Strictly Business (15 page)

He turned around. “I made a promise, and I won’t break it.”

“What if I want you to?” she asked.

“That’s a hypothetical question. I love you. You know where to find me when you’re ready to ask that question for real.”

The door closed behind him.

Nick sat in his darkened living room, grinning.

It was very obvious Jess had tried to get him to break his promise. Of course, she’d never admit it. She would probably be shocked at the notion. She’d be even more shocked at how close she had come to achieving her goal.

His satisfaction subsided, and he frowned. Frustration at too many nights of chaste kisses and embraces had nearly erupted tonight—with very little encouragement from Jess. But encouragement was all she’d given. It wasn’t enough.

She had to come to him, not in seduction, but of her own volition. It was the only way he could see for her to overcome her fears. He hoped he was right.

He wondered if he should have stayed and talked with her instead of walking out. The last thing he had needed, though, was for her to continue her teasing.

It was impossible to guess her reaction to tonight, and he didn’t even try. Still, he couldn’t help wishing he knew what it would be.

His doorbell rang.

He stared at the door, then shot out of his chair. He skidded to a halt in front of the door and yanked it open.

Jess stood on his porch. Despite the mild night and her heavy jacket, he could hear her teeth chattering.

He breathed her name and guided her across the threshold and into his embrace. He closed the door, shutting out the world.

“You’re here,” he said in awe. Of all her reactions, this was the one he hadn’t dared to consider.

“I’m scared,” she whispered. “I love you, and I’m ready, and I’m scared to death.”

“Just remember there’s nothing you can do to chase me away, Jess.”

She raised her head, her brown eyes wide with her emotions. “I hope so.” She swallowed. “I’m asking for real, Nick.”

He grinned. “I know.”

She started to laugh, thin and reedy at first, then stronger. He joined her.

“You stinker,” she said, her laughter finally subsiding into smiles. “You knew I was going to come here.”

“Prayed would be more like it,” he said, glad that he had made her laugh. It had dispelled the worst of her fear, and he wanted to keep it that way. “What the hell took you so long?”

“I couldn’t find my car keys.”

“That eager, eh?” He drew her into the living room.

“Well, you looked so desperate I took pity on you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

When they reached the living room, he took off her jacket and tossed it on the chair.

Slowly, she reached up and touched his cheek.

“I love you, Jess,” he said, his voice already husky with need. “I know what it took for you to come here tonight, and I’m proud of you.”

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she admitted.

“I’ll make sure it’s the best thing you’ve ever done in your life.”

“Another promise?”

“I’m very good at keeping them.”

She smiled. “I know.”

He took her hand and together they walked into his bedroom. He knew he could easily carry her in his arms. There would be great pleasure in that, but there was more pleasure in knowing that she was
walking with him, next to him, that she no longer required the promise.

They faced each other beside the wide bed. His bed. He searched her face in the darkness, unable to see yet sensing a need the same as his own. He lowered his head.

His lips touched hers softly, gently. She had said she was scared, and he could sense the effort she was making to keep her fear under the surface. He teased her with little kisses at first, allowing her time to trust in the instinct that had brought her to him.

His mind, however, reeled with satisfaction at her presence. And her words. She loved him. Weeks ago he’d questioned her abilities out of his own hurt pride, then later he’d ignored her wishes that she be left alone. He had acted with total machismo, and he vowed to spend a lifetime making up for it.

Her arms crept around his shoulders, her hands touching his back in a tentative caress. He slanted his mouth across hers, searing the promise of restraint to final ashes. His tongue darted and danced with hers. She melted against him, her body soft and yielding.

He broke the kiss and drew in a deep breath, loving the feel of her full breasts pressing into his chest, her slender thighs brushing his. His body was mindlessly pushing at his control. He forced himself to ignore it. He would not rush this night.

Slowly, with infinite care, he unbuttoned her blouse, allowing himself the heady enjoyment of revealing her satiny flesh. Lower and lower he went, to the valley between her breasts, to the silk of her
waist. The back of his hand lightly touched every inch of flesh as he slid each button through its hole. When he finished the last, he pushed the blouse away.

