‘Remove the jacket and tie right now, Nathaniel, or I’ll strip them off for you. You’re not goin’ inside the Wildhorse dressed like a funeral director,’ Sky snapped. She fixed him with a challenging stare that said she’d divulge his worst secrets if he didn’t agree.
For a second he debated the wisdom of disobeying but caught a glimpse of Daisy’s obvious amusement and shrugged off his jacket. Taking great care he unknotted his tie, rolled it up, opened the boot and laid both items out carefully before locking it back up again.
‘Doesn’t that feel better?’ Sky asked, but he didn’t reply. Nathaniel couldn’t admit that it made him feel exposed because he understood how ridiculous that sounded. ‘Come on, let’s walk, it’s not far.’
Nathaniel glanced down at her high heels and wondered again about women.
‘It’s an art, dear brother, and don’t worry I’ll keep up with you.’ She linked her arm through his and grabbed Daisy’s on the other side. ‘Come on, let’s go and shake Nashville up.’
By the time they made their way down Second Avenue and reached the well-known club, the humid August night had done its worst on Nathaniel’s pristine white shirt. The fine cotton clung to his damp skin and he longed for his air-conditioned apartment and a long, cold shower. From his rare other experiences at the Wildhorse he knew the Saturday evening crowd would already have sucked any cool air out of the place, leaving them to breathe a stale warm fog.
‘Cheer up, Nate, we might get you to enjoy yourself if you’re not careful,’ Daisy teased.
He struggled for a polite smile but gave up after deciding good manners didn’t apply when someone was goading him.
He began to roll up his shirtsleeves, making sure the folds matched on each arm.
‘Would you care for a ruler?’ Daisy’s mischievous smile brought out her dimples and he fought against smiling. Nathaniel knew he was OCD about certain things – make that a lot of things if he was being honest – but he preferred things to be in order.
Nathaniel followed the two women inside, resting his hand in the hollow of Daisy’s back to guide her through the large crowd gathered around the doorway. She glanced over her shoulder, fixing him with her curious silver-blue eyes and sending a rush of heat to places he’d rather stayed undisturbed. As she turned away Nathaniel let out the breath he hadn’t realised he was holding.
‘Okay, let’s get some drinks to celebrate. Can you believe I sold two paintings?’ Sky’s eyes sparkled. ‘If there’s any money left tomorrow morning I’ll pay some bills, Nathaniel, I promise. What’s your poison, Daisy?’
‘I’m not much of a drinker, you choose.’
Big mistake, kid, that’s like letting Hannibal Lecter choose the Sunday lunch menu. His sister’s tolerance for alcohol was notorious and she’d seen off more than one boyfriend who couldn’t keep up.
‘Well, we could have some local Yazoo beer followed by tequila shots or Sex on Second Avenue,’ Sky said with a wide grin. ‘I’m not suggesting we turn exhibitionist … I’ve done my showing off for the night,’ she joked. ‘Sex on Second Avenue is a delicious cocktail with vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, orange juice and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey.’ Sky recited the ingredients with ease, convincing Nathaniel she had more than a passing acquaintance with the aforementioned drink.
‘Um, that sounds rather lethal.’ Daisy sounded wary and a charming blush lit up her cheeks. ‘How about something a little less—’
‘Potent?’ Nathaniel interrupted. ‘Don’t corrupt the poor girl.’
Daisy glared as if he’d grown two heads and her eyes darkened. He hadn’t meant to sound patronising and now she’d order the damn thing to prove him wrong.
‘Hey, I’m in Nashville for the first time, so beer and tequila shots it is, why not?’
Because you’re maybe five feet four inches tall, you’re not accustomed to drinking much, and just one of those concoctions will lay you flat out.
‘Go to the bar and get them in, Nathaniel. Daisy and I will be over by the dance floor,’ Sky ordered him, and gestured through the heaving crowd of partygoers throwing themselves around to the thumping beat of a trio of musicians, complete with requisite torn Levi’s and cowboy hats.
Getting served was an ordeal but he finally grabbed a tray with their drinks and made his way back to where Sky and Daisy were taking a break from dancing and resting against a tall round table. As he set up the drinks Sky stared at his Perrier water with unconcealed disgust.
