And what if she ran?
His hold tightened on her almost instinctively.
“Nick?”
“Not here. I need to be alone with you.” And without thought, he did what he’d wanted to do all night. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her away.
The cheers of the crowd echoed in his ears, but he thought only of spending as much time as possible with the woman in his arms.
12
SUNNY WAS breathless by the time they reached Nick’s home. He hadn’t spoken a word to her since they’d left the festival.
She finally dared a glance at him as he drove into his parking space. What was going on behind those enigmatic dark eyes of his? The way he’d looked at her while they were dancing. Shivers raced over her skin, and there was an undeniable sense of anticipation infusing her.
What had she wanted him to say back there? What did she want to hear from him now? Words of love? Words of commitment? Either terrified her. She wasn’t ready. Not now. Maybe not ever. This was supposed to be a fun fling, a walk on the wild side before going home.
Home.
She looked around her. The quiet neighborhood street, the rows of family businesses all tucked away snug for the night, the man who was taking her hand and leading her toward…what? There was more than another delicious night in his arms at stake here.
Part of her wanted to stop, demand he tell her what was on his mind right now. Another part of her undeniably wanted to pull her hand free and run like hell. Run from having to make decisions that were very likely going to hurt someone somewhere. Why did she have to do that? She didn’t want to have to choose.
Nick took her into his arms at his door and kissed her. “Sunny,” he said roughly.
She pressed her finger to his lips. “Shh. Let’s go inside, Nick.” She looked directly into his eyes, afraid but secretly thrilled at what she found there. “Make love to me, Nick,” she whispered.
The next several minutes were a blur of kisses and clothes being discarded through every room as they made their way almost frantically to his bed.
She tumbled him onto his back and straddled him. His eyes lit up in delight, and he held her hips.
“All that dancing has made your hips so…” He groaned as she writhed over him. “Flexible. Damn.”
His back arched, and so did hers. It was always like this. Shockingly erotic and so damn pleasurable. Like she could drown in it…willingly.
He grinned at her as she set the pace. “Remind me to take you dancing more often.”
She laughed, then moaned as the movement caused her to tighten around him when he slipped even more deeply within her. It was always like this, too. Teasing and affectionate and…fun. Wildly, amazingly fun.
She held onto his shoulders, and her hair cascaded forward to brush his face and chest.
His eyes closed as he delighted in the feel of her hair on him, something she knew he loved because he’d told her so. Many times. She enjoyed pleasing him. Each time they were together, she learned a little more about him and what to do to heighten their pleasure together. He had done the same and knew her body like no one else ever had. She couldn’t imagine their lovemaking as anything other than a generous sharing of themselves where each put the pleasure of the other first.
Nick made her squeal when he suddenly rolled her to her back. “That grin was downright wicked,” he murmured in her ear as he placed her thighs over his hips.
She crossed her ankles on his back and nipped at his earlobe, then whispered, “I’ll show you downright wicked.”
“Please, I’m all yours.”
And he was. Thrusting inside her, holding her against him in a way he knew would bring her to a shattering climax. She felt the climb begin, slowly and deliciously, and sunk into it until the pressure grew so intense she screamed when he took her over the edge into release. Even then, she knew just how to lift, to tighten…and take him over the edge with her.
They were both panting, their skin sheened with sweat when some semblance of normalcy returned to her. “How do you do that?”
She expected a grin and a smart-ass answer, but he was silent, his expression…she wasn’t quite sure what that expression was. She’d never seen it before. Well, maybe once. On the dance floor.
“Stay with me, Sunny.”
“I wasn’t planning on leaving. At least not immediately, anyway.”
“I don’t mean just for tonight.”
Oh. Oh, God! “What—What exactly are you asking me? To…move in or…or something?”
Suddenly she wasn’t at all sure she wanted to hear what he was going to say. She was hoping for little steps, a revealing of their true feelings, then a prolonged discussion of what that meant, followed by days, weeks maybe, of talking about the next step. But that wasn’t going to happen. It was all going to happen now. And she wasn’t ready!
