'What?'
'You may feel extremely flattered by Nick's attentions, but I can assure you that, in the long run, he'll only wind up hurting you.' Dina's cool gaze traveled over Addy's slender body with the scrutiny of a trained spy seeking to discover any hidden detail. 'You can't possibly believe that
Addy felt the sting of Dina's words as if they'd been a physical slap. She didn't need the other woman to remind her of how totally inadequate she was. 'My relationship with Nick is none of your business.'
'But of course it is. After all, I'm practically your stepmother.' Dina moved to Addy's side, a false show of concern on her face. 'I love you because you're Rusty's child, and I like you, too. You're such a nice person, Addy. Really too nice for a bad boy like Nick.'
'If you're so concerned about Nick acting as my bodyguard, why haven't you said something to Daddy yourself?'
'I have, but he simply won't listen to me.' Dina sighed dramatically. 'Men are such stubborn creatures, aren't they? Your father has this mistaken notion that Nick would make the perfect husband for you.'
Addy couldn't stop the bubble of laughter in her throat from erupting. 'I can't picture Nick as anyone's husband.'
'Certainly not. Nick's too much of a free spirit.' Dina seemed to relax, placing her hand on Addy's arm. 'I should have known you would be sensible about this. After all, you're too smart to allow yourself to be used again.'
'Yes, I am,' Addy agreed. 'But Nick isn't the sort of man who'd use me. I've learned that much about him. He's nothing like Gerald, and I honestly believe money doesn't mean anything to him.'
'Nick isn't interested in Rusty's money the way your former husband was, that's true enough.' Dina tugged on Addy's arm. 'Why don't we sit down and I'll tell you some things you need to know about Nick so you'll understand my concern.'
Addy stared at Dina, trying to figure out what the woman's real motive was. Could she actually be concerned, or was she jealous? 'I don't need to sit down. Just tell me what you think I need to know.'
'Very well.' Dina's words escaped in an aggravated huff. 'Nick sees you as a challenge, I'm quite certain of that. Women usually succumb to his good looks and charm quite readily, but since you haven't, he'll use whatever means necessary to seduce you. His rather substantial male ego is involved. Women don't say no to Nick.'
'What makes you think he hasn't already seduced me?' Addy didn't like the smug look on Dina's face.
'He hasn't. I'd know if you and Nick were lovers. I've known Nick since he was fifteen. The two of us have no secrets.'
Pulling away from Dina, Addy said, 'Nick told me that you and he play a game where you try to seduce him and he resists.' Addy watched for any change of expression on Dina's face or in her eyes. She saw only the slight flickering of Dina's long, dark eyelashes. 'Are you sure the real reason you want Nick replaced as my bodyguard is because you're worried about me?'
'What other reason could there be?'
'Perhaps you're afraid that I might mean more to Nick than a conquest, that his feelings run deep enough to consider making a commitment to me.'
The reaction Addy had been waiting for appeared on Dina's face. Her rosy cheeks flushed brightly and her blue eyes burned with indigo fire. She tightened her hold on Addy's arm, her nails biting into soft flesh. 'Don't be an idiot. You aren't Nick's type. I'm Nick's type. Ever since we became lovers when he was seventeen, he's looked for me in every woman he meets. I have no doubt that when he's making love to those other blondes, he pretends he's making love to me.'
Salty, burning bile rose in Addy's throat. She had suspected that Nick and Dina had once been lovers, but hearing the woman admit it was almost more than Addy could bear. She tried to keep her reaction from showing, from being so blatantly obvious. Nothing would appease Dina's spiteful jealousy more than seeing Addy upset by her scandalous admission that Nick had bedded his brother's wife. Addy had never dreamed Nick would have betrayed his own brother. Maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought she did.
'I couldn't care less about you and Nick,' Addy lied. 'But I think Daddy might care.' Addy was pleased to note Dina's shocked expression.