‘Don’t get too comfortable, bro, you’ll be back for another round soon.’
He didn’t reply and wiped ineffectually at his sticky hands.
‘Cheers, Sky.’ Daisy raised her beer glass and took a long swallow. ‘That’s good.’
‘It’s brewed down the road near Nathaniel’s flashy apartment complex.’ Sky downed hers in a couple of minutes and picked up her shot glass. ‘Now this is the good stuff. To get the most buzz, lick the salt, down it in one, and then bite the lime.’ Sky tossed hers down and Nathaniel cringed as Daisy picked up hers and followed suit.
The colour drained from her face and then a few seconds later flooded back in a heated rush, lighting her up like a red traffic light. ‘Wow,’ Daisy gasped.
‘You okay?’ he asked, but she tossed him a scathing glare and banged the glass back down on the table.
Sky glanced around the room and started to wave frantically. ‘Excuse me a minute, I’ve spotted some friends. One of them is Tommy Manning and I’ve been trying to make a move on him for ages. I’ve a feeling tonight might be my lucky night. Refills, Nathaniel.’ She took off, dancing her way through the crowd.
‘You heard the lady,’ Daisy teased, resting her hand on his arm. Nathaniel fought not to pull away from the press of her hot fingers through his damp shirt.
‘Stay here,’ he ordered and took off to brave the bar again. He considered swapping Daisy’s order for something innocuous, but she’d made it clear he wasn’t her keeper so he’d leave well alone. Back at the table she took the drinks he offered with a wicked grin and pushed the beer to one side before going straight for the shot glass. She tipped it down her throat and did the turning white first and then scarlet thing again.
‘Why aren’t you having one?’ she slurred.
‘I don’t drink,’ Nathaniel replied and hoped the conversation would end there. Of course it didn’t. This English girl didn’t get the memo about being polite and reserved.
‘You wouldn’t have absolute control then, right?’ She nailed it in one and he could only stare back. ‘Thought so. You can dance with me instead.’ Daisy pulled at his arm.
‘I don’t …’
‘You do tonight. I’m a visitor and your traditional habit of Southern hospitality won’t allow you to be rude,’ she declared with a giggle and dragged at him again.
Nathaniel gave in and they ended up squeezed in between a rowdy group of Australians and a honeymoon couple from Scotland. Daisy soon wheedled their life stories out of them in a lengthy shouted conversation. Without warning a large sweaty man lurched into her and Nathaniel slid his hands around her waist to prevent her being trampled, or worse.
Out of the blue she flung her arms up around his neck and yanked him down towards her. Her glossy pink lips were only a breath away from his mouth.
‘Are Southern boys good kissers, Nate?’
Afterwards he’d tell himself he did it because she annoyed him. He couldn’t bear to admit it was anything to do with the drift of sultry perfume rising up from her warm skin, reminding him of dripping overripe peaches, or the challenging tone of her seductive voice.
Nathaniel stroked her top lip with his tongue until she let him slip inside her sweetness. He ran his hands in a gentle trail over Daisy’s filmy layers of clothes and explored her soft, tempting curves. Nathaniel pressed her up against his hardening body and her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away and nestled against him with a happy sigh. He forced himself to take a step backwards.
‘So, what’s the verdict?’ he asked, his voice trembling.
‘Take me outside.’ Her breathy request sent a heated rush of desire coursing through his bloodstream.
‘I don’t think so, honey.’ Nathaniel dropped his hands to his sides. ‘You’ve had a little too much to drink and I hope I’m too much of a gentleman to take advantage of you.’
‘I’m serious, Nate.’ Daisy slapped a hand across her mouth and gulped. ‘If you don’t I’ll throw up all over those shiny shoes and—’
At the very last second it clicked she wasn’t joking Nathaniel was splattered with a rush of pink vomit. He clutched at Daisy as she slid towards the floor and managed to hold her upright. Everyone around them cleared a space and he managed to drag her with him towards the door.
‘What happened?’ Sky appeared by his side.
‘What does it look like?’
‘You’re wearing a prawn on your shirt!’
