A wife in name only. A business partner who kept to herself and led her own life.
He hated it.
The memory of their last kiss flashed before his vision. But her words puzzled him. Didn’t she realize how much he ached for her?
He’d thought the night the police arrived had proved his interest. Instead, she’d thrown Gabriella out as proof he could never desire her in the same way. God help him, he’d never wanted Gabriella the way he wanted his wife. Never dreamed about Gabriella or ached to touch her or laugh with her. Never wanted to fight or play stupid games or have a life with Gabriella.
What was happening to him?
Nick drained his glass and moved across the room.
Maybe it was time to find out.
…
“Husband alert.”
Alexa looked up and saw Nick cut away from the crowd. She ignored him and focused her attention on Michael, and the amusement that glinted in his eyes. She wagged her finger at her new friend. “Behave.”
“Don’t I always, cara?”
“This is the second time tonight you’ve kept me from my husband.”
Their heels clicked on the polished wood floors as he led her toward the back study. His home was decorated in rich earth and burgundy tones, with touches of gilded mirrors, tapestries, and smooth marble sculptures to break up the flow of polished elegance that permeated the rooms. Opera played on the stereo system piped throughout the floors. Michael had decorated with an underlying sensuality Alexa appreciated.
“Then I am doing my job well, signora. He makes you sad tonight, I can tell.”
She paused and looked up at him. For the first time, she allowed the raw emotion of Nick’s confession to escape. It had been difficult pretending not to care this past week. “We had a fight.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
“Men suck.”
He nodded with flourish. “Sometimes, yes. Sometimes when we wear our hearts on our sleeves, we are wonderful. But mostly we are scared of breaking open ourselves to another.”
“Some men never do.”
“Yes. Some never do. You must keep trying.”
She smiled at him. “I’m giving you my friend Maggie’s number. Promise me you’ll call her.”
He gave a long sigh. “If this will make you happy, I shall call her and invite her to dinner.”
“Grazie. I just can’t shake this odd instinct I have about you two.”
“Ah, you are a matchmaker at heart, cara.”
As the night wore on, she drank more champagne and spoke more boldly and danced with more partners, always careful to walk the edgy line between proper party conduct and having a good time. Soon, Nick gave up trying to engage her in private conversation. He just stood by the bar, drinking Scotch, and staring. His gaze burned into her from across the room, even when hiding behind the barriers of people. As if he laid claim to her, without a word or a touch. The thought made her shiver with pure anticipation. Then she realized she was actually fantasizing about Nick making a scene and dragging her off to seduce her. Like in one of her romance novels.
Sure. Mr. Logical himself. Might as well read science fiction and wait for the aliens to take over the world. That was much more likely.
…
He’d had enough.
Nick was sick and tired of watching her parade around with various men. Sure, she only danced with them. But she’d rarely left Conte’s side, falling into an almost easy banter and level of comfort that pissed Nick off.
Their marriage was supposed to look solid to outsiders. What if the gossip windmill flew regarding the Italian count and Alexa? The waterfront contract would be even stickier, because as he negotiated, he’d fantasize about breaking Mr. Smooth’s pretty boy face.
Oh, yes, he was being logical, all right.
As Nick finished his last drink and placed the glass on the bar, he noted the fiery alcohol heated his blood with a new resolve and stripped away the barriers to the truth.
He wanted to make love to his wife.
He wanted her for real, for just a little while.
And damn the consequences.
He cut off the rational man who screamed at him to back off, wait until morning, and finish up the next months in polite civility.
He crossed the room and tapped her shoulder.
She spun around. Nick deliberately gripped her hand. Surprise flashed across her face, then smoothed away.
“Are you ready?” she asked politely.
“Yes. I think I’m ready for a lot of things.”
She nibbled at her bottom lip, probably wondering if he was drunk. He took the matter under his control to separate Michael from her as quickly as possible.
“Michael, I wonder if you’d be kind enough to call us a cab? I don’t want to risk the drive. I’ll send someone tomorrow to pick up the car.”
The count nodded with graciousness. “Of course. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Nick kept his hand locked on Alexa’s and led her over to the coatroom, determined not to let her out of his sight. In a few hours, she’d be in the only place where she couldn’t get in any trouble. And it wasn’t over any rainbow.
It was in his bed.
She didn’t seem to notice anything had changed between them. Nick watched while she slipped on her coat and said good-bye to her new friends. He was amazed she didn’t suspect tonight was her official wedding night. The secret knowledge made him even more impatient to get out of Conte’s house, where he’d finally seduce her. He’d been crazy to wait this long. He should have known sex was the fastest way to ensure a relationship settled.
The cab arrived and they sped home. She remained silent at his side, stared out the window, and ignored him.
He paid the driver and followed her inside. She hung her coat neatly in the closet and headed up the stairs. “Good night.”
He knew anger was the quickest way to gain her full attention. “Alexa?”
“Yes?”
“Did you sleep with him?”
Her head spun halfway around, reminding him of the little girl from The Exorcist. Her mouth dropped open and a gasp rose to her lips. Fierce satisfaction ripped through him at her response, and the connection between them reignited and caught fire.
“What did you say?”
He took off his own jacket and threw it over the back of the couch. He stood in front of her, hands on hips, and gathered all his power to make her mad as hell. Because he knew through her anger he’d find honesty—the passionate woman she hid from him in her ridiculous belief he didn’t want her.