"It's not what I want!"
Nick sighed and turned away. He reached for his shirt and put it on.
"I think I'd better go. You need some sleep. I'm sure in the morning you'll see this from my point of view." Fully dressed he turned back to her and caught her face between his hands.
He kissed the top of her head and left.
Abbey spluttered out a few tears then fell onto the bed, sobbing. Her heart was heavy and cold as her world suddenly fell apart all over again. This time she knew it was final. This time she knew he didn't believe her and never would. He said it didn't matter, but what if they took this further and in a year he decided it did matter. What then?
Abbey curled herself up into a ball on the bed and waited for sunrise.
***
Nick watched the sun rise slowly over the horizon. Dressed in a light robe, coffee in hand, his toast sitting untouched on the table, he leaned back into the deck chair on his balcony and closed his eyes, shutting out the cheerful brightness.
He felt anything but cheerful.
The pain that had settled in his gut at Abbey's hotel hadn't disappeared and he couldn't eat. He could hardly swallow his coffee but he forced it down. He needed it. He had a long and difficult day ahead of him—he was seeing Abbey again.
But closing his eyes didn't make him feel any better. It just made the images of Abbey more vivid. The image of her making love to him, the image of her crying when he admitted he didn't believe her about Vane.
He'd really blown it this time. He'd had a chance, damn it, a good chance to make it work with her, and he'd thrown it away as if she meant nothing. There was no bigger fool in the world than Nick Delaware. Just when he was beginning to feel in control of his life again after such a wonderful date, everything had to change.
He thought about going back, talking to her, but that would only risk making it worse. He at least had today to talk to her again. Hopefully she'd calmed down and had thought it through.
He'd tried to tell her he loved her last night, but she'd been too upset to really hear him so he'd refrained. Besides, he'd repeatedly told her it didn't matter to him about her and Vane, so surely that had sunk in by now. Surely that meant something to her. Surely it was enough.
Nick moaned and rubbed his fingers into his eyes.
Of course it wouldn't have sunk in. She didn't believe for one minute that he didn't care about Vane. Because he did, and she knew it. She knew him.
At about five AM. that fact had hit him hard. He'd been lying in bed, going over the evening again for the hundredth time in his mind when he suddenly realized she'd seen something in him that he hadn't known was there—jealousy. Fear.
Fear that she really was only with him because of the money. Fear that she'd slept with Vane, learned the truth, and come to him to try again. Fear that she didn't really love him. And fear that he'd lost control of his life because of her. He had never been afraid of anything in his life. Now, thanks to Abbey, his fears were going to suffocate him.
Abbey had identified those fears. It had probably scared the hell out of her, because she knew his fears would continue to hound him until they eventually destroyed any feelings he had for her. Maybe not soon, but one day.
But that was the problem. Had she been telling the truth? Had she not slept with Vane? Did she not want him, Nick, for his money? Evidence pointed in that direction—the tears, the pain he could see in her eyes. Every part of him ached at seeing that pain, and it was all he could do not to go back to the hotel and hold her and tell her he loved her, that he believed her.
But Nick wanted more than intangible evidence, he wanted proof. Solid, rock hard facts. Facts were the only way he could regain control of his life and the fears that were crushing him. Having proof was the only way he could ever know for sure and be with Abbey without regrets and second guesses.
He needed to call Vane. Problem was it was way too early and his home number was at the office.
Later then. Later.
Nick checked his watch. Only a few more hours till he saw her again. He closed his eyes and pictured her face, hot and wet with tears. That was the image he'd hold for the next few hours. It hurt him so much to re-live, but God knew he deserved the pain.
CHAPTER 13
"We want a twenty percent discount."
"Twenty percent?" Nick shook his head. Abbey was really pushing it. Regretting how he treated her a month ago was one thing, but this was business. Twenty percent was way too much.
"It's reasonable considering we're the first client for this product. We are the first client aren't we?" Abbey's bright blue eyes flashed at him, her jaw firm and uncompromising. There was no hint of last night's tears. She was good at this. Damn good. If he didn't love her he'd employ her.
"How did you know?"
She shrugged. "I did some checking. And Donaldson tells me it's standard practice to give the guinea pigs a discount. We'll act as a reference site of course."
He sighed and nodded. "Of course." He leaned forward and extended his hand. "You have a deal."
She took it and Nick could feel the buzz of energy that comes with closing a successful deal coursing through her skin. He held her hand for much longer than was respectable but he didn't care. Let Willis and Donaldson know he had feelings for her. Let Abbey know.
But she removed her hand and let it fall limply to her side.
"Have the contract drawn up and send it down to us."
"You're leaving?"
She nodded and checked her watch. "We have a six o'clock flight."
That was only two hours away. Think Delaware, think. "If you wait I'll have the contract drawn up tonight. You can take it with you first thing in the morning."
She hesitated and he took the opportunity to dismiss Donaldson and Willis. When they left, he caught her hand. "Please, Abbey. I need to talk to you. Stay one more night." He took her face in his hands but she stepped away, avoiding his gaze.
Eventually she nodded and Nick felt like a weight had lifted from his shoulders. He tried to smile, but Abbey's stoic expression wasn't giving him any reason to be happy.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Fine. We'll talk. That's all."
He nodded.
The door opened and Beverly popped her head round. "Damien Vane returning your call, sir."
Nick glanced at Abbey. Her mouth dropped open and her cheeks flushed pink as she stared up at him.
"I'll be right there," he muttered to Beverly as she shut the door behind her. "Abbey, I have to ask him something—"
"I hope you get the answer you want to hear." Her voice sounded hard, cold. She picked up her laptop case and stormed out the door. Nick followed and indicated to Beverly he'd take the call in his office.