Page 53 of Nico
"Nico!" she hissed, mortified that his sister would come barging in along with his daughter. "Damn you."
"Yes?" he called out, keeping her trapped.
"Just letting you know that I'm taking Gracie to the main house. Hi Sadie."
"Uhm, hello."
"Thanks. Tell her I'll be by to see her later."
"All right."
"Lock up after you." He looked down at a furious Sadie. "See? Nothing to it. She's gone."
"I'm going home. Who knows what your parents will think and what if they decide to come over?" She shoved at him, but he did not budge.
"They won't."
"Because they have so much respect for your privacy?" she sneered.
"Because they will be busy tending to Gracie and my dad would never step foot inside the pool house. He thinks I'm a slob."
"You are a slob."
His brows arched. "You're hurting my feelings."
"And you're hurting me."
He shifted immediately, making her feel guilty for lying.
"Let me up."
"Was I really hurting you, darling?" His hand cupped her cheek and the look on his face had her melting.
"Damn you."
"You're right. I'm damned or I prefer to think of it as being well and truly hooked." He brushed her lips with his. "And not minding it one bit. I cannot bear to be away from you, and I don't see why I should."
Closing her eyes, she felt the anger draining away. The man was impossible and hard to stay upset with. "I have still yet to meet your parents officially."
"How about dinner tomorrow night?"
"If they agree to that, I think it's best. I need to get that out of the way." She wrapped her hands around his neck and brought his head down. "Don't try to manipulate me again."
He nuzzled her neck. "Was that what I was doing? My apologies."
"You're a moron."
"I'm your moron." He kissed her hungrily and had her melting even more.
They lingered in that newness, letting the promise of what lay ahead settle between them. Outside, the snow continued to fall, but inside, a different kind of warmth grew. One built on hope, trust, and the courage to finally say yes to happiness.
*****
"I asked my son to give us a few minutes alone and he agreed with great reluctance." Linda glided forward and went straight to the cabinet to pour two glasses of wine. "He's very protective of you."
"Do I need protection?" Sadie felt the nerves crawling inside her but managed to portray a serenity she was far from feeling. The manor with its faded red brick walls and lush grounds was intimidating enough, and then you stepped into the huge foyer with its dripping chandeliers and silken walls. Linda Coulter was a classically beautiful woman with a timeless face and creamy complexion. Her blonde hair was coiled at the nape of her neck. She was wearing diamonds at her throat, ears and wrists. Her dress was an ice blue cashmere that molded a carefully toned body.
Bottle green eyes were direct and assessing as well as unnerving. She had told Nico that she was all right talking to his mother, but she had lied.
