked very different from the tightly controlled, buttoned-up woman he remembered. And even in the baggy T-shirt she was wearing he could see that her breasts wererger. They¡¯d been perfect. He remembered them well, remembered cupping them in his hands, licking slowly across the full nipples, until she¡¯d moaned and writhed beneath him, making love to them after he¡¯d brought her to climax-twice- with his mouth. What were her breasts like now beneath that shirt?


    He suddenly realized that he was rock-hard. He was supposed to torture her, not the other way around. He willed the desire away. He didn¡¯t want her. He didn¡¯t want her.


    ¡°Fine. Stay. I don¡¯t care,¡± she said, although he could tell by the defiant expression on her beautiful face that she cared very much. Grabbing the diaper bag with her free hand, she set it down with a plop on the floor by the cushioned rocking chair. Rummaging through the bag, she pulled out several items before she found a nket. A small vial fell out and rolled across the floor. He picked it up. Thebel was in Russian.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Baby painkiller,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s teething.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± he said.


    Her fingers seemed clumsy as she used the blue nket, decorated with safari animals, to cover both baby and breast before she pulled up her T-shirt. The baby¡¯s wails immediately faded to a blissful silence, punctuated with contented gulps.


    It shouldn¡¯t have been erotic, but it was. Every movement she made, every breath she took, seemed electric in Nichs¡¯ overcharged state. He pressed his lips together, remembering how her whole body had trembled whenever they¡¯d kissed. The way she melted into his arms when he¡¯d brushed his lips against hers. Every inch of his skin, every cell of his body tingled with the memory. Remembering love making so hot that it had nearly set the bed on fire.


    She nced up at him now, her eyes so cool and distant. I¡¯m too good for you, her eyes seemed to say. She was a fantasy of ice and fire. He¡¯d never experienced any woman like her.


    Watching her now, nursing his son, he came to a sudden decision.


    She deserved to suffer for keeping him in the dark. But there was no reason to make himself suffer as well. He would have her in his bed again¡­ Soon.


    ___________


    TWO WEEKS LATER


    __________


    Caroline got Charlie¡¯s baby carrier out of the car and gently ced him in it, then she began to walk towards the restaurant where she was supposed to meet up with Nichs.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    She was relieved and also impressed that he¡¯d chosen a child friendly restaurant. It meant that he¡¯d paid attention and knowing that she was bringing Charlie, he¡¯d taken the effort to suggest a ce people could bring their kids to.


    Caroline had made sure Charlie ate to his fill. She¡¯d made sure he was veryfortable and now he was fast asleep and would be for a while so as not to disturb other customers and so she and Charlie could discuss whatever he¡¯d called her there for.

 61

    They made quite a team, Caroline thought as she approached the table Nichs was already seated at. Nichs visited as often as possible and Caroline couldn¡¯t help but notice that he was growing on Charlie and although she hated to admit it but he was growing on her as well.


    It scared her too, knowing that once again, it was all happening so fast and thest time she let herself open up to him, he¡¯d walked away from her. She could take it, but she didn¡¯t want it happening to Charlie, who was clearly getting so used to seeing Nichs around now. If he left and broke Charlie¡¯s heart, she¡¯d never forgive him for it. She wanted to protect her son, but she couldn¡¯t stop Nichs from spending time with him.


    They got along quite well and Caroline wondered what it was Nichs wanted them to discuss now. She knew it was a bit serious because he¡¯d sounded serious on the phone.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Nichs actually smiled when she got to the table, and he stood up to help her with the baby carrier, careful not to wake Charlie who was sleeping peacefully.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you coulde,¡± he said when they were finally seated,


    ¡°It took some time to get him ready,¡± Caroline replied, referring to Charlie, ¡°But we¡¯re here now¡­. and I¡¯m starving. Do you mind if we order something to eat first before we talk?¡±


    Nichs shrugged, ¡°Of course not,¡± he said, and motioned for a waitress toe to their table.


    The waitress arrived almost immediately with the menu and they both ordered the same thing. Some rice, veggies, stew, fruit juice and some water. Nichs insisted on them eating before they could discuss and Caroline didn¡¯t mind at all. The idea sounded very good to her as she was very hungry.


    Halfway through the meal, Nichs cleared his throat, ¡°I think we make good co-parents, don¡¯t you think so, Care?¡± he asked.


    Caroline nodded. Yes, she thought so, but she couldn¡¯t help but wonder where this conversation was going.


    ¡°You look a bit exhausted,¡± Nichs said, watching her closely.


    Caroline sipped her water before she replied, ¡°That¡¯s because I am,¡± she told him, ¡°With Elsa back to school, I have to handle Charlie alone when I get back from work and I tell you, it¡¯s not easy,¡±


    Nichs¡¯ face lit up, like that was the reply he¡¯d been expecting. He leaned forward, ¡°What if there was a way I could help with that?¡±


    Caroline raised an eyebrow, ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What are you trying to tell me?¡±


    The expression on his face got even more serious. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say, Care,¡± he began cautiously, ¡°Is that you need a break¡­ You know.. You need some time to rest¡­ I mean, like you just said, you¡¯re exhausted so I was thinking¡­ How about you let me have Charlie for a week or two. Give you an opportunity to get that rest you need, and I on the other hand, get to spend more time with my son,¡±


    The look on Caroline¡¯s face told Nichs that she didn¡¯t like the idea at all. She didn¡¯t even need to speak before he knew that her answer was going to be no.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need time away from my son, Nichs,¡± she told him, ¡°And you do get to spend time with him. You visit him often,¡±


    Nichs shifted in his seat, ¡°Yes, I know that, and that¡¯s why I said, I need ¡®More time¡¯ with him. Let¡¯s face it, those visits are not going to be enough. As he grows, he¡¯s going to need me to be around more. He¡¯s going to need to bond with his father, and I¡¯m pretty sure visits aren¡¯t going to be enough by then. I¡¯ve missed so much already, Care. Is it so bad if I want to spend more time with him?¡±


    Caroline knew that he was right. Her eyes darted to Charlie, who was still sleeping and the thought of having him away from her for that long didn¡¯t sound right to her at all. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Nick, but a week or two is too much for me to be away from him. Besides, I¡¯m still breastfeeding him. I know he eats other foods now but he still needs me. Even if you take him, where is he going to stay? With you at your dad¡¯s ce? I know Frank would love to have his grandson around but I don¡¯t think he¡¯d would the noise either. Charlie is still very little, and one thing about babies¡­ They cry sometimes¡­ Very loudly too. They demand a lot of attention and they poop a lot too,¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to discourage or scare me with these details?¡±


    Caroline shook her head, ¡°No, but you should be concerned. Have you ever taken care of a child before?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t, but that wasn¡¯t the point, ¡°No,¡± Nichs replied, ¡°But I can learn. Practice makes perfect as they say. And as for where he¡¯s going to stay, he will be with me¡­. In my house¡­ Not my dads,¡± He read Caroline¡¯s confused expression and shrugged, ¡°I¡­got a housest week,¡± he exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t want to say anything until everything was ready,¡±


    Caroline didn¡¯t say anything for a while because she was thinking hard. If Nichs had a house in town now, it was because he nned to stay, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about him leaving and hurting Charlie anymore.¡± You are staying,¡± she said finally, ¡°I mean¡­ I thought you¡¯d leave again sometime,¡±


    ¡°And leave my son behind?¡± he asked, ¡°What kind of man do you think I am, Care? If I told you to leave your life here and your job so you and Charlie coulde with me, would you have said yes?¡±


    She wouldn¡¯t have agreed to that, so she shook her head, ¡°I guess not,¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I thought as much. Besides, I was going toe back sometime anyway because of thepany, so why not now,¡±


    So Nichs was staying, Caroline thought, which was good for his rtionship with Charlie, but what did it mean for the both of them? It was a silly question because she already knew the answer to it, but it kept popping into her head.


    Her heart juddered and herposure cracked. Her hand spasmed against her ss, sending the liquid flying. Cheeks ming instantly, she was saved from the weight of Nichs¡¯ suddenly piercing stare by a passing waiter hurrying to clean it up and refill her ss.

 62

    She mentally scolded herself. He was staying for their son¡­ Not her. That should be something to celebrate, not something that made her chest feel like icy shards were prating it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like you to be clumsy,¡± hemented when they were left alone again, thoughtful eyes fixed on hers, forehead indented with the contemtive lines she recognised.


    ¡°It was an ident.¡± She tried to speak dismissively but there was a tremor in her voice. Her bones felt like they¡¯d be jellified. His right eyebrow rose sardonically. She had arge drink of her juice and willed her heart to settle.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°So I take it you¡¯re already settled in?¡± she asked, and was relieved that this time her voice had mostly returned to the casual tone she¡¯d spent two weeks perfecting.


    There was a slight narrowing of his light brown eyes before they glittered and a knowing smile yed on his lips. ¡°I sure am,¡± he replied, not taking his eyes from her beautiful face. ¡°So what do you say to my request? Can Charliee stay with me for a while?¡±


    Caroline felt selfish and inconsiderate, knowing that Nichs had every right to want more time with his son and he was asking very nicely, but the thought of having her son away from her for so long sounded dreadful to her. A host of emotions yed on the face he could see straining not to give anything else away. ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t think Charlie can be away from me for that long,¡± she told him.


    Nichs watched her for a few seconds, and honestly Caroline expected him to get very upset, but he didn¡¯t. But the truth was that he¡¯d expected her to say no. Knowing Caroline, and having watched her with Charlie several times, he knew she¡¯d never agree to be apart from him for so long. She was like a mama bear. So caring and very protective. Now was his chance to say what he really had in mind, so he leaned forward, ¡°How about youe too then,¡± he said.


    The color drained from her face and the fork in her hand dropped onto her te. Her eyes widened and her shoulders hunched as she ced a hand to her chest. She cleared her throat. ¡°You¡­You want me toe to your house?¡±


    ¡°With Charlie,¡± he rified even though he knew it was unnecessary. ¡°This way, you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being apart from him for too long,¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± The sudden dread that had clutched Caroline vanished under the surge of her racing pulse and she found herself arching towards him. ¡°You want me toe too?¡±


    His spective stare held hers.¡± He¡¯s still getting to know me and like you said, he¡¯s too young to leave you yet.¡±


    He was using her own words against her. The brief rush of adrenaline tlined. She didn¡¯t even know why she¡¯d experienced it. This was the man who¡¯d walked away from her without any thought or concern about her and, even if she could forgive that-not his reasons for leaving, but hisplete dismissal of her in his nning and execution of it was something she never really understood. If he hadn¡¯t found out about Charlie, he¡¯d have been happy never seeing her again. She meant nothing to him. He didn¡¯t want her. She was wee in his home only as the mother of his son.


    Well, she didn¡¯t want him either. He was wee in her home only as the father of her son. If he got down on his knees and begged for them to start over, she wouldugh in his face. She just wished she didn¡¯t wake every morning with panic in her heart because he was in her dreams and that every minute spent with him didn¡¯t make her feel so jittery and flushed inside. It was there now, the heat that had lived in her the entire time they¡¯d been together, the cells of her body straining towards him, her pulse never settling into a steady rhythm.


    ¡°Let our son visit my home, darling,¡± he said, dark eyes boring into her. ¡°My father would love to visit too and spend time with his grandson too. My heritage is his heritage. He deserves to know about it, do you not agree? And one day, everything I have will be his.¡±


    Her cheeks med at the endearment that had slipped off his tongue so smoothly she was sure he hadn¡¯t noticed¡­Or maybe he had. You could never be too sure with Nichs Connelly. ¡°When you put it like that, how can I say no?¡± She couldn¡¯t. She knew that. Not unless she wanted to be actively cruel.


    It astounded her how quickly the bond between father and son had formed but it was there and it was real and it was a good thing. All children deserved to have the best rtionship possible with both their parents and she would never deny her son that, no matter the personal cost to herself. And it was costing her a lot.


    ¡°So you¡¯lle?¡±


    ¡°For how long? Two weeks sounds like a long time, Nick?¡±


    ¡°Fine. How about we do one week first and see how it goes?¡±


    He was being so reasonable and understanding, Caroline thought. She had to meet him halfway. She strained every muscle in her face to form a smile. ¡°I guess we can do that,¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯lle?¡± he asked again.


    ¡°Sure. We¡¯lle.¡±


    His face widened into a grin, eyes glittering. ¡°Excellent. I will make the arrangements.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    Caroline held Charlie securely as she got out of the house and locked the door. A ck car was parked a short distance from them and her already erratic heart ballooned painfully to see the long, lean figure standing against it.


    Nichs¡¯ presence in her life thesest seven days had been reduced to snatched, fleeting visits to see their son. His absence and even his presence had brought no relief. It shattered her that far from his distance giving her space to properly get her head around their situation, she still woke every morning having to assure herself that he was back in her life. She had to stop her hands grabbing her phone to call him just to hear his voice.

 63

    Worse was the way her heart had thrummed for the entirety of those short visits. Worse still was the way it leapt whenever he fixed his gleaming eyes on her. The way her pulse thrummed when his gaze lingered too long on her. It was a sensation she hadn¡¯t felt in so long and it was terrifying how pleasurable a sensation it was. No matter how hard she tried to find it again, the control she¡¯d mastered when he was away seemed far out of reach now.


    He strode towards them, shades on, a wide smile on his stubbly face, dressed in faded jeans, a gray V-neck T-shirt and a leather jacket. She¡¯d forgotten how good Nichs looked in jeans and she frantically beat away memories of the washboard stomach and snake hips beneath them. She forgot to hold her breath when he pressed a hand to her hip and leaned in to brush his cheek to hers. A sh of warmth against her skin and an enticing dose of spicy cologne hit her senses at the same moment he scooped Charlie from her arms and set about nting huge kisses over his face.


    She had just enough sense to be grateful he¡¯d taken their son from her. From that moment of bodily contact, her limbs had weakened into mush.


    ¡°Ready?¡± he asked casually.


    She semi-sessfully curved her lips into a smile. ¡°Yes. Thanks foring to pick us up,¡±


    Holding Charlie securely around his belly, he lifted him above his head. ¡°Only the best treatment for my son and his mama.¡±


    Their luggage was whisked into the boot of the car by the driver. A baby car seat had been installed in the back and Nichs strapped him in as if he¡¯d done it a thousand times. The seat was sorge it shrank the spacious interior.


