To My Senses The Nicci Beauvoir Series Book 1 (18 page)

“
Eddie, look, you’ve got
this all wrong.” I sighed and my shoulders rolled forward under the
weight of what I was about to say. “Colleen is pregnant. And please
do not deny that the child is yours.”

His green eyes were wide
and his pale face grew redder with each passing second. He stood
from the sofa, appearing anxious.

“
What am I gonna
do?”

“
Marry Colleen,” I
answered.

“
Is that what you want me
to do, Nicci? Do you want me to marry her?”

“
Yes, Eddie. I think it
would be better for all concerned. She won’t get an abortion and
she could cause problems for you.”

He walked over to the
mantle and started playing with the gold clock. “I guess I’ll have
to marry her, huh?” he mumbled.

The ringing of the doorbell gave me the
opportunity to make a hasty retreat from the oppressive atmosphere
in the living room. When I opened the front door, Colleen was
standing on the front porch. She was dressed in a pair of very
tight pink jeans and her brown hair had been teased to maximum
volume.

She bolted past me. “Is he
here? I saw his car in the drive. Did you tell him? What did he
say?” The questions came so fast I could hardly get a word
in.

Colleen was just about to
head toward the living room, when I grabbed her arm, stopping her.
“I told him, but I want you to make sure this is what you want.
There are other alternatives.”

She shook my arm off.
“Don’t screw it up for me, Nicci. Eddie always chased you around
like a puppy dog and now that I’ve got him, you’re jealous. Admit
it.”

She hurried to the living
room, and then Colleen squealed with delight. I hung back and
waited, listening for sobs or breaking furniture. Soon Eddie and
Colleen emerged arm in arm from the living room. His face looked
blank and very pale. Colleen was smiling incandescently, as she
dragged him toward the door. My heart went out to Eddie. He was her
trophy, to be displayed proudly on public holidays and social
occasions. He was a condemned man.

“
We are going to see
Eddie’s mother and tell her the good news,” Colleen gloated when
they breezed pass me. “Then we can go to my parents’ house, and
then I guess we should stop by my friend Mona’s house.”

On their way out the front
door, Eddie waved good-bye while Colleen completely ignored
me.

After dealing with the
drama of Eddie and Colleen, I decided I needed a drink and headed
for the bar in the back den. This had always been one of my Uncle
Lance’s favorite rooms, not only because of the bar, but also
because of the big screen television set.

I poured some vodka and
orange juice into a glass. I was debating taking my drink upstairs
to my bedroom, when I heard the front door open and my father
called out to tell me he was home. A few moments later, I heard the
voice of a second man. At first, I thought my father had brought
Uncle Lance home for dinner, as he often did. Then I realized the
voice could not be Uncle Lance’s, because my father was laughing
with this man—something he never did with his brother.

I followed the voices into
the hallway. When I turned the corner, I almost dropped my
glass.

“
David!”

My father smiled at my
reaction. “This young man and I have been discussing that little
venture of Sammy’s.”

“
What? When?” I
questioned.

“
I went to your father’s
office this morning,” David explained.

“
He called me and we
decided to meet and discuss the details,” my father added. He
pointed to my glass. “I could use one of those. David, what can I
get you?”

“
Bourbon, thanks,
Bill.”

As my father walked into
the den, I whispered to David, “Bill? You’re calling my father
Bill?”

He pecked my cheek. “Let’s
join Bill at the bar, shall we?”

In the den, Dad was
standing behind the bar, humming to himself and pouring drinks.
“Your Mr. Alexander here,” he began, “told me everything.
Fortunately, we found out ahead of time and can stop
Sammy.”

“
How?” I asked looking from
David to my father.

“
David suggested it.” My
father nodded at him. “We buy stock in her drilling company. It’s
sure to go way up in value and we can sell off when we have made a
tidy profit. The cash from the sale will help keep Sammy at bay and
can pay off some of our debt. We could even improve our services by
putting some of the money back into the company. This information
could be a real windfall for us.”