Nick rolled to his side and drew her with him, so her head was pillowed beside his chest. He propped himself on one elbow and gazed into her eyes. “Sunny, I’ve been thinking about you…about us…a lot this past week or so. I know we said this was only going to be a fling, something for fun, before you went…before you went back home.”
There was a bleakness in his eyes when he said that. She reached up and stroked his face. “It was supposed to be just for fun.” She ran her thumb over his lips. “So, now what do we do?”
“Just tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“Tell me that you’ll stay long enough for us to find out what we really want.”
“I’m not ready to make promises, Nick,” she murmured, hating to cause him any pain, but knowing she had to be completely honest with him.
“But—”
“But we have time before I’m supposed to be anywhere other than right here. Plenty of time to talk about things and make plans and do all that deciding. Just not right now, okay?”
She hated the worry she saw creep into his eyes, but he knew her well enough not to push.
“Okay. But I won’t promise that after our dramatic exit back there my family hasn’t already booked the church and hired the band.”
Her heart raced at the thought. He hadn’t told her he loved her, much less proposed marriage, but she couldn’t stop the vision anyway. A lovely church wedding with all of Nick’s family and friends around her. That her own family didn’t enter into her lovely little dream she couldn’t face right now. So what if she wanted to dream impossible dreams and allow her heart to fly a bit? Reality would always be there to bring it back. Probably with a painful thud.
All those thoughts flitted away as Nick began the most delectable nibbling along her neck.
“Since we’re not going to spend the rest of what is left of tonight talking, I do have several other options I’m willing to discuss.”
Sunny squirmed as his hands slid down her back and beneath the covers. “I might be willing to settle on a merger acquisition,” she said. The rest was lost on a long moan of delight.
Nick laughed, then disappeared beneath the covers.
Sunny’s back arched, and all thoughts of what she’d do with her life beyond the next electrifying hour dissolved.
NICK SHOULD HAVE been disgusted with himself. He walked around the back of his car to open the door for Sunny, hating that he couldn’t touch her for those five seconds it took to get out of the car and open her door. Besotted was putting it mildly. And yet, when she smiled at him as she offered him her hand to help her out, he thought besotted was a great state to be in. The whole world should be so lucky to be as besotted as he was.
He’d meant to tell her he loved her last night, had every intention of doing just that when they’d left the festival. But he’d known after asking her to stay with him that she wasn’t ready to hear those words. Actually, he was still shocked at how badly he’d wanted to say them. But here it was, the next morning, and he still felt that way.
She stepped to the curb and went to move past him, but he took her int
o his arms, not caring if Mr. Bertolucci was watching.
She rolled her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. “Boy, just in case carrying me off last night didn’t do the trick, huh?”
He almost told her right then, but he knew she needed him to tease right back, to not pressure her beyond what his family was already doing. Or was going to do. God help them both after his little demonstration last night. Still, he couldn’t resist doing a little more than teasing. He bent her back over his knee and kissed her with all the love he felt, then smiled a bit sheepishly as two of the neighboring store owners applauded when he stood Sunny up, albeit a bit wobbly, on her feet. “Show’s over, folks,” he called, but winked at a blushing Sunny. He straightened the collar of her shirt. “Are you ready?”
She took a deep breath and nodded. “As I’ll ever be. There’s no banner draped across the restaurant, so that’s a good sign, right?”
Nick laughed. She’d handle it okay. Question was, would he? He grasped her hand and held it tight as they walked in the back door.
“I’m just going to run upstairs and change, then I’ll meet you in your office, okay?”
He had paperwork to do, invoices to check and an order to fill out, all before starting the day’s work. What he really wanted to do, though, was climb those stairs behind her and crawl into bed with her.
“Sunny? Nicco? Is that you?”
“Should I make a run for it?” Sunny said, laughing.
