The second pursued me across the lawn to the front doors of my building taking photographs. They didn’t let up until I was out of sight. I struggled into my apartment and collapsed on the sofa, panicked and breathless.
“
I
’
m so sorry.
”
Nate let out an exasperated sigh. I hadn’t planned on mentioning it to him, but he knew something was bothering me and eventually prised it out of me.
“
I should toughen up,
”
I said quietly, heading into the bathroom. Maybe a long, hot soak would calm my nerves.
“
Dating a tabloids dream means I should get used to it.
”
“
You shouldn’t have to,
”
he snapped out.
“
I
’
ve never been hassled to that extent before. As much as they
’
re annoying, the press is usually courteous with me. There are laws they have to adhere to. Did you catch who they worked for?
”
“
No.
”
I perched on the edge of the tub, picking at the hem of my robe as the water ran.
“
This is all I fucking need after the day I
’
ve had.
”
My skin prickled at the severity in his tone. He hadn’t greeted me in the usual loving way, which I
’
d put down to him being in company. Now, I sensed there was more to it.
“
They didn’t get anything from me,
”
I reassured him.
“
I was too frightened to speak.
”
Nate murmured some kind of vague response. He sounded distracted.
“
Is everything all right?
”
I asked warily. His silence doubled my anxiety. I heard him talk to someone in the background, his voice muffled. He usually managed to separate me from his work so I received all his attention.
“
Nate?
”
I prompted again.
“
You
’
re staying at the condo tonight. I
’
ll arrange for Ross to come collect you.
”
“
Nate, I
’
m fine. I
’
ve locked all the doors.
”
I didn’t tell him I
’
d wedged a chair under the front door handle, like that was going to prevent someone from breaking in.
“
Why the fuck did this happen now? When I
’
m not there to protect you?
”
His annoyance and frustration was rising.
“
Get your things together. I
’
ll call you back.
”
The line went dead before I could object.
I turned off the running tap, then paced in my bedroom, confused and edgy. My mobile spun repeatedly in my hands as I waited, growing more and more agitated with every passing second. I hadn’t dared peek out the window to see if the men were still there. When my phone finally rang again a few minutes later, I was so wound up I cried out at the intrusion into the strained silence.
“
Ross is on his way.
”
Nate
’
s voice had lost its edge of belligerence, the knowledge I was being taken care of appeasing him.
“
It really isn’t necessary.
”
“
The hell it isn
’
t! Don’t fight me on this, Kara,
”
he warned.
“
I
’
m not in the fucking mood.
”
“
Fine,
”
I snapped. For tonight, at least, I
’
d let him have his way. Nate
’
s condo had state of the art security and private entry, making it virtually impossible for outsiders to get into the building. It would give us both peace of mind, but I was mindful it couldn’t happen indefinitely.
Nate
’
s tone was much calmer and warmer when he spoke again.
“
Baby, I want to protect you.
”
I drew a deep breath through my nose. He could get to me so easily. As I exhaled, the tension left me in a rush, all irritation forgotten.
“
Get settled in, open some wine, take the bath you were running,
”
he said quietly.
“
I
’
ll be back before you know it.
”
I did everything he asked. I packed an overnight bag to see me through until Monday, on the assumption we
’
d be spending the weekend together. Ross was pressing the intercom barely twenty minutes after I
’
d hung up from Nate.
“
Why aren’t you with Nate?
”
I asked him from the backseat as he drove us to the condo.
“
Mr. Blake doesn’t like to take me away from my wife,
”
he offered, full of admiration and respect for his boss.
“
Our first baby is due in a couple months.
”
“
Congratulations.
”
His teeth flashed white, a genuine smile filled with expectant father pride. As much as he was ruthless in business, Nate was a considerate boss; another layer of him I found utterly endearing. I pulled the sleeves of my sweatshirt over my hands, having pulled on leggings and the nearest top in a rush to dress, and snuggled into the leather seat.
Ross parked up in the underground garage between the Bentley and a BMW SUV, and took me upstairs, ushering me into Nate
’
s home. With an assurance that he wasn’t far, should I require help, he left me to settle in for the night. I headed to the master suite that spanned the entire upper level of the condo. Swathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, it was warm, calming
…
safe. I stood on the threshold for a minute, staring at the sparkling city through the windows, but my gaze eventually snagged on the sumptuous bed.
The last time I
’
d seen it, it was a delicious mess of sex-crumpled sheets. Now, it was pristinely made
…
and a large white gift box sat at an angle on one corner. I edged towards it, my stomach quivering with nerves and a little excitement. Should I open it?
No,
I shook my head. I
’
m not even supposed to be here.
I went to the closet to unpack. I was carrying my toiletry bag into the en-suite when I heard my text alert chime from inside my bag in the bedroom. It had to wait because what I found in the cupboards and drawers of the vanity literally knocked the air from my lungs. They
’
d been fully stocked with all of my usual products
—
everything I could possibly need for overnight stays.
God.
I leant into the vanity, my legs shaking. In fact, my whole body trembled. But I wasn’t freaked out. His generosity was profoundly touching. He
’
d taken notice, been interested in getting to know me and what I liked. It was an intimate demonstration that he genuinely cared, and of his hopes for a future together.
