Someone Like You (6 page)

His thumb started a circling motion, bumping into her nipple every so often. She

felt her legs tense, her mouth parting as if she needed more air. Then he pinched the

distended nub and the moment was lost. She rammed her left elbow backwards,

catching him in the chest.

His breath woofed out and he swore, “Fuck! What the hell was that?”

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“You hurt me,” she snapped back. “I’m tired of being hurt!”

“Oh.” He blinked. She hadn’t liked that? “Are your breasts that sensitive then?”

She refused to answer and only slid further away from him, nearly falling down

the other side of the bed. She quickly managed to right herself, but he was faster than

her. He grabbed her flailing hand and pulled on it. She found herself flat on her back

once again, Nick’s body looming above her and she couldn’t help her reaction: she

shrieked.

“Shh!” He clamped a hand over her mouth. “Are you crazy? What’s wrong with

you?”

She slapped at his hand and any parts of his body she could reach, but he

appeared unfazed. Of course, for an ex-football player, her hits probably felt more like

mosquito bites than anything else. She cursed at him but he couldn’t understand what

she was saying. Damn it!

Her knees jerked up but he caught the movement and sat on her thighs,

effectively blocking her. “Leah, come on! I won’t hurt you.” He watched her eyes flash

and relented, “Okay, okay, I won’t hurt you any more. Promise. I don’t know what came

over me earlier, I wasn’t myself! Please believe me, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry,

I’m sorry.” Her head shaking from left to right, she barely heard him. She didn’t care if

he was sorry. It had still happened. He’d used her! “I’m sorry,” Nick tried again. He

leaned down, his face just above hers. “I’m so sorry, believe me. I need you to believe

me, Leah.” His voice caught and he drew a deep breath.

She stared into his eyes and grew faint. He looked near tears. Apollo Hamilton

was crying. What was wrong with that picture? She watched as he moved off of her and

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sat on the side of the bed, his head clasped in his hands. She was free; she could move

away and find another bedroom. She probably could even call a taxi and get a hotel

room or a ride to the airport. Right? Instead, she sat up and moved until she found

herself beside him. She laid a hand on his back and peered at his face. “Nick?”

“I’m sorry,” he repeated for what seemed the hundredth time. “I didn’t mean to

hurt you, I swear!”

“I know.” And as soon as the words came out, she knew they were true. She

might not have known him long, but she knew he wouldn’t usually behave in such a

way. He’d always been a perfect gentleman with her, always complimenting her or even

telling those kids off after they’d managed to hurt her with their belittling comments.

“Do you really?” He wiped his cheeks and looked up at her.

“I don’t know what Kevin told you but…you weren’t yourself earlier, I got that. It

still hurt though. I understand you love her and I know it’s got nothing to do with me, but

why am I here? Why are we even dating if you’re in love with your best friend’s wife?”

His eyes widened at her words. She knew? “No, no, that’s not it.”

Leah snorted. “Sure, and I’m the Pope. Nick, I’m not that stupid. I can see what’s

happening.”

“No.” He shook his head. “That’s not it. I mean, yes, I love her. As a friend. And I

know she’s married. It…let’s just say we have a past together.”

“So, what happened earlier?” Leah crossed her arms over her chest. He wasn’t

telling her the whole truth; she could see it in his eyes.

“She’s pregnant.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “That’s good news.”

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“It is. It is.” He had to remind himself that. It was good news. They deserved it, he

knew that.

“So, why did you run away?”

He hesitated before saying, “It’s a long story.”

Leah stared back at him then with a wry smile, stood up. “I see.”

“Where are you going?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I should get dressed.”

“Why? It’s the middle of the night.” Nick was suddenly behind her, his hands

pulling on her shoulders. He turned her around until she was in his embrace, his arms

heavy around her waist. “Stay here.”

She sighed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Let me make it up to you,” he whispered just before brushing his mouth on hers.

