The Trouble with Valentine’s (12 page)

‘Just how hot
is
the chilli crab?’ she whispered to Jasmine.

‘Not that hot,’ whispered Jasmine as the man toppled to the floor, foaming at the mouth, his chair
sliding out from beneath him to ram into a half full tub of crabs and knocking it over.

The rest was chaos.

Diners fled. Crabs scuttled beneath nearby tables, some with their pincers tied, some with them snapping. Nick was over by the fallen man and Kai with him. John Tey was barking what sounded like directions into his mobile phone and the crabs … the crabs were on the run.

‘Feet up,’ said John and neither Hallie nor Jasmine wasted any time arguing that it wasn’t very ladylike. Jasmine leaned over and dangled her chopsticks in front of a crab and, when it bit, deftly lifted it up and shot it back into the tub.

‘Don’t do it again,’ ordered her father.

Jasmine just smiled.

The kitchen staff descended; the apron-clad cook protesting loudly that this wasn’t his doing while nimble-fingered kitchen hands scooped escapee crabs into buckets.

By the time the paramedics arrived, the crowd around the fallen man was six deep. Hallie stood well out of the way as he was stretchered into an ambulance that zoomed off with its sirens wailing. He hadn’t looked well. Truth be told, he’d looked practically dead.

‘Probably just a reaction to seafood or something,’
muttered Jasmine, worrying at her lower lip.

‘Yeah,’ said Hallie, reaching for Jasmine’s hand and watching in silence as Kai casually liberated a piece of crab from the victim’s plate, wrapped it in a napkin and pocketed it. He did the same for a crab piece from another plate. ‘Reckon he’s going to get them tested?’

‘I think so,’ said Jasmine, her attention all for Kai as he rejoined them.

‘What?’ he asked, eyeing Jasmine warily.

‘Go wash your hands.’

N
ICK SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
by now that when Hallie Bennett was added to the mix, events took distinctly erratic turns. No one was interested in continuing with crab for dinner. Kai rang for a car and a limo turned up, seemingly out of nowhere, to take them back to the house. Not Hallie’s fault, the dinner debacle. Not anyone’s fault, but the ease with which Hallie breezed into the next plan spoke of a flexibility that fascinated him.

Hallie Bennett did good chaos.

And she was very observant.

‘Do we need to stop by a supermarket on the way home?’ he heard Hallie whisper to Jasmine as the limo wove through the streets of downtown Hong Kong.

‘I have noodles,’ whispered Jasmine. ‘I can’t feed guests
noodles
.’

‘Of course you can,’ countered Hallie. ‘Nick loves noodles. May I help you prepare them?’

‘My father will have a fit if you do,’ said Jasmine.

‘Leave him to me,’ he heard her say, and John heard her say, and Hallie knew it and smiled while Kai hid his smile behind his fist as he looked out of the window.

‘Jasmine’s going to give me a cooking lesson,’ she told John cheerfully when they reached the house and he tried to usher them into the formal sitting room. ‘She’s going to show me how to cook stir-fry noodles. They’re one of Nick’s favourite dishes.’

Which was how they all came to be in the kitchen, every last one of them, with John fixing them drinks, Jasmine raiding the fridge for ingredients, and Kai setting a wok to heating and a huge pot of water to boiling on a gourmet gas stove.

‘What are you up to now?’ Nick asked her, pulling her aside when she would have headed over to help Jasmine.

‘John’s really embarrassed about the restaurant incident,’ she whispered. ‘I’m trying to avert disaster.’

‘By eating in the man’s kitchen? He’s old
school, Hallie. He probably thinks this
is
a disaster.’

‘We’re going to have a simple meal in simple surroundings and we’re all going to enjoy it,’ said Hallie firmly. And when he still looked uncertain, ‘John won’t relax until you do. Trust me, it’ll be fun.’

She was right, decided Nick a few minutes later. The informality of the kitchen and the routine task of preparing food went a long way towards dispelling the sombre mood that had descended after they’d left the restaurant. It wasn’t quite the way he envisioned a ‘real’ corporate wife would have handled the situation but there was no denying that it worked. He watched Hallie quiz Kai about the type of oil he used and the paste he added, watched Kai chop ginger into slivers, his blade little more than a blur of speed. Watched Jasmine show similar skill with the cutting of bamboo shoots, and winced when Hallie immediately wanted to know how to speed-chop too. He watched, with fatalistic resignation, as Jasmine handed her the knife and Hallie took her turn at the cutting board, albeit under Kai’s careful tutelage.

‘So is this a traditional noodle recipe?’ she wanted to know.

‘Not quite,’ said Jasmine, covering her grin with
a sip of white wine. ‘This is a whatever we can find in the fridge recipe. We make it a lot.’

Kai shot her an admonishing frown.

‘Well, we do,’ said Jasmine.

‘So will I,’ declared Hallie.

Kai just shook his head.

‘Your wife is a lovely woman,’ said John from beside him. He too was watching the byplay. ‘I’m glad she could accompany you this time.’

