Her mother sidled up to the banister beside her. Her gaze ran over Nicole. “You look quite lovely tonight. Not your usual style, but the gown works for you.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
A heavy silence descended between them. Nicole resumed her search for Ryan’s dark hair, broad shoulders and black tux.
“Nicole, if you have a problem you can come to me.”
Nicole blinked and looked at her mother in surprise, but Jacqueline sipped her champagne and focused on the guests gathered below.
The shoulder her mother offered came a little too late. They’d never had the kind of relationship where Nicole could comfortably pour out her fears—especially something of this magnitude. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jacqueline turned then and lifted a hand as if to touch Nicole’s face, but dropped it without making contact. “I haven’t always been there for you. I’m just now beginning to realize and regret how much I’ve missed.” Her heavily made-up eyes echoed the sentiment of her words. “Enjoy your evening and your beau.”
Her mother stalked away leaving a cloud of Armani Diamonds perfume behind.
Did her mother’s regrets have something to do with the daughter she’d given up? Nicole found Lauren, the newest addition to the family. Lauren was living proof that everyone needed to be connected somehow. After her father’s death she had come looking for her relatives. Unfortunately for her, that family happened to be the aloof Hightowers instead of a warm, welcoming clan like Patrick’s.
Not your problem. You have more than enough on your plate.
Where was Ryan? Nicole didn’t see him anywhere in the ballroom. Her heart missed a beat. Had he grown tired of her working the crowd and her clients and left? He hadn’t seemed to mind her preoccupation. In fact, having him by her side while she greeted the guests tonight had felt good, and for the first time she’d felt like part of a couple. Listening to him interact with them had taught her a valuable lesson. Ryan was smart and ambitious and had a memory like a steel trap. She’d have to be careful not to underestimate him.
“You haven’t danced with me.”
She jumped at his voice behind her and spun around. “I haven’t danced with anyone. I’ve been working. Parties like this are an opportunity for me to have face time with clients I only talk to via phone or e-mail the rest of the year.”
“And you excel at making each client feel valued. That’s an important trait in my business, as well.”
More praise. It warmed her all over.
His brilliant blue gaze slid from her face to her br**sts which tightened under his perusal, then on to her waist and back up again. She was used to dressing to please herself, but the instant she’d seen the approval in his eyes when he’d arrived at her home earlier, she’d been glad she’d let Lea talk her into this sexier little number.
He offered his hand, palm up. “The band is about to begin the final song of the night. Dance with me.”
The excited leap of her pulse sent a warning. One she decided to ignore. What could one dance hurt? They were in a roomful of people. Nothing could happen.
She placed her hand in his and let him lead her to the grand staircase. Heads turned as they descended to the main ballroom. She did her best to ignore the curious eyes, but she couldn’t deny feeling a little like Cinderella, the belle of the ball with the handsome prince at her side.
Ryan in a tux took her breath away. The epitome of tall, dark and handsome, his shoulders filled out his black jacket and his bow tie framed his square jaw. He was easily the most attractive man present tonight, but his appeal was more than just good looks. His allure derived from the confident way he carried himself, the intelligence shining from his gorgeous blue eyes and in the way he made her feel like the most desirable woman present. And wasn’t that a fairy tale? She shot him a sideway smile which he returned with knee-weakening potency.
He led her into the middle of the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. The gentle impact of his big, solid body against hers knocked the breath right out of her—not from the force of the contact, but from the sheer strength of the combustion between them.
She inhaled deeply and his tangy scent filled her lungs. One wide palm splayed across her back. His hard thigh slotted between hers, and with each step his h*ps brushed her tummy over the tiny life they’d created. The ruby sateen fabric of her dress did nothing to block the pooling heat his proximity created. Ryan overwhelmed and overpowered her senses, and for once she let herself be swept away instead of fighting the current of desire.
Her eyes locked with his, and as he guided her around the floor awareness of the curious gazes of her family and coworkers faded until her focus narrowed to just him and her and the bond they shared.
The sad fact of the matter was that she felt more connected to Ryan Patrick, a man she hadn’t known existed three weeks ago, than she did to any of her family members. He’d understood how much the ultrasound peek at their child had meant to her, and it had apparently meant as much to him. Her own sister hadn’t cared enough to show up to meet the child she planned to adopt and had promised to love.
Ryan had noticed when she had a headache and insisted on an impromptu picnic to help her de-stress. He read her in a way she couldn’t remember anyone else ever doing. Patrick certainly hadn’t. Ryan was in fact the only person in her life who understood the pain of losing her child.
The press of his leg against her center sent a rush of arousal through her, making her entire body come alive with awareness. Her breaths rasped audibly, and her pulse roared in her ears drowning out the music of the band behind her. Need radiated from her center.
