As it was, he blamed himself for what had happened. Parking away from her house had been a mistake, but it had seemed the best way to get around the problem of her nosy roommate watching them from the window. No, he should have walked her to her door, kissed her on the cheek, and left it at that. But after that second kiss in his car, he was gone. It was all he could do to finally pull his brain out of his pants and put a stop to the whole thing. Not in his wildest fantasy — and he’d fantasized about her for days — had he ever pictured her doing that.
He checked his watch. Just after nine. Walking out to the balcony of his suite, he stared moodily at the harbor. A day of flip-flopping over whether to call her was wearing the hell out of him. But calling her would put him past the point of no return. There’d be no walking away from her. She was the serious, commitment type, and he wasn’t. With Miri Jamieson, there would be dates and flowers and going to the movies. That’s what she’d expect, and truthfully, that’s what he’d want for her. Was he up for that?
He picked up his cell.
She answered with a soft “hello.”
She sounded sleepy. Maybe she was in bed in her old-fashioned pajamas. Nick ordered himself not to ask. “Did I wake you?”
She gave a small gasp of surprise. “Nick? Oh, no, you didn’t wake me. Not at all.”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“No, I hardly slept at all.” She paused, and her voice dropped a little. “What about you?”
“The same. Took me hours to settle down.” Totally true. He’d had to settle himself twice last night and once this morning.
“Sorry about that,” she answered with a small laugh. “You did seem quite unsettled, as I remember.”
She was flirting. “Right. So, any particular part of the evening stand out for you?” Hell, he was flirting.
“Well, there was that part where you…” She trailed off.
“Where I what?”
“You know,” she said, her voice so low he wondered what was coming next. “Where I offered you my cherry.”
Nick closed his eyes, remembering how her tongue had traced along her lip. He was unsettled again. Damn, she was good. Damn, he had to know.
“Where are you?”
“In bed.”
Shit. “Pajamas?”
She gave a small laugh. “No.”
Was she naked? Every cell in his body urged him to find out. Fuck, he shouldn’t do this. Just another frustration that he’d have to settle.
He cleared his throat. “Anyway, did you finish your sculpture?”
“Uh-huh, late this afternoon. It feels so liberating.”
“And are you pleased with it?” He needed this. The distraction. Otherwise, he’d have to drive over to her place and liberate the hell out of her.
“What? Oh, yes, it’s not bad,” she answered, as if she hadn’t been listening. “But don’t forget you agreed to be a nude drawing model.”
He could hear the soft, teasing smile in her voice. “So I did. When would you like me to come?”
Nick groaned inwardly when she laughed. “Anytime you like, Mr. Brannagh.”
He paced the room. He was not going to do phone sex with Miri. Dammit, he was going to be a gentleman and ask her for a date.
“Sounds good. Aside from art classes, will you have time to meet me for lunch tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? That’s Monday.”
“Yeah.” Was he missing something here? Did she not do Mondays?
“I can’t. We’re installing the Egg Beater,” she clarified.
“What about Tuesday?”
“Tuesday?”
“Yeah.” If he had to keep going through the week until she was free, he’d do it. It might take awhile, but he’d do it.
“I can’t because the unveiling is on Tuesday evening, and I’ll be getting things ready.”
Nick opened his mouth to suggest Wednesday when she added, “Would you like to come?”
Come? No problem. “Sure. What time should I pick you up?”
“No need, because I’ll be there early. The unveiling is at eight-thirty at the medical center, so anytime around then would be fine.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to seeing you and the Egg Beater. Very much.”
“Ditto. I mean, I’m looking forward to seeing you, too.”
Nick heard a small, stifled yawn. “Right, well I guess you’ll need a good night’s sleep, so I won’t keep you.” She needed her sleep. He needed a cold shower and an hour of ESPN.
“Oh, you’re not keeping me up.”
No, but she was keeping him up. He had a fair idea she knew that. “Still, you must be tired.”
“Kind of. Nick.” Her voice was drowsy now.
