He sat up straight. “Did you just call my car a piece of shit?”
She shrugged. “If the Corolla fits . . .”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s it. You’ll ride in the hatch when we head back to London.”
“The roof would be better,” she quipped, patting her back pockets.
He shook his head. “Do you have an answer for everything?”
“I’m a writer; it’s what I do.”
He laughed. “As I was saying before we were sidetracked, we can ride to the ruins and look around. I’ll find you a gentle mare that won’t do more than walk at a sedate pace. Will that suit you?”
“No, but if I want to see these ruins of yours, I have little choice in the matter.” She scuffed her foot against the rug.
He draped his arm over her shoulder, hugging her close. “Don’t be such a baby. It won’t be so bad, and you might find you actually like it.”
She scoffed. “Not this country girl. I like horsepower fine, in a car, not actually powered by a smelly horse.”
“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
She smacked his chest. “Stop adopting American figures of speech. It leaves me with nothing to say.”
He chuckled. “We wouldn’t want that.”
Chapter 4
Nicole stood at the stable door, watching Reece as he saddled the horses, precise in his movements. He talked softly to the beasts, and they seemed to enjoy the sound of his voice. Who didn’t? His low rumble could melt the polar ice caps. It made her knees week; that was for sure.
She wondered if her attraction to him was as noticeable as she thought it was. She didn’t want him to know. It would be terrible to lose his friendship over something so insignificant.
She’d seen the tabloid and magazine articles, linking his name with this actress or that model. She couldn’t compete with women like that and didn’t stand a chance in capturing his romantic interest. Their budding friendship was based on mutual respect with just a touch of playful flirting. It was nothing to get her panties in a twist over.
Reece was bending over, checking the cinch of the saddle. His butt was on display. She felt like she was drooling. He had a very fine ass. Her cheeks reddened as she looked her fill, wishing she was brazen enough to sneak up behind him to cop a feel. Down girl, she thought, he’s way out of your league.
It was too bad they were who they were. They could have really hit it off, seen where their flirting could lead, but they orbited in different solar systems.
He was leading the horses out of the stables. She backed away to leave him room to maneuver, giving the animals a wide berth.
Reece stopped in front of her. “This is Beauty.” At her look, he chuckled. “I know, not very original, but my sister was a huge Disney fan when we were young.” He took her hand, laying it against the horse’s neck and stroking downward. “If you talk to her as you’re petting her, she’ll respond to the sound of your voice.”
Nicole ran her hand down the horse’s neck, Reece’s fingers still atop hers. “It’s soft,” she said in surprise.
“Very much so,” he said, moving his hand, skimming it up her arm until it rested on her shoulder.
Nicole’s pulse jumped as he held his hand there, his thumb moving back and forth in an almost caress. Did he realize what he was doing to her?” She cleared her throat, taking a step away and the horse shifting with her. “So, what do I do now?”
“Now you take a hold of her mane, put your foot in the stirrup, and pull yourself up.”
She scoffed. “You want me to pull her hair? Girls don’t like having their hair pulled.”
“Don’t worry; it won’t hurt her.” He gazed at her intensely. “As for your other comment, girls do like when you pull their hair.” He paused. “It just depends on the situation.”
Nicole blushed. Mindless flirting is all this is, she thought as she placed her foot in the stirrup and pulled up. The horse’s neck jerked to the left a small bit, but otherwise it seemed unconcerned. She slipped her foot into the opposite stirrup, squirming to make herself comfortable.
“All right, ready for the next step?” Reece asked as he mounted his own horse, trotting up to her side. “You’ve got a great seat.”
Nicole smiled, figuring what the hell, flirting right back. “Thanks, yours isn’t too bad either.”
Reece didn’t miss a beat. “Tease.” She blinked at him, and he looked away, clearing his throat. “Now take the reins in each hand and thump the horse’s sides to get her moving. If you want to go left, use the left rein. Right, use the right, and if you want to stop, pull back on both reins together. Got it?”
“Yes, that sounds easy enough.” Her eyes widened. “What about galloping? I don’t want to gallop.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think we need to worry about that. Just move with the horse’s gait, and you’ll be fine.”
Nicole thumped her heels against the horse’s sides, and Beauty moved off, following behind Reece’s horse. “What’s your horse’s name?”
He called over his shoulder. “That should be a no-brainer. If your horse is named Beauty . . .”
Nicole laughed. “Your sister named your horse Beast?”
“No, this is my brother’s horse. Marcus named him Beast because he said the horse was ill-tempered.”
“Why are you riding him?”
“I can handle him when he misbehaves. He’s very good-natured. He just doesn’t like Marcus.”
“Oh,” she mumbled, remaining silent. That was the second time he’d alluded to his brother in a less than friendly tone. Did he not get along with him? Why did he allow him to be his manager if that was the case?