    The minute the door of the car enclosed them all inside she regretted not sitting up front beside the driver. Nichs¡¯ cologne filled the cabin, the bulk of his body, which was ced between her and their son, taking up almost as much space as the car seat.


    From the corner of her eye she saw him remove his jacket. For the first time since his return, she could see his arms and the contours of his body, and she pressed herself closer to the door and fought her greedy eyes¡¯ attempts to stare at him.


    Was she imagining that, without a suit to hide most of his spectacr body, he was more muscr than she remembered? She crossed her legs away from him and breathed through her mouth.


    Soon they were driving through narrow streets in the town with thick white walls and colourful roofs. She focused her attention on the streets, the small river they passed glimmering brightly under the setting sun, and tried to tune out the man who sat beside her.


    ¡°He¡¯s asleep.¡± Nichs sounded so put out by this that she found herself smothering an unexpected giggle.


    ¡°He always falls asleep in cars.¡±


    ¡°There is still much for me to learn about him.¡±


    ¡°You know all the important things. Everything else is just window dressing.¡±


    There was a long pause. ¡°Thank you.¡± He said,


    She turned her face to him before she could stop herself. ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For bringing him¡­ and for agreeing toe with him too,¡± His smile was wry but there was a softness in his eyes. ¡°I know it can¡¯t be easy for you to ept me into your lives when I just¡­ showed up. The way you¡¯ve handled things has been incredible, and I¡¯m grateful for that,¡±


    A lump formed in her throat and she had to swallow hard to speak past it. ¡°Thanks. I appreciate that. It hasn¡¯t been easy. If not for Charlie¡­¡±


    ¡°If not for Charlie¡­?¡± he prompted when she stopped her words from running away from her.


    The weight of his stare pressed on her chest. ¡°He pulled me together,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Getting through the pregnancy and preparing for his birth gave me focus. My mom¡­¡± She shook her head and looked back out of the window, trying her hardest to keep control of the words falling from her lips. ¡°My mom was there for me. Through the birth, and she stayed for a few months after he was born. Having a child forces you to be strong, whether the child¡¯s an unborn baby or an adult. The primal urge to protect them is too powerful and so you pack away any pain and grief just to get through the days. You pack away all feelings. Bury them.¡±


    And never let them out again. Suddenly afraid her control had failed and she¡¯d revealed too much about herself, she added as temperately as she could manage,¡± It doesn¡¯t matter anymore,¡±


    Her skin prickled at the intensity of Nichs¡¯ probing stare that she could sense was trying to prate her skull to read her mind. ¡°It does matter, Care,¡± he said finally, ¡°I know this isingte but I¡¯m sorry for everything. I¡¯m sorry for not being there for you and Charlie when I should have been.¡±


    Hot tears stabbed the back of her eyes. He was saying the right things because Charlie was involved¡­ Which was a good thing at least. But the truth was that deep down, she knew he didn¡¯t want her here. She was only here because of Charlie¡­. She had to keep that in mind for her own good.


    __________________


    Nichs carried his son from the back of the car. Caroline was staring at his home with her arms tightly folded.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Thest of the sun¡¯s rays poured on her, turning her hair into a curly golden halo. Her beauty was something that never failed to dazzle him and now that he was resolved on the path he intended to take with her, he weed the fizz her presence put in his veins.


    ¡°What do you think of my new home, Care?¡± he asked when he joined her.


    She dropped her arms and blinked, but before she could answer, Charlie decided the time was right to throw himself into his mother¡¯s arms. Like a slippery eel, he dived out of Nichs¡± hold to her. If Nichs hadn¡¯t had such a good grip on him and if Caroline¡¯s reflexives weren¡¯t so honed, their son would have hurtled head-first to the ground.


    In the blink of an eye, the pair of them were holding their son sand-wiched between, Caroline¡¯s breasts crushed against their interlinked arms. For the briefest moment, time stood still.

 64

    Nichs found his gaze locked onto her wide eyes. Her face tilted, lips parted in frozen shock. And then he saw the color creep over her cheeks and her throat move, and thepulsion to cover her parted lips and kiss her so thoroughly that she couldn¡¯t stand sent a rush of heat flooding through him. Because, in that brief moment of triumph, Nichs¡¯ strong suspicions were confirmed. His mouth curled into a slow smile. Caroline¡¯s attraction to him was still there. He could practically taste it, and he was going to use it to his advantage.


    A warm beat echoed in Caroline¡¯s head. She didn¡¯t know if it was shock at her son¡¯s daredevil antics or being trapped in Nichs¡¯ stare that was causing it. At that moment, all she knew was that he was gazing at her as if he wanted to eat her whole. She was brought back to her senses by her son, merrily jiggling between his parents¡¯ crushed bodies, oblivious that he¡¯d been nanoseconds from a fractured skull, waving his arms around and smacking her in the face.


    ¡°Charlie,¡± she chided, disentangling an arm from Nichs¡¯ hold to gently take her son¡¯s wrist. Charlie grabbed her hair with his other hand. Before she could remove it, Nichs took the offending hand.


    ¡°Leave Mama¡¯s hair alone.¡± He pressed even closer to her to unpluck the little fingers clutching her hair. Sensation brushed from the tips of her hair and danced into her skin. Her already thrashing heart went into overdrive and she held her breath, trying her hardest not to inhale his scent.


    He smoothed her hair back into ce and looked down at her. His eyes glimmered, a smile spreading over his face before he finally stepped away from her with a murmured, ¡°That was close.¡±


    She breathed deeply and swallowed, jiggling Charlie on her hip, trying her best to look serene, trying her best to appear oblivious to the current of heat that had just passed between them.


    But she couldn¡¯t deny the expression in Nichs¡¯ eyes, not when she¡¯d seen it so many times before, right before he would crush his lips to hers and right before he had made passionate love to her.


    She tightened her hold on Charlie and willed her heartbeats to stop crashing against her chest. It was a look he must have given to hundreds of women in his time. If she hadn¡¯t been so naive and ready to fall in love, she would have known she was nothing special to him a long time ago and better protected herself. Romance and love had never been on her radar. She couldn¡¯t make the same mistake twice.


    He¡¯d turned to the smartly dressed man who¡¯d appeared from the house. Nichs introduced him as Angelos, his butler, and then they were swept inside. Caroline tried to pay attention but she was too taken with the house interior. Even Charlie stopped wriggling in her arms to gawp. It was almost exclusively white, from the thick, high walls to much of the furniture. Only the hard floor beneath her feet differed in being a pale, warm gray. And yet there was nothing cold about it.


    Where her home had defined rooms with doors leading from one to the other, this had defined spaces reached through open arches, and she followed Nichs through one into a huge living space with four separate sofa areas.  No longer waiting for Nichs to guide her, she shifted Charlie in her arms and headed for an arch.


    Stepping through it, she found herself in a vast living space that extended seamlessly to an equally vast terrace. Open-mouthed, she slowly craned her neck from left to right, taking in the long infinity pool thatpped inside and then seemed to stretch out.


    The hairs on the nape of her neck rose before Nichs¡¯ voice rumbled in her ear. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s stunning.¡± She replied,


    He grinned and stepped onto the terrace, beckoning for her to follow. ¡°Let me show you the rest of it.¡±


    Caroline tried her best to pay attention to the tour itself rather than her tour guide, but her attention grew increasingly fractured. Not only did she have to concentrate on holding a bored baby in her arms but Nichs kept close enough to her that her senses threatened to go into overdrive. At one point he even rested a hand on her back when showing her the yground he¡¯d had installed for their son and then, when he took Charlie from her, his eyes held hers with the gleam in them that never failed to make her belly melt. She could only manage appreciative murmurs at the soft y room for Charlie.


    When they returned to the house , a matronly figure stood with the butler waiting for them with a small suitcase at her side. Nichs shook her hand, and made the introductions. ¡°Caroline, this is Seema. I¡¯ve employed her as Charlie¡¯s nanny for your stay here.¡±


    Nichs watched Caroline¡¯s eyes widen before her gaze darted from him to Seema then back again.


    ¡°Pleased to meet you,¡± she murmured, extending a hand.


    ¡°Pleasure to meet you too,¡± Seema replied, shaking the offered hand. Then she spoke to their son. ¡°You must be Charlie.¡±


    To his surprise, Charlie shied away from her and buried his face in Nichs¡¯ shoulder. No amount of coaxing would get him to look at her.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t like him,¡± he said to Caroline. ¡°Usually he¡¯s so sociable.¡±


    She shook her head tightly. ¡°He always needs time to get used to new people.¡±


    ¡°He took to me straight away,¡± he pointed out.


    She shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re the only one. Maybe it¡¯s because on some weird baby level he recognised you as his father.¡± Then, as Nichs was puffing up with pride at her observation, she addressed the nanny. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll befortable with you very soon but he¡¯s in a home that is strange to him. I¡¯ll take care of him tonight and then tomorrow we¡¯ll introduce the two of you again.¡±


    Seema looked to Nichs for approval. His orders to her had been clear-she would be responsible for his son¡¯s routine that week and for how long they were going to stay, especially with regard to evenings and nights. As he could also feel Caroline¡¯sser stare piercing through him, he nodded.


    ¡°Angelos will show you to your room and make you familiar with everything. If we need you this evening we¡¯ll let you know.¡± He told Seema. She bowed her head and disappeared with his butler.

 65

    There was a moment of silence before Caroline said, ¡°You¡¯ve employed a nanny?¡± Her low tone did not disguise the underlying menace in it.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    He met her flinty stare. ¡°Obviously.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed and glinted. ¡°You had no right.¡±


    He bristled. ¡°I had every right. I¡¯m his father.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m his mother and I¡¯m only here because I¡¯m his mother.¡±


    ¡°Seema has impable references. She was rmended by a trusted friend,¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t care if she came gold-ted! You had no right to go over my head like that, no right at all, and don¡¯t quote the ¡°I¡¯m his father¡± line at me again; you don¡¯t know Charlie well enough yet to know what¡¯s in his best interests.¡±


    ¡°Whose best interests?¡± he disputed coolly. Nichs had been prepared for Caroline¡¯s annoyance about the nanny but her line of attack on the matter was out of order. ¡°His or yours?¡±


    Angry color stained her cheeks. ¡°How dare-¡±


    ¡°You hardly let him out of your sight. You do everything for him. When ites to our son, you¡¯re a control freak.¡±


    The dark circles under her eyes proved how much she needed a break but a break would never happen if she had to get up at the crack of dawn each day to care for their son. He¡¯d spent enough time with Mother Caroline to know she wouldn¡¯t trust him to care for Charlie on his own. Not yet. She¡¯d get up and hover between them. That employing a nanny to care for their son left more time and opportunity for seduction was only secondary¡­ The baring of her teeth made him quite sure that she would have pped him if he didn¡¯t have their son in his arms.


    ¡°Caring for Charlie is my job,¡± she snarled.


    ¡°You never rx or take time for yourself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a mother. Ites with the territory.¡±


    ¡°I was just trying to help,¡± he said.


    Caroline¡¯s stare tempered, became contemtive. The piercing of theser burn lessened as theposure he¡¯d had so much fun cracking since her arrival visibly reset itself. In a much calmer tone, she said, ¡°In future, please consult me before making any decision about our son¡¯s care.¡±


    ¡°Does that work for me too?¡± he challenged. ¡°Only it seems that you¡¯re the one who gets to make all the decisions for him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m the one who raised him without his father for eleven months. I earned that right.¡± Then she looked at their son and her features softened. ¡°But I take your point. If you disagree with my judgments then we should discuss it.¡±


    ¡°Who gets the final say?¡±


    ¡°Logic does. Failing that, me.¡±


    Nichs had to control every muscle in his mouth to stop it from opening and biting back some home truths to her. He was acutely aware that, though their son couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying, he would undoubtedly be picking up on the tense atmosphere between them. He would not allow Charlie to witness any kind of war between his parents. Swallowing back the rancid taste on his tongue, he indicated the winding staircase. ¡°I¡¯ll show you to your rooms.¡±


    __________


    Caroline held Charlie close as she stepped over the threshold of the door Nichs opened for her in the wide corridor, using his solid little body as a shield to protect herself from the emotions thrashing and crashing inside her.


    She¡¯d known it would happen one day soon, that Nichs would assert his authority as a father, but she¡¯d surprised herself at the strength of her feelings about it. Until that moment, every single decision about Charlie had been made by her and her alone. Nichs had been absent! The times when she¡¯d been uncertain about something she¡¯d sought her mother¡¯s advice but the ultimate decision had always been hers. His sudden assertion of parental authority while she was fighting the effect his nearness was having on her had made her angrier about it than she should have been¡­ And his reasons for it.


    Why would he employ a nanny for her benefit? Why would he care if she took time for herself? She knew he didn¡¯t care a jot for her¡­ But he still wanted her. Hadn¡¯t she known that since their meal together? And hadn¡¯t she sensed it before that? His desire was there in every gleam of his eyes, a sensual promise that lived as a hum in her veins.


    He didn¡¯t care for her but he still desired her as a woman, and, as she gazed around the room that would be hers for the week, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a full-length mirror. For a moment she stared at the woman with the child in her arms.


    A mother. A daughter. A sister. A woman.


    And then she caught Nichs¡¯ eye in the reflection. The icy steel she¡¯d seen during their brief, heated argument had melted. What she saw in his gaze now¡­ Her abdomen turned to liquid.


    Caroline quickly looked away and forced her attention back to the room. It was as vast and white as the rest of the ce but there were colorful feminine touches in the soft furnishings. The sshes of color were the reds and oranges she adored, colors she had in her apartment, colors she hadn¡¯t seen in any other part of his home. Had these colorful touches been added for her¡­?


    She couldn¡¯t stop her eyes darting back to Nichs. He stood by the ss door in the center of the far wall, which had floor-to-ceiling windows, watching her.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked.


    She had to swallow hard to get her throat moving.  ¡°It¡¯s perfect, thank you, Nick,¡±


    The returning gleam had her tightening her hold around their son, who, oblivious to the undercurrents happening around him, was merrily babbling away as he took in the newness of his surroundings.


