Deadly Obsession (12 page)

Although, she preferred to imagine him sprawled across her own bed, with his head on her favorite pillow, the sheets twisted around his hips. She laughed and fanned her face. That image was sure to fuel a few fantasies. This weekend could be the closest she’d ever get to having Nic The Lover in her bed for real.

Too bad she wouldn’t be in it with him.

CHAPTER 6

Lauren glanced at the kitchen wall clock for what must have been the hundredth time. Late last night, Nic had called. There’d been some problem with his flight and he was driving in from San Francisco.

Knowing he was alone on the road, she’d tossed and turned, unable to sleep. By dawn, she’d already showered and dressed. Of course, she’d spent a little of that extra time on her hair and makeup. Why not? It wasn’t every day a girl had a movie star coming to her home.

The table was set, the coffee was brewing, and everything was ready for the omelet she planned to make for breakfast. Back and forth, she paced the length of the living room. As she passed the patio door, she spotted a large black SUV pulling into a parking space in front of her apartment.

Oh God, he was here. Her heart slammed in her chest, and she had to force herself to breathe. It wouldn’t do to answer the door panting like an excited puppy. Resisting the urge to rush out and meet him in the parking lot, she ripped off her apron and sat down. Knees bouncing, hands tapping, she waited. When the bell finally rang, she vaulted off the couch and threw open the front door.

Lauren’s stomach did a slow roll as she took in the vision before her. Leaning against the jamb, duffle bag thrown over a muscled shoulder, baseball cap pulled low over sunglass-covered eyes, stood a grinning Nic. “Good morning,
chérie
. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

Lauren blushed at the compliment. But as far as she was concerned, he was the one who was a sight for sore eyes. God the man was gorgeous. Too bad she didn’t have her camera on hand. The ladies would go crazy for a photo of Nic standing in a doorway, looking all sexy and triumphant. “Come in. I thought you’d never get here.”

“I was beginning to think the same thing.” He leaned down to kiss her on both cheeks, and Lauren had to swallow a disappointed sigh. She shouldn’t want more from him. But she did.

“Here, have a seat. Tell me about your trip.”

“Ah, that feels great,” he said, flopping onto the couch and tugging her down next to him. “It was pretty crazy. Nothing worked out as I’d planned. I told Vivian I needed to be free by 1:30 yesterday, but I didn’t tell her why.”

She felt a small thrill at his words. “You didn’t tell her you were coming here?”

Nic shook his head. “And because she was ticked her off that I wouldn’t tell her my plans, she filled my schedule like I was going away for a month. I had a radio interview followed by guest appearances on two morning talk shows, an early lunch meeting with Vivian, and then a magazine interview.”

“You must have been exhausted.”

“But that’s when the fun started.” He paused and his lips curved on one side. “Lunch ran late and the interview was delayed. I rushed through it, then raced home to grab my bag. I waited fifteen minutes for the limo service before calling them, only to be told someone had cancelled my pickup request.”

“Oh no!” Lauren wouldn’t have been surprised to learn Vivian was responsible. “Has this ever happened before?”

“Never. They offered to send another car, but by then it was too late. I went to get my car. And one of the tires was flat.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a Stanley Cup playoff game.” Nic rubbed a hand along the nape of his neck and then rested his arm on the back of the couch. “I tried to catch a cab. Only, my street was blocked off because of an accident. I ran the mile to Gordon street and finally managed to hail a cab.”

“But you still missed your flight.”

He nodded. “I rebooked with a stop in San Francisco, but I should have taken the later direct flight to Seattle. My connecting flight was cancelled because of some mechanical problem and no other planes were available.”

“This sounds like one of your action movies. I’m amazed you didn’t turn around and go back home. It’s almost like someone was trying to tell you something.”

Playfully, he tugged at one of her curls. “Maybe, but the only thing I wanted to hear was you saying hello as you opened your front door.”

When his flirting made her blush, he grinned and brushed his knuckles against her warm cheeks. He’d gone through hell to come to Seattle, to her home, to work with her on a photo shoot. It had to mean
something
to him.

