Nellie (The Brides of San Francisco Book 1) (7 page)

“I suppose it’s black. When I look in your dressing room, all I see is an ocean of black.”

“Well, what do you expect?” Her words were clipped and she struggled to hold on to her irritation. “I was in mourning for more than two years. If I was still in New York I’d continue to wear black for another six months. My mother-in-law would have seen to that,” she muttered,

He chortled. “She sounds like a real dragon.”

Nellie slowly shook her head. “You have no idea.”

“So, the dinner party, can you handle it?”

“Yes, I believe so.” She affirmed the statement with a short nod. “The staff is more than ready for the opportunity to show just what they are capable of. I believe that, except for Violet, we don’t provide much of a challenge.”

She took a bite of her toast, which made her realize she really was hungry. Even though cold now, she ate some of her scrambled eggs and a bite of sausage.

“Don’t eat that cold stuff. James, bring Mrs. Malone a fresh plate.”

“Really, it’s alright. I don’t mind.”

“Well, I do. No reason exists to eat cold food. Not in this house. You wanted to know more about me…well here is something for you. I spent more days hungry than not when I was young. I always make sure there is plenty of food available for everyone in my house—family and staff alike.”

James brought her a fresh plate piled high with scrambled eggs, toast, sausages, bacon and fried potatoes.

“Oh my, I’ll never be able to eat all of this.”

“Eat what you want. Leave the rest. Now, don’t tell me our sweet Violet can be very much trouble,” said Blake with a laugh.

As if on cue, the door opened and Violet charged through, followed by Henry, trying to catch her and at a more sedate pace, by Bertha, who had apparently given up the attempt to keep up with the little spitfire.

Violet ran directly to Blake, totally ignored her mother, and crawled up on his lap.

“Whatcha doin’?”

“I’m having breakfast with your mother. Are you hungry?”

“Yup,” she nodded enthusiastically.

“Okay, let’s get you in your chair.”

They had stacked books on one of the chairs, so she would reach the proper height to be able to eat. Blake was having a high chair built, but it hadn’t arrived yet.

“Are you my daddy?” she asked out of the blue.

He looked to Nellie, eyebrow raised.

As she swallowed the bite of potato, she nodded her head.

“Yes, I guess I am,” he confirmed.

“Can I call you Daddy? Henry had a daddy, he tells me ’bout him all the time, but I never got one.”

Nellie put her fist to her mouth to keep from crying. Though she knew her eyes filled with tears, she refused to shed them.

“Nothing would make me happier, Sweet Pea.”

Her baby girl wrapped her arms around Blake’s neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

He hugged her little body to him and kissed her forehead.

Nellie knew then Blake was completely enamored with her baby. He would make a wonderful father.

“Will you be home tonight? For dinner?” asked Nellie. She put her hands in her lap so he wouldn’t see her tremble.

“No. My new schedule won’t start for a few days. I have to talk to Nick and Trixie and yes, to Maddie, too. She has to understand that things are different between us.” He jerked his head toward the doorway. “I don’t want any more scenes like the one this morning.”

She didn’t like the fact he’d have to interact with Maddie, but knew he was right, and the conversation with her couldn’t be avoided.

“On that note, I should go, so I can talk to Nick.”

He stood, then leaned down and gave Nellie a kiss on the cheek.

“Remember, no Violet tonight,” he whispered before straightening.

Nellie’s gaze swung to meet his. His eyes twinkled with mischief and his mouth quirked up at the corners, as though he knew she couldn’t argue at that moment.

“I won’t forget,” she murmured under her breath.

CHAPTER 5

The hour was late. He’d talked to Nick, and they’d agreed he needed to try to accommodate Nellie, at least for now. He’d tried talking to Maddie but she was having none of it. She’d screamed, cried and eventually tried to cajole him into her bed. He turned her down. He had to try with Nellie and he’d given her his word the affair with Maddie was over. He never went back on his word. When it came down to it and all the dust blew away, a man’s word was all he had.

He’d always found Maddie attractive but since Nellie came, he found the other woman’s look, her makeup, harsh. Nellie’s beauty was natural. She needed no embellishment. Now, Maddie was too flamboyant for his tastes. He preferred the quiet beauty of his wife.

Blake walked into his library, to the sideboard, and poured two fingers of brandy into a snifter. It was the best brandy money could buy. He took a sip, feeling the liquid burn his throat all the way down to his stomach. He’d never really acquired a taste for liquor, but the men he wanted to do business with did, so each night he had a brandy before bed so he wouldn’t choke or otherwise embarrass himself when he was with them. And the practice worked. He didn’t cough or make faces when the burning liquid flowed down his gullet.

Did Nellie like to drink? He remembered she hadn’t touched her wine until the toast, at their first dinner. He doubted that with two children to raise and try to keep up with, she had much use for drink. That thought made him smile. Violet. What a little hellion she would be. It pleased him that he’d be around to watch her grow into that little hellion.

Perhaps Nellie had a glass of wine with dinner, when he wasn’t there. Something to relax after a hard day. He hadn’t had dinner with the family since their wedding night. He would surprise her. He and Nick decided he would start his new schedule tomorrow. Actually, when he looked at the clock on his desk, he realized that was today. He would have a few precious hours to hold Nellie before he had to get up and go to work again.

He was wasting time. Downing the last bit of brandy with a gulp, he set the glass on his desk and headed upstairs to Nellie. To a breath of fresh air.

Blake undressed in his room and put on his robe. Would she awake? Would she pull away, or welcome him? Would she be shocked by his nudity? Only one way to find out.