“Please,” he added, his tongue tracing the crease of her lips.

And in the end, she found she was just as weak as before his explanation. She

gave in and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding tight.

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She might have been weak where he was concerned, but even she knew she’d

be in even bigger trouble if she let him make love to her. Pulling away from his kiss, she

fought until he let go of her, his hands falling at his sides. He looked defeated, his hair

spiking wildly on his head. “I’m sorry,” he repeated once more.

“I know, Nick, it’s okay.”

“It’s not. Look at you!”

She blinked, unsure of what he meant. “What’s wrong with me?”

“You’re holding yourself back. You obviously don’t want me to kiss you and I get

that. I get it. I was rough with you earlier. I didn’t take care of you or your needs. I suck. I really do.” He plopped down on the side of the bed and clasped his head in both hands.

Again.

Shit! Leah groaned inwardly. Kneeling in front of him, she tugged at his hands

until he was looking up at her. “I just don’t think we should be doing this, Nick. I mean,

it’s obvious you love someone else. I don’t want to be hurt. And I will be if I stay here.”

“I don’t love her,” he replied, his tone earnest, and yet she knew he was lying.

“Nick.” She traced his knuckles with her fingertips, her eyes following the

movements of her fingers. “You do. It’s written all over your face when you look at her.”

“Is it?”

She looked up just in time to catch his horrified expression. Nodding, she added,

“Yeah. I don’t understand why Kevin’s not saying anything for that matter. How long

have they been married?”

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“Years,” he answered. “It’s complicated. We…never mind. This needs to stop!”

He stood up abruptly, almost sending her toppling to the floor. He grabbed her

shoulders at the last minute and pulled her to an upright position. His hands still on her,

he said, “I need your help.”

She licked her lips, wondering what he was going to tell her. He had such an

absolute determined look on his face. The same one than he had when he was on the

field, back in the day. She gulped. “What?”

“I need to stop thinking of her, remembering-” He cut himself off. “Can you please

not leave, Leah?”

“Why?” She just wasn’t following his train of thoughts anymore.

“I know it was rude of me to invite you here knowing you’d meet her, but I truly do

like you. I’m attracted to you.”

“You are?” He was? It hadn’t been a lie? Hold on a second! “Isn’t it just because I

could be her twin?”

He shook his head almost violently. “No!” She sent him a disbelieving look. “No,

promise, it wasn’t that. Oh, it was at first, I’ll admit it. But I’ve come to know you and I do like you. I want you.”

“You’ve just had me,” she couldn’t help but answer, her fingers twisting around

each other in front of her. This wasn’t the way she’d planned this conversation to go.

What was going on?

“Yes and no. I wasn’t in the right state of mind, and I don’t think you really

enjoyed it, did you?” She shook her head, unable to lie about something like that. He

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sighed. “I’m sorry I hurt you. Stay here, and we’ll go to my house in the morning and

spend some time together.”

“I don’t know, Nick. I don’t want to come between-”

He cut her off. “There’s nothing between me and Mia! Do you really expect Kevin

to accept something like that?” His head was suddenly filled with images of them three

on a bed, naked and sweaty and reeking of sex. Fuck! Luckily, Leah answered him.

“No, you’re right. He doesn’t have a reputation for being too nice.”

“See?” Thank God for that.

“Maybe.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m just not sure if it’s worth it.”

Okay, time to get matters back under his control. “Do you like me, Leah?”

She started. “Sure.”

“Do you want me?” She just stared at him in silence. He stepped closer and

added, “Do you like it when I kiss you?” He slipped his hands around her waist and

brought her forward. His mouth hovering above hers, he said, “I want to see if we can

have a relationship, baby. I wasn’t lying when I said you were my girlfriend…” He

claimed her lips for another one of his shattering kisses, Leah’s mind whirling with

everything that had just happened.

