Cinderella Christmas (8 page)

Her breathy little cries worked like an aphrodisiac on his already overheated libido. Though in a perfect world he would’ve liked to have taken his time, lit candles, drank some champagne, even talked, it wasn’t going to happen tonight. This was a night for rediscovery, for finding out if what they’d had together that one night had really existed or been all in their minds.

But the moment their bodies touched they went up in flames. It wasn’t the same between them as it had been that first night – it was better.

She moaned against his mouth as his hand smoothed over her belly, then lower, urging her thighs apart. He felt that hot wetness that told him she was more than ready for him and quickly moved between her spread legs. She cried out and clutched his back as he slid deeply into her, taking her, letting her know with every move of his body that she was his and he was never, ever letting her go.

She came quickly and he followed right after her, breathing deeply as if he’d run a long way and was finally home. His head tucked firmly against her neck, he rested his weight on his elbows for a moment, then rolled to his side, taking her with him.

He’d let her set the pace. Whatever she wanted to tell him, whatever she wanted to do. However she wanted to play it. He was just so thankful she’d come to him and that hot, urgent desire between them had overcome them both.

Her breathing slowed as she lay with her head on his shoulder. He breathed quietly, waiting for her to say something.

Then she surprised him. Sitting up, she moved until she was lying on top of him, those glorious breasts pressed against his chest, that soft belly caressing his arousal. He was already hard for her again, like a teenager. She just did it for him.

She slid up his body and he groaned. She laughed, then kissed him. Once, twice, three times . . .

And as effortlessly as the first time, they were both lost in each other.

Nick slowly came awake with a sense of utter contentment. He hadn’t slept as well or as long in months. All was right with his world. All he had to do was roll over and he would find –

Nothing.

Eve had left him again.

He sat up in bed slowly, then lowered his face into his hands and took in a deep breath. Why did he have the feeling he’d have to tread carefully through the next few hours if he had any hope of creating a relationship with this complex woman?

Some people would say she wasn’t worth the trouble. Nick knew otherwise. He knew Eve was basically a sound person, a good person, and that whatever she was feeling now, he could handle it.

He knew what he wanted and he wanted her.

Grabbing one of the plush white robes the hotel provided, he belted it securely, grabbed his phone and ventured out into the main part of the suite.

“Eve?” he called softly.

No answer.

For one awful moment he thought she might have cut and run, but then he saw Maurice curled up on the main couch. He was licking the carob coating off another gourmet biscuit, his eyes glued to the television set – an episode of
Too Cute
on
Animal planet
.

Nick went over to the couch and sat down next to the puppy.

“How’s it going, furball?”

The puppy pranced over and sat in his lap, the biscuit forgotten.

“Hey, I guess I really rate if you put me above that kind of treat.” Absently his hand stroked Maurice, who rewarded him with ecstatic swipes of his tongue.

“Where’d your Mom go?” As he said the words, he saw the note on the coffee table. But Nick wasn’t worried. If Eve had left him, she’d have taken Maurice.

He set down his phone and opened the note as he continued to pat the bulldog.

Nick,

I’m down at the pool. Maurice was last walked at ten-thirty. He has a massage scheduled at noon. I’ll see you later.

-- Eve

Okay. So she was going to play this, for now, as if nothing had happened. Maybe she just needed time to emotionally process their night together.

He had a couple of choices, most of them bad. He could pretend nothing had happened last night. Right, like that was even possible. He could tell her he’d had a wild erotic dream about Darcy and had way too much wine at dinner. Nope, not going to happen.

Or he could be totally honest and let her know he thought they were on the brink of something truly wonderful, something that – if you were lucky – came along maybe once in a lifetime.

I’ll go with choice number three.

“Hey, buddy,” he said to the bulldog. “I’m going to go down and take a swim with your Mom, then we’ll both be back pretty soon.” He glanced at the time on his phone. Eleven ten. Hopefully Eve was still in the pool.

The thought of seeing her in a bathing suit cheered him immensely.

