Triple Trouble (19 page)

It was time to pack—and leave.

Chapter Nine

“W hat are you doing?”

Charlene stiffened, steeling herself before she turned. Nick stood in the open doorway, frowning at her.

“I’m packing.” She walked to the closet and slipped the little black cocktail dress off its hanger, folding it as she returned to the bed and the open suitcase.

“I can see that,” he said impatiently. “Why?”

She tucked the dress into the bag before she looked at him. “Because it’s easier to carry clothes in suitcases, of course.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m not sure yet.” She opened a dresser drawer, removed several T-shirts and laid them on top of the black dress. “Now that the girls are with Lana and John, my job here is finished.”

“Yeah, I suppose it is.”

Charlene felt her heart drop and realized she’d been holding her breath, hoping he’d tell her to stay. The scowl on his face, however, was convincing evidence that he had no interest in prolonging her time. She forced a smile. “I’ll be out of your way in another half hour and you’ll have your house to yourself again. I’m sure you’ll be glad you can return to peace and quiet,” she said as she crossed the room to fetch her toiletries from the bathroom.

“Not likely,” he muttered.

“I beg your pardon?” She paused, sure she must have misheard him.

“I hope you’ve been comfortable here,” he gestured at the room, not directly answering her question.

“Oh, yes.” She looked about her, knowing she would miss the way the early-morning sun shone through her window each morning, throwing a leafy pattern across the bed from the tree just outside. And she’d miss the well-planned cozy kitchen downstairs, and Nick’s state-of-the-art coffeemaker. She drew in a deep breath and managed another vague, polite smile in his direction. She didn’t look at him for fear the tears pressing behind her eyes would escape her rigid control and spill over. “You have a lovely home, Nick. Anyone would enjoy spending time here.”

“The hell with this,” he ground out.

Startled, Charlene switched her gaze from the suitcase to Nick and found him stalking toward her.

“You can’t leave.” His face was taut. He caught her shoulders in his big hands and held her. “I don’t want you to leave.”

“You don’t?” Charlene was stunned, too afraid to hope, even more afraid that she might leap to conclusions. She needed him to spell out exactly what he meant.

“Why?”

“Because I want you to marry me, live with me, have babies with me.”

“But…” Charlene’s brain spun, trying to absorb this sudden switch. “But you said you never planned to marry. Or have children. You said you couldn’t imagine having a family—that you thought Stan and Amy were crazy to pick you to take care of their girls.”

“I said a lot of stupid things,” Nick said with disgust. “The only reason I was a confirmed bachelor is because I hadn’t met you.”

“Really?” Charlene’s eyes misted. “That’s a lovely thing to say.”

“I should have said it before.” His hands tightened. “I wanted you the day I met you but I told myself all I felt was lust. And you worked for me. I’ve never crossed the line and slept with an employee.” His eyes darkened, his hands stroking down her back to settle at her waist and tug her forward to rest against him. “I couldn’t stop myself last night.”

“Neither could I,” she admitted.

“Darr and J.R. knew I was in love with you. I’ve known for a while, but it took seeing you packing your suitcase to make me say the words out loud.”

“I don’t mind.” Charlene cupped his face in her palms. “As long as you said it.” Her words eased the tension from his face.

He bent his head and brushed his mouth over hers. “Now it’s your turn.”

Charlene slipped her arms around his neck and went up on tiptoe. “I love you too,”

she murmured, her lips barely touching his before he leaned back, preventing her from reaching him. Her mouth skimmed his chin.

He bent his head and nuzzled her neck. “That’s the best news I heard all day.”

“Mmm.” Distracted by the movement of his warm mouth against her skin, she was having difficulty following their conversation. She tilted her chin as he nudged aside her shirt. Dazed, she realized she hadn’t even felt him unbutton the blue cotton.

He smiled, his mouth branding an amused curve on her skin, and then he lifted his head to look down at her.

“Just remember when we talk about this later—you agreed.”

