“Carrie you are driving me wild, this won’t be long”
Their kiss was full of passion, “I don’t care, I need you inside me” she told him when they broke for air. She was desperate for him, for the taste and feel of him inside her. He lifted her and her body was thrown face down onto the desk as he continued to take her from behind. His thrusts deeper and deeper as the momentum grew. The desk in disarray with the force of their lovemaking. Papers falling on the floor like confetti leaving a paper trail of their own. Her hair was loose from the sexy bun and he pulled it aside from her neck as she twisted round for another kiss. A final thrust and he broke.
“Hello,”
“Hello you” she returned with soft kisses now that their passion was abated.
“What a surprise. A great surprise I add but just a thought Carrie, we didn’t use any protection”
“It’s okay, I’m on the pill now, I got that sorted when I returned home,”
She didn’t include that it had taken a lot of courage for her to pluck up the nerve to visit her GP for contraceptive protection. They had a good relationship and in the early days of her grief she had been very supportive. So in her mind the GP knew she was a widow and she didn’t want to offer any explanation as to why she wanted to go on the pill again. Somehow she found herself saying it was early days in a new relationship and she wanted to be responsible for her own body.
“Let’s get cleaned up”
Nico showed her to his bathroom and handed her a robe. “I take you have a change of clothes and haven’t given me a heart attack thinking you travelled dressed in your slutty outfit?”
Carrie laughed, “I’m glad you appreciated my outfit of choice for today, I changed when I got here, discretely of course. Only Robin saw me, my case is with her.”
“I will get it for you,”
The bathroom was almost an exact copy of the guest bath room but this was complete with Nico’s toiletries. She sniffed at the bottle of familiar Creed aftershave that he wore. She looked in the mirror at her dishevelled appearance and started to laugh. She still had the glasses on!
Removing the glasses she found some wipes in one of the cupboards and removed the smudged red lipstick from her mouth. A knock on the door and Nico had returned with her case.
“I won’t be long,”
“Don’t worry, Robin has organised some lunch so we don’t have to go out, keep the stockings on!”
They spent the remainder of the afternoon in a haze of lovemaking. Not wanting to lose any precious time together.
“Club sandwiches again, my favourite,” Carrie joked as they finally ate. “Robin has been great; I couldn’t have planned any of this without her help. You need to give her a pay rise!”
“Oh I will be speaking with her!”
Carrie was slowly aware of her surroundings and the twenty foot high windows that lined one of the walls. She gulped. Nico followed her gaze.
“They are one way Carrie, privacy glass, no one can see in”
It was a large office dominated by the windows and the large desk that Nico had taken her on. They were in the seated area of the room on the large black leather sofa which they had also frantically utilised.
“My office won’t be the same, how am I going to get any work done now, without thinking of your luscious body draped over my desk”
“Oh I am sure it will be hard for you” She joked.
Carrie checked the time it was 4pm.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, my mind is buzzing but my body is saying whoa slowdown”
“Why don’t you have a nap? I can make some calls and reschedule my flight”
“Nico you will do no such thing, I know how crazy your schedule is, I fly back home tomorrow, so you have me until you leave for Hong Kong”
“Now that I have you, maybe I don’t want you to go”
“Well I guess things would be different if we were married or something, oh hell what am I saying?”
“Is that a proposal?” Nico laughed at her embarrassment. She picked up one of the cushions and flung it at him. “Hush let me sleep!”
What was happening to her? Her mouth was running away with a mind of its own.
“Let me make a couple of calls then we will go home, well to the hotel, my apartment is still being renovated,”
“Okay, Robin has booked dinner too but I can’t remember where she said, Le something and she told me about the dress code, I brought the beautiful Dolce & Gabanna dress you gave me”
Nico let the room to speak with Robin. “It’s Le Bernadin” he said before noticing her sleeping form. He knew he should wake her but instead he sat on the sofa next to her and pulled her close.
“Mmm” she murmured. For a moment he wondered who’s name she would say. Were her dreams still tormented with the death of her husband? “Nico”
They stayed in the suite of the Devanti hotel in New York that was his home when returning to the Cape wasn’t an option. Carrie was showering again and he finished shaving.
“Are you sure you want to go out for dinner?” He tried to persuade her to change her mind when he watched her step out of the shower, her body glistening with the water. Wrapping in one of the many oversized towels she dried off.
“Nico Vittorio Devanti, are you ashamed to be seen with me?” she joked.
“Never, I want to show you off to the world Carrie”
Carrie wore her hair pinned up in a messy up-do. Her make up light but smoky eyes and a blush lipstick. Not the vivid red of earlier. The dress she matched with black Dolce & Gabanna sandals with a thick ankle strap. A chunky gold bracelet and black crystal drop earrings her only jewellery. With reluctance she had removed her wedding ring before she left home that day. Along with her engagement ring they were stored away in her bedroom. It had been a difficult thing to do that simple task of removing jewellery but she had to do it. She didn’t feel like a married woman any more. Not when she was with Nico.