Her mind wandered as she followed behind Reece across the meadow grass, entering a wooded copse. She thought this would make a perfect place for an interlude, peering around to capture as much detail as she could to use in her story. She imagined her lovers galloping into the glade to hide from their pursuers. As they dismount, her hero comes to her heroine, kissing her deeply, with one thing leading to another . . .
“Nicole, are you paying attention to me?” Reece asked as he looked over his shoulder at her.
“What? I’m sorry, I was daydreaming. What did you say?”
Reece turned back, facing forward and shaking his head as he pointed to something in the distance.
Nicole came alongside him, her gaze following his pointing finger. Her eyes widened. Right before them stood the ruins of an enormous castle. “Oh my God, it’s beautiful. How old is it?”
“I’m unsure. I think my father once said it was built in the mid-1300’s and was gifted to our family after King Henry the Eighth came into power. Supposedly, my ancestors thwarted an assassination attempt, and our grateful king awarded them.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. I wonder whose estate it was before then.”
“The plotter’s, I imagine.”
She glanced at him and back to the ruins. “Can we go closer?” She hoped she didn’t sound too eager.
“If you wish, but we’ll need to be careful. I haven’t been here for some time, and the conditions have deteriorated more since then.”
“I’ll be all right.” She thumped the horse in the side, and Beauty moved off in an almost canter. Nicole bounced but remarkably kept her seat. She pulled on the reins, patting the horse on the neck in gratitude for obeying the command. “Good girl, Beauty. Thank you for stopping.”
She raised her head, looking up and up at the castle towers rising high in the air. Reece trotted up beside her. “It must have been very grand in its time.”
“I wouldn’t know. It’s always been ruins to me.”
“Haven’t you ever researched it?”
“No, I leave that to people more qualified and interested.” His h
ead fell backward, his eyes rising to something high on the castle wall. “I used to come here when I was a child and make up scenes, pretending to save the damsel in the tower.” He pointed to the barely visible arrow slit in the right tower. “I pretended to be a great lord or a valiant knight. I think that’s when I decided I wanted to be an actor.”
“And your parents supported your decision?”
He shook his head. “Not at first, but when they discovered I was serious and had a talent for theatrics, they enrolled me in workshops, encouraging me to audition for plays.”
Her lips pursed. “It must be nice to have parents who encourage your dreams instead of shutting them down.” She wished her parents were more supportive.
“You shouldn’t be too hard on them. They’re only looking out for you.”
She rolled her eyes as she dismounted. How would he know? He had supportive parents. “Is it okay to go inside? I’d like to see what I can find.”
“What are you looking for?” he asked, dismounting to follow behind her.
“I want to discover something that will spark my imagination.” She moved toward the castle entrance, finding the stone cold beneath her fingers when she touched it. A blast of cool air greeted her as she walked inside. She closed her eyes and was swept back to a time of great beauty. The walls were covered in colorful tapestries, and the rush-covered floors were sweet-smelling and clean. There were trestle tables lined up in the center of the room, and the hearth was blazing with an enormous fire. Beautiful women glided here and there in their gowns made of silk and velvet. The men were handsome and powerful, their swords swinging at their sides.
She opened her eyes, moving farther into the great hall and still seeing in her mind’s eye the way it may have been all those centuries ago. She turned in a circle, scanning the walls and wondering if she could discover a way to the upper floors.
“Reece,” she called. “Is there a stairway?” When he didn’t answer, she spun back to the entrance to find him watching her. The picture instantly dissolved from her brain. “Why are you looking at me that way?”
“You’re fascinating to watch. Your face is so expressive. Everything you’re thinking and feeling is right there in your eyes.” He moved close to her. “It makes me feel things too.”
She moved a step backward. “Like what?”
He counter-stepped. “I want to kiss you like crazy.”
“Can’t you just kiss me in a normal way? I’m crazy enough.”
He laughed as he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. “That makes two of us.” He said no more as he lowered his head to kiss her, his lips molding to hers and his tongue tracing against the seam of her lips. She opened them slightly. He took that as an invitation to deepen his kiss. At the touch of her tongue, he jerked her closer, pressing their bodies together. His hands roamed from her waist, down her hips, and around to her buttocks. He squeezed the roundness in his hands. She moaned in response. He lifted her slightly, aligning their bodies and blatantly showing her how she affected him.
His mouth moved to her throat, kissing down until his lips were nearing the rise of her breasts. “Nicole,” he moaned into her cleavage, “please tell me to stop.”
“What if I don’t want you to do that?” Was he crazy? This felt too amazing to stop.
“Tell me anyway.”
“And if I don’t?”
He lifted his head, looking deeply into her eyes. “I want you, but not here. Not like this. You deserve better than to be slammed against a wall in a rotting castle with plaster falling down around our ears.”
She scraped her fingers through his hair. “What do you suggest?” she asked, biting her lip and staring at his mouth.