He caught the edges of her shirt. Buttons popped as he ripped it open and stripped it off her shoulders. He shoved the suitcase off the bed and it hit the floor. Charlene barely noticed that the contents spilled out in a fan of color against the pale-green carpet.

His eyes flared with heat as he traced the curve of her breasts in the lacy white bra before he forced his gaze downward and began unsnapping her jeans. His head was bent, his black hair inches from her face, his eyelashes dark fans against his tanned skin as he slid the zipper downward.

“Nick,” Charlene breathed.

He glanced up, his fingers going still on her waistband.

“You’re wearing more clothes than I am.”

He smiled slowly, closing the distance between them to slick his tongue over her bottom lip. “So take them off,” he murmured.

She fumbled with the shirt buttons, breathing rapidly while her heartbeat pounded faster. She reached the button at his waistband and he let go of her jeans to grab his shirt and pull it free.

She reached behind her and unhooked her bra, shrugging her shoulders to let it fall free.

Nick reached for her, pulling her against him, skin-to-skin, and kissed her.

“I feel as if the world is still spinning,” Charlene confided an hour later as they sat on her bed, a tray of food between them.

“Why is that?” Nick held out a bite of scone, dripping with butter and jam.

“Mmm.” Charlene opened her mouth, chewed and swallowed. “These are heavenly. What did you say the name of the bakery is?”

“Mary Mac’s. Hold still.” Nick leaned over and licked the corner of her mouth. She tasted raspberry jam when he kissed her.

“Can we have these scones every Sunday?” she asked, caught by the intimacy of the moment.

“Absolutely.” Nick grinned at her. “Marry me, babe, and I’ll open an account there. You can have scones every day of the week if you want.”

She laughed. “You don’t have to bribe me. I already said I’d marry you—but the scones are definitely an added inducement,” she added.

“Good to know what works,” he said. “In case I need to bribe you in the future.”

“You won’t need bribes,” she said softly. “Just ask.”

His eyes heated. “You may regret that. I’ve built up a lot of hunger over the last few weeks.”

Charlene’s heart skipped, heat moving through her veins. “We’ve just spent hours in this bed. Aren’t you exhausted?”

“Babe, I’m just catching my breath.” He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively and she laughed out loud. He grinned, clearly pleased he’d amused her. “I want to buy you something. What do you want for a wedding present? Diamonds? Rubies?”

“What?” Startled, Charlene searched his face and realized he was serious. “You don’t have to buy me expensive things.” She wanted to make it clear to Nick that his wealth wasn’t why she loved him. But he clearly felt strongly about giving her a gift and she didn’t want to disappoint him. She beamed, certain she had the perfect idea.

“There is something I’d love to have,” she told him.

“You’ve got it,” he said instantly. “What is it?”

“I would absolutely love it if we could set up a college fund for the triplets,” she said earnestly.

He stared at her. “You want me to give the girls money for college?” he said slowly, eyeing her.

“Yes.” She nodded emphatically. “Please,” she added.

A slow smile curved his mouth. “You’re something else, darlin’.” He pressed a passionate kiss against her lips. “Any suggestions as to how big the fund should be?”

“No, you’re the financial expert.” She was still reeling from that kiss. “Oh, wait.”

She sat bolt upright, excited. “What if we ask the wedding guests to contribute to the girls’ college fund in lieu of gifts for us?” She waved her hand at the comfortable, expensive furnishings in his big bedroom. “You have a whole houseful of stuff. What could we possibly need that you don’t already have?”

He smiled, his expression tender. “There’s nothing I need that I don’t already have

—now that I have you.” He kissed her, wrapping his arms around her and rolling with her on the big bed until she was beneath him. “I think it’s a great idea. Let’s do it. We’ll tell Lana and John this week.”

“Good,” she managed to say.

She felt surrounded by him—safe, loved, cherished and infinitely desired.

“I love you,” she murmured, seeing the instant blaze of heat and fierce emotion in his eyes, just before he covered her mouth with his and the whole world fell away.