The Night that Changed Everything
Anne McAllister
When simple pleasures get complicatedNicholas Savas is tall, dark, and too gorgeous for anyones good. To shield her wild-child sister from Nicks intoxicating gaze, sensible Edie steps into his eyeline instead!Nicks fascinated by the defiant, beautiful Edie shes a challenge, and hell thoroughly enjoy sweeping her down-to-earth feet out of the ballroom and into his bed! But one night with Edie Tremayne is unforgettable, hot as hell and not nearly enough
Dance with me.
It was pure charmthe rough baritone voice, the slightly lopsided smile, the touch of that single finger against her lips. And its simplicity caught her off guard. So did the unexpected stab of desire she felt to do exactly that.
Disconcerted, Edie shook her head. No, she said. Thank you.
Why not? His fingers lightly pressed her wrist. His eyes wouldnt let hers go.
Youre not supposed to ask why not, she said. Its bad manners.
A corner of his mouth quirked. I thought it was bad manners for you to say no.
She felt like a gauche teenager, her cheeks burning. But she managed a little shake of her head. Im sorry. I cant.
Cant? He cocked his head. Or wont?
About the Author
Award-winning author ANNE MCALLISTER was once given a blueprint for happiness that included a nice, literate husband, a ramshackle Victorian house, a horde of mischievous children, a bunch of big, friendly dogs, and a life spent writing stories about tall, dark and handsome heroes. Where do I sign up? she asked, and promptly did. Lots of years later, shes happy to report the blueprint was a success. Shes always happy to share the latest news with readers at her website, www.annemcallister.com, and welcomes their letters there, or at PO Box 3904, Bozeman, Montana 59772, USA (SASE appreciated).
Recent titles by the same author:
HIRED BY HER HUSBAND
THE VIRGINS PROPOSITION
The Night
that Changed
Everything
Anne McAllister
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For Peter, always.
And this time, especially, for Steve,
with thanks for the road trip and the memories.
CHAPTER ONE
HE WAS Trouble. With a capital T.
From the look of him, Edie thought as she watched Mr. Tall, Dark and Drop-Dead Gorgeous flash his brilliant smile at her starlet sister, Rhiannon, the whole word should be capitalized.
TROUBLE.
The precise sort of trouble she knew it was her job to prevent.
So Edie hovered beside a pillar in the Mont Chamion state ballroom assessing the situation as the wedding reception of her royal highness Princess Adriana and her handsome groom, well-known actor-director Demetrios Savas went on around her.
The orchestra was playing and couples all around her were dancing. It would have been bettersaferif Rhiannon had been dancing, too. Instead she was standing still, her body nearly pressed into that of the man she was talking to.
Was it too much to hope that Mr. Trouble would simply smile at her simpering, eyelash batting sister, set her aside and move away into the throng? He was clearly out of Rhiannons league. Her sister might be beautiful and flirtatious, but this man looked to be in his mid-thirties, worldly, sophisticated and clearly had far too much of the male animal for Rhiannon who was barely twenty.
And not a very mature twenty, at that.
Edie watched as her sister put her hand on his arm and stood staring up at him with rapt fascination. Edie recognized the look. It could mean she was actually interested in what he was saying to her. Or it could mean that Ree was doing what she did bestacting. In either case, unless Edie intervened it would cause no end of trouble.
Edie willed Mr. Trouble to turn away, to find another admirer. Dancing couples obscured her view for a moment. But when she caught sight of them again, she could see he hadnt moved an inch. His expression was bemused as he smiled down at her sister. It gave him an enticing groove in one cheek. Rhiannon reached up a finger and stroked it.
Edie stifled a groan.
An elbow suddenly collided with her back. She turned, expecting an apology. Instead she found her mother glaring at her.
Do something! Mona Tremayne hissed. She gave Edie a speaking look, then smoothly turned back to Danish producer, Rollo Mikkelsen, slid her arm through his and blinded him with one of her patent Mona Tremayne Sex Goddess For The Ages smiles.
All Edie could think was, Thank God Rhiannon hadnt perfected that bit of their mothers repertoire yet. But she seemed to be doing well enough on her own. Behind her as the music ended Edie detected what she thought was her sisters lilting giggle. It was joined by a deep baritone laugh.
Mona obviously heard it, too. She turned back from Rollo Mikkelsen and glowered, first at Edie, then over Edies shoulder to where Rhiannon was about to make a big mistake.
So there was no help for it. Edie set her teeth grimly and turned away from her mother, knowing her duty. Right. On my way.
As her mothers and sisters business manager, Edies job was to keep their careers on track. She dealt with the finances, the business appointments, the offers, the contracts and the myriad demands that the world made on one of Americas leading screen actresses and her up-and-coming starlet daughter.
All that was a piece of cake.
It was the hands-on meddling that Edie hated. She didnt have to do it for her mother. Over the years Mona had certainly learned to take care of herself. And if she made mistakes, she had the clout to make them go away.
Rhiannon was another story.
Rhiannon was young and vulnerable, emotional and flighty. She was also genuinely kind and loving. It was a scary combination. Making sure Rhiannon had lots of projects to keep her focused was the best way to be sure she didnt sabotage herself, her life or her career.
Ordinarily Edie could manage that by keeping her sisters calendar booked, and she never had to leave California to do it.
But Mona had rung two days ago from Mont Chamion and said, Pack your bags.
When her mother spoke in that brisk no-nonsense tone, Edie knew not to argue. Where Rhiannon was concerned, Monas instincts were almost always spot on. If she foresaw trouble, it was better to tackle it head-on than to hope it might not happen. So Edie had dutifully flown halfway around the world ready to put out whatever potential fire might erupt.
But she hadnt expected to attend the wedding.
Why ever not? Mona had demanded. Of course youre coming to the wedding. And the reception, shed added firmly. God only knows what mischief Rhiannon can get up to thereespecially now that Very Nice Andrew is gone.
Very Nice Andrewlong-suffering Andrew was how Edie thought of himwas Rhiannons fianc. Her first love, he was absolutely right for Rhiannon, and they both seemed to know itmost of the time. When he and Rhiannon were together and blissful, Edies life was relatively blissful, too.
But a lovers quarrel had sent Andrew stalking out yesterday. And Mona was right, disaster could easily ensue if Rhiannon was left feeling unappreciated and unloved.
But still Edie had protested that she wasnt attending the wedding.
Of course you are, Mona had said firmly that afternoon as shed slipped into the gown she was wearing for the wedding and motioned for Edie to lace the back panel. It was a simple sheath, royal blue, setting off Monas amazing eyes, with an open V at the back which, as Edie laced it, offered a glimpse of Monas still-creamy flesh. It was quietly sexy and titillating, showing just enough to remind the world that, at fifty, Mona Tremayne was still a very appealing woman.
Im not invited. Edie pulled the laces together. And Im not crashing a royal wedding.
Monas gaze met hers in the mirror. Nonsense. Youre not crashing. Youre my guest.
Oliver is your guest.
Sir Oliver Choate, English actor and Monas most recent costar, had flown in from Spain yesterday afternoon expressly to escort Mona to the wedding.
Besides Oliver, Mona said impatiently. You need to be there. And you might meet someone Her voice trailed off, but she looked at Edie hopefully.
Edies teeth set. Exactly what shed been afraid of. Monamatchmaking. She gave a long-suffering sigh of her own. Im not interested in meeting anyone, Mother.
Dont call me Mother in public, Mora admonished. Youre nearly thirty, for goodness sake!
Edie laughed and shook her head, then gave an extra tug to the laces, making her mother suck in a sharp breath. Were not in public, and I dont think they have the bedrooms bugged. Besides, you dont get parts for ingenues anymore. People know how old you are.