    Suddenly desperate to escape the intimate confines, she backed to the door. ¡°Where¡¯s Charlie sleeping?¡±


    He stepped away from the wall, a knowing half-smile ying on his lips. ¡°The room opposite. It¡¯s been turned into a nursery for him. I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    If she didn¡¯t have Charlie in her arms, she¡¯d have run out of the room. The nursery was a big hit with Charlie, who immediately went crawling to the building blocks set out on the floor for him. The adjoining dressing room had been filled with brand new clothing and all the toys a baby on the cusp of his first birthday could wish for. As dinner would soon be ready, Caroline decided a change of clothes for him was needed.

 66

    The journey had made their son a little grubby. It might have proved a great distraction from Nichs if he hadn¡¯t stood next to her at the baby changing table so he could make funny faces at their son while she put a new outfit on him.


    He stood so close-deliberately, she was sure of it-that her lungs contracted. She could feel the heat of his skin vibrating against hers and a job that should have taken two minutes doubled because her brain forgot how to work her fingers and thumbs.


    As she fumbled to get socks onto her son¡¯s plump feet, Nichs¡¯ phone vibrated and he stepped away from her.


    She met her son¡¯s bright happy eyes and blew out all the air she¡¯d been holding in one long puff, trying to make it into a joke for fear that if she didn¡¯t, she would burst into tears. They wouldn¡¯t be sad tears. They would be frustrated tears. Frustration at herself for still hungering and responding so desperately to the man who¡¯d treated her so abominably.


    ¡°My father wants toe visit now that Charlie is here,¡± Nichs announced. ¡°Is Charlie ready?¡±


    She pasted a smile to her lips, nodded and stepped aside to let Nichs pick him up. Following them out of the room, she vowed to get a grip on herself. With this firmly in mind, she said, ¡°It would be nice for Charlie to spend some time with his grandfather. I mean they have met before, but I didn¡¯t really tell Frank the truth then.¡±


    She stopped talking then, knowing that it was a sensitive topic.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Nichs told her, noticing that she was ufortable talking about it, ¡°Trust me, my father understands. He¡¯s kind of on your side to be honest. He¡¯s a very weird man,¡±


    Caroline chuckled lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s weird. I think he¡¯s super nice and calm. Funny too,¡±


    Nichs smirked, ¡°So he¡¯s got you too with his charms, huh? You¡¯d think hisdy friends would be enough for him, but no, he has to charm you too,¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t realize,¡± she said evenly, descending the stairs in step with him.


    ¡°What, that my father still has an active sex life? It¡¯s something I try not to think about.¡±


    A wee kernel ofughter tickled her throat at his deadpanment. ¡°No. I mean¡­ I guess I never thought about it,¡± Caroline said, ¡°So, When you say he¡¯sing to visit, do you mean tomorrow or something?¡±


    ¡°Nah. I meant this evening,¡± he replied


    Surprise had her tightening her grip on the bannister. This evening?


    But there was no time to ask more questions for he increased his pace to greet the elderly gentleman waiting for them.


    ___________


    Caroline had not spoken to Frank about the big revtion that Charlie was his grandson. In fact, she¡¯d been worried that he would be furious with her and for a while she¡¯d wondered if her job would be affected. She could get fired, and she wouldn¡¯t really me Frank, but surprisingly, she found out that she was wrong.


    The warm hug Frank gave her brought tears to her eyes and she had to fight so hard not to let them fall. He seemed to be just happy to have a grandson and he looked at her with understanding in his eyes. For the first time since Charlie was born, Caroline regretted not telling Frank the truth because he¡¯d have been an amazing grandfather to her son. She realized that Nichs was indeed very right about his description of his father the first time they met. Frank Connelly really did like to see the good in people and in every situation.


    At first, Charlie was as shy with him as he¡¯d been with the nanny Nichs had hired. Frank on the other hand, was undeterred, parking himself on the hard floor where he waited patiently for Charlie¡¯s confidence around him to grow and was soon rewarded by his grandson using him as a human climbing frame.


    When it was time to eat, Frank took the seat next to the highchair and insisted on feeding Charlie the specially prepared mush. The utter disgust on her son¡¯s face as the concoction hit his taste-buds was photo-worthy. He spat it out, globules of green goonding on Frank¡¯s white shirt. Frank met her eye, then he burst into loud, gravellyughter that set her off too.


    ¡°Has that got courgette in it?¡± she asked when they¡¯d all stoppedughing and Charlie had been pacified with a bread roll and a banana.


    Nichs grinned. This was his first shared meal with his son in his own home. He would never have imagined a month ago that something so simple and ordinary could provoke such huge enjoyment. He stared at Caroline, and wondered if she was aware how happy he was that she¡¯d agreed to bring Charlie here. A lot had changed between them and he also wondered if she realized that every time she spoke to him, her fingers captured one of the ringlets syed over her shoulders?


    Seated diagonally from her, the pleasure of the evening was intensified by the enjoyment of her lovely face as his vista throughout the meal. Caroline was a beautiful woman but under the rising moon-light, her beauty turned into something other-worldly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve no idea what the chef made him,¡± he answered after a drink of his wine. ¡°I should have warned him not to put courgette in his food.¡±


    ¡°You can add peppers and aubergine to the list,¡± she said without looking at him, fingers tugging on a ringlet. ¡°I made a batch of baby-friendly ratatouille a few days ago and you¡¯d have thought I was trying to poison him.¡±


    Her eyes darted to his before quickly looking away again. Yet another example of her devotion to their son, he thought. Damn, what was it about fatherhood that made the past feel more vivid and present than it had in decades? Not just fatherhood. Caroline. He swallowed and tried not to overthink anything at the moment. The main course over, the staff cleared their dishes away.


    Caroline got to her feet. ¡°I need to put Charlie to bed.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°Stay for dessert?¡± he coaxed.


    She shook her head while unsping the high-chair straps keeping their son contained. ¡°It¡¯s way past his bedtime.¡±

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    Loving the way her silhouette yed under the moonlight, Nichs looked her up and down. ¡°Seema can put him to bed tomorrow night and you can stay with the grown-ups.¡±


    She didn¡¯t rise to the bait, lifting Charlie from the highchair. ¡°I like to put him to bed myself.¡±


    ¡°You like to do everything yourself.¡±


    ¡°Only when ites to this little one.¡± She leaned Charlie towards Frank so he could kiss his grandson goodnight then ced a polite kiss of her own to his cheek.


    Nichs watched her subtly brace herself before she carried their son to him. He took full advantage of her nearness, slipping an arm loosely around her back to keep her close. ¡°Goodnight, son,¡± he said to his son as he smacked kisses over his face.


    When Caroline attempted to step away from him he trailed his fingers to her hips and slipped a finger into the pocket of her snug linen trousers. ¡°Don¡¯t I get a goodnight kiss, Care?¡±


    Her features tightened as her face made the tiniest of jerks before she found herposure and turned her shing eyes on him. ¡°Of course.¡±


    He heard the breath she took before she lowered her face, their son in her arms making her movements careful. As her plump lips made light contact with his cheek he turned his face and their lips brushed. The moment of contact was fleeting but enough for him to taste the heat from her mouth. Heady warmth unfurled in him and coiled through his bloodstream. Face bathed with color, blinking rapidly, holding their son like a shield, she stepped away from him. When her eyes met his again there was a dazed usation in them.


    ¡°Goodnight, Care,¡± he murmured, holding the stare. ¡°Sleep well.¡±


    She took another step back then inclined her head and turned. Momentster, she disappeared inside. It took a few more moments for Nichs to pull himself together. Shifting in his seat, he topped up his and his father¡¯s wine sses.


    ¡°Your son is going to be a real character,¡±  Frank said with a chuckle.


    Nichs smiled in response and took arge drink of his wine. His blood still pumped unexpectedly hard from the effects of the fleeting kiss.


    ¡°At some point, I began to think that I would never have a grandchild, especially with the way you lived,¡± His father¡¯s gaze became serious. ¡°You need to marry her, Nichs.¡±


    Nichs¡¯ good mood ended with those five words. ¡°That isn¡¯t necessary.¡±


    ¡°It is. You won¡¯t think that if she stops you seeing him.¡±


    ¡°Caroline wouldn¡¯t do that,¡± he refuted automatically.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that for sure. She didn¡¯t tell me about him, and don¡¯t tell me she didn¡¯t know how to. I was right here and she had the means to contact me if she¡¯d wanted, and I know you have more money than she does, but she still has the means and money to fight you if she decides to stop you seeing him.¡±


    ¡°She loves him too much to do anything but what¡¯s best for him.¡± Nichs replied, but his father¡¯s cynical words had set off a pounding in his head. Hadn¡¯t simr thoughts already urred to him?


    ¡°Her opinion on what¡¯s best might mean keeping him from you. What is best for him-and you-is having parents who are married.¡±


    Nichs bit back his temper. ¡°I thought about fighting at first, but I decided that I don¡¯t want us to be at war with each other. I¡¯m not going to put Charlie through that. We¡¯ll formalize a custody arrangement when he¡¯s old enough to be parted from her for periods of time.¡±


    ¡°And when will that be?¡± his father challenged. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to be at war with each other, Nichs, but do you see the way she is with him? She watches him like a hawk. It will be years before she allows you to have him without her.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    The ring of truth in his father¡¯s words reminded him of how the color had drained from her face when he¡¯d asked if Charlie coulde to stay with him. The color had only returned when he¡¯d rified he meant for her toe too. He remembered, too, her earlier reaction to him employing a nanny.


    By her own admission, Caroline liked to do everything for their son. She did not like her judgment on his welfare to be challenged.


    But marriage? He wasn¡¯t ready for that, so was he?


    ¡°You will have to hope she¡¯s amenable to a formal arrangement,¡± his father added into the silence.


    ¡°She will be.¡± But Nichs¡¯ words sounded unconvincing to himself.


    ¡°I know you hate the idea of marriage but it¡¯s important. Caroline is a good woman and I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be a good wife to you and a good mother to your son. And if for some reason, it doesn¡¯t work out between the both of you, remember, it doesn¡¯t have tost forever.¡±


    Nichs¡¯ flickered his eyes to his father. His marriage to his mother had been tragically cut short by her death from ovarian cancer decades ago. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t believe what his father was suggesting. His marriage to his mother had been a happy one, and he knew his father well enough to know that he didn¡¯t like the idea of divorce. His father had enjoyed manydy friends since his wife¡¯s death but had never remarried or lived with another woman.


    By the time his father retired to bed, the doubts Frank¡¯s words had sown had solidified his own fears into weights in his guts.


    ________


    Too uptight to sleep, Caroline, baby monitor in hand, opened the ss door in her room and stepped out onto the balcony.


    Putting the monitor on the wrought-iron table, she stepped to the balustrade and breathed deeply as she gazed out. Maybe if she inhaled hard enough the faint tang might clear her mouth of the taste of Nichs that no amount of minty toothpaste could eradicate. A throb of heat pulsed in her abdomen. Their lips had connected for barely a second but that second had been long enough for their breath to meld together and for any hope of control to be shattered.


    She wriggled her shoulders to fight the shivercing her spine as she reyed the sensual tone of his voice when he¡¯d bidden her goodnight, and forced her attention on her surroundings rather than the melting mess she was in danger of turning into. Look at the stars! See how they shone so brightly.

 68

    She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to drive Nichs¡¯ image away. She¡¯de out here to clear her mind, not think about him even more. But not thinking about him was impossible when she could feel his presence in the buzz of her veins and when so many old familiar feelings were blossoming and singing and anticipation quivered low in her pelvis.


    When she opened her eyes, she noticed for the first time that the long, wide balcony stretched further than the limits of her room. Tightening the sash of her satin robe, she followed her curiosity to the end of it and discovered the balcony was shared with the room next to hers. The curtains running the length of the ss wall were drawn but that didn¡¯t stop her taking a step back and then quickly padding back to her own half.


    Tingles danced over her skin as instinct told her the adjoining room was Nichs¡¯ room.


    ________


    It waste when Nichs carefully opened the nursery door and tiptoed to the cot. Staring down at the innocent sleeping form, he lightly stroked his son¡¯s soft cheek as his mind ran through the myriad ways Caroline could keep them parted if she so chose. It was all he¡¯d thought about since his father had vocalized the unease that had been steadily building inside him about Caroline¡¯s power.


    She did have the money and the means to make life as difficult as she wanted it to be for him to see his son.  Her wealth didn¡¯tpare to his but when coupled with her protectiveness of their son and the imperious majesty she could turn on like a tap, it would make her a formidable opponent if she chose to fight him.


    Nichs had never backed down from a fight in his life but those fights had never had a flesh and blood child at its center. However much the concept of marriage turned his stomach, it would give him greater authority and legal protection, and make the custody issue smoother when they eventually divorced. More civilized.


    He bent over and kissed his son¡¯s forehead. ¡°Sleep well,¡± he whispered.


    Charlie had been a part of his life for such a short time but already he knew that, for his child, he would do anything. Even marry his mother. And in the process stop her ever having the opportunity to take his son from him.


    Now all he had to do was convince Caroline, and as he closed the nursery door behind him, his lips curved into a smile and his skin prickled with arousal as he imagined the most effective way of getting her agreement.


    Caroline sat back on the plush heart-shaped seat in the corner of her balcony and took a deep breath to calm herself. Her heart had leapt into her mouth when the baby monitor¡¯s green light had shed to indicate movement in the nursery. She¡¯d been on the verge of charging into the room when Nichs¡¯ whispered voice had sounded through the monitor.


    The semnce of peace she¡¯d found on the balcony was further disturbed momentster when the door at the far end slid open and a shadow fell over the moonlit marble flooring. Heart immediately striding into a canter, she hugged the satin robe she¡¯d slipped over her short silk pajamas tighter around herself and strove for nonchnce at Nichs¡¯ approach. The canter became a ragged thrum when she spotted the bottle of white wine and two sses in his hands.


    ¡°I thought you were tired.¡± A smile yed on his handsome face. A smile that made her belly turn to goo.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡±


    ¡°This should help you.¡± He pulled up a chair by the table, positioned it close to her, opened the bottle and poured them both a ss. Gaze holding hers, he held one out to her. ¡°Here. Don¡¯t say no.¡±


    She shouldn¡¯t take it. Definitely not. What she should do is wish him goodnight-again-and go back to her room and lock the door behind her.