My phone beeped again, reminding me of the text:
YOU CAN OPEN THE BOX
So I did.
A strapless corseted satin bodice in the palest pink, with detailed beading, accented with a small bow at the waist, gave way to a chiffon overlaid floor length skirt. My hands were shaking, because intuitively I knew, as I searched inside to locate the label, this wasn’t simply any old dress. It was vintage Christian Dior, finished with year and identification number. It would have cost a fortune.
I sat on the bed and did the only thing I could think of. I called Mai.
“
Wow,
”
she muttered, adding a whistle for effect after I
’
d told her everything.
“
It
’
s far too much,
”
I said soberly.
“
The toiletries I can deal with, but not this.
”
I ran an awed hand over the gown as it lay beside me on the bed.
“
It
’
s a gift,
”
Mai scolded me.
“
You can
’
t give it back. You
’
ll kill his feelings.
”
That was the last thing I wanted to do. I
’
d offended him enough already with my inherent insecurities that prevented me from fully committing to our relationship. Nate knew I had my reasons, and I knew this was his way of letting me know how important I was to him.
“
God.
”
I wiped away a tear as it trickled down my cheek.
“
I sound like such an ungrateful bitch.
”
“
You sound like someone scared to fall in love,
”
Mai said gently.
“
You are, aren’t you? Falling in love?
”
“
I didn’t think I could do that again,
”
I sniffed. But this week had been hell. I yearned for Nate so badly it physically hurt. I longed to see his face, touch his skin. See the look in his eyes when he gazed at me. Wake up and have the first thing I see be his smile.
“
It
’
s only been a couple of weeks. I sound ridiculous.
”
“
I think he loves you, too,
”
Mai offered sagely.
“
Because he
’
s lavishing me with expensive gifts?
”
I mumbled, slipping off the bed to get a tissue from the vanity.
“
Any man can do that. Doesn’t mean he loves me.
”
“
There aren’t many who go out of their way to find one that means something to the woman receiving it. A guy who only wants to fuck around, even a rich one, wouldn’t spend the time and effort personalising the gifts like he has. No matter how awesome the woman is in bed.
”
My laugh was a garbled mix of crying and genuine happiness. Mai always made me see how stupid I was being. I said goodbye to my omniscient friend, reminding her I wouldn’t need a lift in the morning.
I took the dress to the closet. The rich smell of polished wood and leather warmed my bones. Comforting and welcoming, as I hung it up, the stress of the past few hours began to abate.
“
THEY were supposed to be a surprise for you tomorrow.
”
Nate had called back about an hour later to check I
’
d settled in okay. There wasn’t the sound of music, laughter and chatter that had been in the background when we spoke earlier. Instead, it was eerily quiet, with only muffled sounds of his movements. I suspected he
’
d left the dinner early
—
if you called sometime after 11 p.m. his time early
—
and gone home.
“
The dress is gorgeous. Thank you. I can
’
t wait to wear it to the dinner in a couple of weeks.
”
Nate exhaled quickly, sounding relieved. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice.
“
It
’
s fast, isn’t it? What
’
s happening between us
…”
My heart started thundering, my stomach churning.
“
Yes,
”
I answered quietly, afraid to say more. I pulled myself up using the edge of the bathtub and reached for my wine, sending a slosh of water over the rim and onto the tiled floor.
“
Where are you?
”
I laughed.
“
In the bath, doing as I
’
m told, drinking a rather nice glass of vintage Chardonnay and reading a book on European Architecture and Design.
”
Nate
’
s breath hitched.
“
God, I wish I was there with you.
”
“
Me, too,
”
I breathed, rubbing the twinge in my chest.
“
Tomorrow?
”
He laughed quietly, and I knew he was wearing that naughty smile I adored.
“
It
’
s a date, baby.
”
I relaxed, happy he sounded better than when we first spoke. Putting it down to tiredness, I figured it best to let him go.
“
You should get some sleep.
”
“
I should, but I don’t want to,
”
he murmured.
“
I treasure our conversations.
”
My eyes closed. With few words, Nate could touch my soul. Before I blurted out things I shouldn’t, I said,
“
You
’
ll be no good to me if you
’
re tired.
”
“
Oh?
”
His voice grew husky.
“
Planning on doing those naughty things you’ve been dreaming about to me all night?
”
“
If you
’
re lucky.
”
My flirtatious response didn’t surprise me. I was beyond that, having accepted the effect Nate had on me a while ago.
“
So the sooner we sleep, the sooner you
’
ll be back.
”
“
Kara.
”
He said my name with that hint of a whisper that frequently made me ache for his touch.
“
I
…”
He paused as if about to say something important. Something that set my pulse soaring with expectation.
“
Don
’
t worry, you
’
re safe now.
”
“
I won
’
t. See you soon.
”
“
You will.
”
THE pulse in my neck throbbed wildly, an unsteady rhythm, missing a few beats as the speed increased. My eyes flared open as I struggled for air. Everything was strange
…
this wasn’t my room, wasn’t my bed. For a minute, I was disoriented. I clung to the pillow I was wrapped around, hugging it closer. Gradually, the sleep-induced haze began to recede, my fogged brain clearing as the beloved clean, fresh scent reminded me of my whereabouts.