Reece dropped his fork in disgust. “He says I have to pay my dues to be welcomed into the club, so he’ll continue to sign the checks.”
Maggie shook her head. “Your brother is a real git.”
“Please tell me something I don’t already know.”
There was a light rap on the door before Nicole appeared in the doorway. Reece stood, dropping his napkin on his plate. Maggie noticed, laughing to herself at his unexpected chivalrous behavior.
“What can I do for you, luv?” she asked, dabbing her mouth with her napkin.
Nicole hobbled into the room, wincing with every other step. “Do you have any Tylenol or Motrin? My bottom half is screaming in agony.”
Reece subconsciously thumped himself on the forehead. He’d been so caught up in his own sexual turmoil, he forgot to tell his novice rider friend to take a hot bath to help relax any stiffening muscles. Now she was suffering; badly too, by the look of it.
“Nicole, I’m so sorry. I should have warned you. Why don’t you go get a bath? I’ll find some liniment to rub into your legs.”
“Or,” Maggie interjected, “Reece can be a gentleman by offering to carry you upstairs while I get your bath ready.” She turned to him. “There’s no way she’ll be able to get up those stairs on her own. The poor child is as stiff as a board.”
Nicole bit her lip to keep from crying out. “I don’t want to put anyone to too much trouble. I can do it all myself. Just point me to a medicine cabinet.”
“Nonsense, girl. You’re no trouble at all. Besides, I haven’t had a lamb to care for in a long time.”
“Thank you, Maggie. I would gladly appreciate your help.”
Reece felt a bit put out. “What about me?”
Nicole glared at him. “I’m not sure I can trust you, Reece Collins. So far, I’ve received a black eye, a twisted ankle, and muscles so sore, they feel like they’re being ripped from my bones. What’s on the agenda for tomorrow? Chinese water torture?” Maggie chuckled, and Reece reluctantly joined her.
He reached for his disgruntled houseguest, swinging her up into his arms. “Do you always have to have the last word?” he asked as he carried her out of the kitchen.
“Yes, it’s part of my charm,” she replied as she wrapped her arm around his neck, enjoying the ride.
~ ~ ~
Nicole was warm under the blankets, the bath having relieved some of the stiffness in her joints. Maggie had been wonderful to her, washing her hair when it hurt to lift her arms, helping her in and out of the bathtub, and assisting her with her nightclothes.
She’d taken some ibuprofen for the pain and was beginning to doze when Reece came in the room.
“Are you ready for round two?”
She frowned at him from one open eye. “What does that entail?”
He came over to the bed, peering down at her. “You seem to be comfortable.” He wanted to join her.
“I don’t feel comfortable. If I never see a horse again, it’ll be too soon.”
“Well, I have to tell you, the best remedy for it is to get back on the horse.”
“Good luck with that,” she snapped.
He chuckled. “I have come to rub your legs down.” Nicole stiffened, wincing in pain. “Don’t tense up, or you’ll ruin all the good you’ve just done.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to rub liniment into your sore muscles, that’s all.” He opened the jar, releasing noxious fumes into the air.
Nicole recoiled from the smell. “You are not rubbing that into my skin. It smells like tar.”
He grinned. “I don’t think tar is one of the ingredients, although I have seen it peel paint off of a wall.”
“That testimonial is not helping your case, Mr. Collins.” She gripped the blankets tight.
“Nicole, you need to trust me.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“Have I steered you wrong yet?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Fine,” she huffed, “but no funny business.”
Reece made a sign over his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Can I be the one to stick the needle in your eye?”
He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Yes, Miss Bloodthirsty. If I overstep my bounds, you have permission to do your worst to me.”
She tried to relax. “All right then, proceed.”
He tipped his head to her. “Thank you. Now, remove your underpants.”
She swallowed loudly. “What?”
She was beginning to frustrate him. “Just do it, Nicole. Wiggle your cute little bum out of your underclothes and put your right leg out from beneath the covers.”
She did as she was told, her leg appearing near his knee. She watched as he dipped his fingers into the jar, rubbing his hands together. At the first touch of his hand, she jumped.
“Sorry, I guess I didn’t warm it up enough.” She refused to tell him it was his touch that made her so antsy, not the medicine.
“Since this may take a while,” he murmured, concentrating on rubbing the liniment deep down into her muscles, “why don’t we play the question game.”
“Okay. I’ll go first. Why does Maggie call you Colin?”
Right out of the gate she hit him hard. “It’s my name. My real name is Colin Michael Reece Woodhouse.”
“That’s a mouthful.”
He smiled up at her, his fingers digging into her sore muscles. “It can be, especially when I’m drunk.”
“How often do you get drunk?”
“I have an occasional nip, but I’m not known for drunkenness.” He dug deep, making her wince. “It’s my turn to ask a question.”
“Why? I’d rather hear about you.”
“You’ve already exceeded your quota on beginning queries. I have three to go before we’re even.”