#

She saw him the moment he entered the pool area. The first time she’d been with Nick, the lights had been low. The last time they’d been nonexistent. Now, watching him walk to the edge of the pool in black trunks, she had a moment to admire him.

Gorgeous. Breathtaking. Literally the man of her dreams.

And she had no idea what she was doing.

Well, there was no hiding now. No turning back. They’d made love three times last night, but – brave woman that she was – she hadn’t fallen asleep after their last time and had stared at the dark ceiling wondering what the hell she was going to do now.

Nick knew she’d used him. Deceived him. She wouldn’t blame him if he swam up to her and said, “You’re fired.” She’d behaved in a totally immature manner. Instead of coming clean and telling the truth, she’d crawled into bed with him and had an instant replay of the night of the Christmas party.

She hated uncertainty. It was a legacy from her childhood. She also knew she desperately needed to feel she was in control. But things had gotten so out of control in the last few hours she had no idea what was going to happen next.

He swam right up to her, then they were both treading water, facing each other.

“Hello, Eve. Or should I say, Darcy?”

She could feel the blush moving up her breasts, her neck, and into her face. Her cheeks felt hot and she fought the urge to look away from her boss. At least one of them had the courage to acknowledge what was going on. She had to meet his strength and authenticity with her own.

“I’m sorry, Nick.”

Her words seemed so inadequate.

Nick just studied her, as if he was trying to figure out what made her tick. Then he said, “We need to talk.”

Oh no
. She knew what that meant -- the beginning of the end.

“I know.” At that exact moment, Eve admitted defeat. What she had done to him was unconscionable. Unexplainable. He was a decent man, he’d give her enough time to pack her bags and probably make arrangements to get her back home. Then he’d never want to see her again.

The thought of never seeing Nick was unbearable.

Her eyes stung as she swam to the edge of the pool and started to heave herself up and out.

“Eve,” he said softly. She felt his arms come around her. She was up against the side of the pool, his hands braced on either side. Even a few hours ago, it would have felt so erotic, she would have felt protected. Now she didn’t know what to feel.

She turned so she was facing him.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I
know
you. I know you’re not a bad person. I know things got complicated.” He took a deep breath, then said, “And I know you’re afraid.”

She looked up at him and knew, with absolute certainty, that no man would ever understand her as well as Nick. He knew nothing about her life and yet he knew her. The thought that he was letting her down easily and letting her go made things even worse.

Now she knew she’d be alone for the rest of her life. Maybe she could adopt another dog so Maurice wouldn’t be as lonely as she felt at this moment.

She didn’t know what to say. Eve just kept looking at Nick’s face, memorizing every detail. Remembering all the times they’d laughed in his office. All the times he’d called her Watson. The quick lunches they’d shared, the way his mind worked so brilliantly and effortlessly. Smart was so sexy in a man. He was a genius at what he did and she’d enjoyed being a part of it.

No more. It was over. Actions had consequences and the consequences for her little stunt were going to be unbearable.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said, moving closer to her, gently pinning her to the side of the pool with his body. She responded to his touch instantly and without thinking put her arms around his neck and rested her cheek against his chest.

They stayed that way for almost a minute, then Nick said, “You’re killing me.”

“I’ll resign,” she said quietly. “I won’t cause any trouble – “

“A little late for that, I think.” The smallest touch of humor in his voice had her raising her head and looking up into his eyes.

“I have never wanted a woman as much, or gone to as much trouble to try and find her. You’re not running away this time, Eve. You’re staying with me and we’re going to figure this whole thing out. But I need something from you.”

Her legs were starting to shake and she gave up and wound them around his body. She’d never had anyone in her life be strong for her, but some instinct told her she could trust Nick to be strong for both of them.

“Anything,” she whispered against his ear. “I’ll do anything, Nick.”

“I’m going to hold you to that later,” he whispered. “But for right now, I need to know that, when we talk, you’re completely honest with me. No more secrets. No more lies even by omission. If there’s any dishonesty between us – on either side – this isn’t going to work.”

