A Safe Pair of Hands (12 page)

“
I wanted to talk to you about Sadie,” she said
abruptly.

“
Oh?”

She looked across at him sharply; he was not going to make
this easy for her.

“
I know that you are seeing my sister – on a personal level...
I know that you are her boss as well, and up until recently you
treated her as though you did not really like her!” the last bit
came out as an accusation and he did look uncomfortable for a
moment.

“
Sadie and I have a bit of a history... and I had a bit of an
error of judgment about her...”

“
Yes I know, she told me, she told me about Rick showing up and
pulling his usual stunt.” Her eyes narrowed with hatred as she spat
out Rick's name, and Nick smiled warmly at her, in understanding of
her hatred for the other man.

“
I was not very nice to Sadie, I will admit that... but I will
spend the rest of my life trying to make that up to her – I promise
you that.”

Nancy waved a hand dismissively as if to say, 'of course you
will'.

“
You have to understand something,” she told him seriously.
“Rick will always be a shadow on her horizon... I mean the things
that he did to her – I can only guess at, since she could never
manage to talk to me – or anyone else about it!”

Nick leaned forward suddenly as he heard the raw pain in
Nancy's voice. He took her hand gently as he looked into her
shadowed brown eyes.

“
I don't have to guess,” he told her gently. “Because Sadie did
tell me, she told me everything!”

Nancy’s jaw went slack for a moment, and her eyes rounded as
they locked onto his.

“
She told you everything? Tell me, tell me what you
know!”

He sighed as he sat back again breaking the
contact.

“
She told me the things that she could never face telling you
and your family; she spoke to me in confidence, and I will not
betray her trust.”

Nancy looked like she was about to argue the point but then
she just gave a little grunt of frustration, that turned into a
sigh of unhappiness.

“
No of course you won’t... but since you know more about it,
then you probably understand even better, that Rick will always
have a hold over her, he will always show up and upset her... she
will never be sure of herself,” she stopped as Nick began to shake
his head.

“
I don't think so,” he disagreed. “You see, we ran in to Rick
just today.”

“
What! She never said anything to me!” Nancy was up on her feet
and she looked positively frightened, and Nick stood up too, and
grabbed her arm.

“
It's okay!” he told her sharply. “Calm down, Nancy, because it
is all okay.”

He told her about the run in with Rick earlier that day, and
his eyes softened and his smile widened.

“
You would have been so proud of her, Nancy,” Nick said
gruffly. “She faced him down all by herself; she proved to him that
he meant nothing to her, and that she did not need to hide behind
anyone else to deal with him. She showed him that he had no power
over her anymore!”

Nancy's eyes filled with tears and Nick pulled her close for a
comforting hug.

“
You did that,” she whispered against his chest. “You gave her
the courage to divorce him all those years ago, and today you gave
her the strength to finish it with him – once and for
all.”

“
Maybe,” Nick murmured huskily, “But I suspect that you do your
sister a disservice, in just assuming that.”

*

He showed Nancy out a little bit later, and as she stood on
his door step, her husband Rob pulled their family car into their
driveway.

Nancy turned suddenly and reached up to kiss Nick on the
cheek. “Thank you, Nick – for loving my sister as she deserves to
be loved!”

Nick looked surprised, and a mischievous twinkle came to his
eyes, as he gazed over her head to the man looking across at them.
“My my, Mrs Stevenson - whatever will your husband
think?”

A little colour flared up her cheekbones, and then she
wrinkled her nose and gave a nervous little laugh. “Well he really
should not be allowed to take me too much for granted.”

She smiled cheekily but then a thought seemed to come to her.
“You are invited to dinner on Friday night – you and Sadie... I
will let you arrange with her when you will go and collect her, but
you should be at my house for seven... ish.”

She gave him a little airy wave as she turned to stroll around
to her waiting husband who had just pulled her son out of the car
as well. And he stood holding him, and waiting for her to join
them.

“
It's far too cold to be standing out here!” Nick heard her
complain to her little family.

He watched as Rob leaned down to kiss his wife, and clearly
heard him murmur. “And once we are inside you will tell me, why you
were smooching with our new neighbour – won't you.”

It was not a question, nor a request; it was a simple fact,
and she would comply – Nick had no doubt about that.

**

Her house was spotless by the time Sadie sat down to her early
lunch the next day.

She tore around it will real enthusiasm as she planned for her
evening with Nick. He was going to be in almost all of the rooms at
some point this evening; she had certainly made her mind up about
that, and so she wanted them to look the best that they
could.

She planned in her mind what she would cook, and so straight
after her lunch she pulled on her hat and coat, and strolled down
to her local shops.

She was not a sophisticated cook, and she really did not want
to spend hours over a hot stove, trying to produce something
complicated and ultimately stressful on her nerves.

She purchased some chicken and decided on a stir-fry, quick
and simple but with the added peppers it would look bright and
colourful.

She chopped and diced, and tipped it all into the deep pan,
and placed a lid over it, and then she set her little table with
candles in the centre just waiting to be lit.

She drew the blind at the kitchen window as the wintery
afternoon gave way to dusk, and then she went upstairs to shower
and dress, and ready herself for Nick’s arrival.

*

Nick pulled up outside her house ten minutes early, but to
tell the truth he had spent the last hour – or more, just sitting
at his desk drumming his fingers and watching the clock.

