Nicole: Star Crossed Lovers (A Wish for Love Series Book 2) (6 page)

Never in her life had she witnessed a sunset as splendid as the one before her. The firmament went up in flames.  The great Artist of the Universe moved his brush with savage strokes, painting the waters a shocking pink and the sky above in shades of scarlet, crimson, Tyrian, mauve, and vermilion.  Like golden threads, long clouds hovered over the isles, breaking the magical red-hued harmony as fireworks of rubies exploded around them, lighting the skies in a dazzling light.  She was elated, the exhilaration that coursed through her activating each cell and each nerve in her body.  Only
the delight and excitement of painting could compare to the pure joy that now surged through her. 

She felt alive.  She had not felt that way since those happy days with Daniel.

Nicole's face radiated a glow that matched nature's dazzling display.  James looked at Nicole, pleased with his decision to bring Nicole to her destination by sea.  The view from the road was pretty but could not compare with the matchless spectacle they had just witnessed.

Night had fallen when the boat reached the dock.  Nicole climbed down and followed James in the direction of the brightly-lit house.  They walked through an enchanting tropical garden.  Lawns, flowers, trees and pools of emerald green water united to form a harmonious whole.  Hanging lanterns shed enough light so Nicole could clearly see the graceful proportions of the large stone house with its wide verandah and garden.  Her lips formed a small O as she said, "Wow!"

"It is a pleasing sight.  Wait till you see the garden in daylight," James laughed.

She felt a warning light go on.  "I'm afraid I won't be here when the new day breaks.  I insist that I be taken home immediately after dinner."

James was silent and didn't react to her words.  She swallowed nervously.  Matters were not going entirely as planned and her growing feeling of helplessness unnerved her.

They reached the entrance.  Impressive wooden carved doors were opened by a plump dark-haired woman.  On top of her flowered skirt a white apron hugged her ample hips.

"Welcome, Miss West.  I'm the housekeeper and you can call me Marie," she said as she led them into the house.

"It was very nice to meet you," said James.  "I'm sure we'll meet again very soon."  He lowered his head in a polite nod and Nicole was left alone with Marie who led her to a room, motioning her to enter first.

"Mr. Miller said you would want to freshen up and rest a while after your journey.  Afterwards I will accompany you to Mr. Miller."

"Thank you."

Marie closed the door behind her and Nicole looked around, suddenly aware that this was a bathroom.  She had been taken in by the large white sofa near the window whose louvered shutters allowed her to see part of the garden.  The bathroom was a mirrored, streamlined space with floors of travertine and green marble.  Nicole went to the sink and washed her face.  She combed her hair, corrected the mascara and filled in her lips with lipgloss.  She threw a last look in the mirror as she walked out.  Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid which emphasized her long neck.  She wore a green silk skirt and a darker green fitted thin sweater.  Her only jewelry was a pair of gold earrings.

The earrings he had given her on her twenty-first birthday lay in the purse she held in her hand.  She intended to return them tonight.

Marie was at her side in a split second, smiling and calm.  "If I may say so Miss West, you look very lovely."

"It's very kind of you to say so."  Nicole wondered how many women Daniel brought here and if Marie complimented all of them.  She was sure that every woman Daniel chose would be very beautiful.  She had seen two of them and was witness to their good looks.  Marie walked through what looked to Nicole like the main room of the house and she followed her to the exit, where Marie muttered something and turned on her heels, leaving Nicole alone.

She didn't notice him at first.  He stood, his hands in his pockets, near one of the heavy timbers that supported the terraced roof, looking at the tiny dancing waves that broke on the beach beyond the garden.  He was intent on the scene and as yet oblivious to her presence.  She took advantage of this moment to observe him without interruption.  He looked so solitary and surprisingly vulnerable.  She wondered how someone who had accomplished so much could look so forlorn.  He looked as though he was missing something beyond his reach.

She cleared her throat, embarrassed at this invasion of his privacy.  He turned swiftly, then he froze, and for a few long moments he said nothing and just stared at her.  Finally he stirred. "You look cool, exquisite, like..." he turned his head slightly, "like a diamond polished to perfection."

For some reason she didn't like his choice of words.  There was no innocence in his comparison.  It was so icy. 

"You're too kind."

"Not at all, darling. Not at all," he mimicked her tone. "Can I offer you a drink?" he changed the subject abruptly.

She had intended to ask for a glass of white wine but changed her mind.  "Campari with ice and lemon would be nice."

He pressed a hidden button and immediately a man who looked like Marie's brother appeared at the door.

"Joseph, I'd like you to meet  Nicole West.  Nicole, this is Joseph, Marie's husband."  She offered her hand and he, slightly taken aback, shook it.  He was used to respect, and even friendship, from his employer and his family, but never from the guests. Neither could he remember Daniel bothering to introduce any of his guests so formally.  This must be a very special woman indeed.

"Nicole will drink Campari with ice and lemon and I'll have the same."

"Very well."  Joseph left, leaving Nicole and Daniel alone again.  Daniel gestured toward one of the enormous Mexican chairs on the porch and Nicole sat on a large soft cushion embroidered in red and blue.  He sat beside her, too close for her liking.

"I hope you enjoyed the flight.  I intended to take you myself, but urgent business matters made it necessary for me to spend the entire day here."

"I understand.  I'm sorry if you felt any obligation toward me when other matters, no doubt far more important, demanded your attention."  She was proud of her steady, impersonal tone.

"Right now there is nothing more important to me than you."

"Yes, you like to live for the moment.  I remember that very well."

"You're mistaken. I..."