He glanced down at the object lodged in his open neck and cringed. Daisy moaned and promptly launched another prawn in his direction.
CHAPTER THREE
Daisy knew anything would be better than this: doing her ironing, being forced to eat cold quiche or having to wear tights on a hot summer’s day. Lying in Nathaniel’s bed wearing one of his snowy-white T-shirts while he stared disapprovingly from the open doorway sucked. Daisy’s thumping hangover was nothing compared to her utter humiliation.
‘Sky shouldn’t have suggested the drinks and I’m at fault for buying them,’ he stated, making her feel worse. She wasn’t about to succumb to his strained effort at sympathy.
‘I drank them. My fault, not yours, or Sky’s. I’m saying sorry one more time and that’s it because I don’t believe in beating something to death.’
He gave her a peculiar look and if it wasn’t a crazy notion she might’ve thought he admired her bluntness.
‘Where is Sky anyway?’
A tinge of colour highlighted his sharp cheekbones. ‘Once she had you … cleaned up and settled, she left you in my care last night. She was supposed to be here a while ago to take you back to her place but I suspect the lure of a certain Tommy Manning was paramount. No doubt she’ll arrive any minute now, gushing abject apologies and wanting to take you out shoe shopping to make up for her neglect.’
‘Did you have plans this morning before you had me dumped on you?’ Daisy asked.
‘I wouldn’t quite phrase it that way,’ he mumbled and stared down at his feet.
‘Oh, come on, Nate.’
‘I’m sure my cleaning and laundry will wait.’
She glanced around the immaculate bedroom which was a vision of gleaming white, polished stainless steel and sparkling glass. Daisy had already decided it held more than a few hints of an upscale private hospital. Daisy couldn’t imagine what he’d been going to clean.
‘You’re such a slob, Nate. I’m sure it would’ve taken you all day.’
His face darkened but then a tug of humour pulled at the edges of his mouth … the same mouth that had wreaked havoc on her last night. Despite the poisonous level of alcohol flooding her system she hadn’t forgotten the searing, possessive nature of the kiss she’d goaded him into. Maybe her disgusting reaction to the lethal drinks was the best thing to have happened or goodness knows what they might’ve ended up doing. Losing her bet would’ve been a distinct possibility, although if Mags found out about ‘the kiss’ she might consider Daisy had fallen anyway.
‘Are you making fun of me, Miss Daisy?’
She caught it then, the hint of a Southern drawl lingering under his usual indeterminate accent and her insides turned to mush. Did he have any clue how sexy it was? She suspected he preferred to be inconspicuous, which was something a man as good-looking as him could never be. Something about so much well-groomed masculinity made any hot-blooded woman yearn to dig under the surface and discover who Nathaniel really was.
‘Your usual lady friends don’t, I take it? Probably a good job I’m flying back home tomorrow.’
She ran her gaze down over the dark blue collared polo shirt and starched khakis he wore today, fairly sure this was his idea of Sunday casual. Daisy couldn’t help picturing him in worn, tight jeans with an old T-shirt to better show off the muscles she’d run her hands over last night on the dance floor.
‘I expect it is,’ he replied.
He took a step forward and she sat up in the bed, causing the covers to fall down around her waist. Daisy’s heart thumped as he came to stand at the base of the bed, his hazel eyes gleaming with the same tantalising hint of gold she remembered from last night.
‘Is it possible you’ll be back in Nashville anytime soon?’ The heavy rasp in his voice startled her and she struggled to reply.
‘I shouldn’t think so. It’s back to Cornwall, and my normal life, complete with lots of charity shop bargains and baked beans on toast.’ She was exaggerating but that was better than opening up to Mr Nathaniel Dalton.
‘It sounds rather grim.’
‘Not at all. We don’t all need the latest smartphone or designer clothes, Nate.’ She couldn’t resist a sly dig at him. ‘I’m doing what I love and make enough to live on, which suits me fine. I’m lucky because my grandmother left me her tiny cottage in the village where most of my family still live. Nan helped my brothers and sisters to buy the houses they wanted when they married but she knew I loved her cottage and always encouraged my independence. It doesn’t match up to this fancy place, of course, but it suits me. I wasn’t brought up with much except love and encouragement and that’s all I really need to enjoy life.’