Mona sighed, then stood up a bit straighter. I try not to think about it. Anyway she shoved a hand into her artfully windblown auburn hair you must comeeven if you dont meet a soul, she added piously. Then she spoiled it by saying, But honestly, Edie, you need to get back on the horse.
Start dating again, she meant. Get a life again. Get over Ben.
But Edie didnt want to get over him. Why should she? Her husband, Ben, had been the best thing that had ever happened to her. And yes, he had been dead two and half years. But so what?
I did, Mona pointed out, not for the first time.
And how did that work out for you? Edie said dryly.
Edies father, Joe, had been killed in a horse riding accident when Edie was five. Hed been the love of Monas life, and shed spent the next twenty years trying to replace him with a succession of men whod become Edies stepfathers.
I have wonderful children, Mona said, defiantly meeting her daughters eyes in the mirror.
That was certainly true. Edie couldnt complain about her younger brothers and sisters. In fact Rhiannon, Grace, Ruud and Dirk were the best part of her life, the family that had become for her the one she and Ben had never had.
You do, Edie agreed solemnly. She might not have shared her mothers determination where men were concerned, but she loved her siblings dearly.
And one of them needs you, Mona had said, playing the trump card. Tonight. Lord knows what will happen if Very Nice Andrew breaks off the engagement.
Do you think he might? Edie thought Andrew was besotted with her sister, but she supposed even he could be pushed too far.
Andrew Chalmers was twenty-three, a three-event Olympic swimming medalist, cute as a button and an all-around nice guy, to boot. He had been head over heels in love with Rhiannon since they were in high school together, poor fool.
Though, to be fair, when she wasnt flirting outrageously with everything in trousers just because she could, Ree genuinely seemed to be in love with Andrew, too. He steadied her, brought out the caring, sweet side of her. And both Mona and Edie were delighted.
A month ago, Andrew had asked her to marry him. Instantly Rhiannon had said yes. They were getting married next summer.
Rhiannon was happily planning their wedding. Or had beenuntil yesterdays quarrel.
It hadnt been subtle. Right there in the middle of one of the Mont Chamions most elegant royal reception rooms in front of the king and most of the royal family, Rhiannon had pitched a fit when Andrew had said he was leaving to go to a swimming competition in Vancouver.
But what about me? Rhiannon had wailed. Youre taking me to the wedding!
Im not, actually, Andrew had said in calm, reasonable tones. And you knew that, Ree. I said so last week when you wanted me to come over. I said I could come but I had to leave on Friday.
But I want you to be with me!
You can come with me. I said so, he reminded her.
But Rhiannon hadnt wanted to miss the royal wedding. And shed been sure she could twist Andrew around her finger once she got him here. But Andrew had more backbone than that. And no flood of tears or flurry of words had deterred him. He had stalwartly held his ground and soon thereafter caught a flight to Paris and then to Vancouver. Privately Edie had cheered him on, glad he wasnt knuckling under to every demand Rhiannon made.
But she had worried, too, because Rhiannon had been in High Drama Mode ever since.
Shell do something, Mona predicted. I know it. And so do you. Shell ruin it, shoot herself in the foot.
Shooting herself in the foot, literally, was not Rhiannons problem. Doing something outrageous with an entirely inappropriate man just to spite Andrew was.
Rhiannon was one of the most beautiful young women Hollywood had ever seen. She was Marilyn Monroe at twenty. Betty Boop in the flesh. And she could flirt for England. Or Wales in this case as Rhiannons father was the fiery Welsh poet, Huw Evans. Rhiannon had dual-citizenship. And the ability to get into trouble no matter which continent she was on.
So here Edie was, lurking on the edges of the ballroom, clad in her sisters sparkly mauve dress that looked magnificent with Rhiannons sun-kissed platinum-blonde tresses and deep golden tan, but made Edies brown hair look dull and which washed out her fair skin, making her freckles stand out like spots. Even worse was the fact that Rhiannons size seven matching heels were pinching Edies size nine feet. It was like being stuck in a badly adapted version of Cinderellaand there wasnt a fairy godmother in sight. Of course there was no prince, either.
Only Mr. Trouble.
Even as Edie watched, Rhiannon cozied up to him, leaning closer, slipping her arm through his. Then she ran the fingers of her other hand down the front of his dinner jacket and giggled a breathless giggle at something he said. She tossed her head, making her hair dance in the light reflected from the crystal chandeliers. At the same time she tucked herself against him and reached up to playfully tousle his hair.
Edie swallowed a groan. Next thing you knew shed start fiddling with his tie. Undressing him! Mona was right. Disaster was imminent.
Gritting her teeth against the blisters forming on her heels and toes, Edie pushed away from the pillar and made her way toward her sister.
Ah, there you are! she said cheerfully. She even managed to beam brightly though it felt more like a wince.
Rhiannon turned and tossed her hair again, obviously annoyed at having her flirtation interrupted. She was no fool. She had to know exactly why Edie was here. What do you want? Ree demanded.
Her tone had Mr. Troubles dark eyebrows arching as he looked down his blade-straight nose at Edie, wordlessly asking the same question.
She flashed him a smile of polite acknowledgment, but focused on her sister. Ive had a text from Andrew. Which, fortunately, was absolutely true.
Rhiannon lit up, then remembered she was mad at Andrew and frowned. Whys he texting you? Her tone was accusatory.
Cant imagine. Edie shrugged. Maybe because you turned your phone off?
Rhiannons lower lip jutted out petulantly. I didnt want to talk to him.
Well, he wants to talk to you. Badly. He sounded desperate.
That might have been embroidering things a bit. The text had said, Tell ur sister 2 turn her fone on. Need 2 talk.
But hed said need. Didnt that mean desperate? Of course it did.
Badly, Edie reiterated, to reinforce the point. Then she turned her gaze on the man still standing with his arm around Rhiannon. Andrew is her fianc, she said pointedly.
He let her go. Quite casually but deliberately, he eased his arm from beneath her hand and moved a step away. He looked at Rhiannon. A fianc?
Ree lifted her shoulders in a sulky shrug. Hes not here, she said. But then she had the grace to appear a bit shamefaced. We quarreled. Hes not always right, she muttered.
Mr. Trouble didnt say anything, and Edie felt obliged to jump in and steer the situation. Of course hes not, she said stoutly. And now hes had plenty of time to think about things all the way to Vancouver. Im sure he didnt mean to hurt you, Ree. Hes probably missing you dreadfully.
Do you think? Suddenly Rees tone was bright.
Edie nodded emphatically. Call him.
But Rhiannon hesitated. She looked at the handsome man beside her, then her gaze measured the whole ballroom as if she were trying to decide what shed be missing if she left: champagne, music, happy couples dancing past. Mr. Trouble who was, even in Edies disapproving estimation, the handsomest man in the room.
Rhiannon looked disgruntled. He should have stayed. We could have danced.
Yes, but he wanted you to go with him, too, Edie reminded her. Its a two-way street. He has a competition.
But Id have missed the wedding.
And now youre missing Andrew.
Edie let that sink in for a few moments. Then she added almost offhandedly, If you call him, you can tell him what Sir Oliver said about using his Scottish castle for your honeymoon.
It was the ultimate temptation. Ever since their engagement, Rhiannons life had revolved around their wedding plans, and every detail had to be shared with Andrew. Sir Olivers offer of his familys castle had been all Rhiannon could talk about last nightwhen she wasnt talking about how she was fed up with Andrew.
Oh, all right. Rhiannon tumbled to the temptation exactly as Edie had dared hope. Ill call him. I guess I should since he tried to call and if he texted you
Ree sighed, then lifted her gaze to look at Mr. Trouble. He loves me, she explained. And I love himeven if hes maddening. So I probably should call him. But, she added a bit wistfully, I really would have loved to see the architectural renovations in your bedroom.