Her heartbeat sped up. She’d hid her life from so many people, omitting huge chunks had become second nature to her. But with Nick, he would want to know everything. She’d be stripped naked emotionally.

“Can you do that for me, Eve?”

Terrified, she met Nick’s intense gaze. He’d told her he’d never wanted a woman as much as he wanted her. She wanted him just as badly. Eve knew she’d walk through fire for this man without a moment’s hesitation. If Nick wasn’t a part of her life, something inside her would die and never come alive again.

“I will.”

#

They headed back to their suite. Eve was relieved Nick didn’t want to talk outside on the patio or at one of the poolside cafes. A conversation this important had to be completely private.

They opened the suite door and were immediately assailed by the relaxing scent of a lavender candle, the sound of soft chanting, and the sight of Maurice, stretched out contentedly on a massage table. The masseuse, petite and blonde, glanced up at them. Her brown eyes were kind.

“Hello,” she said quietly, then went back to work.

Eve stood in the doorway, stunned. Maurice, her damaged little bulldog, was letting a total stranger touch him. As she entered the suite and Nick closed the door behind them, the masseuse gently pressed her thumbs down Maurice’s spine. He gave a growly little grunt, then stuck his back out in a long stretch.

“You like that, don’t you, Maurice?” the masseuse said softly. “Hurts so good, huh?”

Another growly little grunt, then Maurice closed his eyes, blissful.

“I won’t be much longer,” she whispered.

“Take all the time you need,” Nick said. He touched Eve’s shoulder. “Why don’t we both change.”

Eve felt as if she was on automatic pilot. She didn’t bother with a shower once inside her bathroom, simply stripped off her suit and put on one of the white robes. She sat on the closed toilet seat and took a moment to calm down.

Total honesty. Why did that thought scare her so badly?

Because you believe that if he knows about your past, he won’t be able to get beyond it. He won’t like you. He won’t –

She couldn’t even go there.

She stood up and went into her bedroom, grabbed underwear, a pair of yoga pants and a t shirt, then dressed quickly before she lost her nerve. She tied her sneakers, then managed to restrain her hair in a high ponytail.

Done.

She stood in the middle of her bedroom for a long moment, then resolutely headed for the door.

#

“I need to have a word with you both,” the masseuse said as she gathered up the candle and her MP3 player. Maurice had practically passed out on the massage table, totally comatose.

“First of all, keep an eye on him. He’ll let you know when he wants to get down.”

“Okay,” Eve said.

“Make sure he has plenty of water available, and I wouldn’t walk him or do anything too strenuous for the rest of the day.” She hesitated, then said, “How did this dog come to you?”

Briefly, Eve told her how she’d rescued Maurice from the house he’d been locked inside. She could feel Nick standing beside her and his presence was comforting.

“I want to thank you so much,” Eve said, her voice trembling. She was looking at Maurice as she spoke. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so – peaceful.”

“That little guy holds a lot of tension in his body,” the masseuse said. “But he needs to see a dog chiropractor. His spine’s out of line. I think he may have been kicked.”

Tears welled up in Eve’s eyes. She felt Nick’s arm come around her, supporting her, comforting her.

“He was – he was really bad when I found him. So skinny. But – I didn’t even think to check – “

“Hey, you couldn’t have known. And it’s something that can be made right. He’ll be fine. He’s a brave little guy, to let me get this close this fast.”

Eve nodded her head. She knew Maurice had come from bad circumstances. Why was she falling apart now?

“Where do you and your husband live?”

Eve let that one go right by. “Pasadena.”

“Oh, you’re in luck. You’ll love Dr. Bill. I’ll make sure to get you his information before you leave.”

“Thank you – “ Nick held out his hand to the masseuse, a question in his voice.

“Betsy. Believe me, it’s my pleasure. Maurice is a great little guy.”

Nick gave her a generous tip and walked her to the door. Eve stayed by the massage table, looking down at her dog.

“My brave little boy,” she said softly.