“I protect what is mine.”
“You’re my brother, Dominic. Nothing will ever change that, but I also love the Andrades. You’ll have to respect that. And I won’t go back to being sheltered from the world. If you want to be part of my life, you’re going to have to trust that I can take care of myself.”
“I will. I do.” He blushed and conceded the truth. “I’ll try.”
Speaking of the Andrades . . . Nicole asked, “Now where did you say Stephan was?”
And without waiting for Dominic’s answer, Nicole bolted out the door and into the elevator.
Stephan stopped midpace when he saw Nicole step out of the elevator. He held his breath and waited. Was this the end or the beginning?
She crossed the foyer to him. Dammit, he should have met her halfway, but her expression was difficult to read and he couldn’t unfreeze his feet. She stopped a foot in front of him and said, “You lied to me.”
He swallowed hard. “Yes.”
“And you used me.”
There was no reason to lie anymore. “Yes.”
“And you really sabotaged Dominic’s server?”
He simply nodded. Waiting.
“So why aren’t you out celebrating your victory? Why did you confess?”
She knew. She knew why he’d done it. He cleared his throat. “Because I love you.”
She leaned in, cupping her ear, with a mischievous sparkle in her gorgeous gray eyes. “I’m sorry. What was that? I didn’t hear you.”
He pulled her to him, linking his hands behind her back, thankful for the millionth time that she’d given up her heavy pantsuits for thin sundresses. “You heard me.”
Not ready yet to let him off the hook, she shook her head with mock sadness. “Well, if you can’t even say it in public, how am I going to believe you?”
Stephan stepped back and up onto the coffee table in the foyer. “Excuse me, everyone.” His voice carried the authority to turn all the heads in the area. He pointed down at Nicole. “I love this woman. If she is willing to marry me, we are going to fill a huge house with tons of kids, and I am going to spend the rest of my life proving to her that she was right to forgive me.”
Nicole blushed the most beautiful shade of pink and said, “Everyone is looking, Stephan.”
He reached down and dragged her up onto the table with him. “Well, then this is the perfect time for me to ask you.” He got down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
She looked down at her left hand, which no longer wore his ring. “How do I know this is real? How do I know this isn’t just one more game?”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small ring, less than a carat, with an antique setting. “This was my grandmother’s ring. My mother wore it when she was engaged to my father and hopefully, one day, our daughter will wear it. I’m done playing games. Marry me, Nicole, and let me prove that to you.”
She only made him suffer for the longest moment of his life before saying, “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.” She offered him her hand and he slid the ring on her finger.
They lost themselves in a kiss while the crowd cheered.
Eventually coming back to Earth, Stephan stepped down from the table with a huge smile. He held up a hand to help Nicole down.
Abby said, “It looks like they made up, Dominic.”
Dominic growled, “I can see that.”
Jake said, “You’re going to have to forgive him.”
Dominic made a threatening sound deep in his throat.
Stephan joined them. No matter their past, this was Nicole’s brother. Stephan held out his hand to Dominic. “I’m sorry, Dominic. I was wrong, and I let what I thought I knew about you guide me to some reprehensible behavior. I hope we can work this out.”
When Dominic didn’t move, Abby jabbed him with her elbow. He looked down at her and said, “How am I ever going to scare anyone if you keep doing that?”
Abby smiled up at him.
Stephan laughed. “I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Dominic’s expression remained serious. “If you’re good to my sister, you will never have anything to fear from me.”
Jake piped in, “See, Dom, that’s the kind of comment that makes people wonder what you’re capable of. Couldn’t you just shake his hand and accept his apology?”
Dominic did shake Stephan’s hand, and in that moment the two of them reached an unspoken understanding.
For Nicole.
Later that day, Nicole stepped out of her shoes as she entered their penthouse. Stephan closed the door behind him and swept her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and couldn’t stop smiling.
He nuzzled her cheek and said, “We’re finally alone and we’ve resolved all of our issues. Do you know what this means?”
His kisses tickled her neck. She knew exactly what it meant, but she decided to have a little fun. “You want me to cook again?”
He tossed her down on the couch and shed his jacket. He shook his head, a predatory smile spreading across his face.
“You’ve recorded a program that you’d like to watch together?” she asked impishly.
He loosened his tie and threw it on the floor behind him. Without taking his eyes off her, he slowly, deliberately began to unbutton his shirt. Nicole’s mouth dried and her stomach quivered. He dropped his shirt behind him, standing tall and proud, fully aware of the effect his muscled torso was having on her blood pressure.
Nicole gripped the cushion beneath her. God, he was beautiful.
Slowly, so slowly that she wanted to jump up and do it for him, Stephan undid his leather belt and unbuttoned the top of his trousers. With a flick of the zipper, he slid his pants down and stepped out of them. His dark-blue boxers did little to conceal his excitement.
Nicole’s body clenched and shivered in response to every move Stephan made. He walked toward where she sat and leaned in, kneeling beside her on the couch, his warm breath hot against her ear. She shivered again but didn’t move. Ever so softly, he purred, “Step One: The Shake-up. Would you say I have your full attention now?”