Dina's face paled noticeably. 'I'd rather Rusty didn't know, but if telling him is the only way to get Nick out of your life and end Rusty's obsession with the idea of marrying you off to Nick, then perhaps you should tell him.'
Brett Windsor opened the door connecting the reception area to Ginger Kimbrew's office. 'Addy, I'm glad you're still here.' Brett glanced from Addy to Dina, then back to Addy. 'Is there something wrong?'
'No,' both women replied simultaneously.
'Well, Ginger has changed the reservations. All she had to do was mention Rusty McConnell's name. Amazing what wealth and power can do, isn't it?' Brett stepped between the two women, giving Dina a questioning glare before turning to Addy. 'Has Dina said something to upset you?'
'I'm afraid Addy wasn't prepared to hear the truth about Nick. It seems she's quite smitten with him. Such a shame to see a dear, sweet girl like Addy making a fool of herself over a man—'
'I think you've said enough, Dina.' Brett put his arm around Addy's quivering shoulders. 'Addy has better sense than to fall for Nick Romero's rather obvious charms. Despite his smooth exterior, your brother-in-law is still as rough and uncivilized as he was when he was in the SEALs.'
'I'd rather not discuss Nick with either of you.' Addy started to pull away from Brett, but hesitated when she saw Nick standing in the open doorway, his dark eyes glowering at her. She leaned into Brett's embrace, slipping her arm around his waist. 'Why—why don't you come over for dinner some night soon?' The minute the words escaped her mouth, Addy regretted them. How could she act so childishly, trying to use Brett to make Nick jealous?
Brett's smile dazzled Addy with its perfection. 'I suppose Nick will have to be there, won't he?'
'You've got that right, Windsor, but you and Addy can just pretend I'm not there.' Nick glanced back into Ginger's office where her shapely behind was bent over her desk. 'I could ask Ginger if she'd like to make it a foursome.'
'Good idea.' Brett leaned down, planting a sweetly romantic kiss on Addy's lips.
Shocked, Addy had no intention of responding until she heard Nick's feral growl from across the room. In her peripheral vision, she saw Nick take a tentative step in her direction. Without thinking of the consequences, she responded to Brett's kiss with a passion born of her own anger and jealousy. Damn Nick for making her care about him when he was probably still in love with Dina.
Nick stopped dead still, then walking as fast as he could hampered by his bad leg, he fled past Addy and Brett and a cattily smiling Dina as if the hounds of hell were on his heels.
Addy pulled away from Brett, staring at Nick's wide back as he exited the reception area. She swallowed hard, wondering why she suddenly felt afraid of the man in whom her father had entrusted her life.
Despite the cool flow of air from the overhead fan, Nick's body glistened with sweat. He'd been punishing himself with a series of sit-ups he had hoped would exhaust him enough to sleep. He'd been seething with anger all day, ever since he'd walked in on the sickeningly sweet sight of Addy returning Brett Windsor's caress.
Clutching his fists at his sides, Nick beat the mattress, wishing it was Windsor's pretty-boy face. What the hell did Addy mean responding to Windsor with such passion? She didn't love the guy, and by her own admission, she didn't trust him. Just what had been going on?
He suspected that Dina had something to do with it. That mocking smile on her face had given her away. He knew Dina and all her little tricks. She had done or said something to Addy that made her angry with him, had made her want to get back at him. And by God, she had, in the worst possible way. He hated these feelings of jealousy. The last time he'd been jealous, he'd thought he was in love with Miguel's wife. He'd been a fool! Damned if he would ever let another woman make a fool of him.
The last thing he should be worrying about right now were his possessive feelings for Addy. Not when she was in real danger, when her very life could be at risk. He should be concentrating on keeping Addy safe, not succumbing to the powers of the green-eyed monster. Somewhere out there was a man or a woman primed and ready to kidnap Addy if Rusty McConnell allowed M.A.C.'s bid on the NASP project to stand. Nick knew that all his energy should be focused on making sure that didn't happen, regardless of what decision Rusty made about the