    They hadn¡¯t been alone together, not properly, not just the two of them, since the night of his return. She absolutely should not allow herself to be alone with him under the moonlight. She took the ss from him with murmured thanks and put it to her lips. It was crisp and delicious. Much like the man her eyes were locked on.


    He gave another stomach melting smile and rxed into his chair. He was sitting so close to her his knees were inches from her feet. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nothing important.¡± Seeing his eyebrow risezily at her obvious lie, she added, ¡°We share this balcony?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My room¡¯s next to yours.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°But you had already guessed that,¡± he said knowingly. ¡°You were waiting for me.¡±


    The rush of heat to her cheeks was so excruciating she couldn¡¯t find the words to deny it. Because his words were the truth. She¡¯d hurried away from his end of the balcony back to hers and sat on this very seat with a cocktail of emotions racing through her blood. The strongest had been anticipation. She just hadn¡¯t realized it until Nikos had vocalized it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed,¡± He put his ss on the table and leaned forward to take her bare foot in his hand and gently pull it onto hisp.  ¡°I know it will be impossible for me to sleep knowing only a wall separates me from you.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± She tried to breathe. Tried to find the will to pull her foot away and drag her stare from his face.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Ever since Nichs had returned she¡¯d done everything in her power to avoid his gaze. And this was why. Once caught in the depths of his eyes there was no escape. His fingers made feather-light circr motions over her toes. Why wasn¡¯t she resisting?


    ¡°There¡¯s no shame in wanting someone,¡± he whispered. His circling movements reached her ankle. ming shivers licked her skin. ¡°Or shame in admitting defeat.¡±


    She tried to snatch air in.


    ¡°We have both tried to fight the inevitable,¡± he continued with that same sensual huskiness in his voice. A finger slowly traced up the inside swell of her calf. ¡°It is like the tide fighting the moon.¡±

 69

    She wanted to deny it. Loudly. Scream that he was wrong. But that would be her wounded pride screaming. Nichs had broken her heart then stamped on the shattered pieces for good measure. There was nothing left of her heart for him to damage.


    Nichs saw the emotions y out over Caroline¡¯s face. He noticed every pulse in her eyes, every ragged movement of her chest. He saw the flush of color on her cheeks and the way her breasts strained towards him and the outline of her nipples pressed against the fabric of her nightwear. And he saw the fight she was waging against herself. His fingers crept to the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh. ¡°Do you still have feelings for me?¡± he asked.


    Her throat moved but still she didn¡¯t speak. He inched his seat a little closer, nudging her thighs apart with his knees as he swirled his fingers even higher. ¡°I still have feelings for you.¡± His fingers reached the hem of her silk pajama shorts. ¡°I try to forget you but I can¡¯t.¡± Her breaths wereing in short, ragged bursts.


    When he slowly slipped a finger under the fabric of her shorts, her body trembled. He could feel the heating from the heart of her femininity and inched his thumb closer to the core. She jolted, eyes widening.


    ¡°I¡¯ve imagined us back together so many times,¡± he whispered. He could see her trying to bring herself back into focus, and ran his thumb up the lips of her pleasure until he reached her swollen nub. Her back arched, breaths nowing in pants. ¡°I remember your scent.¡± Keeping the pressure on her nub, he slid a finger inside her. Her head fell back. A soft moan escaped her lips.


    ¡°I remember your taste. I remember how good we were together.¡±


    With a trembling hand she pulled the sash of her robe apart and then unbuttoned her pajama top, exposing the breasts he¡¯d once carelessly thought had been designed especially for him. Then, breasts swaying with the motion, using her elbows as support, she lifted herself upright until she had a hand clutching the cor of his shirt and her molten eyes met his.


    ¡°Nick¡­?¡± His name sounded like it had been dragged out from deep inside her.


    Nichs was so turned on that now he was the one struggling to speak. ¡°Yes, Care?¡±


    She pressed her pelvis tighter against his hand and covered his free hand, lifting it and cing it on her breast. ¡°Stop talking and take me to bed.¡±


    And then, still holding tightly to his shirt, her head fell back and she shuddered violently. The tattoo of Caroline¡¯s heart drummed loudly in her ears as she fought for breath. Her hand clutched Nichs¡¯ shirt like a vice. The strength of the orgasm that had just erupted within her should have drained the arousal from her but the ache in her core still throbbed.


    Leaning closer to her, he moved his hand out from under her shorts and slowly wound it around her back. She met the hooded stare with a frankness she had denied them both these past weeks. His lips were tightly set, nostrils ring as he breathed in and out.


    His body had gone rigid. She inched her face closer to his until she felt the heat of his skin against her own and the musky scent of his skin and the faint scent of his cologne soaked into her senses. She rubbed her nose against his cheekbone and breathed him in some more, releasing his shirt to bury her fingers into the soft dark hair and dig the tips into the back of his skull.


    The fight was over. She had lost. But she had won too. The incredible feelings ravaging her were proof of that. For the first time since Nichs¡¯ return, she felt like herself again. A woman with desires and needs, not just a mother, a daughter, a sister.


    The sensual side of her nature-a side only Nichs had seen-had been locked in hibernation since the day he left and now he¡¯d awoken it, unleashing the burn that had once seen her beg for his touch. He couldn¡¯t hurt her again. She knew that now. The damage he¡¯d caused was irreparable. But he could give her pleasure. Pleasure like nothing else on this earth.


    Nichs stared into the molten eyes still pulsing with the effects of her climax. Her body still trembled, her sweet breaths still ragged. Arousal bit him so fiercely that the scrape of her nails against his skull was as effective as if she¡¯d taken his excitement in her hand. It was a struggle to draw in the air he needed to temper it, a task made harder when every inhtion drew her scent into his lungs. He needed to get hold of himself before he¡­ He sucked in a sharp breath as she pressed her cheek to his and dragged the hand not kneading his skull down to his hand and ced it back against her breast. The shallowness of her breaths whispering against his skin was as erotic as the feel of the plump weightiness in the palm of his hand.


    Damn¡­ He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes against the deep throbbing in his loins. The effect was enough to make him feel like an overly excited teenager about to bed a woman for the first time. He hadn¡¯t felt such desire even then. The closest he¡¯de to feeling like that was when he was with Caroline. It had been the headiest, most erotic moment of his life.


    Neen monthster but his body remembered. Every cell in his body pulsated in anticipation. Eyes wide open and burning into his, her lips dragged slowly to his mouth and hovered, lips parted but only a whisper of connection between them. The sweet taste of her breath danced onto his tongue. Her fingers dug deeper into his skull.


    Thest thread holding him to the earth snapped and with a groan he had no control over, Nichs captured her beautiful lips in a kiss of pure, hedonistic savagery. Tongues entwined, teeth grazed, fingers bit into flesh. There was littleprehension that she¡¯d shifted her body until she was straddling hisp and their bodies were crushed together.


    sping her bottom, he rose to his feet, lifting her with him. Her legs wound around his waist as he carried her through the open door to the turned-down bed.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.

 70

    In seconds he was lying on top of her, kissing and nipping, their hands working together in a frenzy to strip away the barrier of clothing. Shrugging his shirt off, he covered a breast with his mouth and greedily sucked and licked, hands wrenching at the silk shorts she¡¯d dragged down to her hips, then worshiped her other breast as he worked the shorts to her knees.


    She kicked them off while her hands tugged at his unbuttoned trousers, sitting up to get a better grip before she yanked them down with his underwear until they were kneeling before each other, naked and panting with lust. For no more than a second they stared into each other¡¯s eyes. Nichs¡¯ arousal reached boiling point to see the unashamed desire in hers and the color shing her face.


    He pounced. She pounced. Their mouths locked together as he fell back on top of her. Caroline¡¯s thighs parted with no thought from her brain. There were no thoughts. Only sensation. Such glorious, heavenly, mind-blowing sensations. The weight of Nichs on her, the feel of his skin against hers, his taste and scent on her tongue and infused in all her other senses¡­ The heat burning between her legs was almost too much to bear and when she felt the heavy weight of his erection right where she needed it to be, she moaned, ¡°Please, Nick. Please. Now.¡±


    He drove inside her in one long, hard thrust. The relief was so great that she cried out. Arms wrapped tightly around his neck, legs hooked around his waist, mouth buried in his shoulder, Caroline closed her eyes and fell into the saturating pleasure.


    Deeply he thrust into her, in and out, a fusion of heat and flesh driving each other on until she felt the thickening between her legs and clung even tighter as the pulsating ripples broke free and carried her to a peak that left her limp and boneless.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    ___________


    A breeze came through the opened door. Nichs closed his eyes and weed its cooling touch. Caroliney on her back beside him, the sheets pulled up to her shoulders. When he¡¯d rolled off her she¡¯d wriggled away from him. She¡¯d made no effort to touch him since.


    They hadn¡¯t exchanged a word since their explosion of lust. He didn¡¯t know about her but the thumps of his heart had been impossible to speak through. It was yet to settle back into a normal beat. It had never beat normally around her¡­ He took a deep breath. That kind of thought was what had made him end their rtionship.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he asked.


    There was a long period of silence before she answered. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Why are you so quiet?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, Nick.¡± She sighed and turned her face to his.  ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you go back to your own room?¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to?¡±


    She looked back to the ceiling. ¡°I think it¡¯s best.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes Charlie wakes early. I bring him back to bed with me.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you do that with me here?¡±


    ¡°It would only confuse him.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°It just would. I don¡¯t want him to think you and I are like other mamas and papas.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he too young to think like that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what he thinks. He might have lots of fully formed thoughts in his head.¡±


    ¡°He might,¡± Nichs conceded. ¡°And one of those thoughts might be a wish for his mama and papa to live together.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that.¡± She rolled to the edge of the bed and slipped her robe on.


    ¡°Why not?¡± he challenged. ¡°Is that not a normal wish for a child?¡±


    She tightened the sash and got to her feet. ¡°Nobody¡¯s normal is the same as anyone else¡¯s.¡± She stepped out onto the balcony. A momentter, the outside light was turned off and she came back in, closing the door behind her.


    Using the dim light of the moon and stars to illuminate the way, she carried the baby monitor to her bedside table and sat on the bed with her back to him. ¡°I mean it, Nick. I don¡¯t want to confuse him.¡±


    ¡°Neither do I.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°I only want to do what¡¯s best for him, as I know you do.¡± Her head dipped forward. ¡°Which is why I think we should consider getting married,¡±


    The stiffening of her back, the slow turn of her body to face him, the wide eyes and open mouth were almostical but the situation was too serious for him to find amusement in it. Now that the idea of marriage had rooted in his head, he knew he had an uphill battle to get Caroline¡¯s agreement but was confident he would seed. All he had to do was pull the right strings. As difficult as the task would be, there was already relief that the decision had been made.


    Nichs¡¯ feelings for his son grew by the day. He wanted to be a real father to him, with autonomy, not someone for Charlie to visit a few times a year. He wanted the security of knowing his son could never be taken from him. He could manage a year of marriage and then separate from Caroline knowing he had the right of being a father in thew¡¯s eyes on his side. Marriage would give him much greater protection he needed. She wouldn¡¯t be able to deny his demand for equal ess.


    A year of marriage also meant a year of having Caroline in his bed and that brought relief of a different hue. Such a short time since they¡¯d made love but already fresh awareness was coiling through him. It had been like this before. His desire for her had intoxicated him. Almost driven him to madness.


    A year of marriage would be long enough to spend his passion for her and allow them to reach the natural end. Now all he needed to do was persuade Caroline to say yes.


    Caroline shook her head as if expelling water from her ears. She¡¯d been holding onto herself by the skin of her teeth, desperately fighting the craving to lie in Nichs¡¯ arms and recapture the closeness when he¡¯d dropped his bombshell on her. He thought they should marry? How was she supposed to process something like that? It would have been less of a shock if he¡¯d told her he wanted to fly to Jupiter and colonize it.

 71

    She stared at his dimly lit face, looking for a sign that he was joking. Hey stretched out on the bed, arms folded above his head, his gorgeous face expressionless, but she sensed him soaking in her shock, waiting for her to get herself together. It was an expression that made her hackles rise.


    Shifting her entire body round to face him, she folded her arms tightly around her chest, afraid he would see the ferocious thudding of her heart. ¡°You think we should get married?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She shook her head again. ¡°What on earth for?¡±


    ¡°For Charlie. For all of us.¡± He rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. ¡°Being away from you this week made me realize how much I need you both in my life. I want us to be a family, Care,¡±


    How she wished the strings of her heart didn¡¯t tug so hard at this. ¡°You¡¯ve changed your tune.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know how much being a father would change my perspective on life. I want a real family for our son. Don¡¯t you want that for him too?¡±


    She¡¯d wanted that once, she thought with a deep wrench. She¡¯d ached for it. Her early pregnancy had been spent clinging to the futile hope that Nichs woulde back to her. And now he was offering her the one thing she¡¯d always longed for from him and all she could think was that he hadn¡¯t cared until he¡¯d learned about their son.


    ¡°Since when do you need me in your life?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Since I came back,¡± His gaze didn¡¯t falter. ¡°I thought we¡¯d both moved on but what we¡¯ve shared tonight is proof that what we had is still alive.¡±


    Her pelvis clenched and blood thickened to remember exactly what they¡¯d just shared and she pressed her thighs tightly together, doing everything she could not to allow all the internal sensations show on her face. ¡°Is that what tonight was about?¡± she asked as evenly as she could. ¡°A seduction to remind me how good we are together? To soften me up with sex so I¡¯m more open to the idea of marriage?¡±


    ¡°Partly.¡±


    She closed her eyes at the sting of his admission and turned away from him.


    ¡°But you can¡¯t deny the chemistry between us has been getting stronger,¡± he added into the silence. ¡°What we just shared was going to happen and it will happen again whether you agree to marry me or not.¡±


    ¡°Your ego is as big as ever,¡± she said shakily.


    The mattress dipped. Tingles raced up her spine, breath catching as she felt him close the gap between them. When he ced his hands on her shoulders and pressed a kiss on the arch of her neck she had to clench her teeth to stop a moan escaping.


