Page 29 of Wine & Whiskey
“Do you regret it?” His soft voice in her ear brings her back to him. “Do you wish you were still with Evan?”
Rolling toward him, she wraps her arm around his waist and whispers, “No, because then I wouldn’t be here with you.”
He turns away and sits up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
Shame pounds in her chest at his response to her admission. She reaches for him, the muscles in his arm pulsing under her fingertips. “Nick, wait! What’s wrong?”
Grasping her hand, he kisses her palm before pressing it to his chest and letting out a long breath. “When you say stuff like that, it makes it hard for me to hold back. I just need a minute to cool down.”
Her heart races as she curls up behind him and rests her cheek on his back. One word is all it would take to have him turn around and take her in his arms. Make love to her like she wants. Too scared to admit her true feelings, she closes her eyes, letting the tears escape. She’s a fool for ever thinking she could let herself be loved again.
He shifts around on the bed and cups her face. “Please don’t cry.”
She wraps her fingers around his. “You’re so patient with me. I don’t know why I can’t stop being afraid and be with you.”
“I want you.” He gazes at her through hooded eyes. “God, do I want you, but I’ll wait forever if I have to.”
Rubbing his thumbs across her cheeks, he wipes away the tears and kisses her gently. She lies down again with him curled behind her, his arm wrapped around her waist. Peace fills her body as she snuggles against him, welcoming his warmth and protectiveness.
As she drifts off, a faraway voice whispers in her ear, “I love you, Shae.”
Her eyes fly open. Familiar panic fills her body. He may think he loves her, but she needs to protect her heart. Waiting for his breath to slow with sleep, she plans her escape.
* * *
In the dim morning light, Nick squints, trying to make out the numbers on the clock.8:02
He smiles to himself as his head falls back against the pillow. He never sleeps this late. Because he’s never had a woman like Shae lying next to him, warming his bed with something more than sex. Ignoring the throbbing of his groin from thinking about her delicate softness pressed against him last night, he reaches for her, but all his fingers caress is the cold sheet.
Sitting up, he scans across the sitting area, wet bar, and fireplace. The room is as empty as his bed. Her dress and shoes are gone. The improvised nightgown lies folded neatly on the bedside table. Bringing the t-shirt to his face, his heart constricts at the smell of her light, flowery scent.
He jumps out of bed and jogs down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Only silence greets him as he races through the foyer. “Shae?”
In the kitchen, Max looks up from pouring whey powder into the blender for a protein shake. “She left about three hours ago. Marta took her home.”
“Fucking shit!” Nick drives his hand through his hair at the realization she still doesn’t trust him. At the disappointment she’d rather sneak away than give him a chance. “Why the fuck didn’t you wake me up?”
Max chuckles and shakes his head. “Because she asked me not to.”
His head throbs from clenching his jaw so tightly. He spits out the words through gritted teeth, “Now you’re taking orders from her? Who the fuck do you work for?”
“Right now, I wish it was her, you stupid fuck.” Tossing the measuring cup back into the canister, Max rolls his neck before looking at him. “What the fuck did you expect me to do? I find a scared woman alone in the living room who’s freaking out and wants to leave. You really think it would be a good idea to force her to stay while I get your ass out of bed? I knew Marta would be going to six o’clock mass, so I asked her to take Shae home.”
The muscles contracting in his shoulders release. Max is right, and he’s a fucking dick. “Good move.”
“You’re welcome.”
Nick puts his fists to his eyes. “Why does she keep doing this? Why does she keep running from me?”
“I don’t know. But from what I’ve seen, she’s the kind of woman worth chasing. You need to find out what’s scaring her and fix it.”
“I’m trying, Max. I’m really fucking trying.”
Nick grabs his phone from the counter before heading into his office. His mind races as he drops into his desk chair. Last night was perfect. Never once did she seem anything but happy. A little timid in the bedroom. His groin tightens at the thought of her wearing only that silver bra and tiny panties. Well okay, maybe a lot timid. Unlike any of the other women he’s had in there. Different from any woman he’s ever known. Exactly why he wants her, no matter how long he has to wait for her to believe it.
He takes a deep breath and types on the screen.
Hi.
