“He slept with your girlfriend,” Ally said slowly. “He turned that charm on her. And she cheated on you with him.”
“Yeh,” he admitted. “Tore me up at the time. Her too, when he dropped her. Just did it to see if he could, I think. And to score on me. Because he was jealous of me, of what I had. What I’d done, I guess. Even though . . .”
“Even though you’d earned it,” she finished for him. “Since you had it and he didn’t, it was unfair. Is that about it?”
“Yeh. I never could understand that, but that’s how it was. So that’s what he did. And he was right, it worked. It hurt. And it broke us up, of course. Afterwards, she wanted to come back to me. Told me she still loved me, that she was sorry. But I couldn’t look at her the same way again. Not after she’d been with him.”
Ally felt sick inside as the full realization of what he’d said hit her. Of what it meant.
“OK,” she said, wishing her voice sounded stronger. “I see why you don’t like him. And . . .” She made a helpless gesture. “Thanks for the coffees, and the beer, and everything. I’ll see you.”
She reached back for her bag, got out of the car, walked hurriedly to the front door, pulling out her keys with eyes that were blurred by tears. It wasn’t enough that Devon had . . . had seduced her, she thought, the old-fashioned word seeming like the only appropriate one. Now he’d wrecked things with Nate too. And she liked Nate. She liked him so much.
“Ally.” He was beside her, his hand on her arm. “Wait.”
“It’s OK.” She shook his hand off, got the key into the door. “I know it seems awkward, but it doesn’t matter. Better that you found out now.”
“It does matter,” he insisted. “And I’m not going to let you go. Not till we talk this over.”
“Then come upstairs,” she sighed. She didn’t have to worry that he’d jump her, after all. Not any more. All her caution seemed ridiculous now anyway. There was only one good guy in this scenario, and it was pretty obvious which one he was. How could she have got it so backwards?
He didn’t try to talk to her until they were in her flat. Kristen wasn’t home, Ally registered briefly. Out with Liam, she thought. Kristen wasn’t reading guys wrong. She’d been right about both Nate and Devon all along.
“Sit down,” she told Nate now, gesturing to the couch. “Do you want a beer or something? I think we have some.”
He waved a hand. “Nah.” He waited until she was seated beside him, then began to speak. Sitting forward in his typical pose, legs apart, elbows on his knees, hands clasped, head turned to look at her. “I should’ve told you about Devon at Drew’s,” he said. “When you . . . mentioned him.”
She winced. “When I told you what he’d said about you.”
“Yeh.” He didn’t look any happier than she felt, was looking down between his feet now. “And I didn’t, because it’s not something I like to think about. It sure as hell isn’t something I like to talk about. Or that I wanted to tell you about. But if I had, you’d have known, wouldn’t you. You’d have known what kind of man he is, and he couldn’t have done that to you.”
She shrugged helplessly, surprised at how miserable she felt. She’d told herself she wasn’t sure if she wanted Nate. Who had she been kidding? “It’s not your fault. I guess I needed to have that experience. I haven’t dated much, like I said. Turns out there’s a type of man that I didn’t recognize. Kristen did, but I didn’t listen to her.”
“I suspect Kristen’s met her share of Devons,” Nate said with a little smile, the first he’d shown since they’d started talking about this. “Who want to score off her, be able to tell their mates they’ve had a woman that gorgeous. Happens the other way round too, you know. Get a bit of fame, and a man gets that same thing. Course, men seem to be able to live with it.”
“I’ll bet. And you’re right, Kristen’s a lot smarter than I am in some ways. And I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Now I do, and I can be more careful. So like I said,” she went on more briskly. “No harm done.” Except, of course, that their almost-romance wasn’t going to happen.
He looked at her searchingly. “Hope that’s true. That he didn’t hurt you too much.”
“Yeah, well,” she said wryly. “Kinda hard to get your heart broken after a few dates. I was embarrassed, but that was about it. He wasn’t exactly memorable, or all that regrettable either, if you know what I mean. I think I have a pretty good idea of why your girlfriend wanted to come back to you.”