“
Is that wise?” I probed,
taking a seat on one of the bar stools. “I mean, you don’t know for
sure of any of this is really going to happen. It all depends on
these survey reports coming out, doesn’t it?”

“
Sammy already knows what
those reports are going to say. This way we can turn the tables on
her. Surprise her with her own gunfire,” Dad chuckled.

“
I’m glad you’re happy
about this.” I shifted my gaze from my father to David. He was
leaning against the door to the den.

“
Me too. Otherwise, you may
have ended up supporting your old man.” My father placed a drink on
the bar and peered up at David. “Bourbon for you.”

David slowly sauntered to
the bar and took a seat next to me.

My father grinned at the
two of us. “I guess I better send out a few more e-mails. Why don’t
you two go out and have a nice dinner?” Without waiting for an
answer, Dad picked up his drink and walked out of the room. He
winked at me as he passed by.

I listened to his footfalls
in the hallway, as he went to his study and shut the
door.

David’s eyes traveled up
and down my body. His mouth curled into a leering grin.

“
What did you tell him?” My
voice was tense.

“
I obviously skipped over
what happened last night.”

“
You know what I mean,
David.”

He crossed his arms and
stared at me. “I just told him what I told you about
Sammy.”

“
Thanks. I guess I owe you
for saving my father’s business.” I took a long sip from my
drink.

“
You don’t owe me anything.
I just don’t like to see people getting screwed. Your father’s a
good man.”

I rolled my glass in my
hands. “Sammy will know the information came from you. What will
you do now?”

“
I don’t know. New Orleans
will be a difficult town to get ahead in with Sammy out for
revenge. But I’m not ready to move on yet. I might want to stay for
a while.”

I searched his face for a
moment, studying the light in his eyes. “There’s just one thing I
would like to know.”

He arched closer to me.
“Anything.”

“
Why?”

“
What?” he asked,
surprised.

“
Why are you doing this?
You’re not getting anything out of this. I’m just curious about why
you’re being so helpful.”

“
I told you. I don’t like
seeing people get hurt.” He directed his attention to his drink
sitting on top of the bar.

“
I know. I just find it
hard to believe you did this out of the goodness of your
heart.”

“
Are you angry I told him?
Would you prefer I never said anything, and let his business go to
Sammy?” He picked up his drink and took a long sip, avoiding my
eyes. “Want a fresh one?” He pointed to my half-empty
glass.

“
I just don’t understand
why you are doing all of this. We don’t know each other and you
don’t owe my family anything. You can’t blame me for being
suspicious.” I drained the rest of my drink.

He took the glass from me
and walked around behind the bar. “What’s eating you? Most people
would be extremely grateful for the information I’ve given you. But
you, you give me the third degree.” He poured the ice from my glass
into the sink behind the bar.

“
I’m sorry. I am grateful.
It’s just that…I feel like hell for setting Eddie up the way I
did.” I rubbed my aching temples. “Do you know the guy came here
thinking I was in love with him? He brought me a rose.”

David laughed. “I’m sorry,
darling, but I just don’t understand what you are so upset
about.”

“
Oh, I don’t know. I guess
the thing that really upset me is that Colleen was such a bitch
about the whole thing.”

“
What else do you expect?
From what you’ve told me, Colleen has wanted Eddie for years. Now
that she has the opportunity to grab him from you, she jumps at the
chance.”

“
I didn’t have
Eddie.”

“
If he came here with a
rose, then you had Eddie. Look, does all this really matter? If
Eddie wanted out, all he would have to do is say no.” He reached
from across the bar and gently ran his finger along the outline of
my chin. “You look tired,” he whispered.

“
I didn’t get much sleep
last night.” I smiled. “How’s the back?”

“
I think I need a very good
nurse.” He came around the bar and sat down on the stool next to
me, taking my hand in his.

“
Sorry, just a student.” I
shrugged. “No license.”