He had thought that he could do some work from home, but that
had been a waste of time in the end. He just could not wait to be
back with Sadie – had missed not seeing her and talking to her at
work. The place had seemed empty and mournful without her
presence.

He walked down the path to the front door of her house, to see
it opening before he could even knock – almost as though she had
been looking out for him.

“
I’m early, I know,” he apologised as the door opened wider,
but he slowed to a halt as she came into view.

He stood stock still so that he could gaze at her in awe, she
looked absolutely stunning, in a deep blue dress, that sat off her
shoulders in a soft teasing way.

It tucked in at her waist as if to show how tiny it was and
the slid down over her thighs, in soft filmy material that seemed
to fan out with the slightest provocation.

She looked beautiful and he was totally overwhelmed at the
thought that she had made herself up like that, just for
him!

“
Amazing!” he said on a strangled tone as he simply stood and
gaped at her.

Chapter Thirteen

Sadie felt the colour flooding her cheeks as Nick stood there
with his hands behind his back, and almost as though he was
dumbstruck.

She had thought that she might look nice in this dress, it was
such a beautiful garment that it would be impossible not to look
nice in it.

With the sleeves falling off her shoulders in that way, she
had elected to comb her hair and drape the length of it over one
shoulder leaving the other – temptingly bare; at least she hoped
that it would be tempting.

“
Would you like to come inside – before we both freeze to
death?” she smiled shyly even as her sense of mischief
surfaced.

He blinked a couple of times, and then a slow sexy smile
tilted his lips, and his eyes glittered dangerously.

Sadie swallowed as she stepped back to allow him in, and
silently willed her heart to stop it's hammering in her chest, and
to resume it proper beat.

“
I wasn't sure what we would be eating, but I remember you
saying that you weren't fond of red wine, so I brought a bottle of
white with me.”

“
That's perfect – thank you,” she smiled as she reached out for
the bottle.

“
And these are for you – just because I wanted you to have
them.”

He held out a small bouquet of roses. They were red and yellow
and orange in colour, and they made her think of autumn with their
rich and rustic colouring.

“
Thank you, they are so beautiful!” she exclaimed as she
reached out to take them from him.

“
Not as beautiful as you,” he murmured as, instead of
relinquishing the flowers he caught hold of her and over balanced
her – right into his arms.

“
I've missed you today,” he sighed as he put his mouth to hers,
in a soft kiss.

Sadie was all ready to deepen the kiss, and let things
progress from there, when he pushed her away gently.

“
We have all evening, so let's take things slowly.”

Sadie looked like she might argue the point, but then she
sighed. “I suppose that you are right,” although she did not sound
like she agreed.

She led him through to the kitchen, and went over to her
cooker, to lift the lid slightly and look quickly at whatever was
in the pan. She had switched it on about ten minutes before Nick
said he would come, and she knew that it would not need too long to
cook. She gave the pan a quick shake, and dropped the lid back
down, and then she turned to a cupboard and took out two crystal
wine glasses.

Nick could hear the sizzling under the lid of the pan, and the
faintest hint of aromas had wafted out when she had lifted the
lid.

“
What are we having?” he asked cheerfully as she handed him the
bottle and a corkscrew.

“
Nothing fancy; I am afraid that I am not that much of a cook,”
she said a little defensively. “Just a stir fry –
chicken.”

“
I love chicken stir fry,” Nick said easily as he popped the
cork and began to pour the wine into the two glasses.

Sadie took one with a little sigh of relief. “Good – because I
never thought to ask!”

Nick put his glass to hers with a little chuckle. “Here's to
an excellent meal – however the food comes out – the company will
more than over shadow it anyway!”

“
Cheers.” Sadie sniffed, not sure whether she should take
offence at his doubts about her cooking – or whether to feel
reassured.

She took a long gulp of the wine, which was absolutely
delicious, with it vague hint of pears.

“
I say, that is very nice,” she said as she twirled her glass
and stared at the fluid spinning in it.

“
Yes it is a nice one, and very slightly lower in alcohol –
since I shall have to drive later.”

“
A bottle to go with our dinner,” Sadie shrugged. “And later I
shall ply you with coffee, before I let you go.”

He laughed again and his brown eyes twinkled at her. “That
sounds like a very good plan.”

Sadie felt her hand shaking in response to him, and the fact
that he was on one hand saying let's take things slow, but on the
other hand she was very aware that he was seducing her.

With his smile and his look, and the occasional brush of his
hand, and when he laughed...

She turned away, and putting her glass down on the side she
lifted the lid on her pan.

The hissing and steam filled her little kitchen as did the
rich aromas.

“
It smells wonderful,” Nick said from just behind
her.

“
It's almost done – I think, so if you could just sit down –
out of the way...”

“
That looks heavy,” Nick interrupted her. “So since you have
done all the work, let me put it on the plates, please.”

She hesitated for a moment, and then shrugged as if to say
suit yourself.

She bent slightly and because he was standing so close behind
her, her ass bumped against his groin.

Nick sucked in a breath, as Sadie opened the oven door and
carefully took out the two plates, which she had been warming in
there.

She moved around him, apparently oblivious to the man and his
now burning need to sweep her up and carry her up to bed – in spite
of his declaration that they should take things ‘nice and
slow’.

At least he had thought that she was oblivious, until he
caught her quick look at him as she moved past him.