Mama Bennie’s stout figure came into view as she turned the hallway corner. “There you are!”
“Too late now,” Nick said out of the side of his mouth to Sunny, just before being engulfed in a big hug.
Sunny’s answer, if she’d had one, was muffled against Mama Bennie’s ample bosom, as she, too, was engulfed in a big hug.
Bennie eyed them both. “So, do you have any news to share with an old woman who doesn’t have too many more years and would like to hold her oldest grandson’s babies in her lap before the good Lord calls her home?”
Sunny choked, and Nick groaned. “Bennie, please.”
She looked properly affronted. “These days young people don’t understand from subtlety. A waste of time in my book, anyhow.” She clasped her hands and looked at them expectantly, but there was something else in her dark eyes. Uncertainty?
“Is something else going on?” Nick asked.
Her clasped hands were twisted together. “I was hoping to hear good news, that is all. Before…” She looked over her shoulder, then sighed so heavily her frame appeared suddenly curved, as if carrying an immense burden.
Alarmed, Nick put his arm around her shoulder. Sunny drew closer, as well. “What’s wrong?”
She looked over her shoulder once again, then took Sunny’s hand and squeezed it. “Your grandmother is here. She wouldn’t tell me why she’d come, but she wants to see you. I called Niccolo’s place, but you two had already left.” She paused, her eyes full of concern. “I made her some tea. She’s waiting for you out front.”
Nick saw that Sunny was standing still as a stone, her eyes hollow with concern…and fear. Just as quickly she pulled herself together and gave Mama Bennie a reassuring kiss on the cheek. “It’s okay. I understand. Please, don’t worry.” She straightened and looked at Nick. “I guess I’d better go see what she wants.”
“Sunny—” He didn’t want to let her go. To his surprise, it wasn’t for selfish reasons. It frightened him in a way he’d never felt before. What happened in the next couple of minutes could have an impact on his whole life. So it was normal that he’d want to go with her and do whatever he could to make it work to his advantage.
But that wasn’t what was keeping his grip on her hand so firm. He wanted to go with her to support her. In whatever happened, whatever the outcome. He didn’t want her to face what was probably going to be a very difficult conversation alone.
“It’s probably best I see what she wants. I’ll come back to your office as soon as we’re done and tell you everything. Okay?”
No, it wasn’t okay, he wanted to shout. None of this was. He just found her, just realized he wanted to keep her forever. And now…what? Now it might all be over before it began?
“Trust me, Nick.” She looked directly into his eyes.
She was right. The whole reason she’d come into his life in the first place was so she could decide for herself what she wanted. If he didn’t trust her to choose on her own, then he was no better than her family, making important decisions for her.
But it didn’t make it any easier to let go of her hand. “If you need me, or want me for any reason, you know where I’ll be.” Pacing my office like a caged animal, waiting to hear what my fate will be.
She kissed him, right there in front of Bennie and everything. “Thank you, Nick. For understanding me better than anyone ever has.”
He swallowed hard, then watched her walk away from him.
Mama Bennie grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “She’ll do the right thing, our Sunny. She’s a strong one.”
Knowing his doubts showed on his face, Nick said softly, “I hope so, Mama. I hope so.”
13
SPYING HER GRANDMOTHER sitting stiffly at one of the small tables near the door, Sunny paused, taken aback.
She looked…frail. A trait Sunny could never remember associating with Frances Chandler. Although her posture was as erect as ever, there was an air of defeat about her elegantly attired frame.
Anxiety filled Sunny, and she hurried across the room. “Grandmother?”
It only took one look into Frances’s pale blue eyes to confirm her fears. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
“Please sit down, Susan. There is something I must discuss with you.”
Sunny’s throat tightened as she sat across from her. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Edwin. He’s had…a setback.”
“Is he okay?” Sunny’s voice trembled. She restrained her impulse to take her grandmother’s hand or in some way give her comfort. And get comfort in return. Instead, knowing her grandmother would strongly disapprove of any public display, Sunny folded her hands in her lap.
