The Academic Bride: Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book One (13 page)

Nick sighed dramatically. “Fine.” He closed his eyes and waited for Janel to hide the brownies.
As if she could mask their scent.
He’d have them sniffed out in no time. She may win this battle, but he’d win the brownie war. And if he was careful and didn’t frighten her away by moving too quickly, he might win much more than brownies this evening.

Chapter 25

Janel had no idea where she could put the pan so that Nick wouldn’t find it by rummaging around. “No peeking,” she called over her shoulder as she opened the freezer and shut it again. She finally settled on storing it behind the oatmeal in the pantry in the hopes that he wouldn’t look past the first thing on the shelf.

“Okay, you can open your eyes.”

“Am I allowed to look for them now or do I have to wait for you to fall asleep?”

Janel put her hand on her hip. “Those aren’t for you. Let’s do something to take your mind off of chocolate. Do you want to play pool?”

Nick considered it. “Naw. How about a video game?”

Janel made a face.

Snapping his fingers, Nick smiled. “Movie?”

Janel pulled out her phone as Nick placed his dishes in the sink. “I can check show times. I’ll bet we can catch a nine o’clock showing.”

Nick took her phone and set it on the bar above the sink. “I have something better.”

He set his phone next to hers and grabbed her hand. It was such a natural extension of their easy conversation over dinner and light teasing over brownies that she didn’t think much of it until he gave her a little squeeze. Then she had a hard time focusing on anything except the thrill of being close to him once again. Before she knew it, they were in the home theater room under the garage, and Nick flipped on the stage lights.

She’d only been in here once before, when she’d explored the house on their wedding day. Several rows of theater seats were placed on risers so that each seat had a clear view of the screen that took up the entire far wall. The final row wasn’t seats, but a long black leather couch.  Instead of the traditional theater décor, the room was decorated like a pirate ship, with heavy timber, thick ropes, and a ceiling that looked like the night sky dotted with a thousand stars.

Nick opened a cupboard on the wall opposite the screen to reveal an impressive collection of movies. “Do you have a preference?”

“Um, I’m not a big fan of horror, but I don’t mind action/adventure.” She looked over the titles and pulled out one that was still in the wrapper. “I haven’t seen this yet.”

Nick opened another door to reveal a laptop computer, a Blu-ray player, and several other black boxes all connected with a hundred different wires. “Okay. While I get this calibrated, will you pop some popcorn and bring in some drinks?”

“Sure.” Janel slipped out, grateful that Nick could figure out all the techno stuff and all she had to do was work the microwave. She could do computers, but she preferred trowels and shaker screens. By the time she got back, Nick was sitting on the couch with a pad.

“What’s that?” She plopped the bowl of popcorn between them so it wouldn’t tip over, and set their drinks in the cup holders on the back of the chairs in front of them.

“The whole system can be operated from this pad.” Nick touched a picture of a light, and a slide bar popped up. He slid it to the right and the lights brightened; he slid it to the left and they were plunged into darkness.

Next, he touched the movie icon and then tapped play. As the disk loaded, sound blasted from the speakers. Janel pressed her hand to her chest, wondering if that’s what it felt like to break the sound barrier. Nick hurriedly pressed a few icons, and the roar came down to a reasonable level.

He looked at her and they burst out laughing.

“I should have checked that first,” he said.

“What?” Janel cupped her hand around her ear. “Movie techs are the worst?”

Nick smirked and threw a piece of popcorn at her. She threw one back, and he grabbed a handful.

Janel grabbed his wrist. “Wait, wait, the cleaning service will kill me if we get popcorn all over. Truce?”

Nick tipped his head to the side and lifted one corner of his mouth. “Okay, but only for the maid’s sake.”

Janel tucked her feet up on the couch, which wasn’t hard to do. The seat was as wide as a bed and just as soft. She concentrated on the popcorn and tried to ignore the thoughts of beds and Nick that continually distracted her from the movie.

Before long, their shoulders touched and the popcorn was half-gone. Janel ignored her cold feet for as long as she could. She tried to tuck them closer, but it wasn’t helping. After fidgeting for a few minutes, Nick asked her if she was okay.

“I always freeze at the movies. Aren’t you cold?”

“Hang on a sec.” Nick went to the pirate chest at the end of their row and pulled out a blanket made with some type of fur on one side and flannel on the other.

Janel put the popcorn bowl on the floor.

Nick sat close and threw the blanket over both of them. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Your arms are like ice.”

Chuckling, Janel said, “It’s just like a real theater.”

Nick rubbed his hand up and down her arm to warm her skin. As he did, she remembered him brushing her arms as they kissed in the kitchen. She felt heat flood her face, and she leaned against his chest so he wouldn’t see her flush.

Nick adjusted so he could slightly recline into the corner of the couch, not letting go as he moved. Janel found a spot to rest just under his chin that was extremely comfortable.

Being with Nick, relaxed and close, was easy and right in a way that she’d never found with any other man. Her earlier worries that he would hide away from her or brush her off seemed ridiculous. Instead, he teased, flirted, and even looked for a way to extend their time together.

Being wrapped up in Nick’s arms made trying to watch the movie as difficult for Janel as doing geometry while patting her head and rubbing her stomach. She couldn’t figure out why the alien soldiers were planning an attack on Washington, and she stopped caring when Nick’s fingers trailed up and down her arm leaving waves of heat on her skin.

She bit her lip and focused on calming her racing heart, hoping Nick didn’t notice the change in her breathing. She’d planned dinner so they could get through the awkwardness created by her unfortunate choice of words with his mother, and it worked. The easiness of their relationship had returned. With it came a whole other level of feelings she’d only allowed herself to peek at.