He might have said and even acted as if she was his girlfriend but he had still

been in love with someone else. The thought slashed through her brain and she closed

her eyes, suddenly feeling defeated. Pulling back, she smiled sadly and announced she

wanted to go to bed now. To sleep. Alone.

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Nick nodded and escorted her to the bed, righting the duvet before tugging it over

her. “Sleep tight, baby. Dream of me,” he whispered as he dropped a soft kiss on her

hair.

He slipped out of the room and went downstairs, eager to drown his sorrows. He

still wasn’t sure if Leah would stay or hurry home when morning came. He winced as he

downed a glass of bourbon, alcohol burning his throat. He couldn’t take being here if

she wasn’t with him however. Not now that Mia and Kevin were cutting him from their

lives. He had no hope left, nothing to look forward to.

The memory of Leah’s soft body underneath him interrupted his thoughts and for

the first time that night, he smiled. He really did like her.

* * * *

The other couple was still in bed by the time Nick and Leah emerged from the

house the next morning. Neither of them had talked about it, but it was clear Kevin and

Mia were giving them space, having probably heard the argument. Trying not to think

about it, Leah climbed into his truck and waited for him to start the car. They were going

to his house and then, god knew what would happen.

“Ready?” Nick turned the ignition on and started backing down the drive. She

nodded and clung to her purse, her vision blurred from a sleepless night. “It’s gonna be

fine, baby. Trust me,” Nick added as he accelerated.

Leah rolled her eyes at his words. Hadn’t he said the same thing yesterday in the

plane? Look how well that had turned out!

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Twenty minutes later, they rolled through a heavy gate, his house rising in the

distance. It was a ranch, a honest-to-goodness ranch. Oh, there were no cows or

horses, but the barn had been converted into a glass-enclosed home. She stepped out

of the car and breathed in the sweet smell of the meadows close by.

“Like it?”

“It’s amazing,” she responded truthfully, stepping behind him as he climbed onto

the porch and dropped their suitcases at his feet. Rummaging through a set of keys, he

quickly found the right one and unlocked the bolt. Hurrying to a complicated alarm

system, he turned it off before gesturing her in. She stepped into a fantasy house.

Wood and glass met her eyes. That was all there was, apart from the furniture.

Beams rose from the floor and criss-crossed over her head, large panels of glass

intercepting them. The view was breathtaking, unlike anything she’d seen before. No,

that wasn’t true. His condo in Miami overlooking the ocean had given out the same

impression. He clearly loved open spaces. She twirled around and stared at the intricaly

carved staircase leading upstairs, wondering if the views were just as amazing from up

there.

Nick watched her, loving the way she was taking everything in. She might not

have said a word, but he’d already read the look on her face. She loved it. She’d passed

the first test and she didn’t even know it. Grinning, he grabbed her hand and said, “Want

to tour upstairs?”

“Yes!” she immediately replied before realizing that upstairs meant bedrooms. “I

mean…”

He smiled. “It’s okay, baby. You can lead the way while I carry the suitcases.”

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“Oh, right.” She took one step at a time, her fingers running over the carvings,

taking in the rich detailing and obvious amount of work that had gone into it. “This is just amazing.”

“I know. I fell in love with it and had to have it. You don’t want to know how much

the guy made me pay for it though.”

“I can guess.” She stepped onto the landing and glanced down. All that glass

gave the impression the room was huge but it wasn’t that big after all. It was cozy even.

“The master bedroom is at the end and there are also two guest rooms on either

side. Each has an en-suite,” Nick announced as he motioned her forward. She seemed

rooted into place however, so he led the way down the corridor. Opening the final door,

he stepped into his bedroom and exhaled deeply. God, he loved it here. This was his

home, the one he’d helped build. His haven. He dropped the bags on the bench at the

foot of the bed and turned around, only to find Leah frozen in the threshold. “What’s

wrong, baby? You don’t like it?”

Leah stared at Nick’s bedroom, his mark on every piece of furniture or art so