Le Bernadin was one of the top restaurants in New York, Michelin starred and regularly in the number one spot it was an acclaimed sea food restaurant.
They sat in the car, no Jay this time but another member of Nico’s security team who she recognised from her time at the Cape drove them. Nico held her hand his finger rubbing over the indent of her missing rings.
“When did you take them off?”
“Today, the time was right”
Nico picked her hand up and brought it to his lips. He kissed her wedding finger. “Thank you” Robin had booked a private dining room for them at Les Salons Bernadin. It had a separate entrance to the main restaurant but was located in the same building, just a level above. It was elegant, timeless and graceful. Floor to ceiling windows, etched glass gave an intimate glow to the room. Once again they recognised Nico by name and he spoke with the team. To give Carrie the full experience they had selected the chefs tasting menu. On paper it looked a lot to eat. Their version was eight courses but that’s what a tasting menu entails with wine pairing for each course. Scallop, lobster, langoustine it was a seafood delight for Carrie.
“My Dad has finally signed the paperwork and retires next month. We are having a family party at my parents’ home for his retirement. I think my Mum has been planning this for the last few years but my Dad is ready now. I’d like you to come with me to the party, if you can, with your schedule, I eh as my partner”
“Carrie I would be delighted to come with you as your partner, let me know when”
The car was waiting when they made their exit after one of the best meals of her life. Carrie was animated in her description of the peach dessert and cupped a hand to the side of her face just as the flash of a camera momentarily blinded her in surprise.
“What the hell” she exclaimed.
“Paparazzi” Nico said and helped her quickly into the car.
“Wow my eyes with the flash, how do you cope with that?”
“Sunglasses, all the time, I’m sorry Carrie”
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Time seemed to be on fast forward and it was soon morning. Carrie had slept soundly next to Nico, no bad dreams this time. They woke early kissing and touching in a gentle love making. “Oh my thighs are sore, I feel like I’ve run a marathon,”
“It could be the next fitness craze”
They had ordered room service for breakfast. Nico was leaving in an hours’ time, all of which Carrie knew from making the arrangements with Robin. She had finished packing her things away ready for her return home. She handed Nico a gift bag.
“Whats this?”
“Open it and see”
Carrie had found the teddy bear while shopping. It was a traditional teddy bear in golden brown colour but with tartan pads on the feet and a tartan bow round the neck. “To keep you company while we are apart”
“It’s going in my case now, you know I want you to come with me Carrie but I understand why you can’t”. He held her tight, “Thank you for surprising me yesterday, I loved it,”
“I love” the knock on the door interrupted anything she was going to say. Saved by the bell or the knock on the door.
Nico’s cases were removed and Carrie was almost ready to leave too. He was going to a different airport than Carrie but she still had a few hours until it was time for her flight. No time for any sightseeing but Robin was going to meet her for a coffee.
“When did you become friendly?”
“Oh someplace between the Cape and planning this trip, she’s been so helpful and offered to take me for a coffee”
Carrie showed Nico the text she had from Robin confirming the coffee shop where they were meeting. It wasn’t far from his office.
“Go, I will be fine, I will get a cab and stop worrying, next time you can take me sightseeing”
“Next time?”
“Yes Mr Devanti, next time!”
Carrie was laughing, true laughter that she hadn’t felt in a long time. A glance at her watch and she had another half hour before she had to leave. Robin was telling her about her date that weekend and what a disaster it had been. “Don’t give up Robin, it will happen”
“Yeah when I’m ninety at this rate, that’s the last time I let a friend set me up, I’m a modern girl, I can pay my own way but when he said he forgot his wallet and I got stung for the whole evening and cab home!”
Robin’s phone beeped. It was Nico. “He’s just checking you made it okay”
“Can you block some dates for me? Nico is coming to visit me”
“Sure, I can do that from here, give me a sec.” She took the dates and blocked them in his diary. “Oh he’s already added a note on the system”
Carrie felt as though she was on set for a tv show or film. The backdrop the busy street and high rise buildings distinctive of New York. “Thanks for everything Robin, Nico was delighted,”
“He said he was and I still have my job yeah! I have a car waiting to take you to the airport, Nico insisted no cabs but I told him I already had a car on standby for you,”
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
It didn’t look like they were ever going get all the preparations for the party finished but Dan deserved the retirement party that they were giving. Mother and daughters had meticulously gone through each task leaving no stone unturned. Despite being 9 months pregnant Claire had insisted in participating as much as she could. Carrie had enjoyed the planning as it had taken her mind off her ‘relationship’ with Nico.