“Yeah.”
“I lied.”
“Really?”
Her whisper caressed his senses like liquid silk. “I’m in my PJs.”
“’Night, Ms. Jamieson.”
“’Night, Mr. Brannagh.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“It’s magnificent, Miri. You are extraordinary!”
Miri put on her most patient face as Marcus paced around the Circle of Life for the umpteenth time, lifting the cover every few steps before dropping it and starting on a fresh circuit. He was gushing, but Miri didn’t mind too much. She was proud of this piece and thrilled that her client loved the work.
“How did you get the proportions so perfect?”
“Just lots of hard work. Luckily, the installation went without a hitch.” Thankfully, the assembly had been straightforward, but all the same, it had taken five hours to carefully bolt each section together and do the final polish. With two artist friends as helpers, Miri had scampered around playing anxious overseer which, as one of her helpers had put it, reminded him of a demented chicken on uppers.
She sighed and adjusted the cover for something to do. Running on nervous tension for the past three days and having had very little food this afternoon had her lightheaded. In the next forty-five minutes, ninety people would cram the lobby, and she would need to be on bright-and-chirpy host duty.
“I’m so pleased you like it and that it’s installed before the center officially opens. When will that be?”
Making conversation with Marcus was starting to wear on her. As nice as he was, she wanted to be left to her thoughts, and that mostly involved thoughts of Nick.
“Around two weeks at the most. Just a couple of offices for Lockarts to complete, but the medical facilities are ready.” He took a step forward, making Miri take an uneasy step back. “I was so sorry to hear that you missed out on the mill. Did Nick Brannagh change his mind?”
Miri had hoped to avoid this conversation. “Sorry, what do you mean?”
“Well, that was why you met with him at Jean-Paul’s, wasn’t it?”
Miri caught the accusing tone in his voice. “Oh…yes. No, he didn’t change his mind.”
Marcus frowned. “Pity. But at least you can put it all behind you now, and you don’t have to see him again. I didn’t like the look of that guy.”
Miri shifted uncomfortably on her satin wedges. This was the time to open her mouth and confess all. But the words didn’t want to come, so she stared down at her shoes, flexing each foot as if checking for fit.
“We should toast your masterpiece while it’s just the two of us.”
Miri brought her head up to find Marcus inches away, holding two glasses of champagne. For a moment she thought he wanted to link arms, but he held a glass out for her to take. “To the Circle of Life,” he said with a happy grin.
Miri laughed and took a sip. “Aka the Egg Beater.” She turned around to stare longingly toward the kitchen behind the reception area, listening to the clatter of stainless steel and crockery and the faint hum of the caterers’ voices. Maybe she could escape to the kitchen on the excuse that she was hungry.
“You look beautiful tonight, Miri.”
What? Miri spun back to face Marcus, who was inches close, her hair
slapping him across his face. Marcus was so different tonight. Intense and, frankly, straight-out unnerving. If he was about to ask her out again, she would definitely make an excuse to go to the kitchen.
“Thank you. I bought this dress in London.” True, her dress was beautiful. Even the fussy Alex had approved. In brilliant crimson, the stiff, ballerina-style tulle skirt fanned out around her ankles, contrasting prettily with the fitted silk bodice with its low-cut back and red piping.
Miri shifted on her wedges again and checked her watch. Just after eight o’clock, which meant that Bree and Abe would be here any minute if they’d followed her orders to arrive early. Alex would, as usual, make one of her fashionably late entrances. Then sometime after that Nick would appear. She hadn’t heard from him since Sunday, so he might have changed his mind. Of course, if he came, he would be one big distraction for the whole evening. But dammit, she wanted his big distracting self. The thought of him made her feel a little weak. Definitely time to escape to the kitchen for food.
She had only just turned toward the kitchen when Bree and Abe walked in. “Thank God you’re here,” she hissed as Bree leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek.
“Is Marcus hitting on you?” giggled Bree into her ear.