Nicole pulled back with a surprised laugh. “You know about that, too?”
“Don’t tell the women, but the men have always known.” He looped a finger beneath the strap of her dress and moved it aside, exposing a bare shoulder to his eager lips. “My father warned me about the notorious bikini scenario, but I never thought I’d actually experience it.”
He tasted her collarbone, making it difficult for Nicole to focus on what he was saying, but as the image of that day replayed in her head, she swatted him playfully. “You could have said something.”
“And miss the fun? How would I know what to warn our sons about?” He slid her other strap down and gave that shoulder equal attention.
Nicole closed her eyes and threw her head back in pleasure. One strong, confident hand lifted her, while the other expertly slipped beneath her dress and removed her panties. Her eyes flew open and met his.
God, he was hot.
He pulled the dress up and over her head in a single move and laid her down on the couch, naked and exposed. He ran one light finger across her lips, down her neck, through the valley between her small breasts, down her stomach. He whispered, “Tell me what you like.”
Barely able to breath, Nicole admitted, “I don’t really know.”
He stopped and she feared she’d ruined the moment. Self-recriminations were just finding their voice when he said, “Then that’s where we’ll start.”
He rolled onto the couch with her so they lay face to face. He laid one hand on her hip and said, “Kiss me.”
Nicole closed the short distance between their mouths and quickly forgot why she’d been embarrassed. His lips caressed and worshipped. His tongue teased and suggested. She met his moves with her own and together they explored the passion they’d both tried so long to deny.
His mouth moved down her neck and Nicole’s body sprung to life wherever he
kissed. His hands were firm but gentle. Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, he would pause and wait, giving her time to counter with her own explorations.
She removed his boxers impatiently and reveled in the hard excitement that pulsed in her hand. She encircled and stroked, awed at how his body jerked with pleasure at her touch. His uninhibited desire for her gave her the confidence to let herself go and enjoy. Simply enjoy.
His hand found her wet center. His thumb settled on her clitoris and rubbed a rhythm she felt clear down to her toes. One magical finger slid inside her, working in unison with his thumb to drive all coherent thought out of her mind. When she was writhing beneath him, rubbing against his hand, begging him not to stop, he replaced his hand with his mouth. The heat of climax spread through her, leaving her a shuddering mass at his mercy.
His smile promised that instead of being the end, this was merely the beginning.
Gently, he rolled her onto her stomach and pushed her hair aside, drawing a path with one hand, and following that path with his lips. He caressed each inch of her, lovingly, passionately, until the last thing she wanted was to be facing away from him. And still, his hands stroked her. Bringing every corner of her alive for him.
When she could take no more, she rolled over, sending both of them onto the floor. He broke her fall easily. His strong arms raised her above his excitement, holding her poised and ready as his tip jerked beneath her, waiting to be taken within her. “Show me what you like, Nicole.”
Nicole lowered herself on him, savoring how he filled her. She moved tentatively at first, like a dancer who had never taken the lead. Testing. Clenching when she discovered the secret to her own pleasure, and loving how he met her move for move.
With Stephan she was free—even here. Free to be who she’d always wanted to be. And she let herself go to fully enjoy the rhythm they found together. Their shared orgasm left them spent and still connected, hugging each other while their breathing slowly returned to normal.
Nicole raised her head slightly and kissed Stephan softly on the mouth. She said, “You can put all of that on the list of what I like.”
He smiled against her lips and said, “I’m going to enjoy adding to that list.”
Nicole flexed her inner muscles around him and felt him harden within her. “Me, too,” she said, “me, too.”
He cupped her bare ass with his hands and began to move her hips in a circular motion, taking them both to a place where communication did not require any words.
The next day, Nicole and Stephan returned to their morning ritual of having breakfast together. The beauty of it brought a shine to Nicole’s eyes. Beyond their passion, beyond the depth of their love for each other, they were also friends, and that was what gave Nicole the strength to believe they could make it.
Stephan took a bite of his toast and asked as casually as if he were inquiring about the weather, “What do you think about buying a house in California and living there part of the year?”
“I would love that,” Nicole gushed. “Are you considering making documentaries again?”
Stephan nodded. “Mark gave me the hard sell while I was there and he made some good points. I could also take it a step further than making movies, and challenge a few of my competitors to go green. I hate to say your brother has set another example for me, but his substantial investment in scholarship funds, both here and in China, set the stage for large companies to follow suit. There are countless major corporations out there now looking for high-profile causes. I could spotlight those causes for them.”
“Speaking of my brother . . .” Nicole wasn’t quite sure how Stephan would respond to her idea, but it was something she desperately wanted to make happen. “I’d like to invite Dominic and Abby to dinner this Sunday with your family.”
Stephan squeezed her hand gently. “Your brother might not love my family as much as you do.”
“He will,” Nicole said simply.
“When did you become so optimistic?” Stephan asked with a pleased smile.
“Since I started believing in happy endings.”
Stephan cocked one eyebrow at her, not yet understanding what she was talking about.
“All the major holidays will be here before we know it. I never really celebrated them before, and this year I want everyone to be together. That’s only going to happen if they get to know each other. If you called Dominic and invited him, he would come.” He still looked doubtful, so she added a heartfelt, “Please . . .”