Her skin gleamed like warm alabaster in the faint darkness. His hand leisurely coursed its way upward, around the slender indentation of her waist, the narrow column of her ribs, the delicate thrust of her breast, the sweet puckering of her nipple. She moaned and buried her face in his chest.

“Jess.” His voice was hoarse with want as he ran his thumb around the ever-tightening point. He cupped her breast, adoring the way it nestled in his hand.

“You feel so right, Nick,” she whispered. “Nobody ever felt right before.”

It was too much. He covered her mouth with his in a voracious kiss. It was sweet and rich, lingering and exciting. He couldn’t get enough of her, he thought dimly. He never would. He pulled her to him, his fingers spreading across her back. He could hear the tiny noises of pleasure she made in the back of her throat, could feel the hunger of her mouth. Perfume and woman swirled through his senses. He wanted all of her warm and soft and naked against his own flesh now, and he turned her onto the bed.

Her hands were gentle and assured as she unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it from his shoulders. His fumbled with her jeans. He tried to concentrate … and immediately lost himself to her touch as she stroked his bared chest. He had to push her hands away, so he could finish his task.

When they were freed of the last barrier of their
clothes, Nick heard a moan of excitement from her that matched his own. Her flesh burned his everywhere they touched. The taste of her was incredible, unique, and he neglected nothing. His hands and mouth found her breasts, belly, the curve of her hips, the slim thighs … the mound of her femininity. He lingered with each kiss, wanting to imprint all of her in his brain forever.

Her smooth legs entwined with his hair-roughened ones. Her lips left a string of tender biting kisses on his neck, shoulders, and chest. Her hands caressed him to a white heat.

He felt no anxiety in her, no fear. She was giving of her passion, and taking joy in his.

He covered her body with his and sank into her warm moist depths. He had wanted to absorb her into his love, and now she was absorbing him into hers. His blood roared clamorously in his ears as her body stroked him lovingly with each movement. She danced with him in the ageless ritual, and they drove each other higher and closer until they convulsed together.

As he gladly gave over his heart and body into her keeping, he knew there was no safer place for them than with Jess.

This time she laughed.

“Why,” he asked, “are you laughing?”

“I can’t help it,” she said, the giggles escaping her. “I was just remembering our first meeting.”

“As long as you’re not laughing over my performance,” he grumbled good-naturedly, kissing her neck.

“Never.” She sighed languorously. “If you had done this in the hotel room …”

“When I saw you in that flimsy slip, I nearly did.”

“You were so outraged.”

He started laughing. “And you were so bewildered.”

“And Tony was having the time of his life.”

“Kid brothers are rotten.” He raised himself on his elbows and gazed down at her. “How do you feel?”

“In love,” she said, gazing back.

“Scared?”

“A little.” She was silent for a moment. “I’m trusting my heart, Nick.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She wondered if everyone knew.

Probably
, she thought, smiling to herself. If they didn’t know by the silly expression that must be on her face, then they knew by Nick’s. Even from here in the garden, she could see his wide grin as he talked with Sam by the office trailer.

“Jess, at the rate you’re going, we won’t have the bushes planted until next year,” Duane said, setting rosebushes two feet apart in the long trench dug earlier.

“Sorry.” She held a bush upright, and Roger, the third person in the assembly line, slapped the soft earth around the base of the bush.

“Leave her alone,” Roger said. “Can’t you see she’s in love?”

Jess stared at him. Everyone might know, but she wasn’t sure she wanted them to talk about it.

“Hell, I’m in love, and I’m not allowed to slack off,” Duane grumbled.

“Are you really?” Jess asked, transferring her stare to him.

“Why do you think he’s rushing us through this?” Roger asked. “He wants to get off early so he can see his sweetie.”

“Roger couldn’t get a ‘sweetie’ if he paid her.”

“I, my friend, am playing the field. And it’s a big field.” Roger gave a loud sigh of contentment. “A rose by any other name looks the same in the dark. Which you will discover in about another week, pal.”