“Kind of. Don’t leave me until other guests arrive.” As Bree chortled in glee, Miri grabbed her arm. “I’m serious! He’s acting so weird.”
At least she didn’t have to wait long. People drifted in, and by twenty past, the lobby was full of chattering guests, their voices resounding off the expansive marble floor, making it difficult for anyone to be heard.
After shaking so many hands and saying “thank you” a hundred times, Miri had finally managed to push thoughts of Nick to the background. Well, almost. It might have lasted a little longer if hadn’t been for Abe poking her in the side to look at the very large Janice Patterson dressed in a floral tent.
Miri’s gaze found Nick chatting with a small group a few feet from the door. At his height, he was hard to miss. In an immaculate dark suit and white open-necked business shirt, he was, without a doubt, one beautiful man. His listeners obviously agreed, if their admiring stares were anything to go by.
Miri tipped her head to get a better view of his strong profile. The fact that he hadn’t sought her out on arrival made him seem almost elusive. Sexy elusive. Miri could barely move as she soaked up every inch of him. He’d come here tonight for her. Did that make it a date? Miri hoped it did.
As if sensing her, Nick turned and looked directly at her, the barest of smiles curving the corners of his mouth. She jumped at being caught staring. He seemed to know her every move. How did he do that?
Miri smiled and swayed on her wedges, hoping she looked exactly how she felt. Aroused. Ready.
“I’ve been looking at your Nick.” Alex’s signature perfume speared Miri’s lust-stupefied brain before she’d even registered the words. “He’s everything that Bree said and more.”
Miri forced her mind back to the moment. Finding a neutral expression under Alex’s probing stare was never an easy task.
“Have you been introduced? I don’t know when he arrived.” Miri was too scared to look back at Nick. If the heat in her face was anything to go by, she had to be bright red, and Alex had to know the reason.
Alex, as usual, got to the point. “Bree said you two went out to dinner a couple of nights ago. Did he mention the mill?”
“No, we didn’t discuss the mill. By the way, where did you buy that gorgeous suit?” Miri slid a finger along the lapel of Alex’s white jacket. “Is it Dior?”
“Don’t try to change the subject, Marisa.” Alex pursed her red lips thoughtfully, nudged Miri’s chin up with a scarlet-tipped forefinger, and studied her like a specimen on a laboratory slide. “You’re all aroused, my dear. Interesting.”
Miri reddened a little more. The woman was as discreet as a strip-o-gram. “For goodness sake, don’t you ever forget about sex for a single moment?” she half-growled, half-laughed, flicking Alex’s hand away.
Alex arched a brow as if the question was bizarre. “Occasionally, but another time for that conversation. Right now, I need to talk to your Mr. Brannagh.”
“Why do you want to…?” She trailed off as Alex silenced her with a dismissive wink and swayed across the room toward her target, who by this time had been cornered by Janice Patterson.
Miri sighed. Alex would soon break that up.
“Have you noticed Marcus is wearing a belt with suspenders? Isn’t that some kind of fashion faux pas?” Bree asked, sidling alongside Miri.
“Probably, but he always wears both. Where is he, by the way?”
“Talking to the mayor and giving your Nick the evil eye.”
Oh, hell. Marcus definitely had an anguished look about him. “I didn’t tell him that Nick would be here. He doesn’t look happy.”
“Some understatement. He’s about to bust those suspenders. You sly baggage, inviting Nick and keeping it quiet.”
Miri felt a surge of guilt. She should have told Marcus about Nick when she’d had the chance. But it wasn’t as if she and Marcus were an item. “Anyway,” she said, determined not to drop her mood, “are you and Abe enjoying the evening?”
“Yeah, it’s absolutely fucking fantastic. Have you kissed Nick yet?”
“Of course not. I haven’t even had a chance to speak to him. Besides, Alex has him cornered.” She turned to watch Alex talking animatedly to Nick, smiling her best smile up at him. He didn’t seem interested.
“He looks like he can more than handle her. You want something to eat?”