He smiled again. “Good to know, I guess.”
“But I’m wondering,” she said slowly. “If that’s the case, if he did that to you, why does he seem to hate you? It’s like it was the other way around, that you did something to him. Is that just the jealousy? Or did something else happen?”
“Just one thing. Hard for me to see how he can resent me for it, but who knows how he thinks. A couple years ago, he asked me for an intro to our head of PR. I couldn’t believe it. Said no, of course, and he wasn’t too happy.”
“He did say something about that. But seriously? He thought you’d help him?”
“That’s what I thought! He seemed to think it shouldn’t matter anymore. That I’d somehow have forgotten it, or forgiven it, or something. Couldn’t believe it.”
“Because women don’t matter to him, like you said,” she guessed. “And he didn’t understand why you’d still care yourself.”
“Yeh. Reckon you’re right. So anyway, I told him what I thought of him, and that I’d be doing my best to see that he never did get anywhere, not in rugby. And he hasn’t, and I’m guessing he knows why. That it’s been because of me. And somehow, he doesn’t see that that’s because of what he did. It’s something I did to him.”
“So,” he finished. “Sorry again that I didn’t say more, and I think you’re letting me off the hook too easily, but I appreciate it. And now that we’ve got that sorted at last, we can put him out of both our minds. Forever, I hope. And go to dinner, because I’d much rather think about you.”
“You don’t want to go to dinner with me, though,” she protested. “Not now.”
“Now what?” He looked genuinely surprised.
“You don’t want to take out somebody who was with him. I know you don’t. I know how much that would bother you. You broke up with your girlfriend over it.”
“Ally.” He took her hand. “She cheated on me. And your past is over and done, just like mine is. D’you think I only date virgins? It’s been a long, long time since I was a woman’s first. And it doesn’t make me think less of them. Because I’m none too clean in that area myself, I’m sorry to say. We could compare notes, but I don’t really want to share my history.”
“Really?” she asked, searching his face.
“Really,” he confirmed. “I really don’t want to share. Because you’d think I was a slut, and wouldn’t want anything to do with me.”
She laughed for the first time, and felt the relief of it. “As long as you’re only dating one woman at a time these days. And as long as you’re not about to tell me that you’re not ready for a relationship right now.”
“I’m not going to say that,” he said with a smile of his own, giving her hand a squeeze. “That means it’s casual. That it’s likely to be . . . short.”
“Ha! Kristen was right again!” She pulled her hand out of his to clap hers together.
“What?” He looked confused.
“She told me that was man-speak for ‘This is a one-night stand.’ And she was right!”
He sank against the cushions, put his head back, and groaned. “Am I ever going to get used to you saying exactly what’s on your mind? Or stop getting sucked into answering? Short doesn’t necessarily mean one night. Just means what I said. When I’m not looking for a relationship, I don’t like to lead women on. I don’t want them to . . . hope, if that’s not what it is.”
“So when were you planning to say that to me?” she demanded. “Earlier, I mean?”
> He looked uncomfortable. “Before we went too far. So you could choose.”
“Uh-huh. Once you’d got me all hot and bothered.”
“No worries,” he grumbled. “Looks like I’m never going to get you hot and bothered. Every time I get close, I stuff up.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. You’ve had me hot and bothered for a while now, and you’ve only kissed me . . . twice, haven’t you? Kind of slow, aren’t you?”
“Slow?” he demanded. “Slow?”
“Oh, yeah.” Her spirits were fizzing now with the relief of having passed through the crisis, the laughter bubbling down deep. “I’d say you’re being pretty slow, wouldn’t you? I mean, even if we were in high school, if you took me out over and over and never even tried to hold my hand, I’m afraid I’d have to dump you. I’ve been giving you a pass, because I know you’re a little scared of me, but . . .” She sighed. “Well, I guess you can’t help your lack of confidence. I can see I’m going to have to take the lead here.”
