Page 29 of An Heir Made In Hawaii (Hot Winter Escapes)

“Yes.” She attempted to wave him off, but he eased her back down on the couch. “The doctor said everything is fine. Just the usual first trimester symptoms.”

“You’re staying here tonight. You are not driving home when you look like death,” he added as she opened her mouth to protest. “You need to rest, for both yours and the baby’s sake.”

She glared up at him.

“Is this how you’re going to get your way for the next seven months? By using the baby?”

“Yes.”

His blunt answer surprised a laugh from her.

“I’m too tired to argue.”

“Good. The top floor rooms are finished. I’ll take you up there.”

“All right.”

If she was acquiescing this quickly to his order, she definitely wasn’t feeling well.

“Do you have any guests at the inn tonight?”

“No, not for a couple of days.”

“Excellent. You can stay here.”

“Don’t push, Nicholas,” she said with warning in her voice. “I’ll stay here tonight. I’m not staying for an extended period of time. My home is at the inn.”

He knew when to push and when to relent. For now.

“Tomorrow we’ll have breakfast together and we’ll talk.”

“Talk,” she repeated in a voice that said she would rather jump into the freezing lake.

“I promise not to bite.”

His words charged the air between them. Was she thinking of the moment he was remembering, when she had been on her hands and knees before him, his hands tight on her hips as he’d driven deeply into her. She’d tossed back her head, her glorious dark hair spilling across her back as she’d cried out. He’d followed a moment later. As they’d drifted down from the aftermath of their shared pleasure, he’d gently tugged her up, pulling her back against his chest, tilted her face to his and kissed her. He’d nipped her lip, a playful caress that had made her moan into his mouth as he’d covetously run his hands up and down her body.

“Yes, well...” Anika cleared her throat. “Tomorrow, then.”

Nicholas opened the door and gestured for her to go out before him. His hand tightened on the knob as her sweet orange scent drifted up, teasing him as she walked by.

He would do the right thing by Anika and their child. Including not indulging in this mad desire for her and upping the emotional stakes between them.

He could resist. Would resist.

Even if it killed him.

CHAPTER NINE

ANIKASTARTEDATthe knock on her door.

“Coming!” she called as she glanced at the mirror and winced. Her face was pale, her hair a mess. She usually didn’t bother about things like makeup. A simple brush through her hair, a dab of mascara and some tinted lip balm were enough to keep her going. But the prospect of seeing Nicholas looking like she’d just crawled out of bed made her feel embarrassed. He was used to glitzy, glamorous women clad in diamonds and sequins. Normally she wouldn’t care. But right now, she did.

Damn hormones, she thought to herself as she moved to the door.

She twisted the knob, opened it and then stared as Nicholas smiled at her, a heavy silver tray in his hands. The brooding darkness that had clung to him yesterday was gone, replaced by his customary charm.

“Good morning,” he said as he moved into the suite. “We missed breakfast the last time we saw each other.”

---