He wrapped her legs around his hips, turning them toward the entrance. “I suggest we go back to the house and have something to eat. After dinner, I’ll give you a tour of the house, including the library.”
She frowned, her ardor cooling fast. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
He stopped. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Her mouth twisted. “You run hot, and then you run cold. The change in temperature is not good for my equilibrium.”
He set her on her feet, cupping her face with his hands. “I don’t know what is happening between us, but whatever it is, I don’t want to rush into it. I want to take my time and savor every moment. Do you understand?”
She bit her lip, her eyes burning with tears of rejection. “Sure, whatever you say.” She didn’t believe a word of it.
He shook his head, kissing her and feeling the heat flaring back up between them. She clung to his shirt, thrilling him to know she wanted him too. He wasn’t imagining the passion. He reluctantly let her go. “Come along, Miss DeLancey; it’s time to settle a different type of appetite.” He held her hand as they moved to the horses, waiting until she was seated before mounting his own. They turned back to the wooded copse.
“You’re a strange man, Reece Collins,” she said, her tone not complimentary.
“Why do you say that?”
“Any other guy would have had his partner slammed up against the wall, rotting castle or not.”
“I’m not like any other guy. Maybe I want to wait until the time is right.”
“Maybe you don’t want me enough,” she shot back.
“It’s not about want, Nicole, it’s about respect.” He trotted off, leaving her behind.
She sat in the woods while Beauty munched on the grass. Respect meant caring. Did he care for her so much that he’d postpone something both of their bodies were obviously clamoring for?
Nah, she couldn’t believe that. He just wanted to let her down easy. Still, as fantasies went, it was hot.
When she came out of the woods, she found him waiting. They didn’t speak as they finished their ride back to the stables. He jumped down, striding to her side to assist her from the saddle. He caught her under the arms, holding her suspended in air with the tips of her toes grazing the tops of his boots.
“I was not expecting to feel this way, Nicole. Give my head time to catch up with my heart.” He kissed her hard and put her down, turning and stalking away.
Nicole stumbled—the kiss knocking her for a loop. She fanned her face, trying to cool the heat under her skin. She couldn’t fathom what making love to him would be like, if just a kiss of his lips set her body to flame.
~ ~ ~
Reece felt slightly better after a nice, long, cold shower. The girl was driving him crazy. Between her sassy mouth and her smokin’ body, he didn’t know whether he was coming or going. He had no idea things would escalate so quickly at the ruins. He’d only wanted to taste those lips to see if they were as juicy as the berries they resembled. One taste of them and he was craving more. It took all his willpower to pull back when what he truly wanted was to slam her against the wall and bury himself to the hilt inside her. What the hell was happening to him? He felt like a rutting boar, snuffling and snorting when he picked up the scent of a female.
And she was no help, egging him on with her sultry questions and pouting out those lips when he didn’t give her what she wanted. He was getting hard just thinking of it, having half a mind to march down the hall to give them both the release they craved. He knew he couldn’t do that. Nicole DeLancey was not the type of girl you tupped and then tossed away. She was the real deal—a keeper, and he didn’t want to do anything to mess up the first promising friendship he’d had in a long time. He’d keep his hormones locked away and treat her right, which meant no more heated kisses. His subconscious kicked him hard in the scrotum, promising he’d pay for this decision.
~ ~ ~
Maggie was just setting dinner on the table when Reece joined her in the kitchen. “I thought we’d eat in here since it’s just the two of us.”
He frowned. “What do you mean? Where’s Nicole?”
She waved her arm toward the hall. “She’s holed up in the library. She said something about wanting to research the castle ruins.” She watched him speculatively.
He swallowed hard. “What?”
“You took her to the ruins, Colin. You never take anyone there.”
“She’s not just anyone.”
“Aye, I can see that. She must mean a lot to you.”
He shook his head. “She’s a writer, Maggie. Why else would I take her there?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
He frowned. “If you’re going to plague me with questions, I’ll eat in my room.”
She held up her hands. “No more questions, then. Have a seat Colin and tell me all about your new movie project.”
Reece sat but was reluctant to talk. “I’ve taken a break from filming. I don’t have anything new lined up, although Marcus is trying to get me signed to the new Mission Impossible movie.”
Maggie smacked her lips. “Mmm, Tom Cruise—still fine after all this time.”
Reece snorted. “I’ll take your word for it.”
She took a bite of her meal. “You don’t sound excited about the prospect.”
He leaned his elbow on the table, raking his hand through his hair. “I don’t know if I want to act anymore. The movies: they’re all the same. I’m either a homicidal maniac or a superhero. I want to be known for more than my pretty face and cute ass.”
“You do have that, but you are a wonderful actor. You know it, and the world knows it. So what if half your roles require your bare bottom. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, I always say.”
“I wouldn’t mind it so much if the roles had some substance to them, but it’s the same thing over and again. I don’t want to do it anymore.”
“What does Marcus say?”
An Accidental Love Affair Page 6