silky legs, he'd have to earn the right to make love to her.
« ^ »
Hot June sunshine played hide-and-seek with gray, midmorning rain clouds, creating a hazy, overcast daylight. Standing at her kitchen window, Addy watched the warm breeze floating through the trees and shrubs in her backyard, swaying the tops of the red azaleas and teasing the clematis vine clinging to the wooden fence. Everything looked the same as it had for the past few years since she'd purchased the house in Twickenham, since she had begun a new life, totally on her own. She had grown to love the sameness, the routine pattern of peacefulness, and, above all else, she had learned to appreciate her independence.
But things were not the same. An unknown person's threats had changed her life, throwing her cherished order into chaos, reverting her father back into the overprotective parent he'd once been, and utterly destroying her hard-won privacy and independence.
Addy placed the last lunch plate into the dishwasher, then wiped her hands and laid the towel on the counter. Glancing out onto the rock patio behind her house, Addy saw Nick Romero, his broad back facing her, as he sat drinking a tall glass of iced tea. As much as the menacing kidnapper, Nick had altered the course of Addy's life, his very presence a disturbing force she found difficult to handle. More than anything she wanted to believe that his interest in her was genuine, that he truly desired her as a woman and not as the heir to a fortune. If she allowed her romantic nature to override her common sense, she would give herself to Nick, heart and soul. Already, she fantasized about him, seeing him as her knight in shining armor, the man who would cherish her and protect her
The portable phone sitting outside on the patio table rang, jarring Addy out of her thoughts. Opening the door, she stepped outside just as Nick answered.
'Hold a minute, I'll get her,' he said, then shoved the chair back and stood.
Before he could turn around, Addy walked over to him. 'Is that for me?'
Nick gave her a long, hard look, then handed her the telephone. 'It's Jim Hester.'
Addy returned Nick's scrutiny as she accepted the phone. 'Hello, Jim.' Addy walked around the patio, savoring the feel of the warm sun and the pleasant breeze.
'I just wanted to check on you before I leave for Washington,' Jim said. 'I need to know that you're all right.'
'I'm fine. Honestly.'
'Addy?'
She could tell by the unusual edge to his voice that something was bothering him. 'What is it, Jim? What's wrong?'
'Well, I—I thought you should hear it from me.'
'What?' She had never known Jim Hester to be so mysterious.
'I'm taking Tiffany with me on this trip, and … I'm taking Carol Stilwell with me.'
Addy could hear Jim's deep breathing, could feel the utter stillness. 'You're taking your sister-in-law?'
'Yes, well—'
'It's all right, Jim.' Addy walked farther away from Nick, knowing he was listening to her every word. 'If you're trying to tell me that you and Carol are—are involved, I understand.'
'I just didn't want you to think that I'd been leading you on and fooling around with Carol at the same time.' Jim's voice sounded strained, pleading. 'I guess I've always known that nothing would ever come of our friendship. And since Romero showed up… Well—I need someone, Addy, and so does Tiffany.'
'Of course you do, and believe me, I understand. Good luck, Jim. I—I hope everything works out for you and Carol.'
They said their goodbyes. Addy punched the off button. Nick came up behind her, leaning over to take the phone out of her hand.
'You didn't want Jim Hester, despite the fact that he's a nice guy. You wanted to be a mother to his daughter.'
She would have preferred not to discuss that situation with Nick, even though it was obvious that he'd overheard every word of her conversation and had jumped to the correct conclusion. As foolish as the notion seemed, Addy couldn't help feeling like she'd been dumped. 'I thought you didn't like Jim.'
'I changed my mind about Hester. I wanted to dislike him, but I couldn't. He's all right, Addy, but he's not the man for you.' Nick tossed the phone into a cushioned lounge chair.
Addy fiddled with the drawstring on her yellow walking shorts. 'Let me get this straight. You've warned me off Brett Windsor because he's only interested in my money and you think Jim was the wrong man for me because all I wanted from that relationship was to be a mother to Tiffany.'
'That about sums it up.'
'I'm surprised you aren't telling me that you're the right man for me. Now would be the perfect time, wouldn't it?' Addy couldn't bring herself to face Nick. Somehow she knew he was smiling, that self-assured, macho smile.
'I am the right man for you, and we both know it.'
'You're wrong, all wrong.' She turned, forcing herself to look at him, determined to remain in control. 'What you want is another conquest. You want—'
'I want you.' Nick focused all his attention on Addy, his dark eyes reaching out, pulling her to him, mesmerizing her by their look of heated desire. 'I don't want another woman, and I couldn't care less about Rusty's millions. All I want is you. Your body, your mind, your heart. Everything that makes you Addy.'
When Nick reached out and took her hand, she jerked away from his touch as if he'd hurt her. 'Don't do this to me. I can't handle it.'
She ran from him, her bare feet racing over the warm flagstones. Nick didn't follow her immediately. Running his fingers through his thick black hair, he cursed himself for a fool. He couldn't seem to get it right with Addy. With other women he'd always been the smooth Romeo, who knew exactly what to say and do. With Addy it was different. She was different. The woman was driving him crazy. She wanted him to prove himself to her, and he had no earthly idea how to go about doing it.
He gave her five minutes alone—four minutes more than he wanted to give her. He found her in the den, staring out the window. She'd wrapped her arms around herself. Her shoulders drooped in defeat.
'Addy?'
Her body stiffened, but she didn't turn around or reply. He walked over to her. More than anything he wanted to pull her into his arms. He didn't dare. At this precise moment she'd fight him like a wildcat. Addy was a woman who needed persuasion, and he was damned and determined that he was going to be the man to persuade her.
'Come on and sit down,' Nick said, his big hand hovering over her shoulder. It was all he could do to keep from touching her. 'Why don't we just sit and talk for a while?'
'I don't want to talk to you.' Addy kept her back to him. 'I want you to leave me alone.'
'Were you this stubborn as a little girl? If you were, Rusty must have had his hands full raising you.'
Some of the tension drained from her body. It wasn't a visible thing, yet Nick sensed it. He lowered his right hand to her shoulder, making sure his touch was light and non-threatening.
Addy felt the warmth of his touch through her blouse. His hand was big and hard and strong, yet his grip on her shoulder was unbearably tender. Hating herself for enjoying the feel of his hand on her body, she refused to look at him. She didn't trust herself to remain in control if his eyes were still filled with desire.
'I'll never lie to you.' Nick balanced his cane against the wall, then placed his left hand on her other shoulder, turning her around toward him. 'I'm not looking for love and marriage and I'm not making you any forever-after promises.'
Addy glanced down at the Sarouk rug beneath her bare feet. Her vision focused on the intricate gold, rust and blue pattern. 'What—what can you give me, Nick, in return for my blind faith in you?'
He reached out, slipping his fist beneath Addy's chin. 'I can give you passion and fulfillment. I can make you glad that you're a woman.'