“He’s home now.”
Sunny released a silent sigh of relief. She was upset that she hadn’t been contacted sooner. He’d obviously spent time in the hospital. There was no use in belaboring the point. Frances may be hiding it well, but Sunny saw the toll this turn of events had taken on her.
Sunny’s hands coiled into tight fists from the tension of holding back. She was suddenly struck by how profoundly she’d changed these past few weeks. Being around the D’Angelo family had given her the freedom to openly express her needs and desires. It had already become second nature to her to touch, to reach out, to comfort. To expect it in return.
Sitting here with her grandmother, she realized she couldn’t go back to her old way of being. She couldn’t go back to doing what was expected of her at the expense of her own needs. And those of the people she loved. The very idea made her stomach hurt.
And yet, wasn’t that what she was already doing?
Well, no more. Very deliberately she reached over and covered her grandmother’s hand with her own, giving it a gentle squeeze. Frances stiffened, and her eyes widened in disapproval, but Sunny noted with a warm surge of satisfaction that she didn’t remove her hand.
“What’s happened?” Sunny asked. “How long was his stay in the hospital?” Was it my fault?
Frances pursed her lips, and Sunny’s heart dipped when her grandmother removed her hand to take a slow sip of her tea. It was a polite pause designed to allow Sunny to gain control over her emotions, to behave appropriately. To do the right thing.
Sunny had never felt so wrong in her life. She didn’t want to sit there and quietly inquire as to the state of her grandfather’s health. She wanted to race out the door, Frances in tow, grab the first taxi and rush to his side.
But despite Sunny’s vow to change things, there were some things that would never
be changed. “Please,” Sunny said, trying to keep the resignation from her tone, “just tell me what happened.”
Frances carefully set her teacup on its saucer before answering. “His cardiologist is afraid he has been placing too much strain on his heart these past several months. This merger has been complicated and he’s been spending an inordinate amount of time on it.”
Sunny couldn’t stop guilt from flooding through her. Even she wasn’t that strong. Her grandfather had wanted her there to help with this merger, and she’d gone off on her own instead.
“But he’s so strong,” she murmured. Her eyes watered as she looked into the steady gaze of her grandmother. “Will he fully recover?”
“With bed rest and diet, he should make a full recovery.” She seemed to sit a bit straighter, her composure seemingly bolstered in direct opposition to Sunny losing hers. “It’s time for you to come home, Susan. You must take your rightful place as Edwin’s heir. There is still much that has to be done, and Edwin will not rest if someone other than a Chandler is at the helm.”
Sunny felt overwhelmed by feelings of obligation…and entrapment. Certainly she must return home. She’d known this moment was coming all along, albeit not for this reason. But she wasn’t ready. She simply wasn’t ready.
And yet, what choice did she have?
“I have a car waiting outside. If you could just gather your things, we’ll be on our way.”
Sunny’s eyes widened. “I can’t simply walk away. I have responsibilities here.”
Her grandmother eyed her. “Having responsibilities didn’t seem to be a concern one month ago.”
Sunny reminded herself that she was a grown woman with her own mind and that it was her choice what she would or wouldn’t do. But Frances knew precisely what button to push. Sunny’s guilt button was glowing a bright neon red at the moment. And knowing she was being manipulated didn’t lessen the feeling.
“I need to go and explain what has happened.” When her grandmother didn’t so much as blink, Sunny’s resolve began to return. Frances had raised her, and Sunny had learned a thing or two from her despite herself. “I have several other things to take care of, as well. Then I’d like to go see Grandfather. Afterward I’ll need to come back here and pack up. I’ll return to Haddon Hall as quickly as I can after that.” If her grandmother noticed she hadn’t referred to Haddon Hall as home, she didn’t let it show. Sunny wondered what she would say if she told Frances D’Angelos had come to be more of a home to her in one month than the place she’d spent almost her entire life.
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