“
How do you feel about
pizza?” he queried.

“
Pizza? I was hoping for a
gourmet dinner.”

“
I gave up chef school for
art school. Sorry.”

“
I can’t eat art.” I paused
and gazed into his eyes. “What did you have in mind?”

“
We could pick up a pizza
on the way to my place. Perhaps continue were we left off…with the
painting.” He let go of my hand. “I don’t want you to think I just
want your body. I have a very legitimate interest in painting you,
not making love to you.” He placed his hands in his lap, stiffened
his mouth, raised his chin, and stared directly past me. His eyes
became cool and disinterested.

I teasingly traced my
fingers along his square jaw line, enjoying the course feel of his
five o’clock shadow. The muscles in his face twitched ever so
slightly at my touch. I started undoing the buttons on his shirt
one by one. He cocked one eyebrow with interest. Halfway down his
chest, I reached inside his shirt and placed my hand against his
warm skin. His face moved closer to mine and his eyes began to
shimmer with a lustful intensity. I turned closer to him and undid
the rest of the buttons, opening his shirt all the way. I rubbed my
hands up and down the full length of his chest. I was mesmerized by
the feel of the muscles under his smooth skin. As he observed me,
his mouth curved in a devious smile. Raising my head, I kissed his
neck, and let my lips slowly journey up to his chin. His head
arched back and I could hear him sigh. My lips explored the muscles
in his neck and chest.

“
I don’t think I’m in the
mood for pizza,” I confessed. “Take me home.”

He held my face in his
hands. “Are you sure?”

I moved my lips down to his chest, teased
his right nipple with my tongue and then I bit down, hard.

He gasped. “We won’t stop
for pizza then. We’ll have it delivered.”

He practically carried me
to his Jeep. We pulled out of the driveway, leaving track marks on
the street. David drove along the city streets like a madman,
running red lights the whole way. Minutes later, he pulled up in
front of the small cottage. Before the engine had even shut down,
David was at my door, carrying me out of the car and up the steps
to his place.

“
In a hurry?” I
teased.

“
You’re lucky I didn’t
attack you over at your father’s. That would have made a wonderful
impression,” he joked, tossing me down on the bed with a
thud.

“
I think you broke
something,” I said, rubbing my butt.

“
Sorry,” he added while
removing his shirt.

I leaned back onto the bed.
“Answer one question for me.”

“
Nicci, no more questions.
No more words. I would like to seduce you without the third
degree.”

He threw his shirt on the
floor and climbed in the bed. Clasping my head in his hands, he
pulled my mouth to his. His kisses were electric, sending sparks
throughout my body. He eagerly undressed me, dropping my clothes to
the floor. A few moments later, I lay naked beneath him.

He stared down at me,
drinking in every inch of my body with his eyes. “The more I see
you,” he stroked my stomach with his fingers, “the more I want
you.” Reaching between my legs, he began teasing me with his nimble
fingers. His mouth was against my ear. “Do you want me,
Nicci?”

I could feel the tingle of tension rising up
my back.

“
Say you want me!” His
breath was hot against my skin. “Say it!” He drove his fingers deep
inside of me, sending white eruptions of pleasure spiraling through
me. A cry of desire rose in the back of my throat, as my body
arched against him. “Say it!” he groaned in my ear.

“
Yes.” I struggled to get
the words out in between waves of pleasure. “I want you, David. I
want you.”

He pushed my arms above me,
pinning my hands beneath his. He drove his hips into mine, forcing
my legs apart with his weight. His teeth teased my skin, as his hot
breath burned against my cheek. Our eyes locked and I relaxed under
his ardent gaze. At that moment, he entered me in one forceful
thrust. I moaned with both shock and pleasure, as he drove himself
deep inside of me. I buried my face in his chest while he plunged
again, hard and deep, into my wet flesh. When my final scream of
ecstasy erupted, I was aware of nothing except David’s body
enveloping me.