And Id have been pleased to show them to you, he said gallantly.
Edies jaw dropped. She slammed it shut at once. Rhiannon didnt notice. She gave them both a little wave and tripped gaily off toward the doors to the Great Hall where, please God, she would call Andrew and make up with him.
Edie watched her go, holding her breath until Rhiannon was out of sight. Then she turned to make her excuses and disappear, only to discover that the man Rhiannon had been pawing wasnt looking in the direction Rhiannon had gone.
His dark eyes were now on her. A slow smile touched his lips. And then he winked at her.
Winked!
Something kicked over in her chest. It was almost electric, as if shed been dead and was suddenly jerked back to life.
Like Sleeping Beauty and the prince? she sneered at herself. But the sensation was so real and caught her so totally unaware that for a moment she couldnt speak. She hadnt felt this sort of awareness since Ben.
When she did finally find her voice, she said, Architectural renovations in your bedroom?
Next thing you knew hed say hed been going to show Rhiannon his etchings.
But Mr. Trouble just grinned at her and she felt another jolt. Scouts honor, he said, eyes alight with amusement.
Edie refused to think it was funny. She glowered at him.
You dont believe me? Ill show them to you. He offered her his arm.
Instantly Edie folded hers across her chest. Dont be ridiculous! Im not going to your room. And Rhiannon wouldnt have, either, she lied a second later, needing for some reason she didnt quite understand to deflect the focus back to her sister. She does love Andrew. They just had a disagreement. And she lost her head. Not to mention her sense of propriety. She wasnt offering, she added firmly.
No? His brow lifted. Apparently you didnt hear as much of the conversation as I did.
Edies cheeks burned. She wouldnt havehave
Slept with me? He was laughing at her now. You dont think so?
No! At least Edie hoped not.
Well, dont worry, I wouldnt have slept with her.
Edies eyes widened, and she was surprised again by another unexpected feeling, this time one of something akin to relief. You wouldnt?
He shook his head, meeting her gaze. Not on your life. Shes a child.
Shes twenty.
He nodded. Like I said, not my type.
You have a type. It wasnt a question.
Of course he had a type. Men like him always did.
Well, um, good, Edie said, because she felt obliged to say something in the face of the steady assessing look he was giving her. She started to back away.
He followed. Who are you? he demanded. His gaze was intent now, his eyes so dark they were almost black.
Rhiannons sister. No one ever believed it until Mona swore on a stack of Bibles that shed given birth to them both. Her sister was blonde and busty, all curves and come-on. Edie was all angles, elbows and knees. Always had been. With nondescript brown hair and green eyes. Not the color of jade. Not the color of emeralds. Pretty much the color of grass. Half sister, she corrected.
Do you have a name, half sister?
Edie Daley.
Something else she and Rhiannon didnt have in common. Her sister was named after some ethereal mythological Welsh goddess. Edie was named after her fathers mother.
Ah. Edie. He grinned and reached out and tugged one of her nondescript locks of hair. My grandmothers name.
Exactly.
Im Nick.
As in up to the old nick, no doubtas her grandmother used to say when describing the familys mischief makers.
Nick Savas.
Demetrioss brother? Edie knew he had several, but she hadnt been introduced to any of them. She just knew that almost all of the tall dark-haired, sinfully gorgeous men at the wedding were related to the groom.
Nick shook his head. Cousin.
Trust Rhiannon to flirt with a member of the grooms family. The most handsome member of the grooms family, come to that. All the Savas men were handsome as sin. But this one was definitely the most gorgeous of the lot.
That was doubtless why shed felt the sudden jolt of awareness. She wasnt interested, but she wasnt dead! She was just able to appreciate a handsome man.
I apologize if my sisters behavior was inappropriate, Mr. Savas she said politely, again beginning to edge away.
Nick, he corrected.
She didnt repeat his name. She recognized it for what it was: an invitation to continue the conversation. And she didnt want to do that. Her awareness of him made her nervous, though she wasnt sure why.
If youll excuse me She turned abruptly to take the same route her sister had toward the doors. Her duty was done, she could go back to her room, shed the ugly dress, kick off the pinching shoes and spend the rest of the night with a good book.
But before Edie could take a step, strong fingers manacled her wrist, anchoring her right where she was. She looked back at him, eyes wide. What?
Youre not going to follow her and make sure she calls him, are you?
Of course not.
So, why are you running off? Stay and talk to me. There was a smooth, persuasive note in his voice.
I She stopped, wanting to say no, expecting herself to say no. She always said no. But now she couldnt seem to form the word. About what? she said finally, warily.
He raised a brow. The architectural renovations in my bedroom?
She couldnt help it. She laughed.
It was the sort of wry remark that Ben would have made. Her husband had never taken himself very seriously. And after years spent in her mothers world of overinflated egos, Bens easy-going approach to life had been one of the things shed loved the most about him.
She hadnt expected that same dry humor from Mr. Trouble, though. But Nick Savas laughed, too, then grinned at her. There, he said. See? I knew I could get you to smile.
Edie resisted the pull of attraction. Ive already smiled. I smile a lot, she contradicted him.
But how often do you mean it? he challenged softly.
Often!
But not to me, he said. Not until now.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he touched a finger to her lips to forestall her.
Dance with me.
It was pure charmthe rough baritone voice, the slightly lopsided smile, the touch of that single finger against her lips. And its simplicity caught her off guard. So did the unexpected stab of desire she felt to do exactly that.
Disconcerted, Edie shook her head. No, she said. Thank you.
Why not? His fingers lightly pressed her wrist. His eyes wouldnt let hers go.
Youre not supposed to ask why not, she said irritably. Its bad manners.
A corner of his mouth quirked. I thought it was bad manners for you to say no.
She felt like a gauche teenager, her cheeks burning. But she managed a little shake of her head. Im sorry. I cant.
Cant? He cocked his head. Or wont?
Edie took refuge in the truth. She lifted her shoulders and said simply, My feet hurt.
Nick did a double-take. Then he glanced down at the mauve leather pointy-toed high heels trapping her feet.
Dear God. He scowled fiercely at them, then looked up to flash her a quick grin. Come here. And he tugged her inexorably to one of the tables at the edge of the dance floor. Sit.
It sounded more like a command than an invitation. But getting off her feet was a welcome prospect, so obediently Edie sat.
She expected he would sit down beside her or, even better and probably more likely, leave her there and go find some other woman to dance with. Instead he crouched down in front of her and, before she knew it, hed taken both her shoes off and tossed them under the table.
She let out a little yelp. What are you?
I dont know why you women wear such terrible shoes. Nick shook his head, his dark eyes locking with hers accusingly, his fingers caressing her instep.
She started to say they were Rhiannons, but his touch was robbing her of intelligible speech. And when he began to rub each of her pinched feet gently between his hands, she nearly moaned. It felt heavenly. And intimate. His touch sent bolts of awareness straight through her. She wanted him to stopand at the same time nearly sobbed when he let go and pulled his hands away.
There now. He stood up in one fluid movement. Better?
Edie looked up, dazed to see him looking downimperious, in command, his gaze compelling.
All she could do was nod.
Then dance with me. And he pulled her to her feet and straight into his arms.
It was magic.
He swirled her off her stocking-clad feet and led her into the waltz. She should have stumbled. She always stumbled when she danced.
Even when shed danced with Ben at their wedding shed felt self-conscious, always aware that Mrs. Achenbach, her cotillion instructor, had lamented that her clumsy pupil had two left feet. The words had taken up residence in her brain from the time Edie was ten years old. She absolutely believed them.