She wanted Ryan in a way she’d never wanted anyone before. Just for tonight she needed to feel connected to someone who understood the tangle of emotions tearing her apart, someone who wanted to give instead of take. She’d handle the consequences, be what they may, tomorrow.
As if she’d telegraphed her thoughts, Ryan’s pupils expanded. He leaned forward and his lips grazed her ear with spine-tingling results. “Let’s get out of here.”
His gruff whisper caused the hairs on her nape to lift. “Yes. Please.”
Keeping possession of her hand, he strode toward the exit at a brisk pace. He didn’t look left or right or pause to speak to anyone. The limo slid to a stop in front of them even before they’d reached the curb as if the driver had been waiting for them to appear. Ryan hustled her into the backseat.
“My place,” he told the driver through the open window between the front and back compartments before pushing the button to slide the tinted glass closed.
Nicole knew she should argue, knew exactly where they were headed if she didn’t. Not just to Ryan’s condo, but to his bed. She subdued her protests even though crossing the intimacy line was something she rarely allowed herself to do.
Ryan’s arm slid around her waist. He scooped her into his lap in the darkened car and slanted his mouth across hers, capturing her gasp on his tongue. His fingers tangled in her hair, cupping her nape and holding her captive while one hungry kiss melded into another. He kissed like he did everything else: with deliberation, precision and devastating skill. The two kisses they’d shared previously had been tame compared to the way he consumed her mouth tonight.
He stroked, sucked, nipped her mouth with urgent passion that incited and invited her own. His other hand caressed her back, her lower belly and then slid toward her breast.
Her body stilled in anticipation as a response she couldn’t ignore swelled within her. She wanted his touch, ached for it. Arching her back, she pressed her breast into his palm.
Her stomach fluttered like the tail of a kite in a strong wind, and a line of tension formed between her n**ples and her core. Each brush of his thumb against her stretched it tighter. The burn deep inside made her shift her hips. His groan rumbled down her throat. He arched against her, pressing a thick erection to her bottom.
And then he yanked his mouth free and hissed in a breath. “If you’d rather go home alone, tell me now.”
She couldn’t see his eyes in the shadowy interior, but his gravelly tone and his hard body said he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
Run, the way you always do.
But she didn’t want to run this time, didn’t want to play it safe. She wanted to surrender instead of holding back, wanted to revel in wanting someone as much as he wanted her. It was only physical. She knew that. But she and Ryan shared so many things. A past rebellious spirit. An interest in the child she carried. And now a passion that couldn’t be denied.
Being in his arms felt right. Scarily, eerily right. She couldn’t believe making love with him would be a mistake. For her sake, for her baby’s sake, she had to see where this would lead.
“I want to go home with you, Ryan.”
Nicole wasn’t the first woman Ryan had brought to his place, and she wouldn’t be the last.But this time felt different.
In the past the need for raw sex had been his primary agenda. Satisfy the hunger. Take the lady home. End of story.
With Nicole, he wanted to go slow, to linger over her subtle curves despite the urgency burning his gut. He wanted to map each inch of the body nurturing his child.
Even more, he wanted to crawl inside her head and understand why she was willing to make such a great personal sacrifice for someone she loved. Such selflessness was beyond his experience. In his world people always looked out for their own interests. Was Nicole truly that generous? Or was she using this baby to sink a hook in her brother-in-law? He wanted to believe the latter, but everything he’d learned about her pointed to the former.
Lacing his fingers through hers, he led her toward his bedroom without turning on the lights. Moonbeams from the uncurtained windows painted a glistening white path on the polished dark slate floors. His platform bed rested half in shadow, half in moonlight. He urged Nicole toward the light. He wanted to see every inch of her.
The rug surrounding his bed silenced the tap of her heels. He turned and soaked up the view. She’d left her hair down tonight. Curled strands draped over her shoulders, the ends teasing the top of her dress. The shiny red fabric hugged and lifted her br**sts, tempting him, making his mouth water for a taste and his hands twitch for a touch. Her perfume, a light, floral scent, teased him. The whisper of her rapid breathing echoed his own.
“Your doctor said this was safe?” he confirmed.
“Yes. You heard her.”
The fiery blush that had covered Nicole’s face following the doctor’s unsolicited statement returned. Twenty-eight and she still blushed. Interesting.
He cupped her warm cheek, stroked her silky soft skin. His fingers drifted down over the pulse fluttering at the base of her neck. That wild beat, combined with her parted lips and darkened eyes telegraphed her desire. His body received the signal loud and clear and multiplied it exponentially.
“You look beautiful tonight.” He hadn’t told her earlier because she’d been skittish. Who was he kidding? She’d taken his breath when she opened her door. He’d barely been able to think straight let alone form coherent sentences.