He was only trying to help her, but what if she didn’t want his help?
“Nicole?”
“Hmmm,” she mumbled, sounding sleepy.
He decided to drop the subject for now. “Never mind.”
“Kay.”
He smiled, driving on through the night.
~ ~ ~
Reece sat in the driver’s seat, staring through the gates at the mansion at the top of the drive and wondering if he’d just made a huge mistake bringing Nicole here. What would her reaction be?
He reached across the seat, running the backs of his fingers down her cheek. She had the softest skin. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Her eyelids lifted. “Did I fall asleep?”
Her voice had a husky quality to it. Sexy. “For a bit.”
“Where are we?”
“At my home. I mean we’re at my parents’ home.”
She gaped at him, her eyes growing wide. “You’re kidding me, right? You’re not about to tell me you’re part of the English aristocracy, are you?”
He grimaced. “Would it bother you if I said yes?”
She thought about it, tilting her head to the side as she stared out the windshield. “No, but it does change things.”
“Such as?”
“Am I supposed to curtsy to you and call you ‘my lord’?”
He sighed, putting the car in gear. “Not likely. The truth is, my family can trace their roots back to Henry the Eighth, but the direct line died out years ago. Now we’re plain old Englishmen with a huge house and properties. My father is a doctor; my mum is a barrister. I’m an actor, in case you didn’t know, and my brother is my manager. My sister works in London. She’s married with two children.”
Why was he telling her this? “Will I be tested at the end of the lesson?”
“You may be if you don’t watch your tone.”
Nicole laughed, glad they seemed to be on easy terms again. “Thank you, Reece,” she said as she scanned the scenery during the drive down the lane. “I’m sorry about the argument we had. I know you’re trying to help me, and I do appreciate it.”
He glanced over at her, a content grin on his face. “It’s not a problem, but will you tell me why you procrastinate so much?”
She shrugged, contemplating her fingers and mumbling. “It’s not all that fascinating.”
“You should let me be the judge of that.”
Her head came up. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but do I have to do it right now?”
Reece laughed, shaking his head.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are. You don’t even realize what you’re doing, do you?”
She was confused. “What am I doing?”
“You’re procrastinating right now.” He laughed again, and she joined in.
She rolled her eyes. “I see your point.” He drove around the side of the house, parking beside a storage shed.
Nicole looked around as she got out of the car. “Is anyone expecting us?”
“No, my parents have gone on holiday. We’ll have the house to ourselves.”
“It’ll be just the two of us? Are you sure that’s wise?”
He groaned. “Nicole, for the last time, you need to trust me about this. No one in the press followed us here. We lost the last car two hours ago while you were snoring.”
“I don’t snore,” she huffed.
“All right, snuffling.”
“I don’t snuffle either.”
He grunted in reply, taking their bags out of the back of the car and leading her toward a door. He rapped twice, entering the house before anyone answered.
Nicole was close on his heels but backed out when a brown-haired woman entered the room, saw Reece, and began to yell at the top of her lungs.
“Master Colin! What on earth are you doing coming in through here when there’s a perfectly good front door? And who do you have with you?”
Nicole blushed as she stepped into what was obviously the kitchen.
“Maggie, this is my friend, Nicole.” He turned to her. “And Nicole, this is Maggie, the only woman I will truly love.”
“And that’s only because I fed you cookies when you were growing up.” She smiled over at Nicole. “It’s very nice to meet you, Miss.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Maggie.”
The woman waved them into the room. “Please have a seat. I’m sure you’re tired after your drive.”
“In truth, Maggie, I don’t believe Nicole’s tired at all. She slept the whole way here.”
The woman poured them both a drink and then sat down across the table from them. “Well, it can be a bit of a stretch when you’re not used to it.” She waited for them to speak, but she continued when no more conversation was forthcoming. “Well, Master Colin, to what do I owe this honor?”
Reece rolled his eyes. “Maggie, stop all the ‘Master’ crap. My parents aren’t here, are they?”
“No, but we have a guest.”
“We do, and you know how I feel. I’m just Colin.” He shot a glance at his guest.
Nicole sat there, quiet and confused, and unsure what was happening. Why was Maggie calling him Colin?
Maggie dusted her hands off and stood. “I expect you’re peckish. Colin,” she said pointedly, “why don’t you show your guest to her room, and I’ll throw something together for us to eat.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m a bit knackered, and I’m sure Nicole wouldn’t mind more of a kip. We’ll come see you when we wake.” Reece stood, grabbing their bags and leading Nicole out the door and down the hall. As they entered the great hall, walking toward the stairs, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
“Is there something you’d like to tell me?” she asked as they began to climb them.
His shoulders stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“Why does Maggie call you Colin?”
He shrugged. “Ummm, can I tell you that later?” He led her down the hall to a room, holding the door open for her as she passed.