    ¡°Not my ego,¡± he murmured into her hair, pressing his chest into her back. ¡°The truth. And I know you feel it too.¡±


    Nichs cupped a weighty breast and rubbed his thumb over a nipple that hardened at his touch. ¡°See?¡± he whispered. ¡°Already you want me again. There is not a minute when I¡¯m with you when I don¡¯t fantasize about us being together like this.¡±


    She caught hold of the hand manipting flesh that had always been so sensitive to his touch. Her fingers dug into his skin and stilled as if in hesitation beforecing through his.


    ¡°This is just sex,¡± she said with a sigh.


    ¡°Good sex. Great sex. Just as we had before. Remember how it was? We can have that again¡­. And again,¡±


    She yanked his hand off her breast and shuffled away from him. ¡°If we were so good together, why did you walk away?¡±


    He chose his words carefully, ¡°I was worried about you and I didn¡¯t want to hurt you. You were so worried about your job and your career. I felt like I was going to ruin it if I stayed. Besides, I know you moved on. I know you were with Glen Asher,¡±


    Caroline shook her head. So he¡¯d known, she thought.¡± It barelysted¡­ And I wasn¡¯t with him¡­ Like¡­ Like this,¡±


    He didn¡¯t need to be told what that meant, and for some reason the urge to have her only to himself was stronger than ever. He closed the gap she¡¯d created and put his hands on her hips. ¡°We can make it work. We can be a real family and give Charlie the love and stability he deserves,¡±


    She was silent for a long time but he tookfort that she didn¡¯t pull away from him again, but the sound of their son crying made her do it, and before he could offer to go check on Charlie, she was already off the bed. Knowing she¡¯d taken the opportunity to leave the room, Nichs got off the bed and opened the door to step onto the balcony. He needed air. Fingers tight around the balustrade, he rolled the tension from his neck. He waited until the tight knots deep in his guts had loosened before returning to Caroline¡¯s room.


    The knots loosened some more to see his son sitting on the bed, wide awake. A huge beam spread over Charlie¡¯s face to see him. Nichs met Caroline¡¯s eyes.


    She shrugged ruefully. ¡°He¡¯s not used to sleeping in new ces.¡±


    Charlie held his arms out for him. Nichs slid under the bedsheets and pulled his son to him. If Caroline still wanted him to leave she¡¯d have to ask again. But she didn¡¯t ask. She slipped under the sheets next to him and smiled to see their son bouncing on Nichs¡¯ chest.


    ¡°He loves you,¡± she observed, her wistful gaze alternating between his face and their son¡¯s.


    ¡°I like to think so.¡±


    ¡°He does.¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    Lightly-so lightly it felt like a feather brushing against him-she ran a finger over his forehead then turned her attention to their son, whose cheek she kissed. Her shoulders rose before she let out a long sigh andy down.


    Pulling the covers over her shoulders, she said, ¡°You can stay the night here,¡±


    His chest had filled with too much emotion for him to say anything stronger than, ¡°Hmmmmm,¡±


    The sad amusement in her eyes filled his chest even more. ¡°Don¡¯t let him stay awake too long otherwise we¡¯ll have a grumpy baby tomorrow.¡±


    He swallowed the boulder lodged in his throat and nodded. ¡°Understood.¡±

 72

    Her eyes held his for the blink of a moment before she turned her back to him and turned the light out. Struggling to breathe, Nichs held his son¡¯s wrists to steady him as he merrily bounced away on his chest and watched his happy, babbling face in the starlight.


    ¡°Nick,¡± Caroline¡¯s sleepy voice broke quietly through the darkness. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more about your suggestion tomorrow. Okay?¡±


    __________


    Never in his life had Nichs woken with such a weight pressing on his chest. But this was a good weight.


    An excellent weight. He opened his eyes and found his son straddling his neck, his face hovering over his with the look of an archaeologist examining an important find. The sun had risen but Nichs was quite sure it was earlier than he¡¯d woken since his own childhood.


    Grinning, he lifted Charlie into the air and sat up, shushing him as he went so he didn¡¯t wake Caroline, who was curled up like a hedgehog under the sheets beside him. He stared at the curls poking out and felt his heart catch. On the verge of leaning over and capturing one of those curls, he was prevented by a miniature finger being inserted up his nose.


    He held onto hisughter until he¡¯d closed the nursery door. His amusement soon turned to head-scratching as he tasked himself with cleaning and changing his son¡¯s nappy and pajamas. Just as he was debating whether or not to wake the nanny, a sleepy Caroline entered the room, smothering a yawn. Even with her hair shooting up in all directions and puffy eyed, she looked beautiful, and Nichs felt an immediate stab of longing pierce him.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He¡¯d hardly slept himself. While his son and son¡¯s mother had slept deeply with him on the huge emperor-sized bed, he¡¯d been alert to every move they¡¯d both made, the few lulls into sleep filled with vivid dreams that had merged into reality when he¡¯d opened his eyes. He watched as she stood beside him at the changing table, pressing kisses on the face of their naked son, who was making bicycle motions with his legs.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°When did youst sleep in?¡± he challenged.


    ¡°What¡¯s sleeping in?¡±


    ¡°See?¡± He gave her his sternest look. ¡°Go back to bed. I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Ignoring his directive, she tickled their son¡¯s belly. ¡°You¡¯re changing him?¡±


    ¡°Obviously.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s that obvious, where¡¯s his clean clothes?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t thought of that. From the look on her face, she knew it too. She smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll get some for you. Shall I get you a clean nappy too?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t thought about that either. He had a lot to learn. From the look on Caroline¡¯s face she was happy and willing to teach him. He just had to hope she was happy and willing to teach him as his wife.


    ____________


    The first full day in Nichs¡¯ house passed slowly for Caroline. Spentzing around the pool with the nanny and Frank, whoter left during the day, it gave her plenty of thinking time. All her thoughts were wrapped around Nichs¡­ The lovemaking they¡¯d shared. That was something she didn¡¯t so much think about but shimmered in her veins as a constant reminder. Her pride wanted to be angry that his seduction had been nned but she¡¯d waited for him on that balcony. She¡¯d wanted it as much as he had and from the ache in her pelvis, she knew that if he came to her room tonight, she would open the door to him without hesitation.


    Making love had been a physical act she¡¯d abandoned herself to without fear of losing her heart.


    Terrifyingly, she had slept more soundly with him sharing her bed than she had since the day he¡¯d walked away from her. Today was the first morning since his return that she hadn¡¯t woken with panicked ice stabbing her heart. She genuinely didn¡¯t know what to do for the best. Could she really deny her son the opportunity to have the blessed childhood she¡¯d had for the sake of her pride? And could she deny Nichs that experience?


    Didn¡¯t he deserve the chance to be a real father, to share in all the joys of watching their baby reach all those important milestones and all the day-to-day joys she took for granted? The joy of beaming early morning smiles? The joy of feeding him something that wasn¡¯t immediately spat out? The joy of baths and getting drenched by manically kicking legs con-necting to water?


    She had to wait until mid-afternoon before the opportunity came to ask Nichs the questions that had been steadily forming in her jumbled mind as the day had gone on.


    The nanny had taken Charlie to the nursery for his nap. Nichs joined her on the terrace, a smile on his gorgeous face and two sses of fruity cocktails in his hands.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing her one. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not too strong.¡±


    The strings of her heart were plucked again. How well he was getting to know her as a mother, anticipating her thoughts and worries. There was something incredible in how he could make the separation of her as a mother and her as a woman and cater for the needs of both. More incredible still that it had taken his return for her needs as a woman to be reawakened. He¡¯d roused so many buried feelings and impulses. Feelings and impulses he¡¯d been the one to bring to life in the first ce¡­


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured. This was the first time they¡¯d been alone together all day and, from the safety of her shades, she let her greedy eyes soak in the glory of his body, only a pair of brief ck swim shorts covering any flesh. She¡¯d always loved his body. Its muscr leanness. The olive hue of his skin. The dark hair that covered his chest and made a tapering line down to his groin. The snake hips. The tight buttocks. The long, toned legs. The whole package.


    From the smirk on his face and the way he brushed his fingers against hers as he released the cocktail ss, Nichs knew exactly what she was doing. She didn¡¯t care that she¡¯d been caught ogling him. After the night they¡¯d shared, she was beyond denying her desire for him. It was toote for denial. Much toote.

 73

    Propping herself on an elbow to face him, she had a sip of the cocktail while he stretched out on the sun-bed ced inches from hers, and felt heat crawl over her face as his eyes, also hidden by shades, swept over the length of her swimsuit-d form.


    ¡°Your body¡¯s changed,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re more muscr.¡±


    He grinned. ¡°Yeah I guess it has,¡±


    Her next words were stolen when he extended a hand and encircled one of her breasts. ¡°Your body¡¯s changed too.¡±


    She shivered at his touch and put her ss on the table at the top of the adjoining sunbeds. ¡°Having a baby does that to a woman.¡±


    He smiled knowingly and rubbed his thumb over a nipple. ¡°Having a baby has only made you more beautiful.¡± She couldn¡¯t help her snort of derision at this. He caught a curl in his fingers. ¡°Why do you find that funny?¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t seen me naked in the light yet.¡±


    ¡°Yet?¡± He quirked his eyebrows. ¡°Then I have something to look forward to?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    He put his head in the crook of his elbow and inched his face closer to her. ¡°There is no one here now¡­¡±


    She put a finger to his lips without thinking. He kissed it. ¡°Nick¡­.¡±  She sighed.


    He rubbed the tip of his nose to hers. ¡°Yes, Care?¡±


    The warmth of his breath seeped into her pores and it took more effort than she would have believed possible to keep her thoughts on track. ¡°What we were talking aboutst night¡­ Your idea of marriage.¡±


    He rubbed his nose against her cheek. ¡°Have you decided it¡¯s an excellent idea?¡±


    She moved away a little and rolled onto her back but that attempt at distance did nothing to stop his hands roaming over her body. Pressing her thighs tightly together, she tried to tune out the sensations skipping over her skin at his touch.¡± If I¡¯m going to agree to it, we would have to live here.. In this town,¡±


    ¡°I know,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to quit my job or start my life over so we won¡¯t move.¡±


    He made slow circles around a hard nipple with his finger. ¡°I¡¯ve already agreed to that, Care,¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± She swallowed. She should p his hand away but it felt too good. ¡°So you have. Sorry.¡± She had to swallow the moisture filling her mouth again.


    ¡°I was so prepared and ready with arguments that I didn¡¯t listen properly to your answer.¡±


    His fingers dragged down her belly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t make you change anything. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± His fingers drifted away from her as he rose to his feet. He pinched the sides of his shorts and fixed his hooded eyes on her. She hadn¡¯t even noticed him remove his shades. ¡°Anything else?¡± He tugged his shorts down. His enormous erection sprang free.


    She could hardly think, never mind speak through the lust rampaging through her. ¡°About his school¡­.¡±


    He sat on the edge of her sunbed and pulled the straps of her swimsuit down. ¡°He is too young for us to worry about school yet. We can decide that nearer the time.¡±


    ¡°And¡­¡±


    He¡¯d pulled the top of her swimsuit past her breasts and immediately taken one in his mouth while he slowly pulled the rest of the suit down.


    ¡°Yes, Care?¡±


    ¡°No¡­taking¡­¡± She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to concentrate, even though he¡¯d tugged the swimsuit down past her thighs. Only dimly did she realize she¡¯d actively helped him in removing it and that it was her kicking the suit away.


    He climbed between her legs and gazed down at her. ¡°No taking¡­?¡±


    ¡°Charge,¡± she breathed.


    ¡°Like this?¡± He slid inside her, long, deep, all the way to the hilt. Then, before she could really savour the sensation, immediately pulled out. ¡°No taking charge like that?¡±


    ¡°Nick¡­¡± His name sounded like a moan from her lips.


    He plunged inside her again. ¡°Is that what you meant?¡± He made to pull out of her again. She grabbed hold of his buttocks with both hands to keep him in ce.


    ¡°You win,¡± she breathed, wrapping her legs tightly around him. ¡°Take charge.¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    ¡°And you¡¯ll marry me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± At that moment she would have agreed to anything to stop him pulling out of her again.


    ¡°Then I take charge with pleasure.¡±


    ____________


    ¡°Time to get up.¡±


    Caroline opened a bleary eye and found Nichs perched on the edge of the bed beside her. ¡°What time is it?¡±


    ¡°Nine.¡±


    She lifted her head. A cup of coffee had been ced on her bedside table beside the baby monitor. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re adorable when you sleep.¡± He ced his lips to her ear and whispered, ¡°If our son hadn¡¯t woken so early, I would have woken you in a much more pleasurable manner.¡±


    She found it incredible that she¡¯d slept sote and slept through the early morning babbling she¡¯d always been so attuned to. Either she¡¯d been exhausted from making love until the early hours or her subconscious had let her sleep soundly, knowing Nichs was taking care of their son. Thetter, she decided as she tilted her head for a kiss and breathed in his freshly showered and shaved scent.


    ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°With Seema in the nursery. And you need to get up. We have an appointment to attend.¡±


    ¡°Have we?¡±


    He kissed her mouth. ¡°Yes, Care. An appointment to register our intention to marry. We can book the wedding too. Get everything in hand¡±


    Thest of her sleepiness flew away. Sitting upright, she stared at him. ¡°Since when are we getting married?¡±


    ¡°You agreed to it yesterday.¡±


    So she had. Under sexual duress. After she¡¯d said yes, they¡¯d made love hard and fast on the sunbed then gone to bed and made love at a much more leisurely pace until Charlie had woken from his nap. The early evening had been spent with their son and then, the minute he was asleep, they¡¯d gone straight back to bed. Truth was, they¡¯d been far too busy talking with their bodies to speak verbally.


    Truth was, she¡¯d happily shoved her agreement to marry him to the back of her mind rather than confront the magnitude of what she¡¯d done, and now that she was confronted with it, darts of panic were making their way through her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t agree to marry you immediately.¡±


    ¡°The decision has been made so why wait?¡±

 74

    Because you don¡¯t love me!