The mention of food made Miri’s stomach rumble. Following the ever hungry Bree to the hors d’oeuvres, she flicked a glance to her watch again. Close to eight-thirty. Too late for food, but just time enough to use the bathroom before the unveiling.
Abandoning Bree, she was partway across the lobby, having successfully fended off a group of guests who wanted her attention, when Alex intercepted her outside the bathroom.
“I need to talk to you, my sweet.”
“Oh, can it wait? The unveiling is in a couple of minutes, and I have to powder my nose.”
“Well, all right. But I will see you later. It’s important. Good luck, darling. You’ve done a wonderful job.” Alex gave her a quick hug before melting back into the crowd, leaving Miri to go to the bathroom.
By the time she’d emerged, people had gathered around the sculpture in anticipation. Marcus stood in front, eyeing his gathered audience with a look of unsuppressed pride. Miri crumpled a little at the prospect of having to smile and shake a million hands all over again. She walked through the crowd to join him, the hum of voices receding as she came to a stop next to him. Then, without warning, Marcus took her hand and curled it up to his side, squeezing her fingers possessively. Lord, what was he playing at now?
Miri retrieved her hand as casually as she could manage with ninety people staring at them. What had gotten into Marcus was anyone’s guess, but he was definitely acting strangely. She watched him check his speech notes, then begin to speak. Considering how he liked to talk and his enthusiasm for the Egg Beater, he did manage to keep his speech to less than nine minutes. Half a minute short of mind-numbing.
“So I give you the Circle of Life.” Marcus pulled the cover away.
Miri knew her latest commission was good, but she wasn’t prepared for the loud gasps from the crowd, followed by the roar of approval and thunderous applause that went on and on. She had to admit that it did look dazzling. Every concentric circle gleamed under the display spotlights, the multicolored enamel perfectly setting off the delicate latticework.
“Congratulations, Miri.” Marcus stood back and applauded her, his eyes roaming warmly all over her. Miri tried to turn away when he closed the gap between them, but he quickly took her hand, leaving her no choice but to stand close to his side. So much for respecting personal space. With a small, almost hesitant smile, he bent his head to deliver the congratulat
ory kiss and, expecting it on the cheek, Miri inclined her face to his. Her eyes scanned the crowd for Nick.
Marcus moved so fast, Miri didn’t see it coming. A quick slide of Marcus’ free hand around her waist to turn her, his mouth finding hers in a flash, his body bending her back so she was trapped against him.
Oh, God, at least he hadn’t put his tongue in her mouth, but he still had a decent taste of her. By the time he’d released her, everyone was clapping again, and Janice Patterson was shouting out in her typically boisterous manner that they made a beautiful couple and Marcus was smirking like his bad mood had just gotten a whole lot better.
Miri felt her throat constrict as if she’d swallowed an oversized bubble of air. She parted her lips to speak, but nothing came out. On the other hand, Marcus was beaming like he had just won something. Her.
Numb with shock, Miri watched Marcus turn, his eyes carefully searching among the crowd. Following his gaze, her heart somersaulted when she saw his target. Nick stood at the back of the group, hands in pockets, legs braced wide apart, his gray eyes flints.
Marcus turned back to Miri, flashed her a triumphant grin, and then addressed his audience. “As you can see, Miri and I are thrilled that you could be here tonight. Please stay for as long as you like. There’s plenty of food and champagne left.”
As the crowd moved away to look at the Egg Beater in detail, Miri stood absolutely still, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Was this some kind of payback over the dinner at Jean-Paul’s? He’d always been so kind and considerate. Sure, he’d asked her out many times, but he’d never touched her or even tried to touch her.
As if hearing her thoughts, Marcus moved in to give her a hug, but Miri took a sharp step back in warning. So sharply, her feet almost gave way. She stared at the floor, hearing him give a small apologetic cough to the guests still gathered around. “Can you give us a couple of minutes, folks? Our artist is a little overcome.”
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