A shadow flitted across his face and she wondered what she’d said to cause it.
A loud repetitive buzz cut through the moment and Nathaniel sighed. ‘That’ll be Sky. She can never press the doorbell once and wait for me to let her in. Excuse me.’
He hurried from the room and Daisy flopped back in the bed. She heard them talking together in the hallway and by his hectoring tone she guessed Nathaniel was telling his sister off.
‘Oh, sugar, I’m so sorry.’ Sky burst into the room in a swirl of perfume and apologies. She flung herself at Daisy and enveloped her in a massive hug. ‘Please say you forgive me. My mama would string me up if she found out I’d run off and neglected you.’
‘If you give her space to breathe she might be able to reply,’ Nathaniel interrupted.
Sky let go of Daisy. ‘How’re you feeling?’
Nathaniel rolled his eyes behind Sky’s back and it took all Daisy’s self-control not to giggle. ‘Not too bad. I’ll live. How was the rest of your evening?’
Sky launched into all the lurid details and made it clear that Tommy Manning’s bedroom abilities lived up to his torrid reputation. Nathaniel’s colour deepened as his sister went on until Daisy felt sorry for him.
‘Well, that’s great.’ Daisy didn’t quite know how to continue. ‘How about we go back to your place and leave Nathaniel to his normal Sunday routine?’ she suggested.
‘The boring creature will only do his ironing or cook carefully portioned meals for his freezer,’ Sky teased. ‘We’re going to save him. I suggest we—’
‘I appreciate you making the effort but I’m too tired to go anywhere,’ Daisy said firmly. ‘I’m happy to spend the day watching TV and hopefully getting to feel human again before the tedious journey home tomorrow. If you want to go out somewhere then do because I won’t be much in the way of company, I’m afraid.’
Sky’s face fell. ‘But it’s our last chance to have fun for ages, unless I can come up with a ticket to London any time soon.’
‘Which isn’t very likely unless you sell a few more paintings,’ Nathaniel observed, and Daisy wanted to stick her tongue out at him. She understood that there had to be practical people in the world but hated the notion she might fancy one of them.
‘Thank you, Mister Boring.’ Sky exhaled a loud sigh. ‘All right, we’ll go and leave him in peace.’ She glanced down at Daisy and frowned. �
��You can’t go out in that. I should’ve brought you some clean clothes.’
Nathaniel flashed a satisfied smile. ‘It’s not a problem. Her clothes are all washed, dried, ironed and hanging in the bathroom. Being organised isn’t always a worse fate than filing your taxes on time, dear sister.’ Sky huffed in disgust but he carried right on. ‘I’ll leave you to it, ladies, and I’ll give you a lift when you’re ready. I’m sure Daisy isn’t up to walking six blocks in this heat to your—’
‘Don’t you dare call it a hovel,’ Sky remonstrated. ‘I know it doesn’t match your standards.’
‘You’re lucky they don’t have health inspectors for private homes or you’d be up for multiple code violations,’ he chided her and almost smiled.
Daisy couldn’t help but think he’d look amazing if he relaxed enough to give in to a full-blown one.
‘Don’t worry, Daisy, he’s only getting back at me because all our family give him grief,’ Sky explained with a laugh. ‘Nathaniel is the family renegade who’s never smoked a joint, protested against nuclear war, worn eco-friendly linen or drunk Fairtrade coffee. If they had monasteries for non-religious people that’d suit our Nathaniel down to the ground.’
Daisy noticed how rigidly he held himself, with tension strumming through every line of his body. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and tell him it was okay, that people were all different. Her own solid self-belief was her parents’ greatest gift. She received another of his blank stares and knew if she dared to express her sympathy out loud he’d cut her dead.
Nathaniel turned on his heels and left the room.
‘What was that all about? I always tease him.’ Sky’s bewilderment made Daisy want to shake her. There were too many questions she’d love to ask but had no right to. ‘He’s a silly man sometimes. Oh well, do you want to shower?’
Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat Page 28