"Your drinks."  Joseph’s voice interrupted Daniel in mid-sentence.  Daniel took the drinks and handed one to Nicole.  They waited until Joseph's footsteps faded away.

"How long have you lived here?" Nicole asked, trying to steer Daniel away from subjects that were too threatening. 

"I bought this place four years ago.  I try to get here at least a few weeks during the year.  The rest of the time, unfortunately, I have to spend in New York and Los Angeles."

"Unfortunately?  But you always loved New York."

"I still love the city but I find that I need to get away - to distance myself from the noise, the crowds and the chaos."  He placed his elbow on his knee, bowing his head until he straightened up again.  Nicole felt a strong urge to stroke his neck and feel the tiredness and tension melt away at the touch of her fingers.

"You work too hard."

"Perhaps.  But that's the only thing that gives me pleasure.  At any rate, the only thing during these past eight years." 

She could not help but pay attention to the import of his words, but before she could react he continued. 

"But I'm happy you're worried about me."  He spoke simply, without cynicism, and she found it hard to contradict him.

"How many films do you produce each year?" she asked.

"I try to direct one film in two years.  The rest of the films we produce are directed by others.  Of course, besides directing, a lot of my time is taken up with the management and financial side of running the company."

"What's your current film about?"

"I'll tell you all about it while we eat. I'm starved."

"Me too," she had to admit.  Her lunch had consisted of a few crackers and cheese and while on the flight she
had refused the stewardess' offer of a light meal. 

His hand touching her back, Daniel led her into the house. Let him not touch her, she prayed as they walked through the large room, if he doesn't touch her everything might turn out all right.

He momentarily hugged her waist in an intimate gesture as though saying I know how you feel but let's not have any misunderstanding.  I intend to touch you, touch every part of your body, whether exposed or hidden, to awaken you from your long sleep.  His sociable, decorous touch had so aroused her erotic and impassioned imagination that Nicole felt ashamed.  She could not let her emotions run away with her.  She must stay calm.

"Nicole," he halted, gazing at her intently. 

Why in damnation did he have to be so good-looking.  She tried to look inscrutable, afraid he would read her thoughts. 

"Nothing will happen tonight that you don't want.  I promise you that."

What was she supposed to say?  She could not admit that the problem was just those things she wanted and not those she did not want. She couldn't reveal the impact his mere presence had on her and how much she despised herself for feeling so attracted to him after all the grief he had caused.  He smiled slowly and she felt drawn into the depths she saw in his eyes.

"Nothing you don't want," he repeated.

They entered the open dining room overlooking the sea and for a minute she stopped still in her tracks.  The dining terrace was lit by a
score of glimmering candles.

Daniel held out a chair and then sat across the round table set with Wedgwood china and crystal.  Joseph and Marie entered so silently that Nicole felt their presence only when they served the first course and Joseph filled the long-stemmed crystal goblets.

"It's so gorgeous here," she looked around the room, "and even though I always felt Cairns was the loveliest place on earth it can't compare to the spectacular beauty here.  You're a fortunate man."

"I suppose I've had more than my fair share of luck."

"I always knew you'd succeed.  I never had any doubt about that."

She began to eat the salmon mousse which was shaped like a fish and decorated with tarragon leaves and capers. She took another sip of wine.

He grinned at her.  "I'm glad you like this house.  I bought it because it reminded me of you, even though I didn't believe I would ever see you again."

"Truly, I consider it a compliment to be the inspiration for such a place."

"That's why I was so anxious for you to come here.  I knew you would fall in love."

He was so cocksure of himself.  Over his light-gray cotton shirt, casually elegant, he wore a dark blazer that emphasized his height and broad shoulders. An expensive Patek Phillip watch on his right wrist radiated success and power.

"It was a dirty trick to bring me here."  She couldn't project the appropriately angry tone and he laughed, a laugh that made him seem relaxed and carefree.

"I knew you'd probably hate me for it but I felt it was worth the risk."

She couldn't help herself and grinned back, attempting all the while to maintain a vestige of dignity and not burst into laughter.  "To tell the truth, I was furious how you fooled me but the sunset disarmed me.  The sight was so stunning that all the negative feelings like rage and vindictiveness seemed so..." she searched for the right word, "unworthy." 

He looked at her affectionately.  "I would have given a lot to be with you at that moment, to look into your eyes and see that magical green shine with wonder." 

She looked at him entranced, hypnotized by his enticing words.

The spell was broken when Marie entered, tray in hand, and removed the empty plates and glasses.  The next course was served with
clean glasses filled with red wine.  Nicole tasted.  "I'm not an expert in wines but this is wonderful." 

"It's excellent," Daniel agreed. "It’s a Mouton Baron Philippe 1970.  I received both it and the wine we will drink with the main course from the Baroness Rothschild when she and her husband visited a year ago. It's from their vineyards."

"You're trying to impress me."

He laughed. "I am."

The conversation shifted to other topics.  She told Daniel about her painting and the well-established galleries in Sydney and Brisbane where her works had been exhibited.  About her trip to Europe two years ago and her plans to travel to India next summer.  He described the movie he was directing, gave an account of his parents' move to a house on Long Island and his plans for a documentary on his childhood in the immigrant neighborhood of Brooklyn.  "I'm still undecided because I feel the film may be too personal, too revealing.  But the idea intrigues me."

The main dish, herbed rack of lamb, was served and Nicole had to admit to herself that she enjoyed his company.  Although they spoke of personal matters he was careful to avoid assailing her with distressing and painful memories and slowly she thawed in the tranquillity of the evening.

One by one the candles dimmed and flickered out.  Nicole noticed but said nothing, not wanting to spoil the atmosphere.