Page 8 of Wife for a Week

‘Phew.’ Wide-eyed at the sleek steel-and-glass building they’d just emerged from, Hallie paused to gather her composure. ‘It’s cooler than I thought it would be.’

‘It’s winter,’ countered Nick. ‘If you want hot and humid, we’ll have to come back in September.’

‘Ah.’

They followed the Teys’ driver towards an illegally parked Mercedes, and Hallie began to watch him with increasing interest. Maybe it was the way he moved or the way he seemed to know what was happening around them without ever seeming to notice. Maybe it was the way he loaded their suitcases into the trunk as if they were empty, which was definitely not the case. Maybe it was simply that he was gorgeous, with a quiet intensity about him that drew the eye, but…no. That wasn’t it either. He reminded her of someone.

He reminded her of Tris.

‘This is the Teys’ driver?’ she whispered to Nick. ‘I’m guessing that’s not all he is.’

‘No,’ agreed the driver in a soft, cultured voice as he shut the trunk and opened the car door for her. ‘I also cook.’

Great. Just what they needed. High-end security with supernatural hearing and a penchant for kitchen knives. Lucky for Nick she’d had years of experience when it came to outwitting suspicious, eagle-eyed men whose mission in life was to serve and protect. At least this one wasn’t related to her. ‘Pleased to meet you,’ she said cheerfully.

‘And you, Mrs Cooper.’

Mrs Cooper. Oh, hell. This was it.

For the next five days she was Mrs Nicholas Cooper.

The drive to the Tey residence was a silent one. The driver drove, Nick brooded and Hallie grew wide-eyed again as they entered the neon lit tunnel that would take them beneath Victoria Harbour and across to Hong Kong Island. Awe at the tunnel added to her anxiety about meeting the Teys and set her stomach to churning. Funny, but she’d never actually thought posing as Nick’s wife was going to be hard.

Until now.

Finally, they shot out of the tunnel into real light again, skirted Hong Kong Island’s central business district, and started weaving their way up a long, steep slope, towering apartment blocks giving way to luxury villas that grew bigger and grander the higher they climbed.

‘How do I look?’ she asked as the Mercedes pulled into a paved driveway and swept through no-nonsense wrought-iron security gates that closed behind them.

‘Beautiful.’ Nick took her hand in his and, with a reassuring smile, brushed her knuckles with his lips. ‘You look beautiful.’

‘Not helping,’ she warned, rapidly withdrawing her fingers from his grasp.

‘Beddable,’ he said next, which earned him a glare.

They were as ready as they were going to get.

Jasmine Tey was a tiny Asian butterfly with big eyes for Nick. She met them at the door, exquisite in a jewel-coloured sundress, her waist-length black hair held away from her face with a bamboo clasp in a style both youthful and inspired because it drew attention to both face and hair and both were stunning.

‘Nick! Welcome,’ said Jasmine. ‘My father wanted to be here to greet you, but he’s been delayed.’ She pressed against Nick for a kiss that promised much yet still managed to be just this side of proper.

Hallie grinned and cleared her throat.

‘Jasmine.’ Nick gently but firmly set her aside. ‘I’d like you to meet my wife, Hallie.’

‘Hello.’ Jasmine’s greeting was considerably more subdued than the one she’d bestowed on Nick, but she offered up a small smile nonetheless. ‘Nick did not mention you until the end of his last visit. Sadly I thought him available and made a fool of myself.’ Her frankness was disarming; the adoring gaze she bestowed on Nick was not.

A few quietly spoken words in Cantonese, uttered by the driver who had come up behind them with their luggage, made Jasmine blush and drop her gaze. ‘Kai seems to think I’m still being foolish.’

‘Oh, I think you’re doing just fine,’ said Hallie, glancing speculatively at Kai-the-driver-who-also-cooked before turning back to Jasmine. ‘Trust me, the first time I met Nick I almost forgot which way was up. And this woman on the flight today…’ Hallie rolled her eyes. ‘Why, she practically fell over her feet trying to get his attention. You can imagine.’

A tiny smile tilted Jasmine’s lips. It seemed she could.

‘I don’t blame him,’ Hallie continued, warming to her theme. ‘He can’t help the effect he has on us. Of course, he doesn’t have to enjoy it quite as much as he does.’