‘So am I.’ Now was the time to tell John Tey the truth. Parts of the truth, at any rate. Now, while Hallie, Jasmine and Kai were busy by the cook top and he and John were over by the kitchen table.

John, she’s not really my wife w
as all he had to say. No need to bring Jasmine into it at all.
John, she’s not yet my wife, she’s just Hallie and I needed her with me
.

That ought to cover it.

‘John—’

‘My daughter is often reserved around new acquaintances but not with your wife,’ observed John. ‘She has the knack of making others feel comfortable. She makes them smile from within. It is a rare gift.’

Yes, it was. Nick just wished he was immune to it, that was all. Because he wasn’t. ‘John—’

‘Nick, I can’t remember if you like bamboo
shoots or not,’ said Hallie. ‘Say you do, because I
really
like cutting them up.’

‘Love ‘em,’ said Nick. ‘John—’

‘Bamboo shoots bring good fibre,’ said Jasmine.

‘So true,’ said Hallie. ‘And who doesn’t need that. I’ll cut up some more.’

Maybe now was not the time for true confessions, thought Nick. That cook top – not to mention the variety show assembled around it – was way too close for privacy.

‘You were saying?’ said John.

‘Never mind,’ he said wryly. ‘Nothing that can’t wait. Good wine.’

In what seemed like a remarkably short time, the vegetables were frying in the wok and noodles were bubbling away in a steaming pot of water. Hallie looked towards him, saw him watching her, and sent him a conspiratorial grin that warmed him through, before heading over to join them.

‘Jasmine tells me you’re fascinated by the Chinese Lion Dancing,’ said John.

‘Yes, we saw some boys practising their routines in the streets today. I made Jasmine stay and watch until they’d finished. They were so young, the boys beneath the lion’s head. And so skilful!’

‘Lion dancing is often an honoured family tradition. The boys are taught by their father or their
grandfather from a very young age,’ said John. ‘The current national champions are performing at the Four Winds Ball on Friday evening. I’ve taken the liberty of acquiring tickets for us all if you’re interested in attending.’

‘I’m in,’ said Hallie immediately, and with a somewhat belated glance in Nick’s direction. ‘Provided it suits everyone else?’

Nick nodded. It would take a stronger man than him to disappoint her.

‘The ball is quite a spectacle,’ said Jasmine as she set a heaped bowl of stir-fry in front of him, another in front of her father. ‘There are fireworks at midnight and paper lanterns and decorations everywhere. Did you bring a gown?’ she asked Hallie.

Hallie nodded. ‘One. But it’s kind of plain. Nick chose it and his mother agreed with him.’ She sighed heavily. ‘I was outnumbered.’

Plain my ass, thought Nick. There was nothing plain about the way the floor-length gold sheath had clung to every delectable curve. Nothing ordinary about the way it made her skin glow and her eyes turn to amber.

‘We could shop for another one tomorrow,’ suggested Jasmine.

‘No.’ Hallie waved the suggestion aside. ‘I was
only teasing Nick. I love the gown. I’d have chosen it myself had I been given the chance. It may be plain but the cut is superb.’

‘You could accessorize,’ he said, remembering the jewellery he’d borrowed from Henry for just such an occasion. ‘You could wear your necklace.’

‘I have a necklace?’ asked Hallie. ‘Why did I not know this?’

‘It’s a surprise.’

‘So you chose it without me?’

‘With Henry’s help.’

‘I could have helped,’ she said. ‘I would have loved to help.’

‘I think you’ll like it.’

Hallie sighed. ‘I dare say I will but that’s not the point, is it. The point is I didn’t get to help you choose it.’

Oh, yeah. Modern woman. Freedom. Equality. Respect. ‘That was before I knew you liked to be in on the whole decision making process,’ he said by way of defence. ‘I wanted to surprise you.’

‘I think surprise gifts are wonderful,’ said Jasmine. ‘They’re so romantic. What did Nick give you for Valentine’s Day?’

‘A bright and shining future,’ said Hallie. ‘And a book about Hong Kong.’

‘No flowers?’ asked Jasmine.

‘No.’ Hallie shook her head sadly. ‘He missed the boat there.’

‘Maybe next year,’ said Nick smoothly.

‘I don’t know how you keep up,’ murmured Kai as he set another three bowls of noodles on the table and took a seat beside him.

‘She sleeps a lot,’ Nick countered dryly. ‘That helps.’

Hallie was looking forward to getting some well-earned sleep. What she wasn’t looking forward to was that pesky little time before she went to sleep. That five-metre walk from bathroom to bed, with her in her sleepwear and Nick over by the window all brooding and sexy. She made it to the bed by refusing to let her memories of this morning’s lovemaking get the better of her. Did it by counting pillows. Denial was a hell of a lot easier when you didn’t know what you were missing, thought Hallie glumly.

‘I still have some work to do before tomorrow,’ said Nick. ‘It may be a while before I come to bed. I’ll try not to disturb you.’

She risked a glance and immediately wished she hadn’t as those knowing dark eyes met hers. ‘It’s okay,’ she said, wiping damp palms down the sides of her boxers for girls. ‘I have a plan.’

