Youre canceling. Molly sighed. Is it the hairdo? She patted the over-the-top curls. Too wild, huh? Or maybe the nails- She held out metallic blue nails imprinted with little white letters that spelled erogenous zones of the human anatomy.
It has nothing to do with how you look. You look Ah, hell. He was no good at this. Molly, its just that an old friend stopped by, and she needs some help, and-
Oh, I understand. Molly eyed the silent Danielle again, then smiled. Well reschedule, then?
He looked into her hopeful expression, crossed his fingers and nodded. Another time.
Kay. Leaning forward, giving him an ample view of her generous breasts, she kissed him one last time. See you soon, she whispered with promise in her sultry voice. Ta!
Nick waited until Molly had gotten into her car and driven off before turning to Danielle. Uhdo you want to follow me? Or drive in my car and well come back for yours later?
Her smile was brittle, her voice downright chilly. Definitely, Ill follow. She pulled out a set of keys and didnt look at him. Didnt mean to mess up your plans for the evening-
Danielle, Im sorry. Id forgotten-
She turned to him. Look, lets get this over with, okay? The sooner the better, and then you can catch up with yourgirlfriend. She tried to go around him but he blocked her.
Shes not my girlfriend.
Whatever.
She stopped trying to get around him and glared into his face. That shade of lipstick really doesnt become you. Then she sashayed past him, her slim hips and curvy little butt wriggling with attitude and bad temper.
TED BLACKSTONE couldnt believe it. Shed left him. Danielle Douglass, the woman hed thought so perfect for him, a complement to the rest of his life, had up and walked out.
No one had ever walked out on him.
Hed grown up with the power of influential parents, and while hed never actually spent much time in their company-theyd been too busy making money-hed always enjoyed the fruits of their success.
Later, as a formidable investor in his own right, hed had the world at his own fingertips. Fabulous house, great car, nice bank accountbut still, as always, hed beenlonely.
Until Danielle.
Shed looked at him with worship. He was her world, and God, hed loved itand her. After hed neatly folded her life into his, hed finally felt satisfied. At peace. Hed had it all, even a champion show dog for added pride and glory.
He loved glory.
Oh yeah, things had been good. But then hed made a few bad judgements on the market. Hed been forced to dip into his trust fund, and then, out of desperation, had kept dipping. In the blink of an eye his fat bank account had gone on an alarming diet, and his car and house were in jeopardy.
To top off the indignity of it all, Danielle, his beloved Danielle, had left him, stealing his prized show dog-the only investment he had left that was worth anything-in the process. He wanted it all back.
Especially Danielle. And what Ted Blackstone wanted, he always got.
7
DANIELLE FOLLOWED Nick in her borrowed car, doubting herself the entire way there. In fact, she didnt even know where there was, other than they werent leaving Providence. She knew almost nothing about the man shed somehow ended up trusting. Again.
Nick Cooper. It was still hard to believe. Hed been the most interesting person in her high school, not because of status, or jockhood, or that he kissed like absolute heaven. Which he did.
But because he hadnt cared what others thought of him. It was a rare person who had that much confidence, and that hed had it so young had really struck a chord with her.
He still had it in spades.
And he had something else that never failed to amaze her.
Kindness.
Doesnt say much for me, she muttered. That a sweet word and a light touch leaves me following after him like a dog.
Sadie shot her a baleful glance out of her dark eyes.
Sorry. Danielle stroked the dogs massive head. It wasnt just the kindness anyway. She sighed and downshifted as she followed him into a town house complex that was very classy, very New England. You might have noticed how remarkable-looking he is.
Sadie yawned.
Right. They were on a secluded side street, lined with oak trees and wildflowers and groomed lawns. There were no fenced yards in sight, which probably meant dogs werent welcome.
Nick parked, and she stopped next to him, but didnt get out of the car, not yet.
He came around and leaned on his passenger door, long legs crossed, hands in his pockets. Lazily, he thrust his chin toward the lovely two-story town house in front of them. Thats mine.
Itsnice.
He shook his head and laughed. You should know, you have a caged-in look about you. Casual as you pleased, he smiled. So why dont you tell me what you think is going to happen up there?
Absolutely nothing. She bit her lower lip. Right?
Pushing away from the door, his smile still in place, though now his eyes held a grimness she didnt understand, he opened her door.
She expected him to pull her from the car. Maybe sidetrack her with another smile and a touch of his warm, strong hands.
She didnt expect him to hunker down at her side, right at eye level and just look at her.
