Salvation (32 page)

“
Rearrange those meetings.
”
He paced the empty space between an L-shaped executive desk and the windows, his back to the door. He was discussing business, but his tone was kind, suggesting an easy rapport with the caller. I wasn’t sure when, or where it had happened, but his hair was damp from a shower and he was dressed casually in long navy shorts, the hem of a grey t-shirt showing beneath a navy jumper.

“
See if they
’
ll do Wednesday instead.
”
He turned to check his computer and that
’
s when he noticed me.

It was impossible to maintain a straight face when his jaw dropped. Satisfaction over his floored reaction immediately gave way to something more carnal when heat flamed his stare.

“
Let Ross know about the changes
”
he quickly said into the phone.
“
Thanks, Riley. Enjoy the weekend.
”

“
Hope you don’t mind,
”
I said after he
’
d hung up, gesturing to my attire.

“
Christ, you look incredible.
”
He stepped from behind the desk, his eyes narrowing.
“
Is there anything beneath it?
”

“
Of course.
”
I lifted the hem so he saw the edge of his underwear. The phone hit the desk with a clatter as he tossed it aside and lunged for me, lifting me off my bare feet. His mouth was on mine with a desperate passion, so fierce it took my breath away.

“
Please say you
’
ve changed your mind about needing your clothes.
”

“
I haven
’
t.
”
Smiling, I jabbed his arm.
“
But I meant what I said. I
’
m not interested in your money.
”

“
Damn shame,
”
he said with a small shake of his head, lowering me to the ground.
“
I could get used to you in this.
”

After getting our things together, we stood in the private foyer waiting for the lift.
“
We
’
ve got until Monday, baby. Let
’
s enjoy the weekend.
”

“
Monday?
”

“
I
’
ve rearranged my trip,
”
Nate said casually, ushering me into the car.
“
Now I have you for the next forty-eight hours.
”

I faced his reflection in the mirrored wall. He beamed complacently whilst I grinned stupidly back. I felt like I was free falling down with the lift.

A few hours later we were at the beach house. The wooden deck off the lounge was a real sun trap, so the ocean breeze gently blowing my loose hair around my bare shoulders was a welcome respite to the heat. A bead of condensation trickled down the side of my wine glass on the table to my right, but there were far more interesting sights to admire on my left
…

…
Like a bare sun-kissed chest. Nate
’
s eyes were shut behind sunglasses, his head back, feet propped up on the footstool. Keeping my hand on his, I hitched the hem of my sundress further up my thighs with the other and swung my bare feet onto his lap.

The edge of his mouth curled up at one corner. He began rubbing the soles with his thumbs. I stretched my legs further, and let my own head fall back, giving in to the bliss from his dexterous hands.

“
Let
’
s go out to dinner this evening,
”
he murmured, soaking up the sun.

I laughed.
“
Half of Whole Foods is currently stashed in your kitchen.
”
The detour on the way was entertaining to say the least. Nate rarely shopped, I had no idea of ingredients required for creating culinary masterpieces, so between us we made quite a pair. To the casual observer we were merely a hand-in-hand couple shopping, a routine event most took for granted. I enjoyed the carefree elation.

“
I know.
”
Nate straightened, leaving my feet in his lap, and sipped his wine.
“
But I want to take you out. On a date.
”

“
Aren
’
t we on one big weekend long date?
”

A shy smile crept over his unshaven face.
“
Hadn’t thought of it that way.
”
He settled back and returned his gaze to the ocean.
“
I
’
m still taking you out, though.
”

The serene ambiance was disrupted by the shrill sound of Nate
’
s phone ringing on the arm of his chair. He glanced at it and cursed before lifting it to his ear.
“
I told you yesterday, I
’
m not interested.
”

There was a brief pause whilst he calmly removed his sunglasses.
“
Listen, I
’
m not sure what you imagine is happening, but you need to stop calling,
”
he said, rubbing his furrowed brow.

His irritation over the same persistent caller from last night made my skin bristle.

“
We both know nothing happened.
”
He glanced at me.
“
And,
if
it did, it
’
s a mistake I won
’
t be repeating.
”

When I tried to stand and walk away, Nate gripped my ankles and fixed me with a warning glare. My stomach lurched, unsettled by something that didn’t feel right.

“
Yes, she
’
s with me now,
”
he said firmly, his mouth thinning. The unconscious clenching of his hands around my ankles told of his irritation.
“
We
’
ll discuss next week.
”

He hung up, eyes not leaving mine. The uneasy silence between us enhanced my worries. Nate released my ankles, frowning, and ran both hands through his unkempt hair.
“
I owe you an explanation.
”

Bizarrely, the urge to cry swamped me.
“
You don’t have to say anything,
”
I said quietly, lowering my feet to the floor.

“
Baby, I do.
”
Nate moved his chair to face me, knees either side of mine, and lifted my fisted hands from my lap. His jaw tensed whilst he searched my face. I stared into his eyes, seeing the same flicker of danger there as the very first time I got trapped in their spell. Except it wasn’t danger
—
it was fear. Or sadness. Whoever had called was a reminder of great sorrow, yet his eyes showed remorse and regret.