    Love? Since when had she started thinking about Nichs along those lines again? She didn¡¯t love him.  She loved their son and she wanted him to have the same happy childhood and Nichs deserved to be a father to him every bit as much as she was a mother to him. He¡¯d hurt her badly, something she would never forget, but now she understood him better, she was prepared to move on from that hurt for their son¡¯s sake. Hadn¡¯t Nichs proved he deserved that chance? He¡¯d proved his devotion to their son. That was the reason she¡¯d agreed to marry him. The damage he¡¯d inflicted had been too great for him to hurt her again but the passion between them was every bit as strong as it had always been. At least marrying Nichs meant marrying a man she was happy to share a bed with!


    What she must not do, under any circumstance, was think about Nichs as a child in desperate need of someone to love and care for him, and think she could be the woman to do that.


    ¡°I agreed on the proviso you didn¡¯t take charge,¡± she said.


    He raised a brow, the look in his eyes as he brought his face to hers making her pelvis contract. ¡°Really? Because I seem to remember you begging me to take charge.¡±


    She leaned into him, her lips tingling from the whispered heat of his breath¡­ ¡°You¡¯re not doing this again.¡± She darted away from him and jumped off the bed, hurrying to the far wall.


    ¡°Doing what again?¡±


    ¡°Using your magic penis to stop me thinking properly.¡±


    The look he gave her was one of incredulousness. And then his gorgeous face broke into a grin and he burst into a deep rumble ofughter.


    Nichsughed so long and so hard his chest hurt.  ¡°I have a magic penis?¡± He chortled, wiping mirth-induced tears from his eyes.


    Eyes alight with amusement, she sniggered. ¡°Why else do you think I agreed to marry you?¡± He got to his feet. She shot a hand out in warning. ¡°Stay back. Do not touch me until we¡¯ve discussed this.


    He loved a challenge. Especially when given by a sexy, sleep-tousled redhead who thought he had a magic penis. ¡°I want to get married as soon as possible,¡± he said, locking his gaze on her, he took a step towards her.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± He took another step. ¡°I want us to be a real family as soon as possible,¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Because the sooner I marry you, the sooner I know my rights as a father are protected. The less time I give you to think about it, the less time you have to change your mind, he thought, but he didn¡¯t tell her that. He took her extended hand and pinned it above her head, staring deep into the lust-riven dark eyes.


    ¡°I¡­ We have already lost so much. Why wait?¡± He cut her protest away with a kiss.


    ___________


    Caroline was adding blusher to her cheeks when Nichs walked into her bedroom. Her heart thumped to see him and she had to concentrate hard to affect nonchnce at his appearance and stop her hand from reacting to the thump and splodging blusher over her nose.


    After they¡¯d made the wedding arrangements that morning, Nichs had casually mentioned they would be going to a nightclub that night to celebrate their engagement. She¡¯d been unable to think of one good reason to refuse. Not having bothered to pack any going-out clothes, she¡¯d got him to drop her at the main shopping district so she could buy herself an outfit to party in. She¡¯d wandered through designer boutiques and more touristy shops with no idea why the thought of celebrating made her feel so bereft. She¡¯d agreed to marry him. She¡¯d called her family and told them. She¡¯d agreed it would happen thising weekend. She didn¡¯t have a clue how he¡¯d got the officials to agree for it to happen so quickly, but here she was, a day after she¡¯d told him one of her terms for agreeing to marriage was that he had to stop taking charge, just five days from actually doing the deed.


    To make the day extra special, they would be marrying on their son¡¯s first birthday. She thought this fitting. The stars were aligning to approve her decision. So what did she have to feel bereft about? And why had she found herself wandering away from the shops and into the more residential areas with the strings of her heart tugging manically to imagine a small Nichs ying on the uneven cobbled streets?


    He walked over to where she sat at the dressing table, lifted her hair and ced a kiss to the nape of her neck. Sensation quivered deliciously over her skin.


    ¡°You smell gorgeous,¡± he murmured, ¡°and you look spectacr.¡±


    She met his reflection in the mirror and smiled through the ache growing in her chest. He looked pretty spectacr himself. Dressed in ck chinos, dark gray shirt unbuttoned at the throat and a char-coal zer, he managed to look smart, casual, elegant and devilishly handsome all at once.


    ¡°Did you get hold of your parents?¡± he asked.


    She nodded as she opened her palette of eyeshadow.


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°My mother said to tell you that if you hurt me, she¡¯ll personally see that you never father another child.¡±Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    There was a flickering in his eyes but his tone remained casual. ¡°And what did you say to that?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯m not stupid enough to let you hurt me again.¡± She picked up a brush and dabbed it into the glittering deep brown color and met his gaze again before applying it to her eyelids. ¡°Our marriage is for Charlie¡¯s sake. We both know that. And now she knows that.¡±


    ¡°But is she supportive of it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And your sister?¡±


    ¡°She thinks I¡¯m mad, but she¡¯sing to the wedding,¡±


    ¡°Why does she think you¡¯re mad?¡±


    She shrugged, taking a fresh brush and dabbing it into the glittering gold color. She wouldn¡¯t repeat her sister¡¯s furious rant about Caroline throwing her life away on a man who¡¯d happily discarded her like unwanted trash. But Elsa wasn¡¯t a mother with a child who would thrive much better with his father a permanent part of his life. ¡°Elsa¡¯s in love. She thinks only people in love should marry.¡±

 75

    ¡°And what do you think?¡±


    ¡°That love marriages are, historically speaking, a recent thing.¡± She reached for her mascara. ¡°History is littered with sessful marriages built without love.¡±


    And she¡¯d spent an hour searching her phone for examples of them while waiting for Nichs to collect her.


    ¡°I bet those sessful marriages had great sex at their core.¡±


    ¡°But only with each other.¡± She held his gaze a moment longer before applying her mascara, trying her hardest to keep her hand steady so she didn¡¯t poke herself in the eye at the lie she¡¯d just uttered. Most of the sessful non-love marriages she¡¯d read about had only been sessful because both spouses had either turned a blind eye to other lovers or explicitly agreed to them. She knew there was no way she could tolerate or ept infidelity-just the thought of Nichs in the arms of another woman made her stomach churn violently-and had searched even harder for the faithful marriages. But those had brought nofort either. They had been sessful because the couples had fallen in love with each other.


    Nichs heard the unspoken warning and put his hands on her shoulders to drop a kiss into her hair. ¡°Then I am ahead of you on this one,¡± he said silkily. ¡°While you wear this, there will be only you.¡±


    She twisted to face him. He dug into his back pocket and pulled out a ck velvet box. He flicked the lid open and held it out to her. ¡°Your engagement ring.¡±


    She stared at it for the longest time. He wondered if she was waiting for him to drop to one knee. That, of course, would be ludicrous. Strangely, when he¡¯d found the ring-and he¡¯d scoured every jewelry shop before finding his gaze drawn to this one-he¡¯d examined it closely with an unbidden fantasy ying out in his mind. In that fantasy he¡¯d dropped to one knee. In that fantasy, Caroline had cupped her cheeks in delight then thrown her arms around him. In that fantasy, she¡¯d said she loved him.


    He¡¯d pulled himself out of the fantasy with his guts twisting. They twisted now to remember it. It had to be fatherhood causing this unseemly senti-mentality. Nichs¡¯ love for his son was like a garden of drab weeds suddenly filled with beautifully scented colorful flowers. It was not unreasonable to suppose his subconscious would try to extend that love to the mother of his son.


    ¡°Are you going to try it on?¡± he asked when she made no move to touch the ring.


    She plucked it from the box and slid it on her wedding finger. Then she got to her feet and held it out to him. ¡°It¡¯s perfect.¡±


    For a moment he was too taken with the whole effect to respond. Wearing a short ck sequined wrap-around dress that hugged her curves and exposed just the right amount of cleavage, she glittered; an exotic shimmering mirage. She must have sprayed something in her hair too, for under the ceiling light, it glimmered too.


    At that moment, all he could think was that she was perfect.


    __________


    The driver stopped outside a typical building; whitewashed Cydic style, set along a narrow cobbled street but which differed from the other bustling streets they¡¯d driven through by the sheer number of people queuing like overdressed bunches of grapes for admission.


    Inside, the feel and vibe of the ce were exactly what she expected. Bodies packed like sardines, drinks in hand, swaying under multi-coloured strobe lights to the pumping beat. A nightclub was not somewhere you went for conversation. It was a ce you went to dance the night away to the best DJs in the world.


    The VIP section of the club was reached by a set of wide stairs that formed a semi-circle around the main dance floor. More bouncers guarded the entrance to it. One unhooked the red tasseled rope barrier and nodded a respectful greeting as they slipped past them. The inner sanctum was far less crowded than the ground floor and she recognised some of the faces in it even if she didn¡¯t know them personally. They all seemed to know her, though, or of her, and as she sipped champagne, shed her engagement ring at anyone who asked, and had shouted conversation with one of Nichs¡¯ cousins, she rxed.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he asked, speaking into her ear to be heard.


    She smiled and rose up on her toes to nt a kiss to his mouth. That was something he often asked. If he didn¡¯t care for her, why would he want to know? As the night went on and the partying got more raucous and Nichs stayed glued to her side, she found herself asking the same questions-if Nichs really only wanted to marry her for their son¡¯s sake, why did he care so much about what she thought? Why had he gone out of his way to choose the perfect engagement ring for her?


    ¡°Let¡¯s get some air,¡± she shouted after the midnight hour had struck.


    Hands sped, they headed out to the huge VIP terrace. Avoiding the smoking section, they settled on a secluded sweetheart seat and let the sea breeze cool their skin. Outside, the noise levels were far more favorable for conversation but Caroline was content to listen to theughter from the revelers on the ground floor beach terrace and the snatched chatter of others partying on their own.


    Fingers ying absently with the buttons of his shirt, she only realized she¡¯d undone one and had slipped her hand under it to encircle a nipple when he huskily said, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Touching you.¡± She tilted her head to stare into his eyes. ¡°Do you want me to stop?¡±


    His eyes gleamed. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± She stretched her leg and then casually hooked it over hisp. Arge hand rested on her thigh, right at the hem that had ruched up to skim her bottom. Caroline leaned into him and pressed her face into his neck. ¡°You smell amazing.¡±


    Moving her hand from his nipple, she pulled it out from beneath his shirt and slowly trailed her fingers down his stomach to his belt. When her fingers gently traced over the length of his erection, straining beneath the confines of his chinos, Nichs tightened the grip on his ss of bourbon. There was something incredibly seductive about her touch and the way she kept nuzzling her nose into his neck, arousing him despite the revelers spilling out in all directions.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

 76

    How far was she prepared to take this?


    How far was he prepared to let her take it? She lifted her face to lick the lobe of his ear. ¡°I haven¡¯t thanked you properly for my ring, have I?¡±


    She gently cupped his erection again before her fingers crept back up his chest. He didn¡¯t know if he was relieved or disappointed, then found himself swallowing as she moved her thigh just enough that her knee pressed against his excitement.


    ¡°When we get back, I¡¯ll thank you properly,¡± she breathed, rubbing her nose over his cheek then capturing his bottom lip with her teeth. She nipped it gently at the same moment she encircled his other nipple. He tightened his grip on her thigh, fighting the heady urge to slip his fingers beneath the material.


    Just at the moment lust was about to override propriety, she unhooked her leg, jumped to her feet and tugged at his hand. ¡°That¡¯s enough air. Let¡¯s dance.¡±


    Stunned at the change of pace, he stared at the beautiful face alive with more delight than he had seen in¡­since he¡¯de back to her. ¡°You want to dance?¡± he managed to croak.


    She pulled her lips together before another wide smile lit her face, and she leaned over to speak in his ear, giving him a wonderful view of her naked breasts in the dip made in the material. ¡°Not really. I want you to take me home.¡±


    He just stared at her. Somehow, her smile widened even more.


    ¡°Have I stopped you from thinking, my husband?¡±


    Wickedness shed in her eyes before she slipped her hand over his buttocks and ran her tongue over his lips. ¡°Now you know how you make me feel.¡± Then she stepped back again and waved the phone he hadn¡¯t even felt her filch from his back pocket at him.


    Nichs snatched it from her and called his driver.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-


    The moment they were alone in the private cabin of his car, Nichs turned off the microphone connecting them to the driver and pulled Caroline in for a kiss he¡¯d thought he might explode from waiting for.


    Whatever burning arousal her teasing had done to him, it had had the same effect on her. In a medley of tongues and ferociously moving lips, she strad-dled him, her hands going straight to the buttons of his shirt and practically ripping them apart. At his waist, she yanked on his belt and then, with a grace that was almost poetic, she dropped to her knees on the cabin¡¯s spacious floor. Undoing his chinos, she grasped the sides and tugged them down past his hips and then, finally, freed him from the torturous confines.


    There was no hesitation. Her head dipped and she took him in her mouth.


    Theos, but the sensations were incredible. Mind-blowing. The way she ran her tongue the length of it, the way she squeezed¡­He groaned and closed his eyes, reaching for her hair to thread his fingers through. What was it about this woman he reacted to so viscerally? How did her touch burn him in a way that no one else¡¯s did? When she danced back up his body to straddle him again, he sped the back of her head and kissed her deeply, a kiss broken as he moaned into her mouth at the epassing pleasure that filled him as she sank down on him.


    The relief of having Nichs inside her was so great that Caroline held onto it for as long as she could. Already there was a quickening building inside her and she tried her hardest to fight it, wanting to savor the pleasure. Then, as she finally began to ride him, throwing her head back in ecstasy when his mouth closed over an aching nipple, she realized this was a pleasure she would enjoy for the rest of her life and, bucking onto him, she cried out the rapture erupting through her every pore.


    __________


    Caroliney with her head on Nichs¡¯ chest, listening to his heartbeat. She loved the solid thump it made against her cheek, the way it seemed to sink through her skin and be a part of her.


    ¡°Are you awake?¡± she whispered.


    It had to be at least three in the morning. After their frantic drive home, they¡¯d rushed through the house to his bedroom and done it all again. She should be shattered but she was still buzzing from the adrenaline of the best night out she¡¯d had in possibly forever.


    ¡°That depends on what you want,¡± he murmured sleepily, tightening his hold around her.


    ¡°Nothing. Well, nothing for a few more minutes,¡± she teased.


    Stroking her back, heughed. ¡°I think I might need a few more minutes too, Care¡±


    She gently nipped at a t, brown nipple.