He actually sat there with his mouth open for a second. Then shut it again. “You’re going to have to take the lead, eh,” he said, his eyes beginning to gleam. Starting to look a little bit dangerous. And dangerous was a really good look on him.
“Afraid so.” She sighed again. “It’s not really my preference, but what are you going to do? With a timid man . . .”
Timid. Nobody had ever, ever called him timid. And even though he knew she was teasing him . . .
He reached for her and pulled her to him. She came willingly, laughing at him. Then he put his mouth over hers and kissed her the way he’d imagined doing it. Hungrily. Aggressively, his mouth and tongue claiming her own, his hand fisting in her hair. And she wasn’t laughing anymore. She was making some noise beneath him, though, urgent little sounds that he smothered with his mouth as she grabbed at his shoulders, hung on. And she wasn’t trying to take the lead one little bit.
He had her down on the couch, her upper body underneath his, his hand under her tank top, when they heard the door open, the voices.
“Oh!” Kristen said from behind them. “Excuse me! We’ll just . . .”
“No, we won’t.” Mako’s voice, then, as Nate sat up hastily, pulled Ally with him, and folded his hands over his lap. “Toro’s got a house of his own, doesn’t he. He wants to kiss somebody on the couch, he can do it there.”
Nate cleared his throat, wished he could stand up. But that would be a very bad idea just now. “We stopped by so Ally could get changed,” he said. “As we’re going to dinner.”
“And you were helping her,” Mako said. Then remembered himself. “Sorry, Ally. Nice to see you. Sorry we barged in on you.”
“That’s OK,” Ally said hastily, jumping up and pulling her tank top down self-consciously. “Nate’s right. I’ll just . . . I’ll go get changed, so we can go out.”
“Is there time for me to take a shower?” she asked Nate.
“Course,” he said, thankfully able to stand at last. “I’ll go home, get my own gear on, and come back for you, shall I? Seven forty-five OK? Enough time?”
“Sure,” she agreed, looking adorably rumpled and flustered. “Perfect.”
Leather and Lace
She didn’t look rumpled and flustered the next time he saw her, after Kristen had opened the door to his knock. She looked hot. And like nothing he’d ever seen from her before.
She saw the look on his face, faltered to a stop halfway across the lounge.
“What? Wrong?” she asked in confusion. Looked at his open-neck white dress shirt, black jacket and dark jeans with the black shoes. “Should I be wearing jeans? I thought you said dress up some. I thought, a skirt.”
“Ally. Wait,” he said with a laugh. Went to meet her, gave her a gentle kiss, not wanting to spoil her makeup. Which was also something new from her. Smoky eyeshadow and liner that accentuated those exotic, almond-shaped eyes. But she’d kept her lipstick more natural, which pleased him. He loved her mouth exactly as it was. And her dark, shiny hair was down, tumbling around her shoulders, a bit messy. On purpose, he could tell, meant to look like she’d just climbed out of bed. With him.
“You look perfect,” he assured her, taking both her hands in his and standing back to get a good look. “Leather, eh.”
“Kristen said . . .” She still sounded doubtful. Cast a glance at her friend, who smiled back at both of them.
“Bye, kids,” Kristen said, turning for her bedroom. “Have a nice time.”
Nate remembered to say goodbye to her before shifting his focus back to Ally.
“Do me a favor,” he said, dropping one of her hands. “Twirl for me.”
She smiled slowly back at him, confidence returning to her expression, then did a pirouette with the aid of his hand, giving him the full view.
“Oh, yeh,” he sighed, seeing the zip running down the entire back of the slim black leather skirt that hugged that gorgeous bum, ended several inches above her knees. The short-sleeved lace top she wore with it was wonderfully tight and stretchy, hugging her pretty breasts, a sort of . . . beige color that gave her that almost-naked look.
Eyes on her face during dinner, mate, he reminded himself. The color of the top was matched in her high heels—with no stockings, he saw with pleasure. He did love a woman with bare legs, and hers were the best. But he knew he’d be walking behind her tonight, looking at that zip. It was just a few centimeters undone, there at the bottom. Which was going to kill him.