But tonight she had one of eachstocking-clad though they wereand miraculously they did exactly what they were supposed to do: followed his.
Of course they did.
Because that was the sort of man he was. Nick Savas said, Dance, and they didnt dare do anything else. Edie peeked down at her toes, amazed.
Something wrong?
Everything. Nothing. Edie shook her head, still dazed. It was like having an out-of-body experience. Or maybe like having an in-someone-elses-body experience. Like Cinderellas.
Certainly not her own.
She wasnt even supposed to be here. Didnt want to be here. Had no business being hereexcept for Rhiannon. And Rhiannon had already gone.
Instinctively Edie glanced around, looking for a clock. How close to midnight was it?
No way to tell. And Nick wasnt giving her a chance to look. They swirled and dipped and glided. Her liberated toes tingled and she would have wriggled them if shed been able to do that and dance at the same time. It was the least likely thing she could imagine doing. She half expected someone to tap her on her shoulder and point out her lack of shoes, Or, worse, make a general public announcement.
But of course no one was looking at her. Especially not at her feet.
He had danced her all the way across the ballroom by this time. It was lovely, exhilarating. And yet she could only wonder how in heavens name she was going to get Rhiannons shoes back. She glanced around and couldnt even pick out where theyd left them.
Now what? Nick said gruffly.
My shoes
Not yours, Nick said with certainty.
Well, no, Edie admitted. Rhiannons. But I cant just leave them there.
Well get them later. He dismissed the whole problem, but then he wasnt dancing at the royal wedding in his socks. Smile, he commanded her. I like it when you smile. And he smiled again, too, as if forming a smile of his own could prompt her.
It seemed that it could. Edies lips curved. Apparently her mouth was as malleable as her feet.
Nick nodded. Yes. Like that.
No wonder her sister had been pawing his dinner jacket.
Edie faltered at the thought. But the second her feet began to stumble, Nick caught her, drew her up again, pulled her close. Now her breasts pressed against his jacket. And as she was not overly well-endowed that meant all the rest of her was very close to him, too. Through the silk of her dress Edie could feel his legs brush against hers. If she turned her head, she could count individual whiskers on his jawline. And whenever she drew a breath, she smelled soap and a hint of woodsy aftershave.
Her knees wobbled. Nick held her closer still.
Im not a very good dancer, she apologized, trying to straighten and pull back.
But Nick didnt let go. Im enjoying it. Best part of the evening so far. His voice was a purr in her ear. The vibration sent a tingle all the way down her spine. And her brain leaped ahead, going exactly where she didnt want it to go.
So far?
How far was he expecting it to go?
Now what? he murmured as he must have felt her stiffen in his arms.
Edie gave a little shake of her head. Nothing. I Im fine. I just thought of something.
You need to stop thinking. She could hear the smile in his voice and as he turned his head, she thought she felt his lips against her hair. The shiver was back, sliding down her spine.
What on earth was wrong with her?
She hadnt felt like this in years. Hadnt felt the least flicker of interest in a man since Ben.
Her mothers insistence that she get back on the horse had fallen on deaf ears because she didnt feel any need to. And she refused to force things. But this wasnt forced. It was entirely in-voluntaryand very very compelling as Nick steered her closer to the orchestra. The music enveloped her, wrapping her in a ridiculous Cinderella fantasy.
Danger! her sensible self whispered.
But her dancing self, her wiggling-toes self, countered just as quickly: as long as she knew it was a fantasy, where was the harm?
It wasnt as if she believed in fairy-tale endings.
Shed learned at eighteen when heartthrob actor, Kyle Robbins, had broken her heart that fairy tales were fantasies, that real life romances didnt end in happily ever after. And if shed dared to think that her marriage to Ben disproved that, well, she had only to remember the devastation of losing him.
So, she knew you couldnt count on happily ever after. She was immune.
So go ahead, she told herself. Take it for what it isa few minutes of enjoyment. It wont last, but who cares? Its one dance, one night. Nothing more.
For the first time tonight her brain and her feet were in agreement. She smiled up at Nick Savas, wiggled her toes and gave herself over to the dance.
Nick Savas didnt do weddings.
Hadnt in years.
He hadnt wanted to come to this one, either. But when you were the cousin of the groom, on the one hand, and were currently restoring a wing of the brides familys castle, on the other, you knew you didnt have a choice.
There was no way he could have continued working right through the royal wedding dayeven though he would have preferred it. He didnt want to watch another happy couple make vows to each other for the rest of their lives. He didnt want to see the way they looked at each other with hope in their eyes and dreams in their hearts. Maybe it was selfishall right, it damned well was selfishbut he didnt want to witness other people getting what hed been denied.
Ever since his fiance, Amy, had died two days before their own wedding, hed turned his back on all that.
Savas weddings were particularly to be avoided not just because he would have to watch another of his cousins plight their troth, but because every single relative there seemed to consider it their responsibility to point out eligible women for him to meet. To marry.
Nick had no interest in marrying anyone.
No one seemed to get that. So ordinarily he took care to be on a different continent. But working on Mont Chamions castle, meant he was here today. Hed had no choice.
It will be lovely, his aunt Malena had assured him yesterday afternoon. I think Gloria is bringing two of Philips assistants. Theyre both young and unmarried, she added brightly, confirming his worst fears.
Oh, yes, his aunt Ophelia gushed. There will be lots of absolutely gorgeous women. You can take your pick.
But Nick didnt want his pick. So hed arrived at the last minute, then sat in the back, avoiding the myriad Savas aunts, uncles and cousins, who, seeing him in attendance, would put one and one together. It was what they did. They couldnt help it. They had an ark mentalitythe world was best arranged by twos.
Nick didnt dispute that. Hell, he absolutely believed it.
But there was no best for him anymore. Never would be.
When he heard the priest intone, Do you take this woman his throat had tightened.
He shut his mind off, determinedly focusing instead on the various cherubim and seraphim floating above the congregation, studying them as if he were going to be tested on them which, once up on a time he had been, in a course on period architectural detail.
These were mid-seventeenth century from the look of them. Very baroque. Bernini would have been right at home.
I now pronounce you man and wife.
Nick breathed a sigh of relief.
He would have escaped then, except his uncle Orestes had latched on to him before he could, determined to talk to him to see if he wouldnt like to come and restore the moldering gazebo on his Connecticut property.
At least it hadnt been an offer to introduce him to the new office girl. Silently Nick had counted his blessings as he went along the receiving line, congratulated his cousin, Demetrios, and kissed the glowing bride.
After the dinner, which he had contrived to eat in the company of his uncle Philips triplet daughters because no one could expect him to be interested in them, he had propped himself against a wall near the dance floor where conversation would be difficult and no one would suggest that he dance.
Hed been counting the minutes until he could politely leave, when an eager young blonde had latched on to him.
Rhiannon Evans, shed announced breathlessly. And shed looked at him as if expecting him to know who she was.
She was young, definitely stunning and determinedly sparkling. Im an actress, shed explained, forgiving him because he admitted he didnt know the first thing about movies. Wasnt really interested. Didnt watch them.
He should, shed told him. He could start with hers.
She was getting billing nowthough still below the title, she admittedand bigger and better parts. She told him she was serious about her craft and that she didnt want to be known simply for being beautifulshe said this last with no self-consciousness whatsoeverbut for being good at her work.
There was an edge to her bright girlish chatter. Nick was well-versed in female body language and he could see she had An Agenda.
First there was the hand on his arm, then hers somehow linked around his. She leaned into him. She patted his lapel, then touched his cheek.
Im determined not to ride on my mothers coattails, either. And that was when hed learned she was Mona Tremaynes daughter.
At least he knew who Mona was.