    ¡°You¡¯re sex mad.¡± There was admiration in his voice.


    ¡°Sex mad for you,¡± she corrected.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s only for me then carry on.¡±


    She dragged herself over his chest so her breasts crushed against it and she could look at his gorgeous face. ¡°You do know it is only you, don¡¯t you?¡±


    A furrow formed in his brow. She kissed him lightly and ran her fingers through his hair, then sighed dreamily. ¡°You¡¯re the only man I¡¯ve ever wanted this way, the only man I¡¯ll ever be with.¡±


    Suddenly she was t on her back, Nichs pinning her to the mattress as he stared into her eyes, the expression on his face unreadable before he suddenly crushed his mouth to hers in a kiss so passionately violent that arousal red for them both again and soon Caroline was moaning in his arms and clinging to him as he drove their mutual passion to glorious heights.


    ___________


    The next few days managed to pass both crazily fast and crazily slow. On the one hand was theiring wedding, the reception of which was doubling as a birthday party for their son. Everything had been booked and guests confirmed. Nichs had employed the most efficient wedding nner and given her all the funds needed to grease any palms that needed it. The day seemed to be approaching with the speed of a freight train.


    The crazily slow side came from the joy of just being alive. Many happy hours were spent with Nichs and their son, just the three of them. In the evenings they would put Charlie to bed and when Caroline was satisfied he was fast asleep, they would lock the bedroom door and make love until they were so spent that sleep imed them, whether they wanted it to or not.

 77

    After days of this bliss, both Nichs and Caroline had to catch up on neglected work. It was a good thing being a department head, but even better when thepany owners were now your soon to be husband and father inw. After her own work had been taken care of and nothing of any urgency needing her attention, Caroline left Charlie napping under the watchful eye of his nanny and set off with the butler to decide where to house her family and the other guests who would be staying with them for the wedding.


    When she returned to check on Charlie, he wasn¡¯t in his room. She was about to call Seema when she turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and then Nichs appeared with Charlie in his arms.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were back,¡± Caroline said with a smile which he returned.


    ¡°Yeah, we were looking for you,¡±


    They left the room and walked in silence. When they reached the stairs, he caught one of her curls in his fingers. ¡°My father is here. I¡¯m going to have a chat with him. Do you want to join us?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯m going to take Charlie for a swim.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± He cupped her cheek and ced a tender kiss to her lips before kissing their son¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll join you when we¡¯re done.¡±


    Caroline carried Charlie to the nursery armchair and sat him on herp. She rubbed her cheek over his soft head and then she stared at her son. Charlie stood himself up on herp and bounced, gurgling away happily. ¡°What would I do without you?¡± she said, putting her mouth to his cheek and blowing on it, making himugh manically. She blew another raspberry on his cheek and savored the musical sound of hisughter.


    She realized that she was happy. Being here with Nichs and their son made her extremely happy. Because there was no point in denying any more that she loved him. She had always loved him. And, though he might not recognise it as love and might never say the words, he loved her too. She knew it in her heart.


    She shifted Niki higher. His head drooped. She kissed his sleeping face and gentlyid him in his cot. Their swim could wait while he napped.


    Making sure the baby monitor was working, Caroline crept out of the nursery and went in search of the man she loved.


    __________


    ¡°Everything is in hand?¡± Frank Connelly asked his son.


    Nichs nodded.


    ¡°Good. I¡¯m d you came around to my way of thinking. When I remember the amazing time and marriage¡­ The love I had with your mother¡­¡±


    Nichs knew where the conversation was going and he was in no mood for it. He had no time for conversations about love at the moment. The only emotion he would allow himself to feel was love for his son. In two days he would marry Caroline and he¡¯d know that, whatever happened, his son would always have his love and protection.


    He had a drink of his coffee. In no mood to hear another lecture about how his parents were meant for each other so he and Caroline should be the same.


    ¡°Marriage will protect you and protect your son.¡± Frank continued, ¡°Remember that. But take it from a man who knows- a miserable wife makes for a very miserable life.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t be married long enough for me to make her miserable.¡± The hackles of his crawling skin rose at the look on his father¡¯s face. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? A temporary marriage was your idea.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Frank sighed. ¡°But I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually take thatment seriously. Besides, that was when I thought selfishness had stopped her telling you¡­ And me about your son. I didn¡¯t know-¡±


    ¡°The decision has been made,¡± Nichs interrupted curtly. An image of Caroline¡¯s beautiful face shining up at him with that softness in her eyes¡­ He banished it swiftly. Damn it, his guts were cramping. His heart felt like it was tearing. ¡°A year of marriage is the most I can live with.¡±


    This was what sentimentality did to you. Made you doubt yourself. Made you imagine feelings that didn¡¯t exist.


    The cramping in his guts was a form of guilt, and unnecessary guilt at that.


    He hadn¡¯t promised Caroline forever. That was one lie he¡¯d never told her.


    ¡°Time might change your mind,¡± Frank said, his expression sad.


    ¡°No. One year and then I file for divorce.¡±


    If time was going to change anyone¡¯s mind it would be Caroline¡¯s when she¡¯d spent long enough time with him. He swallowed the burn of nausea rising up his throat and again banished the image of her beautiful face from his mind¡­and that softness he so often saw in her eyes that, if he¡¯d been a man who inspired love, he could almost believe was the look of love.


    _________


    Caroline backed slowly to the stairs, covering her mouth tightly to stop the scream from escaping. When she reached the top of the stairs she flew down the corridor to Charlie¡¯s room. She closed her eyes and pulled in a breath before she opened it. Checking that Charlie was still sleeping, she hurried to her bedroom, grabbed her phone and called her sister.


    Elsa answered on the third ring. ¡°Hi, big sister! How¡¯s it going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you Elsa, but I didn¡¯t know what to do or who else to call,¡±


    This time there was panic in Elsa¡¯s voice. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Yet. ¡°But the wedding¡¯s off. I can¡¯t marry him.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell youter. But for now, I need to leave¡­ This house¡­ This  town in fact. I¡¯m going over to mom and dad¡¯s. I¡¯ll tell you everything when I get home.¡±


    Her real home. A home filled with people who loved her. ¡°Do me a favor and don¡¯t tell Mom. I don¡¯t want her to worry. I¡¯ll tell her when I get there,¡±N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    ¡°You¡¯re scaring me.¡±


    ¡°I promise it¡¯s nothing to scare you. He¡¯s not hurt me, I swear.¡± Not physically at least, she thought.


    ¡°You promise?¡±


    ¡°I promise.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­I¡¯ll keep in touch.¡± Elsa said before she reluctantly hung up.

 78

    Caroline didn¡¯t waste any time. Forget packing. Clothes were receable. Chucking her passport and Charlie¡¯s into her handbag, she secured the bag over her shoulder then hurried to the nursery to pack a change-bag for Charlie. Thankfully, the ground floor was empty and she was able to carry Charlie and their bags to the garage without being seen. The keys for Nichs¡¯ showroom of cars were hanging up and she pressed them all until the one with the baby seat in it shed. She strapped a still-sleeping Charlie into it before unclipping and carefully removing the seat.


    Her hope of being miles away before Nichs noticed they were missing was foiled a minuteter when footsteps crunched behind her.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Almost jumping out of her skin, Caroline spun around to find Nichs walking towards her. He scanned her slowly, taking in the guilt zing on her face to the protective way she stood before their sleeping son. She couldn¡¯t have known the garage was rmed. The moment she¡¯d set foot in it, an alert had gone to his phone. He¡¯d watched her every move.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he repeated icily.


    She just stared at him, her face now the colour of an overripe tomato.


    The faint sound of a phone buzzing broke the tense silence that developed.


    ¡°Are you not going to answer that?¡±


    Throat moving, she slowly pulled her phone out of her handbag and put it to her ear. ¡°Hello,¡± The one-sided conversation in which she made the odd noise of acknowledgement was over in less than a minute. She kept her eyes on his face the entire time. He didn¡¯t think she blinked once throughout it.


    Nichs folded his arms across his chest and clenched his jaw. ¡°Speak to me. Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Her eyes closed. When she snapped them back open, she said in a tone that turned his blood to ice, ¡°I¡¯m going home.¡±


    Now he was the one to stare without blinking. Every part of his body tightened, his lungs squeezing into balls. She was leaving him. He could see it in her eyes. He¡¯d sensed it while watching her hurried movements in the garage. Caroline was leaving him. Her flustered guilt had been reced with a calm defiance he recognised from the weeks following his return. Her controlled demeanor was atplete odds with the turbulence Nichs now found himself fighting. Hadn¡¯t he always known this day woulde?


    ¡°And when were you nning to tell me?¡±


    ¡°I was going to send you a message.¡±


    ¡°A message?¡± Red-hot rage pulsed through him, burning through his brain. He fought to stop it echoing in his voice, speaking through gritted teeth. ¡°You were going to leave without a single word of warning?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She would have let him worry. Let him put out a search for her. Let him imagine the worst.


    mping down on the rising rage that swirled with something else, something indefinable but which felt like a weight was pressing against his heart, he said,¡± You have a reason?¡±


    Contempt shed in her eyes. ¡°Oh, yes.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to share it with me?¡±


    She looked at her watch. ¡°Not really. I have a caring.¡±


    ¡°A car¡­¡± He gave a quick, humorlessugh. ¡°You have been busy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to my parents, so if you¡¯re thinking of trying to stop me leaving, you¡¯ll have them to deal with.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t stop you leaving, Care,¡± He let his gaze fall to the car seat and the child sleeping in it she was shielding with her body. ¡°Our son, though, is a different matter¡­¡±


    She showed not the slightest hint of intimidation at the menacing words he¡¯d deliberately left hanging. Stepping slowly to him, she folded her arms across her chest, mimicking his stance.


    Her words were delivered quietly but with absolute precision.¡± I¡¯m taking Charlie home with me. To my family¡­ To his family. To the people who have loved him since he was in my belly. And if you think you can stop me then you will learn just how dirty I¡¯m prepared to fight.¡± Her face tilted. ¡°But I think you know that-after all, isn¡¯t that your reason for marrying me? To guarantee your ess and rights to our son?¡±


    To see the color drain from Nichs¡¯ face stoked the fire in Caroline¡¯s belly. So her instincts had been right. She¡¯d not misunderstood what she¡¯d heard. His bodynguage confirmed it. She understood his reasons immediately. Understood every little part of it. And she also understood he¡¯d lied to her. His proposal had never been about giving Charlie a stable family. It had been all about Nichs, the dirty, cruel, unconscionable bastard.


    Moving her face as close to his as she could get without actually touching him, she summoned every muscle in her face to form a smile. ¡°I heard everything¡­ I decided to join you and your father as you asked me to earlier. So I came and I heard what you were saying. You see, the truth is I wasn¡¯t prepared to give you the satisfaction of knowing just how hurt I was when you left¡­. My feelings for you¡­ They were that intense,¡± She nodded for emphasis.¡± I couldn¡¯t sleep at night and when I found out that I was pregnant, It became even worse,¡±


    Nichs¡¯ guts fisted. The punch it made rippled straight through him.


    Still speaking in that same, calm, quiet, matter-of-fact tone, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m sure I would have got through that naturally with time, but funny enough, the one thing that helped me cope with the hurt was also the pregnancy,¡±


    She patted her stomach and widened her smile. His already cold body chilled to the marrow. ¡°It¡¯s a real shame you missed out on the pregnancy. You never got to see my belly move or feel him kick. You missed out on the morning sickness too but I¡¯m willing to bet you¡¯re d about missing that part. It¡¯s funny, but only this morning I was thinking how much I would love us to have another baby and thinking that this time you could share in all of it. Not yet-I was thinking in around a year¡¯s time.¡± She lifted her shoulders and pulled an ¡®oops¡¯ face.¡± That was a bit silly of me, wasn¡¯t it, what with you nning to serve me divorce papers then?¡±

 79

    She took a step back and shook her head in the fashion of a disappointed teacher.  ¡°I assume you decided a year of marriage was long enough for thew to be on your side if I refused to y ball over custody arrangements? How clever you are, my husband. You think of everything. I congratte you on your deviousness. If only I was a poor woman, you could have gone straight for the jugr and used your wealth to get full custody without a fight. But I¡¯m not going to fight you¡­¡± Her nostrils red.¡± Not unless you force me.¡±


    Eyes likesers, she hissed,¡± I will never stop you seeing our son but you will have to kill me before I let you take him from me. Now please excuse me, I hear a car-that will be my driver.¡± She turned her back to him and leaned down to pick up the car seat.


    ¡°Are you not going to give me the courtesy of hearing me out?¡± Nichs asked in as modted a tone as he could manage when he could barely hear his own voice over the roar of the heartbeats drumming in his ears. But the caring to drive her away¡­he could hear that. Hear it closing in on them.


    Her back to him, she retorted, ¡°I heard everything I needed to hear when you were talking to your father.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯ve appointed yourself judge and jury?¡± Hooking his hands to her shoulders, he spun her round. ¡°This is the very reason I wanted us to marry.


    You think you are entitled to decide everything but you do not get to decide everything when ites to our child. I¡¯m his father.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a liar,¡± she snarled in his face. Any pretense at calm had gone. The facade she¡¯d been wearing had dissolved like a block of salt hitting hot water. ¡°You said you wanted us to be a family and give Charlie stability and I believed you. I swallowed my pride and did what was best for our son when all the time you were doing only what was best for yourself.¡±


    ¡°I was protecting my interests. How do I know you will always do what¡¯s best for him?¡± he demanded, his anger ring back to life. ¡°Things change and people change, and I know that money and power can be weaponized against a child¡¯s best interests. I was fully aware that if you decided to kick me out of our son¡¯s life, I would have an uphill battle to fight you so, yes, I lied to you, but what would you have me do? Would you have me on the fringe of our son¡¯s life waiting for the day you decide even that is too much? Without marriage, any agreement we made about ess and custody would be on your terms. Everything has to be on your terms.


    You don¡¯t trust anyone with him. You¡¯re scared to let him out of your sight.¡±


    ¡°And why do you think that is?¡± she screamed, eyes wild. ¡°My life almost turned to hell! Loving him saved me-he was my saving grace because he was the only part of you I had left, and I will not apologize for being over-protective, not when we spent the first eleven months of his life alone¡­¡±


    All the fight and fury in him dissolved at the same speed hers had risen. Staring at her furiously stricken face sent the punches rippling through him harder and faster than they¡¯d ever punched through him before. But the fight had left her too. Tears broke through her rage and she swiped them away furiously.