He walked through his dressing room, the bathing room, her dressing room, her sitting room and finally reached her bedroom. The lamp he held high cast a golden glow on her sleeping form. Setting the lamp on the night table, he let the robe fall to the floor, leaving him naked and aroused. Just the thought of Nellie did that to him. Getting an erection while talking to Nick had been damn disconcerting.

He’d promised her he wouldn’t make love to her until she asked but keeping his word would be damn hard. Turning down the covers, he saw she wore a modest white nightgown. It looked to be made out of the softest lawn material. He’d have to get her some silk ones, though they wouldn’t stay on long. She would sleep nude like he did, so he could make love to her at any time. But, first things first. He had to get her to ask before any of his other fantasies could come true.

With an easy move, he crawled into the bed and much to his amazement…and concern…she rolled away from as far as the bed would let her.

“Robert,” she murmured without waking.

What the hell?
He stiffened, his jaw clamping tight. She thought he was her husband. How stupid was it to be angry at a dead man? Why did she fear him? He gently pulled her into his arms, she didn’t resist and for the first time all seemed right with the world.

*****

She awoke deliciously warm. Cuddled. Robert? He was dead. She knew that. She moved her arm, realized it was on a chest and froze. Chancing to look up, hoping he was sleeping and she could escape before he awoke, she looked into gray eyes sparkling with merriment.

“Good morning, sleepy head.” His deep baritone washed over her like a gentle breeze, caressing her in all the right places.

She attempted to scoot away, but he locked the arm he had around her and she was effectively trapped.

“Blake. What are you doing awake? I thought you’d be still sleeping.”

“You
hoped
I’d be sleeping and, more hopefully, in my own bed. Ah, but that’s the rub. I find your bed much more comfortable than mine.”

“Oh,” She had to admit, the firm muscles under her palm felt nice.

“Oh, yes. And, I have a delightful surprise. Nick and I worked it out, so that I start working the day shift today, That means you’ll have me all night to cuddle with.”

“Fine. Would you please let me up?” She tried very hard to show no fear, but she was shaken. She liked the feel of his body next to her and beneath her arm. He was solid and strong. Hard muscles pressed against her legs and sat waiting under her arm. “My…my arm is asleep.”

“Very well.” He lowered his arm and released her.

She rolled away and scrambled out of bed before he could change his mind.

“Whatcha doin’ in Mama’s bed, Daddy?”

Dear God! When had Violet come into the room?

“Daddy sleeps here with Mama, now,” Blake answered easily.

She put her thumb in her mouth and pondered that for a moment.

“So I can’t seep with Mama anymore?”

“That’s right, Sweet Pea. Daddy sleeps with Mama now.”

“Okay.” She popped her thumb back into her mouth and skipped out of the room and hopefully back to the nursery.

Nellie turned to Blake as she knotted the tie on her robe. “I better go check and make sure she goes back to the nursery. Bertha is obviously not awake yet or Violet wouldn’t have escaped.”

She smiled. Her little one was an adventurous soul. Henry had never been that way. Of course, Henry had his father to dote on him. And it looked like Violet may have a doting father of her own.

She gazed at Blake. He lay there with his arms behind his head, staring at her and grinning.

“Looks like we have Violet’s approval. Does anything else matter?” he quipped.

Shaking her head, she couldn’t help but smile back. “I suppose not, but that doesn’t change anything. We are still only
sleeping
together.”

His smile faded a bit. “You may think a lot of things with me, but considering I didn’t give in to my baser urges last night, you might give me the benefit of the doubt and realize that I won’t take you by force. I meant what I said. You have to come to me when you’re ready to go forward with our marriage.”

Nellie gazed at the floor. “Thank you for that. I’m sorry that I…I…well you know. That I haven’t trusted you more.” She waved a hand at the bed. “You certainly did prove last night that you are trustworthy, at least as far as our arrangement is concerned.”

“Thank you. That must have cost you a lot to admit.”

“It did. Now if you will leave me, I’d like to dress for the day.”

“Certainly.”

He threw back the covers and stood, his back to her, put his hands over his head and stretched.

A gasp escaped, and she planted a hand on her chest. “Blake! You’re naked.”

He turned. “Yes, my dear, that’s the way I sleep, and I want you to start sleeping that way, too. I want to feel your body touching mine, even if I can’t make love to you.”

Wide-eyed and mouth agape. She stared. Her cheeks heated and she knew she blushed but she couldn’t help it. He was fully aroused and magnificent. Much more so than Robert had been. She tore her gaze away and looked at his face.

He watched her with a cocked eyebrow and a grin, arms crossed over his chest.

“Like what you see?”

“Uh, what? No.” Her hand fluttered in the air. “You should cover up. What if Violet came back in?”

He stooped, picked up his robe and slid it on.

“You’re right. This time. From now on, we lock the door. She can learn to knock if she wants us for anything.”

Nellie nodded. “You’re right. It is past time she learned to knock when she wants me.”

“Or me. She seems to have taken a shine to me, much to my surprise.” He grinned and winked. “Now if her mother would just do the same.”

“Her mother has more sense and is older. She’s not taken in by a pair of beautiful gray eyes, like her daughter is.”

“Ah,” he said with a laugh. “So, you do find something about me attractive.”

She squared her shoulders. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you did. ‘Beautiful eyes’ you said. I take that as a compliment. I happen to think all of you is beautiful.”

Again, she felt her cheeks heat. This man could make her blush with just a word. It was disconcerting.

No sooner had he put on his robe than the door flew open and Violet ran in followed by Henry.

“See Henry. I told you Mama is sleeping with Daddy.”

“They are not sleeping.” Henry planted his hands on his hips.

Blake guffawed and put his fist over his mouth to hide his laughter.

Nellie didn’t think there was anything funny about it. What if…dear God. “Stop laughing.”