"I think it means that you're, well, heartless."
"Heartless! I've got a big heart. Especially when it comes to my staff." He shook his head, frowning. "I can't believe they think I'm heartless."
She grinned. "I also heard that you've change in the last month. Changed for the better."
He raised an eyebrow. "Changed? How so?"
She shrugged. "Just nicer I guess."
"Nicer. Hmmm."
"So what happened a month ago to change you so drastically?"
Nick's eyes flew to hers then quickly skittered away. Abbey leaned forward and touched his hand. To hell with talking about business. She wanted an answer to this one and she wasn't letting him go until she had it, whether it was what she wanted to hear or not.
"Well?"
He glanced at her then up at the approaching waiter who took their orders and disappeared.
"Well?" she prompted again.
"Abbey, don't." He looked pained.
"Why?"
"This isn't fair."
"Nothing about this was ever fair, Nick. Let's face it, I wasn't fair to you and you weren't fair to me. There's been a lot of water under the bridge between us, and I just want to start hearing the truth from you. I'm tired of lies."
He stiffened. His face had gone rigid, all hard angles. "Do you want me to tell you I've hated every minute of the last month because I can't get you out of my head? Or would you prefer I tell you that we were just one of those things that burns brightly and dies just as quickly? Well, which is it to be, Abbey?"
His words stung. "The truth, Nick."
He sat back, glancing out at the Harbor. "I'm not ready for the truth."
Abbey bit the inside of her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. So which version had been the real one? She thought there was probably an element of truth in both scenarios for him—that he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her and yet there was nothing between them except great sex. Problem was, as far as she was concerned, the emotion she'd felt for Nick hadn't gone away. It had only intensified.
Had it for him?
Their meals arrived and they fell silent, the topic too painful to resurrect.
"I think we'd better stick to safe conversation tonight," Nick said at last.
"Like business?"
He shook his head. "Tell me about you, Abbey. You never really did let me see who you really were."
She blinked. "I'm so boring."
Nick's lips twitched into a smile. "You're the least boring person I've ever met—after Lucy that is."
Abbey chuckled. Then she frowned and tried to think of something interesting to say about her life.
"Tell me where you were born," he prompted. "And then tell me where you grew up. I want to know about your parents, brothers and sisters, whether you liked school and what sort of dress you wore to the school dance. Things like that."
"Well, the last one's easy. It was purple with puffy mutton-chop sleeves. It was hideous."
He laughed. "I bet you weren't hideous though. I bet all the guys in school wanted to date you back then."
She crossed her arms and leaned forward. "If I tell you about me, then I expect the same from you. Okay?"
He nodded. "Deal. All the gory details, including what I wore to my school dance. Something tells me you'll laugh though."
She put a hand to her breast. "Me? Laugh at Nick Delaware? I wouldn't dare."
"Wrong." Nick's eyes sparkled. "You're the only person I've ever met who does laugh at me."
"Except for Lucy."
They both laughed and Abbey launched into the details of her life starting with birth. She thought it was going to be short, but Nick kept asking questions and offering comments.
Then he began his own story and she learned that his family had been well off, but he'd rebelled when he finished school and disappeared for a few years, preferring to hang around the beach and surf with his mates. He glossed over that period of his life rather quickly, Abbey thought, but she decided not to ask him any questions about it. Not yet. Perhaps one day...
After dessert and coffee, Nick paid the bill and they decided to walk along the promenade.
"Lovely evening," Abbey breathed.
He caught her hand and murmured his agreement. They walked hand in hand for a while, then turned to head back to the car. When they reached the BMW, Nick suddenly spun Abbey round to face him.
He was very close to her, his lips only inches from hers. He brushed his hands along her waist to her hips, feeling her curves, then reached up behind her and pulled her to him. Abbey's body fit into his perfectly and the sudden closeness sent tingles down her spine. She could feel his rousing erection pressing into her stomach.
His lips nibbled at hers, but they didn't kiss, much to Abbey's frustration. It seemed her lips wanted him, badly. Her body wanted him even more.
He reached up and brushed a knuckle across her cheek, his black eyes shining into hers.
"This was nice tonight, Abbey," he whispered.
"Very nice," she agreed. But was it about to end? Or was he going to come back to her hotel room?
"So tell me, Ms. McPherson, do you put out on the first date?"
Abbey giggled. "This isn't our first date."
"I know," he whispered, "but it feels like it."
She nodded. It did. It felt like they were starting all over again. She closed her eyes and leaned into him. His erection got bigger and his lips met hers in a deep and desperate kiss.
"I only put out for the right sort of man on the first date," she said when they parted.
"Do I qualify?"
She stood back and let her eyes roam his body. "I guess you'll do."
He laughed softly and opened the car door for her. Before she stepped in, Abbey put a hand to his chest and felt the muscles tightening under her fingers.
"Actually, you'll do perfectly."
Nick kissed her intensely and sharply, then patted her bottom. "Hurry up and get in the car then. I'm not a machine."
She laughed and sat in her seat while he sprinted around to his side and jumped in. He sped back to the hotel and waited impatiently as she fumbled with the key in the lock of the door.
Abbey paused, key poised. "This isn't going to be like the last time we had dinner together is it?"
Nick's brows knitted. "Why?"
"I've only got one spare pair of underwear, so no ripping."
He grinned. "Promise I'll be gentle." He nodded to the door. "But if you don't hurry up, I can't be held responsible for what I do."