Stephan scratched his chin in serious consideration, then said, “Maybe you should ask me again while wearing that little red bikini.”
Nicole laughed and threw a napkin at him. “You’re an ass.”
He grinned and said, “Yes, but I’m an ass who is going to call your brother because I love you.”
Nicole walked around the small table, sat in Stephan’s lap and gave him the kind of kiss that makes a man late for work.
A few hours later, Stephan left, and Nicole made some phone calls before texting Jeff to pick her up for the drive to her father’s house.
She flew past Jeff in a rush and slid into the limo. She was late, and she was never late. It was impossible not to blush every few minutes when she thought about why.
Bubbling over with happiness, Nicole spontaneously pressed the button to lower the partition between the front and back seat and said, “Jeff, you were so right about everything. I’m glad I waited to have sex with Stephan. Last night was everything I’ve always dreamt of, and I have to thank you for that.”
Not sure exactly what response she expected, Nicole went from pink to bright red when Jeff’s father, Arnold, peered back at her from the driver’s seat. “I got home last night, Miss Corisi,” he said in his most professional tone.
Nicole scrambled to organize her thoughts and spoke before she had completed the process. “Oh. Well, tell Jeff I said thank you.”
Arnold stared back at her in the rearview mirror and said nothing.
“Or not.” Nicole buried her face in one hand and fought back a smile. Poor Arnold. “This is the kind of moment we can probably pretend didn’t happen, right?”
Arnold started the engine. “Yes, Miss Corisi,” he said, sounding a bit relieved. “Do you want to go directly to the house?”
“No, I promised Maddy and Abby that I would pick them up on the way. They are going to help me sort my father’s belongings.” She gave him their addresses.
“That’s nice you don’t have to do it alone,” Arnold said, breaking his near twenty-year rule of keeping their exchanges completely impersonal.
Reflecting on his comment, Nicole’s smile spread from ear to ear. Even if it made him uncomfortable, she had to tell him how much better her life had gotten while he’d been gone. Her voice was thick with gratitude. “I’m not alone anymore, Arnold. I have a family now.”
Arnold looked away, but she saw in the mirror that his eyes were misty. “That’s good, Nicole.”
A flash of inspiration hit Nicole. “You know what else is good?”
He looked back at her before pulling into traffic.
“A raise. A big, fat raise that will let you take your wife on a trip every year.”
He said, “You don’t have to do that, Nicole.”
No, I don’t have to, but I want to. She teased, “Oh, you’ll earn it, Arnold. Wait till you meet Stephan’s nephews.”
“Hellions?” he asked with a pleased smile.
“And fast.”
Arnold surprised her more by saying, “You deserve to be happy, Nicole.”
Nicole put her hand through the opening that separated them and gave his shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “I don’t know if I deserve to be, but I am, Arnold. I finally am.”
Nicole could have sworn he flushed a little. She sat back in her seat with a happy, albeit tearful grin. “I’m going to put up the divider now, Arnold, so you can have some peace.”
“Thank you, Miss Corisi,” he said, retur
ning to formality.
Before cutting off their brief connection, Nicole added something that she needed to voice. “Thank you for not leaving me, Arnold.”
He didn’t say anything, but Nicole caught a glimpse of his smile just before the window blocked him from view.
I always felt so alone, but I guess I never really was.
Arnold was about to become the best-paid limo driver in New York City.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maddy’s husband, Richard, was fully absorbed creating his Sunday feast for the Andrade clan, threatening anyone who so much as dared to lift a cover to one of the many pots.
Abby sipped the coffee she’d gladly accepted a few moments ago from Katrine. “When you invited me over early to cook I imagined . . . well, cooking.”
Elise waved a hand at the man in the background who was cursing his creations in French and said, “Today is Richard’s day to cook. We just come in here to get away from the men so we can really talk.”
Nicole shared a knowing look with Abby. “I know. I thought the same thing when they invited me. Seemed a little sexist to have all the women in the kitchen while the men stayed out in the living room, but this is where all the good stuff happens.”
Maddy laid Joseph back in his rolling bassinet. “I grew up like this, but I confess that in my teens I thought I was missing something by not being out there. Remember that year, Mom?”
Elise smiled and said, “Oh, yes. I remember. It didn’t take you long to realize that all the important decisions are made in here.”
Nicole asked with laughter in her voice, “Do the men know that?”
Abby had a more serious question. “It’s your choice to be in here, though, isn’t it? I mean, if you wanted to sit out there and talk they would let you, right?”
Elise nodded reassuringly. “Oh, don’t worry. You’re welcome to go out there and soak in as much microchip design and marketing platform talk as you can stomach. Just leave me in here.”
The look of surprise on Abby’s face made the older woman smile. “Abby, the women’s rights movement was about equality so we could choose who we want to be, not so we could all become software designers. I don’t bring in an income anymore, but I am on the board of several charities and I consider my family a full-time job. Alessandro would support me if I wanted to run part of the company, but I’m not interested. The great part about getting older is you realize you don’t have to impress anyone. I’m happy with things just the way they are.”
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