Nick doubted there was a male breathing who hadnt fantasized about Mona Tremayne at some point in his lifeher early sex goddess movies had seen to that. Heaven knew as a young man he had, even if she was nearly old enough to be his mother.
Hed met her a few days ago at a dinner Demetrios had hosted. Shed been without her daughter then, thank God. Mona was still strikingly beautiful, still worthy of fantasies if hed been so inclined. She was also warm and friendly, interested in what he was doing at the palace.
When she learned he was here not for the wedding, but to oversee the restoration of part of the palace, shed said, You dont do ranches, do you?
Never have.
You should consider it. Shed smiled encouragingly. Ive got an old adobe on my property that needs to be restored before it crumbles back to primeval mud.
Hed laughed. But because old buildings of any sort interested him hed asked her a few questions, then offered to send her the names of some colleagues.
Rhiannon hadnt been nearly as interesting. But as she kept on chattering. Nick contrived to look interested. At least she didnt have marriage on her mind. He was sure of that.
There had been an edge of fragile desperation to her frenzied chatter, and the way her gaze roamed the room, he thought she was desperate for someone to see her with him.
He didnt mind who saw them together. Nothing was happening.
Nothing was going to happen. And her presence kept the Savas matchmakers at bay.
Finally she paused and focused on him. What do you do? she asked.
And so he told herat lengthabout architectural renovation and restoration. Served her right, he thought, for pawing him. It was clear that she didnt care a whit. She had other things on her mind.
So he droned on about beams and joists, about weight-bearing walls, about matching the plaster using original techniques. He talked about dry rot and rising damp and wormy floorboardswhich in the interest of her further education, he offered to show her as he was currently engaged in pulling up some in the palaces east tower. Hed even gone so far as to say hed taken a bedroom there so he could continue to work on the wormy floorboards at all hours.
Hed figured he might bore her enough that shed go find someone more inclined to take her up on what she seemed to have in mind. Or maybe the suggestion would scare her off.
In fact, that was when shed run her hand down his lapel, looked dreamily up into his eyes and told him how much shed simply adore coming to his bedroom to see the renovations.
Nick began to think it might be a better idea to dance with herand step on her toes.
But it hadnt come to that.
Hed been saved. By Edie Daley.
A less likely savior would have been hard to imagine. A less likely sister to the ethereally beautiful Rhiannon was hard to imagine, too.
They looked nothing alike. Though Nick supposed he could detect the Mona Tremayne cheekbones in both her daughters faces. But the similarity ended there. Where Rhiannon determinedly emphasized those bones with makeup, Edie did nothing to highlight them at all.
The little makeup she wore seemed more designed to cover up than accentuate. Though he suspected that what she was covering up were freckles.
He thought he would prefer the freckles.
He certainly preferred her flashing gray-green eyes and tart tongue to her sisters blue eyes and breathless babbling. Edie didnt charm, she didnt flatter. She didnt paw, either. She kept her distance.
And she got right to the business at hand, which was clearly making sure that her sister had nothing to do with him. Used to having women thrown at his head, Nick found Edies portrayal of a determined mother hen, intent on extracting her chick from danger, oddly appealing. Her words to her sister, though, revealed that she understood that Nick was not the entire source of the danger. Clearly she realized that her sister was capable of disaster with very little help at all.
Nick didnt envy whoever Rhiannons fianc was. The poor guy would have his hands full with herwhich made Edies ability to direct her back onto the straight and narrow all the more impressive. Obviously she was a woman to be reckoned with.
She had presence. And character.
While she may not have had the perfect ageless features of her mother or the ethereal beauty of her younger sister, Edie had the kind of bone structure a camera would love, as well as the liveliest eyes hed ever seen.
Nick liked lively eyes. He liked her take-charge, no-nonsense personality. He liked the fact that she was intent on backing away from him.
It made him want to get closer.
And once her sister had disappeared, Nick stopped trying to think of ways to escape the reception and instead tried to find ways to keep Edie Daley talking.
For the first time he began to enjoy himself as he drew her out, got her talking, even teased her a bit. She responded, then backed off. He didnt want her backing off.
So he asked her to dance.
The request probably shocked him more than it had her. Nick didnt dance. Hadnt for years.
The last woman hed danced with had been Amy, three nights before their wedding, the night before shed died. Hed danced with Amy and it had been the last time hed held her in his arms.
It wasnt the same, he assured himself. Nothing like the same.
This was a one-off, a turn around the dance floor with a pretty, vivacious woman. He was at a wedding, for Gods sake. Dancing was expected! Just because he hadnt done it in eight years It meant nothing.
Dancing was only moving your feet to music. Hardly something to hold sacred. He should have done it years ago, would have if it had ever occurred to him.
So he was shocked again when Edie said no.
In all his thirty-three years Nikolas Savas had never been turned down for a dancewhich was undoubtedly why hed demanded, Why not?
Her unexpected, yet honest answer had made him laugh. Her feet hurt.
No woman hed ever metnot even Amyhad actually admitted that those stupid pointy-toed shoes women wore hurt their feet.
When hed knelt to ease hers off, they were so tight he couldnt believe shed even got them on. He wasnt surprised when shed said they belonged to her sister. No wonder she didnt want to dance. It was astonishing she could even walk.
But once hed freed her feet and tossed the offending footwear under the tableso she wouldnt dare crawl under and rescue themshe let him take her into his arms and swirl her onto the dance floor.
It was like riding a bike. Once you learned how to dance, you never forgot.
But it wasnt like dancing with Amy.
Amy had been tiny, the top of her head barely reaching his shoulder. Edies nose would have bumped his chin if shed come that close. She didnt. She kept her distance and periodically glanced down at her stocking-clad toes.
So did he. They charmed him. She seemed shocked by them. Shocked to be dancing with him.
But she moved well, except for the fact that every once in a while she would stiffen and start to pull away.
When she did, he drew her closer, enjoying the feel of her soft breasts against his chest, of the silky dark hair that brushed his jaw when she turned her head. He brushed his lips against her hair.
She stiffened again. Are you staring?
No, that wasnt what he was doing. He grinned. No.
You are, too. Youre ogling my feet.
He laughed and pulled her even closer. There. Now I cant see them. Better?
Er, um, she muttered into the wool of his lapel. He felt her body stiffen again, but she didnt pull away. And seconds later, the tension seemed to ease, her body settled against his as they moved together.
Much better, he decided. Except that his body was becoming increasingly aware of how very appealing she was. Nick might have sworn off the idea of marrying after Amys death, but he hadnt sworn off sex.
And thoughts of taking Edie Daley to bed were very appealing.
She seemed to fit in his arms, and as they moved together, he rested his cheek on her hair. She had amazing hair, not at all like the straight platinum curtain Rhiannon wore. Edies was thick and dark and wavy. He suspected it had started out the evening tamed by a pair of gold hair clips just above her ears. But it was a long while since those clips had done their job. Even as she danced, her hair was escaping, curling wildly with a life of its own.
He wanted to thread his fingers through it, bury his face in it. He imagined what it would look like spread out against the sheets. He began to consider again how to get her there when the last strains of the waltz died away and the orchestra segued into something louder, faster and with a pounding of drums, which matched the thrum of his blood coursing through his veins.
Well, Edie said, abruptly drawing back and pulling her hand out of his. That was nice.
Nice? Nick stared at her, jolted.
She nodded, dimpling as she smiled. Very nice. Thank you for the dance. There was something almost impishly polite in her tone, as if she knew the effect she was having on himand wasnt going to even give him a chance to try his moves.
But Nick wasnt going to give up without an effort.
I can do better than nice, he promised, holding out his hand, silently urging her to take it, to come with him.
