Of course, he’d done all that and more to her. In between he’d wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight until energy had returned and they could do it again. He’d given her orgasm after orgasm and crazy, hot sex—and confidence in her sensuality. Until at last at some point in the early hours sleep had stolen them both.
So she finally had a one-night stand. She had meaningless sex purely for the physical pleasure. There’d been so much pleasure. And it had been meaningless, right? Because she didn’t want anything more, anyway. So it really shouldn’t matter that the morning after had been so quick and cold. It really shouldn’t matter that he hadn’t kissed her good-bye. It really shouldn’t matter that she was never going to see him again.
Except somehow, just a bit, it did.
She held her breath as she neared his door, her stride increasing. But in the quiet early morning light, she heard the turn of a handle and then she saw his silhouette emerge. Her heart pounded. Should she smile and say hi? Of course. No reason they couldn’t wave. She could play it easy—they’d had a good time together, right? She could be all grown up and sophisticated.
He went down the few steps to the pavement. His head turned, so he looked down her end of the street. But he didn’t gesture, he didn’t do anything. All he did was step forward as the black car slid past her and paused for him.
Snapshots imprinted on Nina’s mind—his profile, him opening the door. She knew he’d seen her. There was no way he hadn’t—even with those sunglasses hiding his startling eyes. But he’d turned to the car and he hadn’t turned back. He’d totally blanked her. He’d climbed into the car and it had pulled away immediately. No smile, no wave, no nothing.
Nina stopped still on the pavement and just stared. Corey had cheated—more than once, with more than one. But Nina hadn’t felt as shocked then as she did now. Why be that rude? Why act like she didn’t even exist?
He’d been stiff as he’d walked—like he was overly conscious of his movements. Like he knew he was being watched. Yeah, he’d known she was there and he was determined not to care about her feelings at all.
She was furious with him—why had he ruined her memory of that night? Why sour it with such unsocial behavior now? Why be such a complete jerk?
Ironically, it was her best morning’s sales. By rights she shouldn’t have sold a thing. But her customers didn’t pick up on her stormy mood. Instead, she faked the happy romantic spirit so hard she had the boys buying double. How typical that she could get guys to buy big for the women in their lives, yet she couldn’t land a man who would even just say hi to her?
As closing time finally neared, pain pushed at her temples and she felt lightheaded. She stood behind the counter and took a moment to regroup, hoping some more Stella-type spenders would walk through the door.
Only the next person through the door wasn’t a customer.
“Nina.” He walked until he stood across the counter from her. Tall, solemn—more unnaturally expressionless than usual.
“What do you want?” She couldn’t fake any politeness now.
“Nina.” His answer came too soft, too forced. He stared at her, the muscles in his jaw tight, his lips firmly pressed together.
She couldn’t bear to see the ice in his expression, so she looked down at her frozen hands. That’s when it dawned on her.
“Oh.” She’d laugh if it weren’t so mortifying. “Your diamond.” She’d been in such a hurry to get out of his house the other morning, she’d forgotten she had it on. She’d been planning to put it though his letterbox—except that had seemed a little unsafe for something so valuable. If he’d actually bothered to say hi this morning, she’d have given it to him and it would all have been cool.
“Not the diamond,” he said harshly.
No?
His head moved, the smallest negative. “My patient died.”
Silenced, she stared at him.
“The car came for me. I needed to see him and be with his parents. I’d just had the call.”
This morning—when he’d been so remote and cold. Oh no.
“I’m sorry.” Her throat tightened.
He stepped back as she stepped out from the counter. “They’re private clients,” he explained quickly. “They’re both financiers. Caspar is their only child. They chose to care for him at home these last few months and I visited every morning before starting at the hospital.”
Nina stared at him, eyes stinging. But he wouldn’t look at her now and she needed to see what he was thinking—and feeling.
“How old was he?” she asked, afraid of the answer—knowing no matter what, it was going to be bad.
“Three.”
“Oh, Ed—”
“I know I was rude to you this morning. I wanted you to understand why I didn’t stop to talk. Or smile. I couldn’t say anything this morning because…” He cleared his throat, glaring at some invisible speck on the floor. “I couldn’t say anything.”
“This was the patient you went to the other night, after the restaurant.” It all became clear to her—why he’d been so serious. Why he’d wanted the fun.
He nodded, a frown creasing his forehead.
“You could have told me.” She’d opened up to him, she’d have tried to help. Even just listen.
His frown deepened. “I didn’t want to score pity points. And it’s hardly light, is it—talking about a patient about to die. I didn’t want that. I wanted…crazy flashmob fun.”
She understood wanting a night’s escape. It was what she’d wanted, too. But she also understood the need for comfort. And right now, she sensed that deep need in him. Not sexual. This was sadness. Misery.
But he stood so far from