Nick moved up to brush her cheek, and Janel let out a sigh as she relaxed into his arms. As his chest rose and fell, Janel realized they were breathing in sync; his breaths just as short as hers. The air charged with the feelings between them, warming Janel’s heart and skin.

She tipped her head to see if Nick was as affected by it as she was, and found him watching her instead of the movie. As their eyes met, he sank lower into the couch, placing her above him and running his thumb along her lips.

Nick’s eyes held a question wrapped in a promise.

Janel’s breath caught. Here was the man she’d fallen in love with, and he loved her back. The evidence was clear.

Janel traced the outline of his lips with her finger as her hair fell to the side, blocking out the big screen. She leaned down and he lifted up to meet her halfway, pulling her with him as he fell into the cushion.

Janel sighed against him as they kissed slowly, luxuriating in the joy of finding the one who cherishes you. Nick was masculine and gentle, and Janel wanted nothing more than to spend every moment of the rest of her life wrapped in his arms.

Nick’s face was smooth under Janel’s fingers, and he smelled like he’d put on aftershave that morning and only a hint of it remained. As long as she lived, she’d never forget that smell and the way it sent her heart soaring.

They continued tasting, kissing, and being lost together in the haze of happiness. They only touched the tip of the island they were creating, but it filled Janel with a sense of awe that such a place even existed.

When the final credits stopped, there was a loud, high-pitched whistle through the speakers that sent Nick diving for the control.

Janel laughed and rolled her eyes. “Stinking sound guys.”

Nick gave her a look, and her heart stutter-stepped. His hair was disheveled and his shirt rumpled and he was the most attractive man she’d ever seen. And he wanted her. The wonder of it left her gasping.

Reaching for one of the bottled waters, she took a long drink, feeling pleasantly tired out.

After pressing several buttons, the noise stopped and Nick dropped next to her. Janel offered him the water, and he finished off the bottle.

“Do you want to put in another movie?” Nick asked.

His lazy smile and contented look were all Janel needed. She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head in that space—her space—between his chin and shoulder.

He played with her hair, running his fingers down the length of it and then twirling the end. The soft touches lulled her into a state of happy oblivion, and soon she was fighting to stay awake.

Nick lay down on the couch with his head on the armrest and pulled her to him. She snuggled into his arms, happy that they fit so well together, and closed her eyes as Nick kissed the top of her head. “You can sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”

Janel slid her hand over his chest and across his body. “No meetings?”

“Promise.”

“Hmm.”

Before she dropped off, the thought crossed her mind that she was finally going to sleep next to her husband.

Chapter 26

Janel awoke to the sound of a vacuum coming through the closed door and the feel of Nick tucking her hair behind her ear. She smiled shyly as he kissed the tip of her nose and said, “Morning, beautiful.”

“Good morning.” She looked around. The room didn’t have any windows and she couldn’t tell how long they’d slept. “What time is it?”

“It’s after eight.”

She groaned. “I have a class at eleven.” Thankfully, it wasn’t a Tuesday morning, or Steve would have stormed through the house, blowing his whistle, and demanding she “give him twenty.”

Nick chuckled, and Janel placed her palm on his chest to feel the deep sound against her skin. “I have a meeting at eight-thirty.” He picked up her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. “I’ll cancel it and we can have breakfast together.”

“I’d like that.”

Nick stood up and then offered her a hand. As he stretched his arms out to the side, he said, “I don’t know about you, but I have this strange craving for oatmeal.”

The brownies!

Janel dropped the blanket she was folding and made a mad dash for the door. Nick was right behind her, as she passed the maid and ran all the way up the stairs. She barely made it to the pantry door before him, where she turned her back to the door and barricaded the brownies. “If you want these brownies, you’ll have to go through me.”

Placing his hands on her hips, Nick leaned down to whisper, “Gladly.” As his warm breath tickled across her neck, Janel felt her resolve slipping. He kissed and nuzzled his way along her jaw and her arms moved around his shoulders. When their lips met, the kisses were strong and passionate, and Janel found herself swept away to that place where she was surrounded by the feel of Nick’s lips against hers, his warm breath on her skin, and his arms crushing her against him.

Nick pulled back and touched his forehead to hers. Janel held on to his arms, not ready to let go of this thing they were sharing, the connection they’d formed. She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of him and storing it away.

“You know what?” Nick asked.

“What?” Janel breathed.

“I’m really glad Brenda sent me out the door last night.”

“Hmm, me too.”

Nick stepped back, ran his fingers down her arms and grabbed her hands. “I’m thankful enough that I’ll deliver those brownies myself.”

Janel gave him a dubious look.

He smiled. “Scout’s honor.”

“You know, I’ll text her to find out if they got there.”

Dropping her hands, Nick grabbed his phone. “I will send you a picture of her holding the plate to prove how happy last night has made me.”

Janel felt her cheeks flush. “I may be out of my mind, but I’m willing to trust you on this one.”

They ate a hurried breakfast, and Nick ran up to change clothes while Janel did the dishes. Nick came back in wearing one of his well-fitting suits. Janel loved him in a tie. She tipped her head. Of course, a towel wasn’t a bad look for the guy either. Biting her lip, she rinsed the last of the soap off her hands and reached for a dishtowel.

Nick came in close and ran his fingers through her hair. “I set up dinner at The Montego with Mother. Will seven work for you?”

Janel nodded. Spending the evening with Nick, even if Rebecca was there, was better than spending it alone. “I’ll be ready.”

Nick pressed a quick kiss to her temple, snagged the brownie pan, and then he was out the door.