    ¡°Damn you, Nick,¡± she sobbed. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you just leave me alone? Why did you have to do this? I never denied you any part of him. I swallowed my pride and my hate for all you¡¯d done to me and weed you into our lives for Charlie¡¯s sake and I made my family wee you too, and still you think I¡¯m just waiting for an excuse to kick you. You still see me in the same way you see everyone else-as potential hurt to be pushed aside before they can get close enough to reject you. You¡¯re a fully grown man who knows better than to treat people worse than dogs, but that¡¯s how you¡¯ve treated me. How could you do this to me? Knit my heart back together and then willingly rip it apart again? Did you ever have feelings for me,¡±  But then she covered her ears and staggered back.¡± No. I don¡¯t want to hear it. I can¡¯t. You¡¯ve broken me enough.¡±


    The car had pulled alongside them. The driver had got out and was watching them. Pulling her shoulders up, Caroline carried the car seat to him. ¡°Can you strap it in for me, please?¡± Her hands were shaking too much to do it herself.


    About to get into the car, she turned to stare at Nichs onest time. He hadn¡¯t moved. His features were unreadable. Raising her chin, she swallowed and said, ¡°I will instruct mywyers to draft a custody agreement when I get home. It will be as fair as it can be to all three of us.¡±


    And then she closed the door, turned her face away from him and gazed at her son. Charlie¡¯s eyes were open. He looked at her and gave a beaming smile that melted her broken heart.


    Nichs watched the car until it was no longer in sight. He couldn¡¯t make his legs move to return inside. He sank down on the top step of the terrace and waited for the cold fog that had enveloped him to pass. sping his pounding head, he swallowed hard.


    Everything inside him felt bruised and tight. Deep in the pit of his stomach, sickness churned, rising up his throat to leave a bitter, metallic taste in his mouth. Time slipped away. The fog didn¡¯t clear¡­ Not until he caught the sound of a distant car nearing.


    His heart thumped then everything in him slumped to realize the sound wasing from the wrong direction. A momentter, his father¡¯s car appeared.


    Frank parked in front of Nichs and put his elbow on the lowered window. ¡°Everything okay?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He managed to jerk a nod.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±

 80

    Another nod. He cleared his throat. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Poker night.¡± Frank replied. ¡°We¡¯re having food first. I tried to find Caroline to say bye but I couldn¡¯t find her. I¡¯ll talk to her tomorrow.¡± He put the car back into gear. ¡°Got to go-I¡¯m alreadyte. Don¡¯t wait up,¡± he added with a cackle, then drove off in the same direction Caroline had not long traveled..N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    His father had a remarkable social life. A string of women. Raucous nights out with goodpany. The kind of social life Nichs had looked forward to at some point in his life. The kind he would have if he hadn¡¯t learned about his son. He blinked. What was he thinking? Hadn¡¯t he stayed out of the spotlight and avoided any kind of socializing until he¡¯d seen Caroline again? Hadn¡¯t he embedded himself back into her life? The only times he¡¯d enjoyed himself after his return had been with her because the vacuous social scene he¡¯d once reveled in no longer meant anything to him. His istion had changed him. Caroline had changed him. His son had changed him.


    And how had he learned about his son? By following the mother. Why had he followed the mother? Because thepulsion to see her again had been too strong to resist¡­ Fighting the direction of his thoughts and unable to look a moment longer at the road on which she¡¯d traveled away from him, Nichs dragged himself to his feet and walked back into his home.


    The emptiness was stark. The silence was deafening. He held tight to the bannister and climbed both flights of stairs without any thought of where he was heading. Shuffling along the corridor on the second floor, the nausea in his stomach rose up like a wave. He doubled over, pressing his hands to the sill of the window he was passing to support himself, and closed his eyes.


    When the sickness passed, he opened his eyes and found his gaze drawn back to the winding road in the distance. His father¡¯s car had disappeared. He straightened sharply as rity exploded into his thoughts.


    If he¡¯d not walked away from her because he was too afraid ofmitment, then they wouldn¡¯t have been in their current situation. If he¡¯d opened up about the way she made him feel. But he hadn¡¯t opened up. He couldn¡¯t change that.  Couldn¡¯t change who he was. Couldn¡¯t change that he never opened up to anyone¡­ But hadn¡¯t he opened up to Caroline? It had been forced on him but he had opened up to her, about virtually everything.


    She knew him better than anyone else. She always tried to understand him, and every time she¡¯d given him that same soft smile of love.


    Yes, love.


    Whatever kind of man he was, it hadn¡¯t stopped Caroline from cing her cheek to his chest and listening to the beats of his heart¡­ The beats of his heart picked up speed and he looked at his bedroom door. That¡¯s where he¡¯d been heading, he now realized, but what he¡¯d intended to do in there he didn¡¯t know, just knew it no longer mattered. If he wanted a future then he had to free himself from the shackles of the past. Free himself properly. In his heart.


    Having his child growing inside Caroline had given herfort. When she¡¯d once described grief as being a bruise that hurts with every breath you take, she¡¯d been speaking about her grief for him. How had he not seen that?


    Because he¡¯d never thought for a second that he could inspire such feelings in anyone. When he¡¯d walked away for months, hers had been the face he¡¯d seen before falling asleep. He saw it so clearly now. Understood so clearly.


    Patting his pockets, he found his phone and, fighting the panic threatening to overwhelm him, quickly scrolled through the contacts and called his driver.


    _____________


    Charlie had been amazingly well behaved on the drive back to her house, but for some reason after they arrived he started bawling. He was still bawling as she tried to pack the things they¡¯d need for their trip to her parents house. Caroline soothed him as much as she could but all her bribes of food and drink-she kept emergency ready-made baby food and baby milk in the change-bag-went to waste.


    Picking him up and pacing while rubbing his back didn¡¯t work so she sat down again and made another attempt at giving him milk. This time he epted it and quietened.


    Exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically, Caroline rested her head back against the couch. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to banish Nichs¡¯ face from her mind. Tried to ignore the unbearable pain in her heart. Tried to banish the tempest of emotions swelling inside her. Tried to stop the force of the painful ragged rise and fall of her chest from pushing out the tears forming behind her eyes.


    It would have been easier to stop the sun from rising. They fell down her face like a burning stream. Her hands full with feeding Charlie, she couldn¡¯t wipe the tears away, and she turned her face away to stop them falling onto him and tried her hardest to get control of herself. She didn¡¯t want her devastation to feed into Charlie¡¯s developing emotions.


    She must keep hold of herself until she was in the security of her parents home and the privacy of her bedroom. She could rest and fall apart then, just as she¡¯d done during those deste months and months spent after Nichs left. Pack her emotions back inside her.


    She heard something and turning back to look out of the window, she saw through the film of tears clouding her vision somethingrge and ck approaching. She blinked vigorously then found herself freezing when her vision cleared enough to recognise the object. It was a car. One of Nichs¡¯ cars.


    She blinked again to see him jump out of the front passenger seat before the car had evene to a stop. His long legs sped in a blur towards the house.

 81

    She realized that in her hurry, she¡¯d not locked the front door and before she could gather herself together to do so, there was a knock and her door opened. Momentster, Nichs was inside the house and striding over to her.


    His eyes locked straight onto hers. His Adam¡¯s apple moved up and down his throat repeatedly before his lips finally parted. ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me,¡± he said in a hoarse voice.


    She could only stare at him. Was this really Nichs? Was this wild-eyed, disheveled man the same perfectly groomed and contained man she¡¯d left only an hour ago? His frantic eyes held hers. There was a sheen in them¡­ And then she remembered what an excellent actor he¡¯d already proved himself to be and turned her face away.


    ¡°Go home, Nick. I¡¯ve already said we can make an agreement for custody that¡¯s fair to all of us. You¡¯ve nothing to worry about. I won¡¯t stop you seeing Charlie,¡±


    ¡°This has nothing to do with our son. Please, Care, I am begging you¡­ Don¡¯t go.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± she asked tonelessly.


    ¡°Because I can¡¯t live without you.¡±


    Thinking she might be sick at the new lows he¡¯d just plumbed, she snapped her face back to him. ¡°You sick, lying bastard.¡±


    Nichs winced but epted the deserved blow. ¡°I am a bastard. I¡¯ve treated you appallingly but I¡¯m¡­¡± He took a deep breath and pulled viciously at his hair. ¡°Can you take Charlie to his room? There are things I need to say that I don¡¯t want him to hear.¡±


    Her red eyes-Fuck, his cruelty had caused that-narrowed but after a moment she rose from her seat and carried their son to his room. Nichs sank into the seat opposite the one she¡¯d been sitting in and bowed his head, scraping his nails over the back of his skull, trying to gather his thoughts before she returned.


    His thoughts were still splintered when she sat down again. He lifted his head.


    Her legs were crossed, spine straight, an imperious expression on her blotchy, tear-stained face. He recognised that expression. Why hadn¡¯t he recognised her stance as a protective shield?


    ¡°My father once told me that Ick empathy¡± he said slowly, the answer to his own questioning to him. ¡°He is not wrong.¡±


    ¡°He is. To a degree.¡± She arched a brow in response.


    ¡°I learned at a young age to block feelings.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already guessed that. And you have my sympathy for whatever reasons are behind it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want your sympathy.¡±


    ¡°I know that too.¡±


    ¡°I can stop my heart from feeling. Turn it to stone.¡±


    ¡°To stop yourself from being hurt. You don¡¯t need to be Freud to understand that, Nick,¡±


    He nodded his agreement. ¡°It stops me being hurt but it also stops me being able to recognise other people¡¯s pain.¡± He grimaced and corrected himself.


    ¡°Rather, it enables me to ignore their pain,¡± He gave a grunt of gloomyughter. ¡°Not that I have let anyone get close to me, Except my family. Can you believe that?¡±


    ¡°You do have a great rtionship with your Aunt¡­ And your father. Having that sort of rtionship with your family is still a good thing,¡±


    He felt a tiny release of the pressure on his chest at this slight softening. ¡°And then I met you.¡±


    She stiffened.


    ¡°Caroline Anderson¡­ You¡­¡± He pinched the bridge of his nose and swallowed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why it was different with you but there is something about you I reacted to more strongly than I have ever reacted to anyone before. I have never craved someone¡¯spany before and it was never just about the sex, even if I did try to kid myself that that¡¯s all it was. I told myself your words of love to me were just words. But you would put your cheek to my chest and I¡¯d know you were listening to my heartbeat. You wanted to feel my heartbeat. No one had ever done that before. No one had ever got close enough to. And I would feel your heartbeat against my skin too and the warmth of your body and just want to stay there and never let you go.¡±


    The imperious expression on Caroline¡¯s face had gone.¡± I think I fell in love with you a long time ago and didn¡¯t know it. But even if I had, I would have fought it and the oue would have been the same.  I would have still left because I¡¯d have fought it. You¡¯d gotten too close¡­¡±


    Her chin was wobbling, throat moving.


    ¡°You¡¯d made me feel things, Care, and that terrified me. Feelings leave you vulnerable. It¡¯s perverse logic, I know, but subconsciously I knew if I pushed you away first then you couldn¡¯t leave me. You couldn¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    A tear rolled down her cheek. He wanted so badly to press his thumb to her cheek and brush the tear away.


    ¡°I tried to stay away from you. I even told myself the day I waited outside your estate that all I wanted was to check up on you. And yes, I came to see you at the party about Charlie but he was the excuse I needed to justify throwing myself back into your life and even then I fought it. I fell in love with our son and I could ept that love because he was an innocent child who could never hurt me, whereas you¡­ Caroline, you have no idea of the power you have over me. You have no idea how much it tortured me to imagine you with Glen. I thought you¡¯d moved on-how could you not? How could I be special enough for anyone to hold on to? But I never moved on from you. It was impossible.¡±


    The beats of Caroline¡¯s heart were so strong the echoes thrashed in her dazed, barelyprehending head. The desperation with which she wanted to believe him¡­ But the fear. She shrank back as he slid onto the floor to kneel before her and shrank into herself when he took her hand. She tried to block her ears to his words, deny them their power.


    ¡°There is only you,¡± he said quietly. ¡°And I can¡¯t fight it any more or deny it to myself. I love you. You have turned my stone-cold heart into something that beats freely with love for you. It¡¯s you I need to be with. You I need to spend my nights with. You I trust with my life, my soul and my heart. Please, give me one more chance, let me prove myself to be the man you deserve, I beg you, and not for our son¡¯s sake but for mine because I can¡¯t live without you. I¡¯ve tried and every road leads back to you. Let me earn your love and your trust. I swear on our son¡¯s life that I will never betray it again. I swear.¡±


    Caroline barely noticed her fingers hadced into his. The seams of her ripped, damaged heart were threading hesitantly back together and, finally, she dared to look at him.¡± When I agreed to marry you, it was for Charlie¡¯s sake.¡±


    He breathed deeply.  ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Everything I¡¯ve done since I learned I was pregnant has been for him.¡±


    His voice became a hoarse whisper. ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°But you¡­¡± She leaned forward, closer to him.  ¡°You brought me back to life. You made me remember that I¡¯m not just a mother but a woman with needs of her own. And that woman loves you,¡± she whispered. ¡°She¡¯s always loved you.¡±


    His throat moved. ¡°I never deserved it. But I will. If you¡¯ll let me.¡±


    Hands shaking, she cupped his cheeks and stared deeper into his eyes. The look she saw in them sewed thest piece of her heart back into ce. ¡°Yes.¡± Unable to contain the feelings a moment longer, she brought her face to his and kissed him. ¡°Oh, Nick, yes.¡±..


    He made a sound like a prayer and then his arms wrapped tightly around her and she was enveloped in his arms so tenderly and lovingly that her mended heart soared into song.


    Nichs stared into Caroline¡¯s eyes, filled to the brim with emotions. And when she smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get our son and go back home,¡± he knew he would spend the rest of his life worshiping her and thanking God everyday for bringing her into his life and setting him free to love. To love her.


    ________


    THE END


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