Resolutely Edie shook her head. Thank you, but no. And it isnt impolite to refuse a second dance, she informed him before he could claim otherwise.
How about a glass of wine? We can sit this one out.
But again she shook her head. Its been a pleasure, Mr. Savas. Thank you for being kind to my sister. And thank you for the dance. I enjoyed it.
Had he heard an infinitesimal hesitation in her words? Before Nick could decide, Edie held out her hand and shook his politely. Good night.
No!
He didnt say it. Blessedly his mouth stayed firmly shut. But a thousand things ran through his mind that he might say to stop her, to prolong the moment, to keep her there.
That he wanted to so badly surprised him. He wasnt used to feeling any such compulsion. Didnt want to feel it.
Bedding her, yes, hed like to do that. But just keep her there to talk to him? There was no point.
So he tucked his hands into his trouser pockets and nodded.
Good night, Ms. Daley, he said equally politely. Thank you for the dance.
She turned away. But as she did so, he couldnt resist. If you ever do want to see the architectural renovations in my bedroom, Ms. Daley
She spun back, her eyes flashing green fire.
Nicks heart kicked over. He turned on his best millionmegawatt come-hither grin. Edie turned and, with a toss of her head, disappeared into the milling dancing crowd.
Only when the crowd had swallowed her up did he turn away. He felt oddly flat.
He should have gone back to his room then. It was nearly midnight. Hed done his duty. Showed up. Even danced. No one would remark on his vanishing now.
But he didnt go. He prowled the edges of the dance floor, restless and out of sorts. Edgy. Hungry. And not for food. His body was still aware of how neatly Edie Daley had fit into his arms.
Damn it. Abruptly he turned and asked the nearest unattached female for a dance.
Why not? Hed danced once tonight already. It was just more of the same.
But it wasnt the same. This woman was nothing like Edie Daley.
She didnt settle into his arms with a reluctance that gave way to rightness. She plastered herself against him, locked her fingers together behind his neck and nibbled on his jaw. She didnt so much dance as slither and move against him until at last the music ended and Nick was finally able to peel her off again.
Another? she murmured.
No. Hed had enough. More than. Im done dancing, he said firmly, though years of having good manners drilled into him made him try to look regretful as he stepped away. Im calling it a night.
Even as he did so, someones hand touched his arm from behind. Im glad to hear it, an unexpected female voice said.
Nick spun aroundand stared with shock into Edie Daleys gray-green eyes. She linked her arm firmly through his and gave him a blinding smile. Because Ive just decided that Id love to see those architectural renovations.
CHAPTER TWO
NICKS brows shot up. So did his heartbeat. And the spark of interest that had vanished when she had was back in spades.
But even as his libido was in favor of her suggestion, his brain was saying, Hang on a minute.
Change your mind? he asked her, careful not to sound too eager even though he damned well was.
Edies smile, if possible, grew brighter. Yes. Her voice was firm and clear. No hesitation at all. But he spotted a glitter in her eyes that he hadnt seen before. And was that a bit of her sisters desperation in her tone? He narrowed his gaze on her.
Her lashes flickered rapidly. Her smile amped up a bit more. Yes, this was desperation. And defiance, too. He could see that now. But exactly who or what had inspired it, he had no idea.
Carefully he let out a breath, drew another as he studied her from her flyaway hair to the tips of her stocking-clad toes. He wanted to take the stockings off those toes.
Would she let him?
Whatever was going on, taking her to his bedroom couldnt be a bad thing. Could it?
Nick guessed hed find out.
Putting his hand over hers, he smiled down at her. By all means. Then he turned to the blonde hed danced with, the one who was still standing there and whom hed completely forgotten about. Thank you for the dance, he said to her politely. Good night.
Then he laced Edies fingers through his and started to lead her back to where theyd first met.
The door is that way. Edie was practically dragging her feet.
Shoes, he said and dived beneath the table. The miserable things were still there. He grabbed them and rose again, then slanted Edie a glance.
You dont want to wear them, do you?
She laughed, but it was a more brittle laugh than shed shared with him before. Something had indeed happened. I certainly dont, she said.
Nick tucked the shoes in his coat pockets so only the spiky mauve heels protruded. Then he offered her his arm. With no hesitation at all, Edie linked her arm through his and walked, head held high, along beside him, her bearing more regal than the queen of Mont Chamion.
Her posture was stiff and far more tense than when theyd danced, and she didnt speak again. But Nick knew better than to ask about it now. Edie kept her gaze straight ahead until they had nearly reached the door.
Then, near the door they came upon Mona and the small but inevitable knot of men clustered around her. Edie barely glanced their way, but she turned her gaze on him, focused a melting smile right at him and fluttered her lashes.
Nick almost laughed. He did smile at raised brows on Monas face. There was a look of surprise and something elseconsternation?on Edies mothers face. Whatever had sparked Edies return, it had something to do with her mother.
Or, Nick realized as Mona said something to the man standing next to her who was staring at Edie and frowning, did it have something to do with him?
He was about Nicks age, fair-haired and handsome in a young Robert Redford sort of way. Familiar looking, but Nick couldnt put a name on him.
An actor, no doubt. Actor friends of Demetrioss were thick on the ground tonight.
This one transformed his frown into an engaging grin and stepped forward to intercept them as they approached. Edie! Long time no see. I was so glad when Mona said you were here.
Edies fingers tensed against his arm, but she smiled, too. Not here for long, she said, still moving. Were just leaving.
But we havent danced.
She kept smiling, but Nick could see it was tight. Nice to see you again, Kyle. Good night.
Ill see you in the morning, then, the man called Kyle said.
But they were already past him and headed toward the door when Edie said brightly to Nick in tones that were certainly loud enough to be overheard, Which wing is your room in?
Nick didnt think he imagined the sound of several people sucking air behind them. His own brows arched, but he said cheerfully, Ill show you, gave her a melting smile for good measure and held the door so she could sail through it ahead of him.
Only when the door closed behind them did Edie seem to sag. But almost at once she pulled herself up straight and tall again, and kept right on walking until theyd left the reception area totally and were in one of the long walnut-paneled corridors. There at last she stopped and took a deep breath, then looked up at him.
Thank you, she said, all her previous brightness gone. But the brittle tone had vanished, too.
Nick liked that. My pleasure. She looked pale suddenly and he said, Do you need to sit down?
She gave him a wan smile, but shook her head. Im all right.
Still she looked rattled. Not at all like the Edie Daley who had come running to defend her baby sister. What am I missing? he asked her.
She looked down at her feet, then rubbed the bottom of one stocking-clad foot against the top of the other. They looked as vulnerable as she did. He wondered if she was going to deny that he was missing anything.
But at last she looked up at him and made a wry face. My mothers heavy-handed attempt at matchmaking, I fear.
The blond guy with the hundred-dollar haircut?
Edie looked startled, then sighed and nodded. Yes.
Youre not interested in him? Nick was surprised how glad he was to hear it.
No! she said with a force that indicated more than indifference. She seemed to realize it because she muttered, Im not. I was justI was afraid shed try something like this.
She being your mother?
Edie nodded.
She often sets you up?
She hints.
And you dont like that? He supposed she had a right to dislike matchmaking relatives as much as he did. But most women he knew welcomed the meddling. Matchmaking is a bad thing?
Yes, it is, Edie said flatly. She didnt elaborate at first, and he thought she was going to change the subject. But then she sighed, She thinks I need to start dating again.
Again? Nick prompted when she didnt explain.
There was another pause, as if she were deciding how much to say. Finally she looked around, then back at him and said impatiently, Where are these architectural renovations?
His brows lifted. You really want to see them?
Do they really exist? Or were you flirting with my sister?
