Authors: Emma Hillman
herself.
Nick squeezed her fingers. “Believe it, Leah. I’m here, you’re here and we’re both
going to have some fun, all right?” She nodded, unable to do anything else. “Good.” He
smiled at her and let go of her hand to grab the menu. “What would you like to eat?”
She winced but he didn’t see it. She was still on her diet of veggies, fruit and
water. No lobster and butter dip for her. “I don’t know. What do you suggest?”
“The lobster is good.”
Of course. She sighed at the dilemma now facing her. “I’m not very hungry. The
heat, you know.”
“You have to eat, Leah. You weren’t well earlier and I need you full of energy
later.”
His words hit her and she looked up, eyes wide. “Really?”
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He licked his lips, his gaze never leaving her. “Hell yeah. We can have a night
cap at my place.”
She felt her face flush at his suggestive voice. “Nick, I haven’t known you very
long…” She let her voice trail.
“I know.” He closed his eyes for a second. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be pushing you
like this. It’s just I want you so much, I haven’t been able to think of anything else since we’ve left your apartment.”
Wow. Could he really be telling the truth? “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Have sex with you?” She nodded. “Baby, I don’t want anything else.” And it was
true, Nick thought. He wanted nothing more than to plunge into her body, her breasts
jiggling wildly as he rode her to completion. He wanted to fuck her and reassure himself
he still had it. That he could be with someone else other than Mia. And what better way
than to fuck someone who looked so much like her? “So, what are you having?” He
forced the thoughts away and willed his erection to die down.
* * * *
She stared at the butter on her plate, almost able to hear it call out her name. Eat
me, it said, eat me! I go so well with lobster, it just doesn’t taste the same without me!
“Hell.” Leah forked another tiny piece of shellfish and popped it into her mouth.
“Good?” Nick asked, clearly not having the same problems than her.
He was eating his lobster with gusto, licking his fingers when butter ran down
them and laughing all the while. He looked so damn happy. Like he enjoyed life and had
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nothing to complain about. Mind you, he probably hadn’t. He was rich after all. He had it
all, had already experienced more than she could even dream of when he was a pro
player. And here he was, studying marine biology because he actually wanted to, not
because he needed the money. He could do whatever he wanted. Must be nice.
“Earth to Leah?”
She was brought back to the present by Nick’s insistent voice. “Oh, sorry, I was
daydreaming. What’s up?”
“Aren’t you going to eat more than that?”
She suddenly spotted the waiter waiting non-obtrusively by their table and fell on
the opportunity offered. “No, thanks. It was very good.” She smiled as the man quickly
grabbed her plate and left.
“You barely ate. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Fine!” She forced a wide smile on her face.
“If you say so.” Nick stared at her before adding, “Want to share dessert?”
Oh hell. Not dessert. He was bound to force her to indulge because he was
already suspicious as it was, and she’d have to eat and then she’d feel even fatter. No,
no, no. “I’d rather go back to your place.” She froze when she heard what’d just left her
mouth. Well, it was a solution, that was for sure.
Nick stared back at her across the table, a smirk playing on his lips. “Really? I
guess that could be arranged.”
She watched as he gestured for the bill, her stomach clenching even though she
hadn’t eaten anything. Oh god, what had she said? He thought she wanted to have sex
with him and she did. Of course she did! The man was a god and he kissed like one too,
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so imagine how he’d make love to her… But that would mean him seeing her naked and
touching her and, hell. She was stuck and it was her own damn fault!
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“Nick?” Leah’s hands were clenched around the skirt of her dress, the material
bunching under the strain.
“Yeah?” he asked absent-mindedly as he slid the car into traffic. “What’s up?”
“I…I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”
His head swivelled around before he remembered he was driving. “What? I
mean, yes it’s a little early but it’s not like I’m planning on hooking up with you for a one-night stand.”
He wasn’t? Well, that was good news. But she still couldn’t imagine herself
having sex with him that night. “I’m sorry. I just don’t feel comfortable.”
“Shit,” he cursed under his breath. “You’re the one who suggested going back to
my condo, Leah!”
“I know.” She bit her lip, her mind frenetically searching for a valid reason for her
earlier comment. “I want it, I do. It’s just we’ve only known each other for a little while.
We’ve just kissed for the first time!”
“And?” He sent her a nonplussed look.
Men! She moaned inwardly. “Please, Nick, would you mind driving me home
instead?”
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry.”
He sighed but turned on his right indicator. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s just
that I want you, but I can wait.”
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Oh, he was so nice. What had she done to deserve him? He’d brought her back
home, worried about her health. Had kissed her, said some very sweet things before
asking her out on a date. He’d taken her to a very posh restaurant, and now she
wouldn’t even repay him for what had turned out to be a very good evening. “I’m sorry,
Nick,” she repeated.
His right hand reached out and found her fingers, squeezing for a second. “It’s
okay, baby, don’t worry about it.”
“But I feel bad.” She bit her lower lip.
“Don’t, we have time. Actually…” He let his voice trail, making her look at his
pensive profile.
“Actually what?”
He took her by surprise when he asked, “What are you doing next weekend?”
“Nothing.” She didn’t even have to think about it. She did nothing on weekends,
except study and do her weekly shopping and cleaning. Her days off were boring as
hell, she’d accepted that a long time ago.
“Want to come with me? I’m going back home for a few days.”
She felt her eyes widen. “You want me to go home with you?”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun. I have a house over there and I miss the quiet.”
Wow, she mouthed to herself. He really was serious about this…this relationship.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.” He winked at her. “I promise I won’t do anything you don’t like. I just
want to go home and relax a little. Hang out with some friends.” Mia, her face popped
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into his head but he quickly pushed the image away. She wasn’t here now and Leah
was. “Come on, it’ll be fun. Trust me.”