As if confirming her thoughts, he added, “But, I’m here now and very excited about the photo shoot.” He toed his duffle bag. “Where should I put this?”

She led him into the master bedroom. “You can leave your things here.”

He dropped the bag on the floor and laid his jacket, cap, and sunglasses on the freshly made bed. “I’m putting you out of your room.”

“It’s no problem, really. Besides, Jason’s bed is too short for you.”

“Maybe you’ll join me?” When she blushed again, he grinned and started laughing.

“Mom? Who’s here?” Jason called out in a sleepy voice.

“Or maybe not,” Nic whispered, grinning even more.

“One minute, honey,” she said, then turned to Nic. “I hope you don’t mind. Jason’s sleepover was cancelled.”

“Hey, no worries. This is your son’s home and he shouldn’t have to leave because I’m here.”

By the seriousness of his expression, he meant every word. A movie star
and
he didn’t expect special treatment? Nic The Lover was definitely in the running for the World’s Most Perfect Man. “I didn’t tell him you were coming. Want to walk out first and surprise him?”

If the mischievous glint in his eyes was anything to go by, Nic must have loved pulling pranks as a child.

“Give me a minute to get my video camera.” She reached for a case on her closet shelf and pulled out a small camcorder. After turning it on and fiddling with a few settings, she shot him a smile. “All set.”

Nic put his finger to his lips and tiptoed through the door, hugging the wall. He paused, tilting his head as if listening to the television. Then he walked into the living room. “Hey Jason, buddy. How did you know SpongeBob Square Pants was my favorite show?”

While Jason continued to stare at him wide-eyed, Nic joined him on the couch. After making himself comfortable with a lot of wiggling and stretching, he turned to Jason, who by this time was holding back a fit of giggling. As Lauren filmed the scene from the doorway to her bedroom, she also tried in vain to hold back her own laughter. Nic was quite the comedian.

“SpongeBob’s the best. Hey, is this the Bad Neighbors episode?”

“Uh, yeah.” Jason’s gaze darted left and right, like he was searching for someone. Lauren smiled. He still hadn’t spotted her.

“What’s your favorite episode?” Nic asked Jason. “Mine’s the Truth or Square one. It’s so funny when everyone gets locked in the freezer and SpongeBob starts making up all these wacky stories.” Lauren’s heart melted at his boyish expression. She’d better step in before Jason started getting worried.

“Mine is the one where SpongeBob and Patrick try to break Mrs. Puff out of jail,” she said, leaving her hiding place.

“Uh, Mom…?” Jason indicated Nic with wide eyes and a jerk of his head. He was practically jumping up and down on the couch.

“Yes, honey?” She regarded him innocently.

“Look!” he whispered loudly, pointing at Nic. “It’s Nic Lamoro! Can’t you see him, Mom? Can’t you see?”

Nic burst out in a fit of laughter. Tears streaming from his eyes, he rolled onto the floor, clutching his stomach.

“Mom, did I miss something?” Jason’s confused expression was so adorable, Lauren couldn’t hold back her own laughter anymore. His eyes continued to reflect his bewilderment at the whole scene, but he soon joined them in their laughter. She took Nic’s place on the couch and hugged her son tightly. It was so good to see Jason having fun. After taking a few deep breaths and wiping the tears from her eyes, she was able to speak again.

She gestured to Nic, who’d managed to calm down enough to sit up. “Nic will be visiting us this weekend. But you can’t tell anyone until after he leaves. Nic doesn’t want any reporters to bother us.”

Jason turned to Nic and shook his head. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

Nic got up on his knees and shook Jason’s hand, man to man. “I appreciate your help, buddy.” Then he winked, adding, “Between the two of us, I’m sure we can keep the reporters away.”

“You bet!” Jason jumped off the couch and shouted over his shoulder as he ran to his room, “What’s for breakfast, Mom? I’m starving.”

“It’s good to know the shock hasn’t affected his appetite,” Lauren said, her tone wry. “Come have some coffee while I make breakfast. Do you like omelets?”