They really exist. And I wasnt flirting with your sister. Coming to see them was her idea.
But you invited me
I was flirting with you. And not giving her a chance to respond, not waiting to see what her reaction to that actually was, Nick grasped her hand in his and led her toward the tower.
She didnt speak as they walked, and Nick didnt say anything, either. He was too busy trying to assess the situation, trying to decide if she had been merely using him to avoid an unpleasant confrontation, no more no less? Or had she been angling for something else considerably more intimate.
He knew which he would prefer.
What she wanted he guessed hed find out, he thought as he stopped and unlocked the east tower wing door. There was no one else staying in it but him so hed only left a few lights burning, and the hall was cast in gloom when he pushed open the heavy door.
Edie paused at the entrance to peer into the shadows.
Having second thoughts? Nick asked. He wouldnt have blamed her.
But she took a quick breath. No. There was a moments pause and then she turned her head and met his gaze. Are you?
The question caught Nick off guard.
Hed slept with other women since Amys death. It had been eight years, after all, and he had never claimed he would be a monk.
But it hadnt meant anything. Not the way it had with Amy. It was an itch he scratched. But only with women who considered it the same way he did.
He looked intently at the woman beside him now and wondered how Edie Daley considered itshe who wasnt even dating. That was when he realized that she was still looking at him, waiting for an answer.
Quickly Nick cleared his throat. No, he said just as firmly as she had.
Edie smiled. It wasnt the smile shed given her mother or the man named Kyle. It wasnt the brittle smile shed given him when shed reappeared and taken his arm. It was the smile hed coaxed out of her before theyd danceda genuine smile, he thought, and one that wasnt reluctant. It sent a shaft of desire right through him.
He wanted more of those smiles. More of her.
Let me show you my renovations, he said, and he began to talk about the structure of the building. Several sentences later he realized that she was staring at him, wide-eyed, and he stopped. What?
You really know all this stuff? She sounded amazed.
Nick laughed. Its what I do. My job. Why Im here.
I thought the wedding
I didnt come for the wedding. I came to restore the east tower.
And suddenly the smile hed been hoping for lit her face. How wonderful, she exclaimed. Show me. Tell me everything.
He thought she might just be being polite, but as he turned on more lights and walked her through the main rooms, which were already finished, all the time telling her about the history of the place, explaining when it had originally been built and which parts were added on later, she asked eager, interested questions.
She didnt endure his lecture as her sister had done, but demanded to know more. Of course, to be fair, hed deliberately droned on when hed described his work to Rhiannon. He took pains to interest her sister.
But it wasnt long before he realized he neednt have bothered. Edie was clearly interested in the castle and in the work hed done on it. She had studied history in college, she told him. Shed thought she might be a teacher.
A teacher? Far cry from being your mothers business manager, isnt it?
Her lips twisted. One of those times when life happened while I was making other plans.
What plans? Nick wondered, but he didnt ask as there was something in the expression on her face that told him to leave it alone. So instead he asked, Did you ever want to go into acting?
She shook her head. Never. Thats not my world.
But you work in it every day.
In the business part of things. Not the glitz and glamour part. Not the movie star bit, she said adamantly.
You dont like the movie star bit?
Its not for me, she said simply, then added, its too difficult.
Acting?
I suppose thats part of it. But I think really that its harder being real. Being honest. If you act all the time, who are you? Really? Do you even know?
Her voice rose when she asked the questions and they didnt sound rhetorical. Nick supposed, having a mother who was an icon of American film and screen, shed probably given it considerable thought. Then, as if she decided shed betrayed a bit too much emotion, Edie shrugged and said lightly, Im a behind the scenes person, thats all.
Yeah. Me, too. When she blinked, clearly surprised, Nick explained. When Im working on a building, the building is what matters. He waved a hand to encompass the whole of the one hed been working on. Not who does the work.
Edie looked thoughtful, then she nodded. Yes. I see what you mean. Then she ran an appreciative hand down one of the window casings. Youve done an amazing job. At least I guess you have. Honestly, its hard to tell where the old stuff ends and the new begins.
Exactly the way its supposed to be.
How do you start?
I case the joint, he told her with a grin. I go over it all with a fine-tooth comb, so to speak. I learn who built it and when and why. Then I live in it.
Hence the architectural renovations in your bedroom, she said with a grin. Seriously?
Seriously. He pointed toward a door at the far end of the hall. My digs.
Her gaze followed his gesture. Rhiannon would doubtless have rubbed up against him and suggested, Show me.
Edie looked at the door, then turned back to him and asked, When was the tower built?
So Nick told her.
It was a thirteenth century addition to the castle. It was designed to be a lookout and barracks for the soldiers who defended against the onrushing hordes.
Hordes? Her eyes got wide. There were hordes? Its so small! Why would they bother?
The whole country was bigger back then. The royal family had more wealth and they had some good mountain valleys for cultivation. There are several natural springs as well as rivers. It would have made a nice prize for whoever could take it. He grinned and shrugged. But no one could.
I had no idea.
The Chamion family are survivors. They knew how to pit one enemy against another. They also knew how to make alliances and how to make friends. Theres lots of history here, he went on as he led her through the finished rooms to a heavy oak door at the far end. He pushed it open to reveal a hall where there was substantial scaffolding. Were still working in here.
There were tarps and sawhorseshis concession to modern working conditionsall over, along with piles of lumber. But the tools were all primitive, ones that thirteenth century carpenters, joiners and masons would have used. Edie headed straight for them. She asked about every one, made him explain how he used them, where hed found them. She looked at him with admiration when he said he often made his own.
A matter of necessity, he said. No old ones left.
And you do it all yourself?
Nick laid a proprietary hand on one of the scaffolds. I started it. I did the first rooms on my own so I had a good feel for things. Recently Ive been working up in the tower and there are a couple of local craftsmen doing this.
She walked around the room, noting where hed replaced a joist. The new wood was evident. But she ran her finger over the chisel marks and shook her head. It must take forever.
Which is why it took generations to build places like this.
She smiled, then lifted her gaze from the wood to look at him again. He felt her gaze assessing him. You look like such a modern man, she said. Its hard to imagine you spending your days doing this.
His mouth quirked. Well, I dont usually wear a suit to work.
How did you get into it? Kids usually say they want to be a fireman or a cowboy.
I wanted to be an architect.
Of old buildings?
He shrugged. I like them.
Have you ever designed a new building?
Once, he said curtly, turning away.
There was a moments silence. Then, Im sorry, Edie said.
Nick shot her a quick glance from beneath drawn down brows. She was leaning against one of the worktables, her gentle eyes on him, looking incongruous and desirable, both at the same time. Sorry about what? he said gruffly.
Getting too close.
His frown deepened. Close to what?
You. She smiled faintly. Asking about how you came to do this. What you had designed, she added.
He felt an edginess between his shoulder blades. Its not important. He picked up a chisel and balanced it on his palm, stared at it, then abruptly set it down again to look at her.
She looked back, her brows lifted a little. I would have said it was very important, she countered quietly.
She would have been right.
Now Nick rubbed the back of his neck, kneaded the muscles, but they remained tense. It was, he said tonelessly. It had changed his life.
This time she didnt ask. She didnt pry. She simply waited.
Nick shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, rocked back on his heels, stared into the middle distance, not at Edie.
I designed a house, he said at last, unsure why the words were coming out of his mouth. He didnt talk about the house. Had never talked about it with anyone. But now he found himself saying, I was getting married. I built it for my fiance. He said the words almost defiantly.
Edie made a small sound. Otherwise she didnt move, didnt speak.
It was supposed to be the perfect house, he went on, his tone as harsh as his feelings. Hed intended it to be his gift to her. Hed wanted it to be perfect. As perfect as she was.