“
Was it a woman?
”
My throat burnt with pain. I already knew the answer.

“
Yes.
”

In the blink of an eye, I went from blissfully happy to completely crushed.

“
Kara.
”
He tugged me forcefully onto his lap, securing his arms around me so I couldn’t leave.
“
It
’
s in the past,
”
he whispered from the crook of my neck,
“
she knows I
’
m not interested. That I
’
m with you.
”

“
Should I expect frequent interruptions from all your past conquests?
”

“
No, she
—”

“
Or maybe she
’
s still current
…”

“
Fuck, no!
”
With his fingers on my jaw he aimed my face towards him. His voice sobered.
“
We were over a long time ago.
”

I tugged my chin away and faced the ocean. It felt like I was in the middle of nowhere, with no escape. I peeled away his arms and stood, surprised he let me, and wandered inside to the stairs blinking away unshed tears.

“
Kara!
”
I jumped when Nate stopped me on the bottom step, shrugging his t-shirt back on.
“
Don
’
t get pissed about this.
”

All my nightmares were coming true. This ridiculously handsome man couldn’t be what I needed him to be. He
’
d tried, but the lure of other women was too tempting to resist.
“
Let
’
s be real, Nate. It
’
s hardly surprising you
’
ve got women calling. Look at you, you
’
re
—”

“
You don’t trust me?
”
he seethed.

I stared disconsolately at him. Even the anguish contorting his face did nothing to diminish his beauty. Without responding, I hurried up the stairs, needing to put some space between us so I could figure out what sensible action to take. It was no surprise Nate raced quickly behind me.

I was cornered in the master suite. I wrapped my arms around my waist, cold and shivering even though I was standing in streaming sun by the window.

“
I told you I don’t fuck around. That not good enough for you?
”

I could feel the weight of his indignance firing into my back. I glanced over my shoulder. Nate filled the entryway to the room, arms stretched either side on the walls for support. Both his brow and mouth were pressed firmly together.
“
Don
’
t let this screw up our weekend,
”
he muttered.
“
She
’
s not worth it.
”

Without a word, I turned back to the window. My pulse was racing, my stomach churning nauseatingly. I sensed him closing in on me and squeezed my eyes shut when his hands found my hips behind me.

“
I
’
ve never wanted any woman the way I do you. It
’
s crazy, but I can
’
t function properly without you. Surely you see that?
”
He lowered his forehead to the back of my head.
“
Why won
’
t you trust me?
”
he implored into my hair.

And there they were. Words I
’
d mulled over time and time again when I
’
d asked myself whether I could. My heart warmed, the distant notion I
should
trust him flickering in my soul. I turned around.

“
I want to.
”
With all my heart I really did. I just couldn’t shake the heavy feeling of doubt weighing me down.
“
I gave my trust freely in the past and had it thrown in my face by two people I believed would never hurt me. So, if I
’
m not enough
—”

“
Enough?
”
A disbelieving laugh followed.
“
You
’
re everything to me, Kara.
”

I swallowed hard, touched by his candour, quietly delighted he wanted me as much as I did him.
“
I
’
m struggling with this. I hate having all this suspicion inside me, preventing me from giving you what you want, what you deserve. Be patient with me. Please.
”

“
I
’
m not screwing around,
”
he assured, big blue eyes filled with honesty.
“
Don
’
t wait for something bad to happen. Take a leap into the unknown. I
’
ll be here to catch you.
”

My smile was all he needed. He angled his head and covered my mouth with his. It was a slow seduction, no tongues, just lots of open mouthed kisses. Tasting, nibbling, toying with each others lips. It was just enough to send a low hum of desire for more rippling through my veins.

“
Let
’
s go shopping,
”
Nate said, smiling against my mouth.

I jerked back.
“
Not this again.
”

“
Not for you.
”
He shook his head.
“
I need a new cellphone.
”

What?
I frowned. Was he serious?
“
You can
’
t just go and get a new phone. It doesn’t matter.
”

“
If it makes you happy, that
’
s precisely what I
’
ll do.
”

Nate had cancelled everything
—
flights, meetings, rearranged his entire schedule
—
to spend another day with me. Of course he would get a new phone. It paled into significance compared to that. I giggled.
“
You
’
re insane.
”

“
I
’
m beginning to think I might be where you
’
re concerned,
”
he replied with a shrug.

I studied him for a minute, bemused by the sacrifices he was prepared to make. Then, when I remembered how many he
’
d made already, I took a step closer, lifting his t-shirt so I could touch his warmed skin.
“
I
’
m sure there are better things to do around here than shop,
”
I purred suggestively.

Nate
’
s winning smile flashed as he threw me onto the bed and showed me
exactly
how crazy about me he was.

THANKS to the pleasant evening, I wore a navy strapless maxi dress
—
the only suitable item I
’
d packed
—
to dinner. Two orgasms ensured my mood had lifted considerably by the time we were seated at the best table in the house. It was a small cliff top restaurant with magnificent views across the ocean.