“I…I guess.”
Nick laughed. “It’s just one weekend. Nothing’ll happen. Don’t worry, baby.”
* * * *
Leah was remembering his words days later when she sat down in the First
Class seat that’d been assigned to her. The one right next to his, the one in which she
could fit without contortioning herself. She eyed the glass of champagne that’d
appeared right in front of her face and shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“Are you sure?” Nick asked.
“Yes. I don’t like champagne.”
“Suit yourself.” He winked at her as he grabbed a flute and downed half. He
licked his lips and leaned back in his seat. “Now that’s better.”
She forced her lips into a semblance of a smile and wondered, not for the first
time, why she was so scared. Nick had been a perfect gentleman all week long; he
hadn’t even commented on her not asking him up when he’d dropped her off that
evening after the restaurant.
He’d come to the café at least once a day, drinking his usual coffee but never
leaving without at least claiming a short kiss. It’d been exhilarating, that was true. Leah
had felt such a rush of pleasure each time he’d grabbed her hand and kissed her,
amazed that he didn’t seem to care everyone could see them. Or rather could see him
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with her. She wasn’t used to this sort of public affection. Oh, she’d had boyfriends
before, but they hadn’t been the type to hold her hand or even less kiss her in front of
other people. They hadn’t minded having sex in the privacy of their own rooms,
groaning her name when she’d gone down on them. Even complimenting her on her
technique, if not her body. But Nick was different. And she should love it.
No, that wasn’t right. She did love it. She was just scared. They hadn’t known
each other long, had only started dating a week or so ago, but here they were en route
to his hometown and she was panicking. What the hell was wrong with her? Maybe she
should have drunk that champagne after all. Alcohol never agreed with her, but a nice
glow wouldn’t go amiss right now.
“Baby?” Nick’s voice was close, and she realized he’d moved forward in his seat.
She turned her head and felt her eyes widen when she nearly bumped his nose.
“Yes?”
“Are you okay? I never thought to ask you if you hated flying.”
“Oh no, that’s not it.” She groaned inwardly when she heard her words. Way to
go, Pearson. Let him know something is wrong!
“Then what is?” He grabbed her right hand and tugged her closer, waiting until
she was leaning her head against his shoulder. “Leah?”
“I’m scared,” she finally admitted, tired of holding herself back. If she wanted this
relationship to work –and god, she did!– she had to be truthful. With him. With herself.
“Scared? Of what? Me?”
“No,” she replied, wondering what she should say. “I just don’t know what to
expect, I guess.”
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“But that needn’t be a bad thing,” he murmured against her hair. “Do you trust me
to take care of you?”
She bit her lip. Hard. “I barely know you, Nick.”
He palmed her cheek and turned her face, until she was looking straight into his
eyes. “I know it’s difficult. I know we haven’t known each other long but Leah, I invited
you on this trip because I wanted to spend some time with you. All right?”
She nodded, knowing she couldn’t do anything else. He was right after all. She
was stupid, getting all agitated over nothing. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He brushed a strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear. “I’m glad you
told me what you’re thinking.”
She smiled and hid her face once more into the crook of his neck. She should
have just shut up. A feeling of dread rose inside her and she tried desperately to
squelch it. What the hell was wrong with her? He was so very nice. He took care of her,
complimented her. But why did he keep on asking her to trust him?
* * * *
“Nicky!”
Leah stood there, disbelieving, as she watched herself –or rather a blonder copy
of herself– run to her boyfriend and jump into his arms. She watched him laugh and twirl
the other woman in the air, love blossoming in his eyes as he set her back down on her
feet and kissed her lips. Her lips! What the fuck?
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“Hey kid.” A tall man interrupted the moment, clasping Nick’s shoulder before
giving him a quick hug.
“Shut up, grandpa,” Nick replied good-naturedly. “How are you, Kev?”
“We’re good. Happy to see you. How was the flight?”
“The usual, ya know. Did you drive my truck here?”
“Just as you ordered.” The older man saluted with a flourish. “I’m at your service,
oh dear Apollo.”
“You’re so funny.”
“I tell him that every day.” The woman grinned, wrapping her arm around the
man’s waist.
“I’m sure you do.” Nick smiled at the couple and Leah wondered what on earth
she was doing here. She turned around, trying to spot her suitcase on the carousel.
Surely she could grab it and make a run for it. Catch the next plane back to Florida.
“Guys, I forgot to tell you but I’m here accompanied. Leah, baby?”
Shit, too late! She pasted a smile on her face and whirled around, her fingers
clenched so tightly around her purse they’d gone white. “Hi.” The couple froze. The
woman was the first to recover and as she advanced towards her, the resemblance
became even stronger. So strong Leah opened her mouth and asked, unable to stop
herself, “Tell me you weren’t born in 1979.”
The woman blinked then understanding the question, smiled. “No, I’m older than
that. I know what you mean though.”
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They stood in front of each other and it’s only when Nick moved closer, his right
arm hooking around Leah’s shoulders, that reality snapped back. “Mia, this is Leah, my
girlfriend. Leah, this is Mia and Kevin, two of my closest friends.”
A chorus of “Heys” and “How do you dos” rang between them until an
uncomfortable silence reigned. Kevin motioned to the carousel and asked if they’d
gotten their bags yet and they all moved as one, thankful for the excuse to stop staring
at each other.
* * * *
“You okay?”
Leah jumped, startled from her dark thoughts. “What?”
“Are you okay?”
“Sure.” And just like that, she went back on her erstwhile promise not to lie to
him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about them. I just asked Kev to drop my truck off; I
didn’t think they’d stay to welcome us.”
“Welcome you, you mean.”