She laughed. “Look who’s procrastinating now.” Nicole stepped around him, stopping in midstride and gaping in amazement. She felt like she’d just entered a royal palace. This room was three times the size of her bedroom at home, and she had to share that with her sister. “Okay, where have you taken me now?”
“This is your room while we’re here.”
She scoffed as she stepped forward. “Yeah, this isn’t a room; it’s a freakin’ apartment. No, it’s bigger than an apartment. It’s a condo.”
He set down her bag, raking his hand through his hair. He was hoping she wouldn’t have this reaction. “No, it’s a guest bedroom.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Reece, I just need a bed to sleep in. You could put me in the attic, and I’d be happy. I don’t need much.”
“Well, you’ll just have to suffer through it. The attic’s full.” There was an edge to his voice.
She frowned. “I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable, Reece. I like this room. It’s beautiful. I’m afraid to touch anything, though. It all looks like it belongs in a museum. I wouldn’t want to break anything.”
He relaxed slightly, taking her hand and pulling her toward the bed. “You see this, these scratches? When I was younger, I was fascinated with wood-carving and decided to reshape this bedpost. Maggie caught me before I could do any real damage.”
“Did you get into trouble?”
“No, she told my parents the cat must have done it.” He waved his hand around the room. “My point is, this is our house. It’s lived in. We spill drinks on the carpets; our shoes scuff the wood floors, and there are fingerprints on the walls. Yes, some of the furniture is antique, but it’s been use
d for centuries, so why stop now?”
Her hand traced down the bedpost. “It’s all so much.”
“I hope not too much. I want you to feel comfortable while we’re here.”
She surveyed the room again. “I’ll do my best.”
He was still holding her hand but reluctantly let it go. “So, I’ve determined we should sleep for a bit, and then I’ll take you on a tour of the house. We can start in the picture gallery and end in the library, where I hope you’ll be spending a lot of your time writing and researching.”
She was a little sad he released her hand. “That sounds good.”
He leaned over, kissing her forehead. “My room is down the hall if you should need me.”
“Okay.”
He moved toward the door, and she followed, leaning against the doorjamb and watching as he entered a room two doors down.
She stood a moment, shaking her head. How was this happening? Why was this happening? What had she done in her life to deserve to be standing in the ancestral home of Reece Collins, with him at her beck and call?
He was at her beck and call? “Hey, Reece?”
He opened his door, peering down the hall. “Pardon?”
She smiled. “I just wanted to check something.” She closed the door, turning to inspect her surroundings. The first thing she truly noticed was the bed; it was enormous and could easily fit three people. It looked like heaven calling to her, and she couldn’t wait to be swallowed up in it.
“Yee-haw,” she yelled, as she kicked off her shoes, taking a running leap for the bed, throwing her body into the center of the mattress, and sinking down into the covers. She pushed up to a sitting position and left her feet dangling off the side, at least a foot and a half from the floor. The bed was on a platform and included a stepping stool. She had always loved this type of bed. They looked so regal.
Sitting here like this, she felt like the princess from the “Princess and the Pea”, wondering if she’d feel the pea under the mattress. She laughed at her silliness, throwing herself backward to gaze up at the canopy. She was lying in a four-poster bed, complete with canopy and bed hangings. She had lost her mind. There was no way this was real, but she was going to enjoy this delusion for however long it lasted. Fairytales had nothing on this.
~ ~ ~
Two doors away, Reece heard a whoop and knew she had taken a running leap into the center of the bed. He laughed out loud, sensing she’d have that reaction.
He found himself truly enjoying getting to know this girl. She was so genuine. He doubted there was one fake bone in her body. She spoke in the same way she thought, and she held nothing back. That’s what he liked about Americans; they meant what they said and said what they meant. He wished he knew more people like that.
He hoped this time away from the stress of movie making would nourish and revive his soul. He was getting tired of it all. He just wanted a moment of peace and time to reflect on his career and where it was going. Was that too much to ask?
It was all Marcus’s fault. If his brother would only listen and take his wishes into account, instead of worshipping the all mighty money god, he doubted he’d be feeling so much discontent.
When he was running for the plane, he had no idea that his life would turn in this direction. He was excited, for once, to see where it would lead. Meeting Nicole may have been a blessing in disguise. He felt more peaceful and at home with her than with anyone in a long time, including his family. Everyone wanted something from him, but Nicole did not. She just liked being with him, without any wants or demands. What a refreshing change.
He had no idea what he was going to do now that he had her here. He didn’t understand the need to show her the real him, but he knew that if anyone could appreciate the real Reece, it would be Nicole.
He wanted to show her everything that made him the man he was today. He wanted to walk her through his life, his dreams, and maybe help her make her dreams come true too.