He took the cup she handed him. “Love ’em.”

“There’s cream and sugar on the table. Please help yourself.”

Nic doctored his drink then tasted it. “Mmm… this is really good.” He took another sip. Lauren practically drooled. With his eyes closed like that, his expression was almost orgasmic. She’d make sure to have fresh, hot coffee on hand all weekend.

Nic opened his eyes and caught her staring. Lauren turned away to hide her heated cheeks. “This will take another twenty minutes or so. Do you want to take a shower or a nap? You must be exhausted.”

“I’d love a quick shower.” He wrinkled his nose. “I’m more than overdue.”

His expression stirred something low in her belly. He seemed so unspoiled, so happy, so much like the boy she remembered. “Take your time. There are clean towels in the cabinet in the bathroom. And there’s soap and shampoo in there, too. Shout if you need anything.”

Soon, she heard the sound of water running. As she mixed up the ingredients for the omelet, her mind drifted to images of Nic in the shower, water sluicing down his beautiful face, between his exquisitely sculpted pectorals, into his belly button, over his flat stomach, separating into two flows around his hard… She gasped as cold liquid splashed her arm.
Damn
, she’d just poured milk all over the counter.

Nic pushed his empty plate to the side and patted his full stomach. Warmth spread throughout his body as his gaze locked with Lauren’s. What was that bubbly feeling in his stomach?

He felt comfortable here, in this small apartment with its cooking smells, childish artwork decorating the walls, and family photos on every available surface except in her bedroom. Even if at least half the photos were of a man who, judging by the uniform he wore, could be none other than Todd James, Lauren’s dead husband.

Had he been selfish in coming here? He didn’t know how far the stalker was willing to go. Still, he’d wanted to be here with Lauren and Jason, enjoying himself, rolling around the floor, laughing his head off.

Lauren must have sensed the mix of pleasure and worry roiling around inside him because she leaned over and rubbed her finger along his eyebrows, then cradled his cheek in her palm. Today, her beautiful eyes were a soft Mediterranean green. He wanted to dive in their deep waters and stay there all day.

Not wanting her to know the turn his thoughts had taken, he smiled and asked, “What’s on the schedule for today?”

She dropped her hand and sat back in her chair. “The arena is booked from 7:00 to 9:00 tonight, but other than that, we can do anything you want.”

He gave her a cocky grin. “
Anything?
”

She blushed and cleared her throat. “Anything G-rated.”

His grin widened. “Is there some place you and Jason like to go? Something you like to do on weekends?”

“I know, I know,” Jason shouted as he raced around the corner from his room. “Let’s go bowling. Please, please!” he insisted, seeing his mother’s dubious look.

Nic shrugged. “Fine with me. But I should warn you, I was the city champion in my youth.” He raised an eyebrow, including Lauren in his challenge. “Are you up for it?”

Lauren winked at her son, a half smile curving her lips. “I think we’ll manage. Isn’t that right, Jason?”

Eyes twinkling, Jason pressed his lips together tightly as if trying to keep them from spilling some huge secret.

Unable to maintain his haughty expression, Nic grinned at Jason and initiated a complex series of knuckle-bumps. When he caught Lauren’s wistful expression, his smile faded. Before he could ask what was wrong, she smiled brightly and ordered them to be at the door, ready to leave in exactly five minutes.

Jason grabbed Nic’s hand and began dragging him toward his room. “Whoa there, little man. What’s up?”

“I got your disguise,” he said, his expression earnest as he held out a black knit cap and goggles. “We’ll be twins, see? People won’t recognize you.”

Nic dropped to his knees, putting them at eye level. He took the offered items and put them on. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

Eyes round, lips pursed, Jason shook his head. Nic fisted his right hand and pounded it sharply against his left shoulder. When Jason’s eyes widened even more, Nic forced his expression to remain serious. “We’re brothers, little man. Brothers in arms, and this is our first mission. Our mission has three objectives.” He ticked them off on his fingers. “One, we must protect our secret. Two, we must beat your mom at bowling. Three, we must…” He winked. “Have fun!”