Amy had laughed at that. Dont be silly, shed said. Im far from perfect.
But hed thought she was. Absolutely perfect in every way. She was certainly perfect for him.
So hed made her tell him everything shed ever dreamed of having in a housethe expansive picture windows looking out across Long Island Sound, the winding staircase, the second-story balcony overlooking the naturally landscaped pool. The massive stone fireplace, the island-centered kitchen, the three upstairs bedroomsa suite for them and one each for the children they would havehe was determined they would all be exactly as she wanted them.
Her hearts desire, he said bitterly now.
But it wasnt? Edie ventured softly.
He shrugged. She didnt care. Oh, she was delighted about the house, thought it was a great idea. But mostly she just wanted to get married. And I kept putting it off. I wanted the house finished. I wanted it all just right.
Not because he didnt want to marry her. He had. But hed wanted to give her the very best he had to offer. Hed thought it was worth waiting for.
Hed been wrong.
The inadequacy of that house compared to the time he could have had with her still gutted him. He ground his teeth, cracked his knuckles. Swallowed hard.
What happened? Edie asked quietly.
She died.
He said the words baldly. Forced himself to confront the mistake hed made. He didnt look at Edie. This wasnt about her. It was about him. And Amy.
For a long moment Edie didnt say anything, either. Nick wasnt surprised. What, after all, was there to say?
He should have kept his own mouth shut. He couldnt imagine what hed been thinking, dragging out his private pain for a woman hed known less than a couple of hours.
Forget it, he muttered. I shouldnt have said anything.
I asked. She reached out, touched his arm. I am so very sorry, she told him.
A lot of people had said they were sorry. But Edies words didnt sound like a platitude. He could hear the earnestness in her voice, and there was something so close to pain in her tone that it surprised him. He turned to look at her.
You lost her, Edie said, and you lost your own future as well.
Yes. It was something that no one else seemed to get. He wasnt the one who had died, after all. He should just get on with his life. If they didnt say itand some did before many months had passedhe could see it in the way they looked at him, in the suggestions for dates, in the offers to set him up with eligible women.
I understand, she said.
He doubted it. Thank you, he said politely and looked away out the window.
My husband died two years ago.
Nicks gaze snapped back, shocked, to meet hers. His Im sorry felt as feeble and inadequate as a platitude now. I didnt know.
I dont generally announce it, Edie said lightly. Then she gave him a faint smile. I dont suppose you do, either.
No. It had been, literally, years since hed talked about Amy to anyone. Now he paused, considering. That was why you were upset about Monas matchmaking?
She thinks I need to start dating again. Nick remembered Edies earlier words. Remembered wondering about the again. Now he knew.
She hesitated, then nodded. Yes.
He understood. It made perfect sense. He didnt look at her. He didnt think she was looking at him. She was probably thinking about the husband shed lost much more recently than hed lost Amy.
And he was thinking abouther. About Edie.
He tried to think about her as someones wife. He wondered what had happened, didnt feel as if he could ask.
She wasnt that close to him. Three feet, maybe even four. But even without looking he could feel her presence. There seemed to be a hum of awareness between them. Or maybe it only went one way. However it went, Nick felt a connection. He wanted to soothe away her pain, make her forget.
But he knew better than anyone that you didnt forget.
Now he heard her move, step away from the side of the table and he turned to face her again. She was smiling, but it was a faint smile. Sad, he thought. And why not? She had reason to be sad.
I should go, she said now. Ive intruded on you enough.
But as she moved past him toward the door, he caught her arm. Dont, he said. And when she looked up into his eyes, he said, Stay.
Just one word. Low, rough, but laced with an urgency that surprised him. The very word surprised him. The request. The command.
He didnt know what to call it. Only knew he didnt want her to leave.
Edie looked surprised, too. Her lips parted, but for a moment no words passed through them. She seemed to be weighing her answer, deciding how to respond. Finally she said lightly, Youre not done with the tour yet?
The question allowed them both to back off. Nick nodded. You havent seen the tower.
The tower? she echoed.
Ive been redoing the stairway up to the parapet, rebuilding the tower and the battlements. Theres a fantastic view. You should see it. But he said wryly, Youre not exactly dressed for it. She was, of course, still in her stocking feet.
Ill risk it, she said promptly.
Id carry you, but the passage is too narrow.
Its all right. I can climb.
The stones are too rough. Hang on. Ill get you something to wear on your feet.
He strode down to his own room and came back moments later with a pair of his flip-flops. He grimaced. Theyre too big. But if you really want to do it, theyre better than nothing.
I really want to do it.
So did he. He crouched down to put the flip-flops on her, then realized at the same time she did that she would have to shed her stockings first.
There was a moments pause. Edies toes curled, then a second or two later slowly straightened again. Nicks mouth felt suddenly dry.
Let me help you, he offered, lifting his gaze to her face.
It was shadowed. Her expression was hard to read, but he saw her touch her tongue to her lips. Then she bit down on the lower one and, looking down at him, held perfectly still.
He took that for agreement. Hang on, he instructed her, and hoped to God he could do the same.
It was hardly the height of intimacy, sliding his fingers up beneath her dress to find the tops of her stockings or panty hose or whatever she was wearing.
On the other hand, it was pretty damned erotic. The stockings felt like real silk, smooth and warm against her legs, so fine that he was afraid his callused fingers would snag them.
So he proceeded slowly, trying to be careful, to move lightly. But the hint of firm flesh beneath that silken barrier was enticing. He loved to touch. He wanted to stroke as his hands snaked over her calves, past her knees, up her thighs. He could feel her legs tremble.
Fingers suddenly clutched his head, gripping his hair. He sucked in a breath. S-sorry, she muttered. Her fingers loosened their grip, then as his continued their journey, hers tightened again. They sent a shiver down his spine.
But that sensation was nothing compared to the shaft of desire that shot straight to his groin as the silk beneath his fingers turned to lace and then, an inch later, to warm bare skin.
Nick sucked air, then tried to steady his breathing, to be matter-of-fact. This wasnt a seductionunless he was the one being seduced.
Now he hooked his fingers inside the top of one stocking and drew it down, then slipped it off her foot. Then he skimmed his fingers back up the other leg. But knowing what he would encounter didnt make it any easier to feign indifference.
He wasnt indifferent. And when he stood upprovided he could manage to stand upshe would know it.
So he took his time, sliding her feet into the flip-flops, then picking up the stockings and folding them.
Ill do that. Edie nearly snatched them out of his fumbling hands. Hers seemed to be full of thumbs as well. But at least her focus on them allowed Nick to wince his way to his feet and adjust his trousers so that his reaction was not immediately obvious.
He cleared his throat. Right. We can go up this way. He picked up the flashlight on the worktable and headed toward a door at the far end of the room. Be careful.
If she were being careful, Edie thought, she wouldnt be here now. Shed be back in her room listening to the faint sounds of the orchestra through the open window while she read a book.
But she wasnt. She was climbing a steep, winding, extremely narrow stone staircase behind a man who had just slid his hands up her legs. Her body was still tingling from the touch of his fingers. Her brain was still jangled from a hormone overload after over two years of complete disinterest. And her emotions were as unreliable as a teenagers. She should be in bed with a bookpreferably one that would bore her to sleep!
Instead here she was trying to keep her eye on the beam of the flashlight that Nick was aiming at the steps as he climbed. He had angled it so that she could see it playing against the stairs and the wall without having to watch it through his legs.
But she preferred to study his legs.
She tried not toand that was when she stumbled.
Oh! She gasped as her foot slipped. She reached out to grab at the side of the wall as she felt her footing fail. But before she could grab anything, Nick had spun around and grabbed her.
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