Jess smothered a grin as her employees continued to taunt each other. She glanced over at Nick again. Her “rose” was unique, night or day, and she knew it. They had been together for a week now, and she was learning more and more to trust in her heart. She still had moments of panic that she was lulling herself into a false sense of security. But Nick was so steadfast and so confident in her that her panic was fading. She was really starting to believe that she might have found a cure. Maybe she’d been right before and her crying had been the worst. Was it love that had made it so different?

She thought so. She hoped so.

“Jess, Mikaris wants you.”

She looked up to see Nick motioning to her. She rose to her feet and brushed off her hands.

“Don’t be too long, Jess,” the guys singsonged in falsetto.

She ignored their knowing smirks and walked across the road.

“I’ve got some bad news,” Nick said, smiling at her. His eyes seemed to devour her. “The cement mixer is shot, so we can’t pour the terrace today.”

“Fine.”

She was mesmerized by the way little wisps of his chest hair curled around the collar of his T-shirt. Funny that she’d never noticed before. She should have. It was sexy, and she had the urge to reach out and …

“We’ll have to get a new one,” Nick said in a husky voice. “What the hell.”

“We’ll be another day late!” Sam exclaimed, waving his arms in the air. They both turned to stare at him. “Somebody lifts half the two-by-fours over the weekend, Randy backs the forklift over the other half, and the cement mixer goes. And you say ‘What the hell’! Geez, will you two just get married and start fighting like everyone else? Then maybe we can get some work done around here!”

Complaining under his breath, he stomped away.

“He’s had a bad day,” Nick said.

“It certainly seems like it,” Jess agreed.

He gazed at her. “I never realized how thick your lashes were before.”

She could feel her cheeks heating. “Thank you.”

He sighed. “I wish we weren’t so damn responsible. Otherwise I’d suggest we go home and get into a nice warm bed.”

“Sam doesn’t seem to think we’re responsible. By the way, I’ll have to force the roses to bloom.”

“Is that good?”

“No. It could kill them.”

“You can always plant new ones.”

“That’s what I figured. Everyone knows, you know.”

“Knows what?”

“That we’re together.”

“I don’t see how they could miss it. I’ve been walking
around with a sappy grin on my face.” He grinned sappily. “Do you mind?”

She shook her head. How could she? She felt like a schoolgirl with her first crush—only better. It was silly, but she couldn’t help it.

“I want so much to touch you,” he said, “but I can’t. Come in to the office with me.”

“That’s asking for trouble and you know it.” They avoided the office assiduously.

“Just for a minute.”

“It would never be a minute.”

“Okay, then an hour.”

She shook her head. “I’d better go kill some roses before this conversation gets out of hand.”

“Not out of hand, Jess.
In
the hand!”

“I’m going.”

Laughing, she walked back across the road.

“She’s back. She’s smiling. She’s rosy-cheeked,” Roger said, as she approached them. “Must have been one heck of a conversation.”

She took her place and held the rosebush for him. “The cement mixer’s broken. They can’t pour the terrace until they get a new one.”

“Gee, Jess, if you looked any more unhappy, you’d float away. Ah, sweet love be thine companion always.”

“Cut it out and get back to work,” she ordered sternly.

“Well, I’m glad about the mixer,” Duane said. “Maybe we can knock off early.”

She was hoping for the same thing herself.

“But we need to go look at bedroom furniture!”

It was just after the lunch break, and Jess had gone through the house with Sandy to check its progress. Now, they were standing by the open front door. Duane and Roger were almost ready to plant more roses, and she needed to get back with them. Sandy, having made her pronouncement, was glaring at her.

“Not tonight, please.” Jess was desperate. “Sandy, tomorrow. I promise.”

Sandy eyed her suspiciously. “You’ve been promising for a week now.”

“I know.” Jess sighed heavily, knowing she’d put off the chore for as long as possible. “Tomorrow. I’ll get off my deathbed if I have to.”

“That’s not the bed you’ll have to get out of, and you know it.”