‘You do?’ His lips tilted. ‘I can’t wait to hear it.’

Actually it was more theory than plan. ‘I think I need to sleep on the other side of the bed tonight.’

‘You mean
my
side,’ said Nick. ‘And that would be because …?’

‘It’s obvious, isn’t it? Last night I was trying to get to that side of the bed in my sleep so I figure if I start there tonight I’ll stay there.’

‘That’s it? That’s your plan?’

She nodded.

‘No pillows?’

She shook her head. Fat lot of good the pillows had done. ‘I’m keeping it simple.’

‘Let me get this straight. You want to sleep on my side of the bed tonight because that’s what’s going to stop you from wrapping yourself around me and—’

‘Yes,’ she interrupted hastily. ‘That ought to do it.’

‘What if it doesn’t?’ he asked silkily.

Good point. ‘Well, maybe one person could sleep on top of the sheets and the other between them.’ Yes, that could work. She hurried on. ‘I’ll sleep between the sheets and you can sleep on top of them. You slept without a sheet over you most of last night.’

‘That’s because I couldn’t find it, not because I didn’t want it.’

Oh. ‘A gentleman would offer the sheets to the lady,’ she said finally.

‘Whatever happened to equality?’ Nick’s smile was pure rogue.

Hallie sighed heavily. It wasn’t always easy, practising what you preached. ‘Or we could toss a coin.’

Nick dug in his wallet for a coin and sent it spinning towards her. ‘Tails and I get to sleep between the sheets,’ he said.

It was tails.

‘Fine.’ Hallie lifted her chin. ‘I’ll stay on top of the sheets.’

Nick’s smile deepened.

She lay down on the bed with her back to him and tried to block him out, tried to get her weary body to relax and sink into sleep but it wouldn’t comply. It was no good. She needed something over her. The red satin bedspread that she’d shoved to the bottom of the bed was her only option. She sat up, fully aware of Nick’s amused eyes on her, drew the coverlet over her and lay back down. There. Much better.

Ten minutes later she sighed heavily and shoved the cover aside. She was too hot beneath it. She
sneaked another look at Nick. He wasn’t working; rather, he was watching her. Laughing at her, to be more precise.

‘Change of plans?’ he enquired.

‘Yes. Separation by sheet has been abandoned.’ She crawled between the sheets defiantly, wrenching the top one into place so it covered her from chin to toe.

‘I don’t suppose you have a new plan?’ he asked her.

‘Er, no.’ Nothing sprang to mind.

‘We could always sleep top to tail,’ he suggested. ‘I could have my head up this end and you could have yours up there. That way if we moved towards one another through the night we’d end up next to feet.’

‘No!’ she said hastily. ‘Absolutely not!’ That would be bad, really bad and it had nothing to do with feet. Because if he pulled the sheet
up
and she followed it
down
as she was wont to do, they’d end up next to something altogether different to feet and dear Lord, she was getting all hot and bothered just
thinking
about what a man of Nick’s obvious sexual experience might think to do in such a situation. Never mind keeping her own rampant curiosity under control.

She was still tender, still a little sore from this
morning’s lovemaking. What if Nick took it into his head to, you know, soothe her? She’d be lost. Possibly begging. Hell, she was close to begging already and she was only thinking about it. ‘No top to tail.’ She tried to make her voice sound firm, had the sneaking suspicion she’d just done a halfway decent Marilyn Monroe impersonation.

‘Why not?’ he said.

‘Because I’m a lot shorter than you, that’s why, and I might, ah, move
down
the bed somewhat. Especially if you’re pulling the sheets that way. I might not end up next to feet at all.’

‘You’re right.’ His eyes darkened. ‘Top to tail is definitely out.’ He didn’t look amused any more, he looked … dangerous. ‘I guess willpower will have to do.’ He came over to her then, came right over to the bed and tucked the sheet firmly around her. ‘Get some sleep,’ he ordered, and leaned forward just enough to set his lips to hers for a kiss that would have been chaste but for the tip of his tongue that went skittering across her upper lip.

It was enough. More than enough, given where her thoughts had been to have her gasping in helpless delight and clenching the sheets to keep her hands from reaching for him. But her body arched towards him anyway, ached for him and Nick
knew it did, dammit. And groaned for the both of them.

‘Stop it,’ he muttered. ‘Stop me. We are
not
doing this. I have too much work to do.’

‘Then go do it,’ she whispered, closing her eyes tightly as if maybe, somehow, if she didn’t see him he’d be easier to resist.

It was a long time before she fell asleep.

Even longer before Nick finally went to bed.

Hallie woke the following morning snuggled into Nick’s side with her head on his shoulder and a hand at his waist. She lay perfectly still, her brain trying to figure the best way to extricate herself from his embrace while her body wondered why she would ever want to, her body being more than happy to stay right where it was, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that she and Nick had decided lovemaking was out and it was going to take a joint effort to stick to that agreement. If either of them weakened they were both lost; it was as simple as that.