Her chin rose. “Ask if you must.”
“If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?”
She answered without thought. “I’d live in England or Scotland.”
“Why is that?”
She shrugged a little. “It’s where my heart is, I suppose. I write historical romances, and most of them are based in England, Scotland, France, or Ireland.”
“In which century?”
“It doesn’t matter as long as it’s based in one of those four countries. The Regency period is the most popular. Every woman in the world would love to have their very own Mr. Darcy.”
“What about the Americas?”
“The Wild West used to be big, but it dwindled off. Civil War stories are taboo, and unless you’re Diana Gabaldon with a hot-blooded Scotsman in tow, no one is going to be interested in Revolutionary War stories.” Her lips twisted. “It sucks sometimes, being a new writer. You have all these incredible ideas but get shot down because they don’t fit into a certain ideal.”
“You could always self-publish.”
“With what, my looks? You need money for that. If I had fifty dollars in my wallet, I’d sit up and watch it all night.” She squirmed when he hit a sensitive spot behind her knee. “My turn again. Are we near the ocean? I keep hearing a distant roaring, like waves hitting a beach.”
“We’re not far. If you feel up to it tomorrow, we’ll drive to the Cliff House.”
“The Cliff House?”
He nodded absently. “It’s a small house on the edge of the estate. It overlooks the ocean. It’s beautiful at sunset.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait to see it.”
Reece tucked her right leg back under the covers, moving around the bed to the opposite side. He reached under the blankets, taking out her left leg. “You have lovely legs. They’re long and fine, and I’ve noticed they go
on for days.”
“Thank you,” she said, determined not to have her head turned by the compliment, “but I still have one more question.”
“Fire when ready.”
She turned her head on the pillow, her eyelids growing heavy. His massage was working. She was more relaxed than she’d ever felt before. “What’s happening between us, Colin?”
He lifted her leg a bit, kissing her calf and not stopping the massage. “Hell if I know. I wasn’t expecting you to happen, that’s for damn sure.”
“Are you going to break my heart?”
“I’ll try not to.”
She flashed him a sleepy smile. “I guess I’ll have to live with that.”
He chuckled, finishing with her leg and tucking it up as safely as the other. “How do you feel now?”
She moaned quietly. “This is what every woman wants; her own personal, sexy masseuse. Are you available for weddings and bar mitzvahs too?”
He leaned over, kissing her forehead. “Goodnight, Nicole.”
“Goodnight, Colin. Sleep well.” Dream of me.
Reece moved toward the bedroom door, turning out the light and wiping his hands on the cloth of his slacks. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You’ve been in my dreams for over a week now.”
~ ~ ~
Nicole woke early the next morning, feeling stiff but not sore. And she stunk to high heaven. The first thing she did was take a long hot shower to wash the sweat and tar smell away. After she dressed, she wandered down to the kitchen. She was famished from yesterday’s exertions. Who knew whetting a sexual appetite could stir other appetites as well?
She found a basket of muffins on the table, so she helped herself to a few, munching on them while she waited for her coffee to finish brewing. She was eager to return to the library to resume her work. A lot of plot twists and turns had come to her in her sleep. She wanted to jot them down before she lost them for good.
As she was washing down the last bit of muffin, Maggie came in from outside.
“Good morning, Nicole. How are you feeling? You’re looking much better.”
Nicole smiled. “I’m feeling better. I can move without pain.” She glanced out the window. “You haven’t seen Colin this morning, have you?”
Maggie’s eyebrows rose. So, it was like that, was it? “He went riding early this morning. He hasn’t yet returned. Did you need anything?”
“No, I was just wondering. I’m going to be in the library if he asks for me.”
“Should I send him to you?”
Nicole waved her hands. “No, that’s not necessary. When I’m entrenched in a story, I usually forget the world around me.”
“I think he plans to show you the Cliff House this afternoon.”
“That gives me plenty of time to get some writing done.” She moved to the hallway door. “I won’t have to ride a horse to get there, will I?”
Maggie chuckled. “No, luv, he’ll drive the car.”
“Oh”, she hesitated, “maybe I’d have a better chance with the horse.”
“Did you not enjoy yourself yesterday?”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, Maggie. I had fun. Horseback riding wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be, but my legs are still recovering. I loved seeing the ruins. I came up with a lot of ideas for my story, which I’m going to forget if I don’t get them down on paper. Will you excuse me?”
“Of course. Go do your thing. I’ll bring your breakfast shortly.”
“No need to trouble yourself. I had a couple muffins with some coffee. I’m good to go.” She walked through the door, tracing her way back to the library.
As she sat behind the desk, firing up her laptop, she swiveled on the seat to stare out the window. She thought about Reece and the last few days. Was it possible they were falling for each other? Her head kept telling her no, but her heart was screaming yes very loudly. Which one was right?