“It’s all Kristen’s,” she said happily. “I don’t know where we’re going, but she thought . . . this.”
“And she was right,” he assured her. “It’s perfect. Come on. Let me take you out. Because I can’t wait.”
Down on the street, he held the car door for her, waited until she was settled inside, then slammed it shut again, went around the car and got in himself.
“I really love it when you do that, by the way,” she said impulsively.
“What?” he asked, startled. “Start the car?”
“Carry things for me. Open my door. It makes me feel . . . special. Like a woman.”
“Never mind,” she added in confusion when he didn’t answer immediately. “I’m not a very sophisticated date. I’m sure I should be acting like it’s the least you could do for somebody as fabulous as me. And like I dress up all the time and get taken to nice places by desirable rugby stars. But this is actually all pretty new to me, and I’m not too good at pretending.”
He smiled across at her, pulled out of the space, and headed back down to the CBD. “Which is a bonus, trust me. Women are usually—” Now he was the one who was cutting himself off.
“What?” she asked. “Usually what?”
“Never mind. I was about to sound like an arrogant prat again. And I’m trying hard here, in case you can’t tell, not to spoil my chances with you.”
He didn’t have to worry too much about spoiling his chances. His chances were looking pretty darned good. When he’d kissed her like that tonight . . . Wow. She’d never been kissed like that. Like he wanted to eat her up. She shivered a little at the memory. And the way he’d looked at her when he’d showed up to take her out . . . Yeah. Not to mention the way he looked. That was pretty good too. This whole thing might be another giant mistake. She might be headed straight down the road to ruin. But what a way to go.
She didn’t tell him that, though. Just enjoyed pulling up to the elegant building with him, having the valet come forward to open her car door, doing her best to step out with some grace and dignity in the tight skirt. And finding Nate there again, taking her hand to walk inside.
“I always thought this was a bank,” she said as he held one of the huge double wooden doors for her and they stepped into the marble-lined entryway. “There’s no sign on it that I’ve seen.”
“It was.” He nodded a greeting to the smiling man who came forward to welcome them. “The Bank of New Zealand. And now it’s a restaurant. I thought you might enjoy it.”
He really seemed to care whether she did. Focused on her despite the attention he was garnering from the wait staff and many of the other diners. Nobody exactly fawned over him. New Zealand was too egalitarian for that, she’d figured that out a while ago. But they definitely knew who he was, although everyone was leaving him alone tonight, to her relief. She guessed that the staff at a restaurant like this, in the nation’s capital too, would see their fair share of celebrities. And that probably went for the patrons as well.
His smiling attention was all for her throughout the evening as he kept up a joking discussion about his climbing prowess, asked her about the outdoor climbing she’d done back in the States. She tried to focus, tried to answer him as best as she could, although the look in his eyes was making her shiver. She could tell where his attention really was, because hers was there too.
“Something the matter?” he asked. She realized she’d become distracted again by his smile, the look on his face. How had she ever thought those eyes were cold? They were warm enough now. They were heating her up. And her hand, she realized, was holding the fork that rested on her plate, but wasn’t moving.
“Not enjoying that lamb, eh,” he said. “Should’ve told me. I’d’ve had them change it out for you.”
“What? No,” she said, starting a little. “I’m fine. I’m just . . . I’m looking at you, and . . . Nate. I want to go home with you. Please, take me home now.”
She felt the shudder running through her as he looked at her, startled, and set his own fork slowly down. Those eyes were burning with intensity now. And she was burning too.
He lifted a hand for the waiter. Pulled his credit card from his wallet and handed it to the man with a few words, then stood and led Ally out of the elegant room, collecting the card along the way, signing the receipt. And outside, there was his car, already waiting. Nate collected the keys with a brief “cheers,” then stepped around the man who would have opened the door for her to do it himself. She saw his eyes on her legs as she swung them in, the leather skirt riding up a bit. And then he was inside, and driving fast.
Just My Luck (Escape to New Zealand #5) Page 15