Reece closed his eyes, falling into a dream. Nicole was standing on the lawn at the cliff house, staring out at the waves as they crashed on the rocks below. She had a serene look on her face as she watched the sunset. Her white dress was blowing back against her legs, and her lips were curved in a contented smile. Her cheeks grew rosy from the blowing wind.
He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and she leaned her head into his shoulder, snuggling her face into his neck. He laid his cheek against the top of her head, and as his eyes closed, peace found him at last.
Reece smiled in his sleep at the picture his wishful thinking had created.
~ ~ ~
Nicole woke up disoriented and afraid. Where was she? What was that roaring sound? Was she near the ocean?
She sat up, shoving her sleep-tangled hair out of her eyes and taking in the large bed and even larger room with its antique furnishings. Her memory came back in a hurry. Reece Collins had come to the flat and kidnapped her from London, bringing her here to his family’s ancestral estate.
She threw the covers off, slipping from the bed and forgetting the floor wasn’t inches away. She fell on her butt, laughing out loud. She hadn’t fallen out of bed since she was five years old.
She climbed to her knees, rubbing her offended backside. Where did her jeans get to? She remembered kicking them off after she couldn’t get comfortable. She’d stripped down to her shirt and panties, quickly falling back into a contented sleep. Now she had to locate her pants to be ready when Reece came to get her.
She discovered her jeans, inside out, at the foot of the bed. She reached to straighten them, stumping her toe on the bedpost. “God bless America and all the ships at sea,” she swore. She was hopping around on one foot, cursing at the top of her lungs, while her panties were riding up, becoming an uncomfortable thong.
She didn’t hear the knock at the door or notice Reece standing with his head tilted to the side as he leaned against the doorjamb, watching her dance around.
Nicole spun toward the door, her offended appendage still in her hands. Her eyes widened when she discovered her captive audience. “Oh my God, I thought you Brits had better manners than to come into a girl’s room without knocking.”
He chuckled. “I did knock, but I suppose you were too busy doing your exotic dance to answer.”
She stopped hopping, lowering her sore foot to the floor. “It’s not an exotic dance; it’s a ‘Shit I just stumped my toe hard and it hurts’ dance. Don’t you know the difference?” She flushed in embarrassment.
“No, sorry, can’t say that I do.” He waved to her apparel. “Do you need help with anything?”
She wanted to cover her practically bare backside. “Are you asking if you can correct my wedgie?”
“No, but I can if you want me to.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Get out of here, Reece Collins. I’m not decently dressed and should not be entertaining young gentlemen in my boudoir.” She pointed at the door.
He smiled, hooking his ankle across the other. “Ooh, someone has been transported back in time. Where are we, the early nineteenth century?”
“No, we’re still in the twenty-first, but I didn’t invite you in.”
“It didn’t seem to bother you yesterday.”
“How do you know? I asked you to leave my bedroom and you wouldn’t—the same as now.”
He chuckled, finding great enjoyment in the situation. “I like seeing you like this.”
“Like what?”
“All discombobulated.” He watched as she pressed her lips together, forcefully exhaling. “You’re breathing hard, and your face is getting red. Easy, little bull, don’t attack me.”
Nicole stomped her foot in frustration. “You’re being difficult.” Her toe throbbed at the added assault.
His smile kept growing wider. “I’m having fun.”
“Do you get some perverse pleasure in thwarting me?”
He tipped his head in acknowledgement. “Indeed.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please turn around, so I can pick this fabric out of the crack of my butt. It’s not conducive to intelligent conversation.”
He turned on his heel, facing into the hall. He heard a quick ‘ahhh’ as she must have situated the fabric correctly. “Is it safe to turn back now? I wouldn’t want to offend your maidenly sensibilities more than I already have.”
She stuck her tongue out, and he caught her at it as he spun back. She hastily pulled it inside her mouth, pressing her lips together.
“Don’t stick it out unless you intend to use it.”
Her mouth dropped open. “That’s an American saying.”
He grinned. “I just adopted it.”
She shook her head. “Okay, Mr. Collins, now that my panties are no longer in a twist, I am ready to face the day. What’s the first thing on the agenda?”
“Finish getting dressed,” he said, tossing her jeans at her. He walked to the window. “It’s a fine day. Would you like me to show you around the grounds? We could ride down to the ruins to look around. Or would you like me to show you around the manor?”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing the ruins.” She stiffened. “Ride what, exactly?”
“A horse. You do know how to ride one, don’t you?”
“No, I’m not fond of horseback riding. I think it has something to do with watching people breaking their necks jumping over obstacles for sport.”
He faced her, leaning his backside on the windowsill. “We can’t get to the ruins otherwise. It’s too far to walk and too difficult for the car.”
“That’s because you drive a P.O.S. You should invest in a Range Rover. They drive over everything.” She finished zipping her jeans, sliding her feet into her tennis shoes.
An Accidental Love Affair Page 5