They had hired a large marquee for the back garden which had more than enough room to accommodate it. Carries father wasn’t one for a fuss and it took much persuasion to convince him that a party to commemorate his retirement was needed. He refuted all attempts at having the party at a hotel or hall and conceded to a ‘wee do’ at home. This of course had escalated into the event it was becoming. A small event was never possible when Dan had five sisters and two brothers with extended families to start with. Even Nana Reynolds was joining them.
“Okay, final run through,”
Notepads at the ready to tick as they went along.
“Marquee is all set up and looking beautiful if I do say so myself, I’m glad we added a dance floor as the Reynolds family loves a boogie”
“Indeed we do Claire, once we are finished here I am popping out to the bakery to pick up Dad’s cake,”
What she didn’t add was that she was also picking up flowers for their Mum from the florist and tickets from the travel agents. Carrie and Claire had bought their parents a cruise holiday. They both appreciated just how much their parents had done for them and these last few months had been hard on everyone. She knew from the brochures which were forever in her father’s study just what holiday her Mum wanted to go on. It was booked for two months’ time well after when Claire had the baby. They knew there was no possibility of either of them going on holiday prior to the birth of their second grandchild.
The doorbell rang again and Carries mum went to attend to the caterers who were keen to get set up. Carrie took a final look around the garden and marquee before she finished her chores. The marquee was set up in what was usually her father’s perfectly manicured green lawn. The Georgian effect windows let light shine through the interior. The ceiling swaged Arabian style with chandeliers. It had the finishing touches in a very elegant tone that was her Mothers style. They had opted for circular tables and gilded gold chairs. A bar was due to arrive later and along with the band. The guest list hovered around 200 but if more appeared it wouldn’t be an issue. The Reynolds family had that effect. Satisfied that everything was going to plan Carrie insisted that Claire accompany her home before she went to the bakery.
“You need to get home and put your feet up for a few hours, and then it will be time for us to get our glad rags on!”
“Okay, okay give me a moment to waddle to the car then,”
Their father’s best friend from university their honorary Uncle had taken their Dad out golfing for the day away from the chaos of preparation for the party.
“That’s just the way I like it, not getting under my feet, crowing about his beloved lawn or something. Now I need to speak with the caterer again and check we have enough food for this evening”
“Mum don’t panic everything will be okay, I will be back with the cake as soon as I take Claire home”
They said their goodbyes and made the journey home.
“Have you told Mum Nico will be at the party tonight?”
“No not yet, I only found out last night that he could make it for definite I didn’t want the agro if he didn’t go, I will tell her when I go back with the cake”
“Remember her bark is worse than her bite Carrie, I just think that she is not ready to accept anyone in your life, playboy billionaire or not,”
“Claire, he is a reformed character you know! It’s still new to me too, because I have fallen in love with Nico doesn’t mean I have stopped loving Rob or feeling guilty about it.”
“You are in love with Nico? What? I can’t believe you are telling me that in a car journey home”
“Sorry sis, I feel like I’ve been in love with him since that first morning I saw him on the beach.”
“I like him Carrie and I’m not judging you. Oh wow this puts a different spin on things. As I’ve told you a million times Rob would want you to be happy and not put your life on hold forever.”
“Thanks Claire, I’m the one who is taking things slowly with Nico. When I had my accident things got intense and I felt coming home was the best thing to do but it’s so difficult. I loved spending time in New York and panicked again at getting close to him. I think I proposed to him accidently too.”
“I can’t believe you are telling me this in the CAR! On the way home, what happened? Are you trying to make me go into labour?”
“Sorry, I think it was a bit of pillow talk, well maybe not, oh that’s us home”
“This conversation is not over Carrie; once you get back I want all the answers”
“Okay, I will, promise, I’
m just a bit nervous that I will see him later, that’s all,”
Carrie couldn’t believe that she had babbled that much in the car. What was she thinking she just told her sister she was in love with Nico and had kind of proposed.
Glad of the distraction she parked her car in from of the bakery to collect the cake they had ordered. In the queue in front of her Debbie from work and she had spotted Carrie. Carrie gave a small wave in acknowledgement but she walked over to her.
“How have you been Carrie? You look great”
“Better Debbie, much better. How are you and the rest of the gang?”
“Oh you know work, nothing changes there it’s still the same mad house. But are you not going to the party tonight? Its Tina’s 50th Birthday Party, everyone will be there.”
“No I guess my invitation must have got lost in the post. But I would have had to decline; it’s my Dad’s retirement do tonight. We are having a party of our own.”
“Oh well, I erm, that’s great news” Debbie tried to cover for the awkward moment.
“Tell everyone I was asking after them and sorry I didn’t get to say my goodbyes face to face,”
“Yes, Fi told us but everyone understands too many memories eh. We had a shuffle in the office too, Lisa got a permanent job and Tina a promotion, well of sorts, she got your job”
It was never in any doubt that would be the outcome but Carrie kept her face neutral.
BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY Page 35