Staring in front of her out the windshield, she ignored him.
But unlike Ted, whod always seemed to have a lot to say, Nick said nothing.
She fiddled with her seat belt. Touched her backpack. Chewed her lip. What? she finally demanded, her gaze whipping back to his. What are you looking at?
You tell me.
I dont want to play any guessing games here, Nick.
Funny. Me, either. He set a hand on hers, over the steering wheel. Come up. Get your pictures. Get some rest. The end. Can you do that?
Especially the end part.
Now his smile reached his eyes. Thats a girl. One step at a time, right? Lets go.
One step at a time. Easier than it sounded, but she got out of the car and grabbed Sadies leash. She hadnt wanted to put him out, hadnt wanted to be any sort of burden, but shed already blown his obvious plans for the evening with the human Barbie Doll.
And as it had been all those years before, he hadnt said a word to make her feel bad, not one. Hadnt told her how stupid shed been to get into this ridiculous situation in the first place.
Hard as it was to accept the help, after so many nights in the cramped car if he had so much as a comfortable chair for her to nap in, shed be eternally grateful.
He led her through the small front yard. On either side, there were impeccable gardens. Grass so green and thick one could get lost in it, flowers of every hue in the rainbow.
In contrast, Nicks yard was mostly brick, with two large potted trees.
Low maintenance, he said, putting his key in the lock. Im gone for long stretches. No need to keep killing pretty flowers with my neglect. He gestured her in first.
But Danielle hesitated. What about Sadie?
But Danielle hesitated. What about Sadie?
Does she have an aversion to being inside?
No.
Well, then, show her in.
Shes Danielle looked down at Sadie, knowing that while the dog was her own personal treasure, she was also not easy. She can be a bit messy.
I hadnt noticed, he said dryly, waiting with that same calm patience hed shown her since shed first walked into the photo studio. The same calm patience hed shown her all those years ago.
Be good, she whispered to the dog.
Make yourself at home. Nick took them through a wide, open living room sparsely furnished with light oak furniture, photographs from all over the world and the biggest couch shed ever seen.
Covered in cushions, it was dark forest green and so inviting she nearly crumpled on it right then and there. Her body actually leaned toward it, begging, but Nick kept walking.
With an exhausted sigh, she followed, Sadie in tow, her toenails clicking on the hardwood floors.
The kitchen was light and airy, too. There was a basket of fruit on the counter that had her mouth watering. And a loaf of bread right next to it.
When had she last eaten? Thered been the burger for lunch, but nothing for breakfast
Nick opened the refrigerator. Youre in luck, I actually bought some food the other day. Usually this place is empty. What would you like?
The photos.
Yes, your pictures, he said with the first hint of impatience in his voice. But first, food. When did you last eat? What did you last eat? He craned his neck and looked her over. You look like a good wind could blow you over. Never mind, he said in disgust when she just lifted her chin. Good God, why would anyone ask a woman what she wants to eat? Shell say nothing, and then just as likely eat everything on my plate. Well have soup and sandwiches, he decided, talking to himself now. Fast and filling.
Pride warred with fierce hunger at the thought of hot soup and a big sandwich. Do you always feed perfect strangers just because they look hungry?
Were hardly perfect, he said calmly, opening a can of soup, pouring it into a pot and putting it on the stove. Then he pulled out the sandwich fixings and started working, as if he were an old pro in the kitchen.
She tried not to notice how utterly sexy he looked concentrating at putting mustard on bread.
And as for the strangers part He lifted his head and pierced her with a hot, intimate look that curled her toes. I already told you. I stopped thinking of you as a stranger long ago.
She forced her gaze back to the job at hand-food. His long, tanned fingers delicately placed lettuce on the bread. High school was a long time ago.
He nodded, his mouth curving in memories.
Helpless to resist the lure of the thick turkey he was now layering over the lettuce, she moved closer. Youhavent forgotten how horrible it was.
Ive forgotten nothing.
Ive never really forgiven myself for those days.
You sure enjoy paying for the sins of others, dont you? He leveled his timber-green eyes on hers while he brought his hand up and sucked a drop of mustard off his thumb. It wasnt your crowd I dreamed about.
Oh.
Yeah. A smile grew. Oh.
She looked into his now-mischievous gaze, her heart catching at what she saw in it. You really dreamed
Oh baby, you have no idea how many fantasies you headlined for me over those years.
She actually looked behind her. Me?
You.
Well, thats Thrilling. Tantalizing. Terrifying. Disgusting.