She knew how she was beginning to feel, but she was unsure about Reece’s true feelings. Was it all just a game to him? Was he toying with her affections to lull away the time until his next movie project?
She frowned in thought. She had to protect herself from falling for him, but every time he opened his mouth or looked at her in a certain way, her heart melted, making her even more susceptible to him. And when he kissed or touched her, all her reservations flew out the window. God, she had it bad, but she would never let him know.
Shaking her head, she focused her attention on the computer, burying herself in her work and allowing the love story in her mind to carry her away.
~ ~ ~
Reece stood in the doorway, watching her as she typed. He’d been standing there for a while, but she never looked away from the screen. She tapped away on the keyboard as though her life depended on it. Her face alight with joy, she laughed at something she was writing. He could tell she loved her work and hoped others would as well.
The tapping stopped. She was now staring into space, as if she was in a trance. Maybe she was. Maybe she had transported herself to another place and time.
“I know you’re there,” she said after a moment.
He stood up straight. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“You’re not. I drew a blank just now and came back down to earth. How long have you been there?”
“I came inside about an hour ago.”
“You’ve been standing in the doorway for an hour? Wow, talk about the patience of a cat.”
He took a step into the room. “What do you mean?”
“Have you ever seen a cat and a mouse? The mouse knows it’s being stalked, waiting in fear for the cat to make its move, but the cat just watches, pretending it’s not interested. When the mouse lets down its defenses, the cat’s patience is paid off as it pounces on the poor defenseless mouse.”
“I take it I’m the cat in this scenario, and you fear I’m going to pounce on you.”
She shook her head. “Not at this particular moment, but yes, I think you will eventually pounce.”
He grinned. “And what will you do to avoid the attack?”
She sighed dramatically. “There’s nothing I can do. I must accept the inevitable and surrender.”
Reece walked around the desk, leaning his hip on the corner. “Would you like to take a break? Maggie says you’ve been at this for hours.”
Nicole checked the clock, her eyes widening. “It’s two in the afternoon? I’ve been typing since seven. Oh my god, I’ve never gotten that submerged before. What is this English country air doing to me?”
He chuckled. “It’s been good for your creativity.”
“I’ll say.”
Reece reached over, turning the computer toward him. “Do you mind if I look?”
“No, go ahead. I need to stretch my legs anyway.” She pushed away from the desk, switching places with him. She moved around the room, studying the various book titles on the shelves. While he read her story and notes, she left the room for a break, returning to find him still reading.
“Well?”
He looked up from the screen. “I think your editor is going to love it. You’re an amazing writer.”
“It didn’t put you to sleep?”
“Not in the least. Your characters jumped off the page, capturing my interest. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store for them.”
“I’ll have to break them up before they can have their HEA.” At his questioning look, she explained. “HEA means their happily ever after. All romances should end with the couple living happily ever after. It’s not a romance otherwise.”
“Titanic didn’t end with a happy ever after, nor did Pearl Harbor.”
She crossed her arms. “Okay, A—they’re movies and B—in a way the co
uples did get a happily ever after. In Titanic, when Rose dies on the explorer’s ship, her spirit returns to Jack at the clock. And in Pearl Harbor, yes Danny dies, but Rafe survives and marries Evelyn, raising Danny’s son as his own. Win, win for everyone.”
He grunted. “Yeah, except for the poor schmucks who died. Where was their happy ever after?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re such a guy. Danny knows Rafe loves Evelyn, that he’ll take care of her and the baby. He dies at peace. And Jack . . .”
“That’s what got me about that movie. She promises to never let go of him, but what does she do? She lets go to save herself.”
Her expression was of a person staring down an idiot. “She didn’t promise to never let go of him. She promised to never let go of their love. That love sustained her over the next hours, giving her the courage to forge a new life for herself. She never forgot him or their love. Any other love she felt didn’t compare to the one she had with him.”
He turned back to the computer screen. “You’re not going to end your story with them separated, are you?”
“No, that’s a whole different genre.”
He took her hand in his. “You tell a great story, Nicole.”
She bit her lip. “Thank you.”
He continued to hold her hand, caressing her fingers. “Are you done for the day? I was hoping we could go to the beach for a picnic.”
“I thought you were going to show me the Cliff House.”
“I figured we’d stop there on our way back up.”
She glanced toward the door in thought. “Okay, but I don’t have a bathing suit.”
“That’s all right; you won’t need one.”
“Can you give me a minute or two to clean up in here?”
He scooted the chair back from the desk. “Sure, take your time. I’ll tell Maggie not to worry about dinner for us. We’ll grab something to eat in the village on the way back, if that’s all right with you.”
She smiled. “That sounds great.”
They moved to make their preparations for the rest of the day and were soon on their way to the beach. Reece drove along the lane, pointing out the different markers. He parked at the edge of the cliff and began their walk down to the beach. After a short way down, Reece pointed up to the house sitting on the highest edge.
An Accidental Love Affair Page 7