‘But, darling—’

‘Don’t you darling me, Nicholas Cooper!’ He’d wanted possessive, requested jealousy. Hallie had no problem whatsoever delivering both. ‘I’ve had quite enough of women falling over you for one day!’ And with a smile for Jasmine, ‘I try so hard not to get jealous, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. What can I do?’

‘You could always try trusting me.’ Nick’s voice was dry, very dry, as he bent his head and touched his lips to hers in the merest whisper of a kiss.

They were in a public place. They were making a point for Jasmine’s benefit. Role playing, that was all. But the quiet intensity in his gaze made her heart race and her body want for more. Had she really been married to this man she’d want him in her bedroom now. So he could show her with his body and with his eyes just how much he loved her. Not the pretty little flirt on the flight today, not any one of the women who’d tried to engage his interest, but her. She was hot, she was sticky, she was well and truly aroused, and dammit she was blushing. ‘Um, I don’t suppose there’s somewhere I can freshen up?’ she asked.

‘Of course,’ said Jasmine. ‘Come, I’ll show you to your suite. I also have refreshments prepared for you if you’d care to join me on the terrace a little later. I wasn’t sure how hungry you’d be so there’s a bit of everything.’

Suddenly, Jasmine was as young as her eighteen years, a sweet girl playing hostess for her father and trying hard to do it right. Hallie could relate. ‘That sounds lovely,’ she said with a warm smile.

Nick’s hand was on the small of her back as they followed Jasmine to their suite, the warmth of his touch searing into her through the thin silk of her top. By the time they reached the room his touch was a feather-light caress between her shoulder blades and her body was awash in sensation. ‘Right, then, thank you,’ she said to Jasmine. ‘We’ll meet you on the terrace in, um—’

‘Half an hour,’ murmured Nick in that voice, and quietly shut the door.

‘Phew.’ Hallie blew out a breath and headed for the window, more to put some distance between herself and Nick than to admire the view. It was a magnificent view, though, now that she looked at it. The Teys’ three-car garage and manicured, terraced gardens were spread out directly below them and beyond their walls stood more luxury housing that only the extremely wealthy could afford. Downslope, the villas and the apartment blocks gradually morphed into the towering skyscrapers and neon madness of Hong Kong Island’s central business district. Beyond that lay the glittering waters of Victoria Harbour and, beyond that, more skyscrapers: the skyscrapers of Kowloon. ‘Wow,’ she said softly.

‘Breathtaking, isn’t it?’ said Nick, crossing the room to stand beside her. ‘How do you think it went with Jasmine?’

‘She got the point.’

‘You don’t think it was too subtle?’ he asked.

‘We women are subtle creatures.’

Nick didn’t seem entirely convinced. ‘I think we need more.’

‘More what? More jealousy? Look, I’m trying to be supportive here, but in my professional opinion you don’t want Jasmine thinking you need rescuing from an over-possessive fruitcake.’

‘Not more jealousy. More touching.’

Oh.

He slid an arm around her waist and drew her gently towards him. ‘Like this.’

This was enough to set every bone in her body to melting. Hallie put her hands to his chest, striving for some distance, even as the lower half of her body betrayed her and settled snugly against him. ‘Kai’s watching us,’ she muttered. He was opening the driver’s side door of the Mercedes; maybe he was off to collect John Tey. But he was looking up at them.

‘I know.’ Nick was hardening against her as they spoke and making no secret of his affliction as his hands slid from her waist to the base of her spine and pressed her even closer.

‘Kinky,’ she said lightly.

‘It may not be the audience.’ His lips were curved in a familiar half-smile. ‘It could be you.’

She slid her hands to his shoulders, delighting in the feel of him, in the rich, musky scent of his skin. ‘You mean you don’t know?’

‘Nope. And there’s not enough blood left in my brain to figure it out.’

‘Maybe it’s both,’ she said breathlessly.

‘Now you’re trying to confuse me.’

‘Actually, I’m trying to distract you.’

‘Try harder,’ he said, and set his lips to her neck, sending a jolt of pleasure straight through her. Role playing, that was all, but she tilted her head to allow him better access, gasping when the heat of his lips was joined by a whisper of tongue as he teased and tasted his way along her neck.

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